Walking In the Midst of Fire: A Remy Chandler Novel Read online

  Praise for the Remy Chandler Novels

  In the House of the Wicked

  “Remy and his human friends are engagingly believable characters in a series noted for flashes of humor despite its overall serious tone. Series fans and followers of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files will enjoy this urban fantasy.”

  —Library Journal

  “A fun . . . thought-provoking book.”

  —Innsmouth Free Press

  “Sniegoski ups his game in this most recent Remy adventure, and we begin to see some of the grand scheme he is setting up for us. The conflict and situations within this novel are refreshingly personal, bringing the forefront of activity back to the Boston area. The characters are varied and very well developed, bringing life and humanity into this novel largely centered around the angelic pantheon. With In the House of the Wicked, Sniegoski has crafted a very powerful, very personal tale that is equal parts gut-wrenching, heartwarming, and awe-inspiring.”

  —The Ranting Dragon

  “An excellent read and part of an excellent series that gets better and better.”

  —Fangs for the Fantasy

  A Hundred Words for Hate

  “Sniegoski nicely juggles a large cast and throws in some touching moments (Remy’s conversations with his late wife, Madeline, are especially sweet) and humor (as always, provided by Remy’s dog, Marlowe) to balance the epic violence. There’s more than enough nonintrusive exposition to let new readers jump into the story, while longtime fans will appreciate the development of recurring characters.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “A fun, fast ride that takes advantage of a strong setting and interesting characters. And when a book combines that with serious angel smackdowns, really, what else do you need?”

  —The Green Man Review

  Where Angels Fear to Tread

  “This strong, fast-paced noir fantasy is a treat. Remy is a compelling character, as he constantly struggles to hold on to the shred of humanity he forged for himself by suppressing the Seraphim. . . . Sniegoski adds a creative new spin to the good vs. evil scenario while bringing in some biblical characters that are decidedly different [from] what you read about in Sunday school. This is one of the better noir fantasy meets gumshoe detective series on the market today.”

  —Monsters and Critics

  Dancing on the Head of a Pin

  “[Sniegoski] nicely blends action, mystery, and fantasy into a well-paced story . . . a very emotional read with the hero’s grief overshadowing his every move. An intense battle is fought, new secondary characters are introduced, and readers should gain a more solid picture of the hero’s past.”

  —Darque Reviews

  “Equal measures heartbreaking and honorable, Sniegoski has created a warm, genuine character struggling with his identity and destiny. Although this innovative urban noir draws heavily on Christian beliefs, the author’s deft touch keeps it from being preachy. The fast pace, gratifying character development, and a sufficiently complex plot to hold your interest from start to finish make this one a winner.”

  —Monsters and Critics

  “A fun read. The pace of the book is excellent, and it never has a dull moment. . . . The tale is definitely something that you would read out of a 1930s crime noir novel, and it is engaging, tightly written, and moves along at a rapid pace.”

  —Sacramento Book Review

  “Dancing on the Head of a Pin is the second novel in the Remy Chandler series and a wonderful addition it is. . . . Remy has this twisted sense of humor that lightens whatever situation and makes the story even more delightful to read. The plot of the stolen weapons is tight and very focused. Along with the great characters, including the secondary ones, and the action-packed plot, Dancing on the Head of a Pin is an entertaining and smart detective story.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  “A powerful urban fantasy.”

  —Genre Go Round Reviews

  A Kiss Before the Apocalypse

  “The most inventive novel you’ll buy this year . . . a hard-boiled noir fantasy by turns funny, unsettling, and heartbreaking. This is the story Sniegoski was born to write, and a character I can’t wait to see again.”

  —Christopher Golden, bestselling author of Waking Nightmares

  “Tightly focused and deftly handled, [A Kiss Before the Apocalypse] covers familiar ground in entertaining new ways. . . . Fans of urban fantasy and classic detective stories will enjoy this smart and playful story.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “This reviewer prays there will be more novels starring Remy. . . . The audience will believe he is on earth for a reason as he does great things for humanity. This heart-wrenching, beautiful urban fantasy will grip readers with its potent emotional fervor.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “It’s kind of refreshing to see the holy side represented. . . . Fans of urban fantasy with a new twist are likely to enjoy Sniegoski’s latest venture into that realm between humanity and angels.”

  —SFRevu

  “Blurring the lines between good and evil, A Kiss Before the Apocalypse will keep readers riveted until the very end. This is an emotional journey that’s sometimes filled with sadness, but once it begins you won’t want to walk away. Mr. Sniegoski defines the hero in a way that makes him very real and thoroughly human. . . . Fast moving, well written, and wonderfully enchanting, this is one that fantasy readers won’t want to miss.”

  —Darque Reviews

  “A fascinating look at religion and humanity from a different point of view. Mr. Sniegoski has written a compelling story of what emotion can do to even the most divine creatures. A Kiss Before the Apocalypse is not a book that one can pick up and put down easily. Once you start, you will not want to put it down until you are finished.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “An exciting, page-turning mystery with the bonus of the popular paranormal aspects as well. This author has created a compelling central character with both human and angelic features, which allows the reader to become completely immersed in the story and the tension as it builds. The suspense alone leaves the reader anxious to come back for more. The story builds to a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting conclusion and will leave you wanting to read more of this character and certainly more of this author.”

  —Affaire de Coeur

  “An intriguing, amazing story about a person torn between trying to live as a human while hiding his angel side as well. Remy was a very interesting, complex main character . . . a funny yet sometimes heartbreaking story and I had a wonderful time reading it.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  ALSO BY THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI

  A Kiss Before the Apocalypse

  Dancing on the Head of a Pin

  Where Angels Fear to Tread

  A Hundred Words for Hate

  In the House of the Wicked

  WALKING IN THE MIDST OF FIRE

  A REMY CHANDLER NOVEL

  THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI

  A ROC BOOK

  ROC

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

  New York, New York 10014, USA

  USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  For more information about the Penguin Group visit penguin.com.

  First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  Copyright © Thomas E. Sniegoski, 2013

 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

  Sniegoski, Tom.

  Walking in the midst of fire: a Remy Chandler novel/Thomas E. Sniegoski.

  p. cm.

  “A ROC book.”

  ISBN 978-1-101-61421-1

  1. Chandler, Remy (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Private investigators—Fiction. 3. Angels—Fiction. 4. Boston (Mass.)—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3619.N537W35 2013

  813'.6—dc23 2012050860

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  Contents

  Praise for the Remy Chandler Novels

  Also by Thomas E. Sniegoski

  Title page

  Copyright page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  EPILOGUE

  For Brian Kozicki— Gone far too soon, but never ever forgotten

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  With love, and gratitude, to my lovely wife, LeeAnne, and to Kirby for sharing with me some of his best ideas.

  Thanks also to Christopher Golden, Ginjer Buchanan, Katherine Sherbo, Rosanne Romanello, Liesa & James Mignogna, Scrawny Johnny Morrison, Kathy & Dave “thing from another world” Kraus, Pam Daley, Erek Vaehne, Garrett Jones, Mom & Dad Sniegoski, Paul Deane, Mom & Dad Fogg, Pat & Bob, Kenn Gold, and Timothy Cole and the Walking Dead down at Cole’s Comics in Lynn.

  By the prickling in my thumbs . . .

  PROLOGUE

  Jericho

  26 AD

  Simeon was dead.

  He was not aware of the length of time he had been lying within the cold embrace of the ground, wrapped in a shroud of burlap, for he had transcended such mundane, physical concerns, his spirit destined to unite with the other life energies that comprised the stuff of creation.

  These energies . . . these souls as they were sometimes called, were the clay of the Almighty, and Simeon was joining them, experiencing the unimaginable joy of being one with the Creator as all that Simeon once was gradually melded with the whole that was God’s glory.

  Simeon had believed that he’d known bliss in his lifetime: the love and devotion of a good woman, three healthy children to carry on his bloodline, strong hands that allowed him a craft to support his family’s lifestyle. It was all that one such as he could have hoped for in life, but it was nothing compared to the euphoria he experienced as he gave freely of himself, merging his own love with the love of all who had lived, and died, and would live again in another of the myriad forms of existence.

  This is what it was for, Simeon thought as he was about to surrender his identity.

  About to experience the completion of the cycle of life.

  About to become one with God and creation.

  One moment he was there, and the next . . .

  Simeon was suddenly confused by the absence of joy and the sensation of pain.

  He’d thought himself beyond the torment of the physical, but it appeared that he was wrong.

  Simeon could feel the tether around his spirit, dragging him inexorably back to the corporeal world. He tried to fight it, begging the Creator to take notice of his dilemma.

  But God did not see, or He chose not to.

  Powerless, Simeon was pulled back through the veil of death, each level of his reemerging physical existence adding another dimension to his agony.

  To have come so close to rapture, only to have it ripped away.

  Deep within the cold darkness, Simeon was screaming, the pain unlike anything he’d ever experienced, worse even than it had been before his passing.

  And no matter how much he begged to be released, nothing changed.

  Nobody was listening.

  He thrashed in the embrace of burlap, his fingers now claws tearing through the sack that had held his corpse. His once-dead lungs screamed for air as he pulled himself up through the dirt and rock meant to be his final resting place. And in a perversion of the rite of birth, he emerged, hands snaking out from the sand, the gentle touch of the hot desert breeze sending waves of sheer agony through his body.

  Through a haze of anguish, he pulled himself from the ground and collapsed atop his burial mound. Everything hurt: his joints, muscles and skin, even the hair upon his head and the beard that sprouted from his face.

  Simeon had no idea how long he’d lain there, immersed in a cocoon of suffering, before he realized that he was not alone. Even though it felt worse than any injury he had ever experienced, he lifted his eyes to the form that stood before him.

  The figure was tall, with a kind face that bore a look of absolute shock. But its dismay soon transformed into the warmth of a smile.

  Simeon gazed up at the youth, and as he looked upon him, he suddenly knew that this boy was responsible for his misery.

  That this young stranger had somehow stolen Simeon from the vast comfort of the Lord God’s embrace.

  A single croaking word managed to break free from Simeon’s throat, along with a cluster of hard-shelled insects that had made their nest in the rigid flesh of his trachea. “Who?”

  The young man continued to smile as he bent to one knee beside Simeon. “I am Jesus of Nazareth,” he said. “The Son of God. And I have raised you up.”

  Those words were even more painful than the agony his body was enduring. This boy—this child—had dragged him back from the euphoria of death and the promise of eternal union with the Creator of All Things.

  “Why?” Simeon asked. “Why would you do this?”

  The youth smiled all the wider, reaching down to touch Simeon’s pale, dirt-covered face. “To see if I could,” he said simply.

  The words attacked Simeon, burrowing deep into his flesh, squirming their way into his heart and mind. The pain was so great that he began to scream.

  And he did not know if he would ever be able to stop.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Remy Chandler’s eyes wandered to the television hanging above the crowded bar.

  He didn’t want to watch, but he couldn’t help himself. There was always a nervous trepidation these days, a fear that he would see something that might compel him to act. Things were different in Boston—in the world, really—since a tear had been rent in the fabric of reality. It had swallowed up the top floors of the Hermes Building in Back Bay before Remy was able to close it.

  And thanks to the media, millions of people throughout the world had caught a glimpse of something that had, until then, managed to remain in the shadows.

  The news
tonight was more mundane—tornadoes in the west, a school shooting in California, more sanctions about to be imposed upon a hostile Middle Eastern nation, and an eighty-nine-year-old woman who had hit the lottery for two hundred and fifty million dollars.

  No more holes in the fabric of time and space spilling nightmare creatures into this reality . . . at least not in this news cycle. Maybe they were saving that one until the eleven o’clock broadcast.

  “Are you gonna eat that last one?” Linda asked, pulling his attention back to his dinner companion.

  “I’m sorry,” Remy said, tearing his eyes from the television and gazing at the attractive, dark-haired woman sitting across from him. “Something caught my eye.”

  “Whatever,” she replied. “Do you want that or not?” Her fork hovered over the last cube of fried manchego cheese on the plate in the center of the table.

  “No, go ahead,” he told her.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Linda grinned as she speared the cheese, dipped it in a red sauce, and popped it into her mouth.

  Remy picked up his drink, watching as she closed her eyes in ecstasy while she chewed. She opened them and giggled when she saw him staring at her.

  “I feel like such a pig,” she said, swallowing and wiping her mouth with a red linen napkin, “but I could eat a hundred of those things.”

  They were at Loco, a tapas and wine bar located thirty minutes southwest of the city. Linda had mentioned wanting to try it once or twice and, feeling as though he had been neglecting his lady friend of late, Remy had made reservations for a special night out.

  The waitress, a lovely girl by the name of Jessica, brought out their next selection, a flatbread pizza covered in Gorgonzola cheese, sprinkled with pine nuts and basil, and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. Remy wasn’t quite sure how he was going to feel about this one, but he was put at ease with the first bite.

  “This is pretty good,” he said, nodding slowly.