Click on image to enlarge.

Category: Suspense/Thriller
Description: Demented Dreamspell Volume 1 -- Edited by Lisa Rene' Smith. Enjoy these four demented tales: A Terrible Thing to Waste by Daryn Cross Two men have mysteriously died of the human form of Chronic Wasting Disease.What does their past have to do with it, and does a killer lurk in the shadows who may strike again? Bon Appetit by Sheila Gamble BON APPETIT is a restaurant owned by Alec Saunders, and it's his pride and joy. But when his wife files divorce papers, demanding a portion of his establishment's profits... things turn ugly, REAL FAST! No Regrets by Charlotte Phillips After ninety plus years on Earth, Nan Cunningham is on her death bed. Or is she? Nan's been keeping a dark secret for seventy years and now she has a decision to make. Camp Hero by James Mascia An old soldier returns to the camp where he was trained.Through his memories, we find out the true horrors that happened at the base known as Camp Hero.
eBook Publisher: L&L Dreamspell/L&L Dreamspell, 2011 London, Texas
eBookwise Release Date: June 2011

Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [87 KB]
Words: 18231
Reading time: 52-72 min.

"Thanks for inviting me to dinner, George." Carl toasted him with his glass of red wine.

"No problem. It's the least I could do for an old friend." He took a generous helping of October beans. "I sure wish I could eat some of that meat, but the doctor says absolutely nothing that's not fish or chicken, no red meat for awhile. Not even wild game."

"It was nice of you to cook it for me." Carl picked up his fork and sliced into another piece. "It's so tender."

"My specialty. Since I killed it, the least I could do is cook some for someone." He sipped his wine. "I don't want it to go bad in the freezer."

"You know," Carl said, putting down his fork, "I can't believe I walked into the woods hunting and saw you after more than twenty years. Strange how life plays out."

"Isn't it?" George smiled as he swirled the fluid in his glass. "A long time ago I would have been pointing my gun at you." He chuckled. "Bet you thought you'd never see the day I'd be inviting you to dinner, did you?"

Carl smirked. "I guess not. Not unless I was the main course. But what happened between you and me and the other guys happened a long time ago. I'm just happy we can all put it behind us and move on. It's amazing how time heals."

"Time has a way of allowing a man to readjust his moral barometer, see things more clearly for what they are, and adjust life to be on course with his true objectives. Not wallow in what was." George put down his glass and picked up a spoon. "It certainly sets the tables straight."

Carl sliced another piece of meat and smelled the aroma. "Ahhh." He took a small bite and chewed. "You know, I didn't think you'd ever be in your field. You were always smart, but who'd have ever thought you'd go so far?" He shook his head. "Not like Ben, Henry, and me. We were interested more in sports, athletics." He shrugged. "We should have all concentrated on the books like you did."

George nodded. "I pride myself on making the most of my intellect. Education is important." He sighed. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

Months later

"It's the second case in Wisconsin they've found, both within the past year." Jerry handed me the report as we walked. "CDC verified it. Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. The man was only forty-four. This most likely came from a deer. No way of being sure." Jerry looked at me, his lips nothing more than a thin line.

I skimmed the beginning of the report. "How long had he been ill?"

"Not very long. His wife said he went on a trip, and within a month after he came back, he started losing weight. Then she said he started forgetting things. His dementia got worse. When he went to the doctor, thinking he may have an early onset of Alzheimer's, he was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, the name for CWD in people. He died less than four months afterwards. Sam, do you think we have an epidemic?"

A brisk icy breath of frigid air stung my neck. I pulled the collar up on my coat and stuck my hands in my coat pockets as we walked. I'd never get used to the Wisconsin winter. Never seemed to remember gloves. "May be an epidemic, but we'd better be careful what we say and to whom. The last time the media got hold of this, it made the AP. Things can get out of hand before you know it. We might end up with a feeding frenzy on our hands. Then one of us will be in front of a camera instead of doing our jobs."

"The doctor notified the state. Said he had no choice."

"They know how to keep quiet until they verify there's a more widespread problem. It's our job as CDC investigators to see if there's a root cause. Listen, just for GPs, why don't we run a background check on both men? Maybe they have something in common. Besides liking the great outdoors, that is."