Sunday, June 24, 2012

Night of the Beast by Bobby Rodgers Chapter 1


Chapter 1

 Michael Bell and his best friend Marvin Erving were playing two neighborhood kids from the Dearborn Homes Projects for two hundred dollars. Michael and Marvin were schooling their competition as they made one basket after another, inside and outside, as Michael was hitting 20 foot jumpers, all net, from the outside. Marvin took a pass from Michael and drove to the basket for the winning shot but passed the ball between his legs to Michael who was following behind. Michael jumped up and dunked over the kid that was guarding him for the winning basket. The two local kids were mad after losing 21 to 5 in a game where each basket was worth I point. One of the kid’s threw the money they owed on the ground.
“Here is your fucking money.”
“Yo, why you got to be like that. Just take your ass whipping and leave,” said Marvin.
“Man, fuck you. You and your man better leave before we bust that ass.”
Michael reaches down and picks up the money off the ground grabs, Marvin by his arm and pulls him away.
“Come on, Marvin, it’s not worth it.”
“No, Michael these motherfuckers think we’re punks.”
“Yo, we won, this shit here don’t mean a thing.”
“Yo, listen to your boy if you know what’s good for you and if we find out you hustle us you and your boy going to be some dead ma’fuckas.”
“Yeah, right, nobody scare of ya’ll bitch asses.”
Michael continued to pull Marvin down the street, the two kids continue laughing and cracking jokes at their expense. Michael and Marvin arrived home, building 2430 of the Ickes Projects on the Southside. The elevator was broken, as usual, so they walked up the narrow stairwell members of the local gang, “P-Stones stood along the wall. The gang started ragging on Michael and Marvin for not being part of their crew.
“Hey, Michael when you want to be a man and make some real money?” asked Chez, the leader of the P-stones.
“I’m good, I’m trying to make some things happen.”
“What about you, Marvin you, got some things happening also?”
“I’m, straight it’s like my man said.”
“Yeah, that’s right, I forgot you be all up your boy’s ass. Whatever he do, you do?”
“Yo, I’m just trying to do right.”
“Yeah, whenever you bitche’s want to make some real money, come holler at me.”
“Alright, Chez, we’ll do that.”
After walking up nine flights of stairs, Michael entered apartment 905, Marvin went to 908.  Michael’s mother Susie Bell, was in the kitchen cooking dinner for the family.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hello, Michael, come and have a seat. I want to talk to you.”
“Something wrong Mom?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. It’s your last year in high school. I want to know what are your plans after you graduate?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Well, you really need to think about it Michael. I don’t want you to get caught up with the gangs on the street like your brother. I worry every day that someone will knock on my door and tell me that Henry has been killed.”
“Mom, Henry will be alright.”
“Boy, stop it! I’m no fool, I know your brother is mix up with them fools that be in the hall way. You’re smart Michael, I want you to continue your education and be the first in our family to get a degree.”
“OK Mom, I will look into taking the SAT to see if I can get a high enough score to go to college. "
“You promise?”
“Yeah, Mom, I promise.”
Just down the hall Marvin was sitting in his living room watching TV when his mother walked into the apartment with a strange man. She appeared to be intoxicated typical.
“Marvin, I’m going to be in my room don’t disturb me. You hear me, boy?”
“Yes, Mom I hear you.”
Marvin upset, that his mom has embarrassed him, glared at the strange man with hatred in his eyes. The stranger winked at him with a sly grin and walked into his mom’s room. Marvin turned the TV up loud to drown out the noise coming from his mother room. Not being able to take it anymore, Marvin walked out and knocked on his best friend door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Marvin, Ms Bell.”
“Come on in, Marvin, how are you?”
“I’m good, Ms Bell.”
“Well, you know where Michael is. Like always, in his bed room.”
 Michael was sitting on his bed reading a study book on how to take the SAT's.
“You joking, right? You got a book in your hand that you’re really studding.”
“No, it’s no joke, my brother, I promised my mom I would further my education by going to college.”
“Yo, you know most people don’t ever make it out of the projects.”
“That’s because they don’t have any dreams of bettering themselves.”
“That’s fucked up; I want to get out of the projects just like you. I probably want out more than you.”
“OK, prove it. I’m going to take the SAT to see if I can score high enough to go to college.”
“Alright, that’s a bet. If you do it I will too.”
“Then it’s a bet, Marvin. We will do this together.”

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Bayou City Blues Chapter 1

Rashard “Stone” Williams walked into the downtown bar looking for his old friend. The bar was packed with people enjoying their drinks and laughing loudly among themselves. He walked through the establishment, turning his head back and forth.  There was sports memorabilia all over the walls of the bar. As Rashard approached, his friend jumped out of his seat.

“Stone, what’s going on?” asked Gentry.


  “Damn. It’s been a long time. I can’t believe you got the Marine Corps to give you orders to San Antonio.”


 “Hell, man, I wanted an easy duty station. There ain’t nothing like recruiting,” laughed Gentry as both men took a seat at the table.


“I bet you getting all kinds of recruits in the Corps. I know you loving San Antonio. It’s some pretty ladies out there.”

“I’m doing my thing. I can’t complain. Oh yeah, it’s some pretty ladies in San Antonio, but I’ve settled down, Stone. I got my queen at the house. I just had a baby girl six months ago,” smiled Gentry.



“Congrats man. What’s her name?”

“Her name is Patricia and she was born with a head full of hair. She was 5 pounds, 14 ounces.”

“That is incredible! Ol’ Gentry, a daddy now.”

The men were friends before the Marine Corps and were both from Montgomery. They attended the same high school and both went into the military after they graduated. Their friendship intensified when they found themselves fighting on the front lines in Iraq.  

“I can’t believe you a cop out here in Houston. I heard ‘bout you and what happened back home. Organized crime in Montgomery, who would have thought it?” asked Gentry in a sarcastic tone.

“Who said politicians don’t commit crimes?” smiled Rashard.

“Stone, out here bringing down rich gangsters.” 

“Can I get two beers at this table?” asked Rashard flagging down an attractive waitress to their table.

“I heard that you are on a special task force out here in Houston,” said Gentry.

“Yeah, my squad goes after the worst killers out here. The criminals call us the Ghost Squad, because they say they never see us coming.”

 The pretty waitress came to the table with their beers in hand.

“Is there anything else I can get you gentlemen?” asked the pretty brown eyed waitress.

“Well, Brittany,” said Gentry reading her name tag, “after we finish these beers, you can bring over a pitcher of Budweiser. I hope you’re our waitress tonight.”  

The waitress had a dark brown complexion with an extremely attractive body. Her face was beautiful and she had a smile that would light up any room. 

“Yeah, sweetie, I will be here all night,” she said flirting with Gentry.

She turned quickly around and headed for another table. The two men continued their conversation.

“Don’t you miss the Marines?” asked Gentry.

“Yeah, I do sometimes. I miss going to all those different countries and I miss the action. Being a cop on this task force is almost as exciting as being a Leatherneck.”

“I’m going to retire as a U.S. Marine. I love the military life, Stone. This is what I’m good at. This is my gift. I don’t mind being an infantry Marine.”

“I hear you, man. I’m glad you love it. It wasn’t bad for me and it gave me a chance to get out of the neighborhood. Shit, who would ever think cats like me and you would be in Singapore? We’ve been all over the world,” said Rashard with a smile on his face.

“Man, do you remember those girls we met when we got off the ship?” asked Gentry.

“Damn, they were fine. I remember those two very well.”

“Hell, I may move to Singapore when I retire from the Corps.”

“Damn, Singapore got you sprung like that?” asked Rashard.

“Naw. I just like that country. I want to live overseas; I got a taste for that lifestyle.”

“I hear you. You sound like my other friend Maxwell. The boy went to Japan and never came back. Married a beautiful Japanese girl and still lives in Okinawa.”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout bro,” said Gentry with a laugh.

“Let’s make a toast to all our lost brothers,” said Rashard.

The two men clanged their beer bottles together. Both of the men tipped their bottles over spilling some beer on the floor of the bar. This was an act of respect for their fallen comrade Scott. Lance Corporal Scott fought with the two men in Iraq. He was killed in action in a town called Nasiriyah.

“Scott was a good Marine,” said Rashard

“Shit, Stone, he was a damn good Marine.”

“Have you talked to anyone else that was out there with us?” asked Rashard.

“Gunnery Sergeant Smiley is now Master Gunnery Sergeant.”

“That’s cool. Is he still crazy?”

“Hell yeah, Stone, you know that motherfucker is always going to be crazy.”

The two men continued to talk and enjoy each other’s company. The mix of cold beers and sports highlights on the big screen televisions relaxed them. No one in the packed bar seemed to notice anything odd about the two men that walked into the bar. The men walked up to the hostess booth and eyed the bar for a familiar face. The men did not look out of place with jackets on, because it was a cool September night.

The two Hispanic men walked over to a table where three black men and a woman were talking and drinking beer. The happy group never noticed the approaching strangers.

“Are you Ice?” asked one of the Hispanic men.

“Who the fuck wants to know?” asked Ice eyeing both men coldly.

“Do you know these fucking clowns?” asked a man at Ice’s table.

“We’re here to collect!” screamed the other Hispanic man.

The three men were surprised when the Hispanics pulled automatic weapons from their jackets. The armed men opened fire without any hesitation. The sound of automatic gunfire surprised the other patrons of the bar. People in the area screamed and dove for cover hoping not to be victims of the heartless shooters. Bullets sprayed the three men and the young woman who were sitting at the table. Blood appeared from everywhere as the assassins terminated their targets with extreme precision.

“Get the fuck down!” screamed Rashard as he and Gentry dove to the floor.

Rashard reached for his back up pistol which he had in an ankle holster.

He and Gentry sprang into action trying to reach the front area of the sports bar and took cover behind a huge bar booth.

“Freeze! H.P.D.! Drop them fucking guns!” screamed Rashard as he got up from his covered position.

 Rashard’s gun was drawn and it was pointed at the shooters. The two gunmen were surprised to hear someone yell “police.” They quickly turned on their heels. Rashard wasted no time and shot twice, hitting one of the shooters in the middle of his chest. The man was thrown violently backward to the ground from the shots, which killed him instantly.     

The other gunman screamed out in anger and started firing wildly at the officer. Rashard dove out of the way of the wild gunfire. The shooter continued shooting at Rashard as he ran out the front door of the bar. The officer returned fire but did not hit the fleeing man.

“Stone, Stone, I’m hit!” screamed Gentry.

Rashard looked over to see his friend bleeding heavily from his stomach. Both of Gentry’s hands were covered in dark blood that was gushing out of the open wound.

“Man, I can’t believe I got shot in the States. Ain’t that some shit?”

“Be cool. An ambulance is on the way. Stay with me, Marine!” said Rashard as he cradled the injured man in his arms.

Rashard tried desperately to keep calm and not panic. Within a matter of minutes police officers and ambulance workers ran into the bullet-riddled bar. They were trying desperately to care for the injured and traumatized survivors.

“I need some help over here!” yelled Rashard.

Two paramedics ran over to help Gentry.

“We need a stretcher! This guy has a serious abdominal wound!” yelled one of the paramedics.

Gentry was quickly placed on the stretcher. Rashard walked out of the building with his friend as he was loaded into the ambulance.

“Call my wife, Stone. Let her know I’m OK,” said Gentry as he handed Rashard his cell phone.

The doors of the emergency vehicle were then closed and the injured Marine was ready to be transported. 

“Is he going to make it? What hospital will he be at?” asked Rashard.

“It’s hard to tell. Stomach wounds can be fatal. He will be at Lone Star Memorial,” said the paramedic hurrying to the front of the emergency vehicle.

“Fuck!” yelled Rashard out of frustration.

Rashard watched the ambulance until it disappeared into the darkness. He had just seen one of his oldest friends taken away with a life threatening injury. The event seemed surreal to him and he had to make himself walk back into the sports bar.

There were a number of officers inside the bar by this time. People were being questioned about what they had witnessed.

“What the fuck happened in here? Can you explain how you’re always around when some shit goes down Stone?” screamed downtown patrol supervisor, Lieutenant Diaz, eyeing Rashard closely.

Lieutenant Diaz was Rashard’s supervisor before he joined the Ghost Squad.

“I was here with a military buddy having a few drinks. All of a sudden we hear gunshots. The second shooter was about six foot maybe 170 pounds. He was a young Hispanic male and he had a black jacket on with a hood; the guy had a shaved bald head with a thick goatee. He looked to be in his early 30s.”

Lieutenant Diaz radioed the suspect’s description in to the dispatch operator. The operator then alerted patrol officers to be on the lookout for the dangerous suspect. They were told to use extreme caution if they encountered the shooter.     

“We got four dead men in here and one woman. We’re not sure if this was random or a hit. Hell, guess it’s good you got one. You Ghost Squad motherfuckers are always involved in some shit.”

“Like I said, sir! I was here relaxing and the place got shot up. I reacted and tried to stop these fucking idiots!” said Rashard annoyed, pointing at the dead gunman he had killed.

“Do you know who the victims are?” asked Diaz.

“I don’t have a fucking clue about any of these people.”

“I recognize this guy. This is Devin Dennis. Everyone calls him ‘Ice’ on the streets. He runs with the Fifth Ward Mafia. I busted him for having a pistol a few years back. Damn, I guess who ever had it in for him wanted to make a serious statement.”

“I think this shit was beyond a statement. This was too bold to be something random. There were at least thirty witnesses in this bar,” said Rashard.

The Fifth Ward Mafia was a local street gang that operated in the Fifth Ward, which was in the northeast part of the city. The gang usually was involved in drug dealing, weapons trafficking, and home invasions.

“I’m pretty sure they were after Ice. He is one of the shot callers for the gang,” said Diaz.

Both men looked at the carnage that was left at that table. The victim’s bodies were twisted into gruesome positions. There were puddles of blood on the table and on the floor of the bar. Crime scene investigators were scrambling to identify the rest of the victims. The only person with no identification was the man that Rashard had killed.

“Crime in this city never sleeps,” said Talley, who was with the coroner’s office.

“What can you tell us ‘bout that guy?” asked Rashard pointing at the dead gunman.

“Well, Stone. I can tell you he’s dead.” said Talley sarcastically.

“Look, dumb ass! Do your fucking job! Ain’t shit funny ‘bout these bodies! Get your head outta your ass and get these fucking people in the morgue!” yelled Diaz.

Talley started to move with a new found since of urgency. He did not want to get on the lieutenant’s bad side. 

“Stone, you know the drill. We got to go to headquarters,” said Diaz.

Rashard was very aware of the procedure. He knew that his supervisor, Sergeant Smith, would be contacted. His major concern was the identity of the hit man he had killed.

 “What organization is bold enough to do something like this?” asked Rashard to himself.

 He was also concerned about Gentry’s welfare. It was supposed to be a regular night on the town and something like this happens. The odds of a major shootout happening were slim to none, but it was just his bad luck. At that moment he felt like the unluckiest man on the planet. 

Thursday, January 19, 2012

King James and Bobby Rodgers interview on Tangled Webs

King James and Bobby Rodgers: We wanted to write a drama filled story. We had noticed that the females really loved books like that. So we wanted to branch out and do something different.
We both usually write crime novels with police officers and gangsters. Tangled Webs was stepping out of the box for us. The book has two different stories in it that everyone can relate to and enjoy.
JP: What sets Tangled Webs apart from other books in the same genre?
KJ and BR: We don’t think there is another book out there like this one. These stories are totally original, so the reader will get an adventure they never thought they would get.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Tangled Webs getting out to the public?
KJ and BR: We try to use social networks to spread the word and interviews like this also.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Tangled Webs?
KJ and BR: We are both night-owl writers. It took us a few months to write this book. We actually finished a little earlier than expected.
JP: What’s next for King James and Bobby Rodgers?
KJ and BR: We are both working on new projects. Bobby Rodgers has a vampire book called Blood Throughout the Night, which is currently out through Amazon. King James has a new Rashard “Stone” Williams book coming out called Bayou City Blues.
Bobby has a werewolf book coming soon and King James has a female detective novel coming out, which is based in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. So be on the look out for these books. Underground Publishing has all types of new and different books coming out very soon.