A New Day (StrikeForce #1)

Published by Peitho Press
Detroit, Michigan, 2015

© 2015 Colleen Vanderlinden

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email the author at
[email protected]
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Contents

Books by
Colleen Vanderlinden

A New Day

Shadow Witch Rising
Shadow Sworn

Guardian
Betrayer

Book One: Lost Girl
Book Two: Broken
Book Three: Home
Book Four: Strife
Book Five: Nether

Hidden Series Novellas

Forever Night
Earth Bound

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To my husband, Roger, who introduced me to comics.
Just one more way you changed my life forever.

Part One
Thieves and Liars

Chapter One

I slouched as I walked, phone held to my ear, looking to anyone who happened to see me as if I was deep in conversation with someone. I spoke in a low voice, despite the fact that there was no one on the line. To anyone who passed, I looked like your typical college-age chick, probably arguing with her boyfriend over something stupid. The large trees flanking the narrow street rained leaves down onto the pavement and perfectly manicured lawns. Large red maple leaves, along with the occasional bright yellow birch leaf, were plastered to the wet concrete beneath my feet. Porch lights cast a cold, eerie glow in the misty darkness, and a biting wind whipped my hair into my face.

I kept walking, talking. I barely glanced at the mansion as I walked past it, even though it felt like every cell in my body was aware of it. It’s like being a junkie and knowing, just goddamn knowing, that there’s a fix nearby. The adrenaline was already flowing, my heart pumping. I bounced a little on the balls of my feet as I paused, still playing the role of “girl on the phone.”

There. I bit back a grin. My little jammer, the tiny device I’d made from parts I’d snatched from Radio Shack, had done its job yet again. The security system in the McMansion behind its emerald hedges and pristine ultra-green lawn was as useless as the locks they’d undoubtedly installed on the doors and windows.

There wasn’t much that could keep me out.

I probably had about half an hour, tops, before anyone came around. I’d been casing the place for a couple of weeks now, primarily with the two tiny cameras I’d installed in the shrubbery. I could monitor the comings and goings, figure out their routine. These people weren’t home a whole lot, some finance jackhole and his vapid little redheaded girlfriend. They had a security guy who came by regularly, but he wasn’t nearly as regular when the redhead wasn’t around.

I did grin to myself then. It was the uniform. The finance guy had paid for the chick’s boobs, but I’d caught her dragging the security guard into the house at least twice.

Anyone watching would see the blonde girl take the phone away from her ear and look at it in dismay, then walk quickly away, as if, maybe, she just wanted to get home. I was so damn good at this by now, it was second nature. I could pretend to be anybody, anything, knowing that a payday was around the corner.

Mama had bills to pay. Tuition was due in two weeks, and I knew a few people who could use a favor. I looked at the mansion out of the corner of my eye as I turned the corner. These bitches wouldn’t miss whatever I managed to take from them. Not the way any of my people would.

I strolled a few blocks, turned a corner, and ducked into a little diner where I’d stowed some essentials. A couple of minutes later, I walked out the alley exit wearing a dark gray, over-sized hoodie, a black scarf covering my hair. Gloves on my hands.

No one even gave me a second look as I jogged through the neighborhood. The house behind the mansion, one of them anyway, was empty and had been for the past month. I pulled the hood up over my head, pulled the black scarf I had around my neck up over my mouth and nose, so only my eyes were visible. After checking around, I went up the driveway as if I had every damn right to be there, then quickly pulled myself up onto the wall that separated the neighbor’s yard from the mansion’s sprawling grounds.

No dogs. The redhead was not an animal person, and I was grateful. Always made my job easier.

I smiled under the scarf. They had
glass
back doors. It was practically like being invited to rob them.

I glanced around the edges of the patio, which were lined with large stones. I guess it was supposed to look rustic, or natural, or something. I bent and picked up one of them, hefted it in my palm. I double-cheked to make sure that my jammers were still in effect, then used the rock to bash in the pane of glass closest to the door knob. Once it was broken, all I had to do was reach in, turn the lock, and let myself in.