King, by Gareth Crocker

King, by Gareth Crocker. Novel. The Penguin Group (South Africa). Cape Town, South Africa, 2015. ISBN 9780143539339 / ISBN 978-0-14-353933-9

While Gareth Crocker's novel King is mainly a story for animal lovers, it is also a magnificent story for all the readers who are into emotional and poignant thrillers.

Gareth Crocker  

Prologue

Sitting behind the wheel of an asthmatic white Ford Transit, a van shedding rust and smoke in almost equal measure, Elijah Rolene stared down at the mound of painkillers in his hand. Of the seven tablets, he noticed, four were shaped like miniature coffins; their embossed logos resembling flower arrangements perched on their lids. 'Whatever', he whispered to himself, hauling them to his mouth. Months ago he would have needed a drink to get them down -bourbon, preferably. But things were different now. As an accomplished prescription painkiller addict, a real pill pro', he had taken to chewing the tablets. Not only did this get the drugs into his bloodstream faster and heighten their effect, but it was more convenient as well. Hed grown tired of having to be on the lookout for a bar or a drink of water. Tuning out the now-familiar bitter taste, Elijah closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the rain and sleet peppering the windscreen. When he looked again, a shrouded figure was waving to him from beneath a porch light. Despite having resigned from the Detroit PD months ago, here he was again, parked outside yet another violent crime scene in the middle of the night. He marvelled at how the universe had a way of twisting the knife long after the blade had been withdrawn. Reluctantly he reached for the door. As he averted his eyes from the storm, he noticed that the sticker on the side of the van was cracked and beginning to peel away. What should have read Detroit Animal Rescue Team framed by a D.A.R.T. acronym, was now one letter short. It read A.R. T. Rescue Team. Which, at a different time in his life, might have been worth a smile. As he trudged towards the porch the tall, dark figure hurried out to meet him. Although Elijah could see almost nothing of the mans face, he didn't need to. Only one person in the department walked with such a distinctive stoop, the consequence of a highspeed pursuit that had ended with three dead carj ackers and had left him with a severely compacted spine. It was Andrew Matthews, one of his few remaining friends. They were a dying breed; their numbers thinning by the day. Sacrificing his right shoulder to the storm, Andrew reached out with an umbrella. £Hey, Pilot, thanks for coming,' he said, the wind snatching at his words. CI wasn't sure you'd show. It's good to see you. How've you been?' Elijah nodded, searched his locker for a smile, but found none. cBeen doing all right, Andy. It's good to see you too.' 'Did you get my messages?' 'Yeah. Sorry I haven't called,' he replied, not bothering with an excuse. 'I'm full of shit, I know.' 'It's all right, I understand. But if it's all the same to you, I'm going to keep leaving messages. Okay?' 'Yeah. Okay.' Grateful to be let off the hook, Elijah stepped up onto the porch. He kept his head bowed but could feel the stares of the officers around him. A detective, who Elijah had once flown to hospital after the man had taken a shot to the chest, stuck out a hand. 'It's been too long, Eli. You doing all right?' There was a note of real sincerity in his voice, but there was also pity. 'Yeah thanks, Rus. How about you?' 'Knee-deep in dead assholes ... living the dream.' Elijah nodded and turned to the next stare. [...]

This is an excerpt from the novel King, by Gareth Crocker.

Title: King
Authors: Gareth Crocker
Genre: Novel
Publisher: The Penguin Group (South Africa)
Cape Town, South Africa, 2015
ISBN 9780143539339 / ISBN 978-0-14-353933-9
Softcover, 13 x 20 cm, 249 pages