An ex-cop sets out to find her missing sister and discovers the horrifying truth about her family…
Intrigued? Well we are thrilled to be revealing the cover for David Bell’s upcoming novel, Try Not To Breathe, along with an excerpt from Chapter 1! Releasing on June 27th 2023, Try Not To Breathe is available to pre-order.
When Avery discovers Anna’s hiding place near a remote cave system, she risks everything to save her. Little do the sisters know that the past is catching up with them—including the explosive secret at the very heart of the Rogers family.
Chapter One
Anna stepped out of the Uber.
Correction—she stumbled out of the Uber.
She steadied herself in the parking lot, waiting for the world to stop tilting. The driver, relieved to have deposited his drunk passenger, drove off into the night, red taillights glowing.
“Thanks, man,” Anna muttered.
The steps to her apartment rose ahead of her. One flight, but it might as well have been fifty. Why did she and Kayla sign a lease for a second-floor unit?
The night sky was clear, a million stars like glowing dots. No wind, but it was cold. Anna shivered, tugged her jean jacket tighter. Her body shook. Just go inside, into your warm bed.
The world stopped spinning. Anna mouthed a silent prayer of thanks. She told herself she’d never drink tequila again. She amended the statement right away—she would never drink anything again. She’d been partying too much, staying out too late. Failing out of school. Everything spiraling—
Stop the out-of-control thoughts. Just get your ass inside.
Anna started forward, stepping cautiously. Don’t rush, don’t fall. She dug in her purse, reaching for her keys. She knew Kayla would lock the door. Dependable, reliable Kayla. Asleep at eleven, homework finished. Dishes washed and put away. The next day’s clothes ready to go.
Anna lived with her opposite. She loved Kayla dearly, but how did they become and stay such good friends?
Anna grabbed the keys. Score. She hated to have to ring the bell, get Kayla out of bed to let her in. That had happened a few times. Missing keys, lost phone. Forgotten credit card. But not tonight—Anna made it home and gripped the keys as her foot hit the bottom step.
Something moved on her left. From the corner of her eye, she saw it.
The breath caught in her throat.
A figure coming from the direction of the building next door. A dark blur. A neighbor? Another drunk student?
It couldn’t be him, could it?
The Midnight Rambler. The town pervert. A guy who’d been creeping around outside girls’ apartments, peeking in windows, watching girls sleep. But he hadn’t been spotted in their complex, and Anna thought he’d get caught soon or go away, some loser who didn’t know how to get laid on his own—
Then the guy said something, called out a word in the dark.
Did he really just say that? Her name?
“Anna?”
She froze, looked his way. His face remained obscured. He wore dark clothes, walked with his hands in his pants pockets. What was the name of the guy next door? The one who helped her get her car started the day she left her lights on? Was that him?
Why was he slinking around outside the building at…It was after two. Anna stayed out until last call, slamming back one more shot before she summoned a ride.
And did the dude next door even know her name?
Maybe he’d said something else. Maybe he just said hello. Or maybe he’d said nothing, Anna just heard a branch scraping or the tequila caused auditory hallucinations. Her stomach turned when she thought of the number of shots she’d consumed. Why do I do this to myself? Inside. She needed to get inside. Bathroom, Tylenol, water, bed—
She started up the stairs, turning away from the shadowy figure. She dismissed him. He wasn’t the Rambler. Just another drunken student, one of her brethren in late-night debauchery. Like her, he needed to get into his apartment, sleep off his drunk all while vowing never to do it again—
“Anna?”
Anna stopped again, halfway up. She looked back into the gloom. The man stood five feet back from the lowest step, his face still obscured. How did he know her name?
And if he knew her name, if he was a friend, why did he linger in the dark? Why not come right out and speak to her in the light?
Anna started up the stairs again. She missed the next step. Her foot came down on nothing but air, and her knees pounded against the concrete. Her eyes watered with pain.
“Shit. Fuck.”
She regained her footing, started up. Moving quickly, stepping carefully. She didn’t look back.
She drew the keys out, eyed the lock. She prayed Kayla—who worried more about the Rambler than Anna ever did—hadn’t put the chain up as well.
Anna’s key hit the lock, she turned. The lock stuck, as it sometimes did.
No.
The guy behind her started up the steps, heavy shoes against the concrete. Sweat popped out on Anna’s forehead. She jiggled the key, turned it again. Mercifully, the lock turned. Anna pushed, almost fell into the living room.
“Kayla?”
Anna spun, slammed the door shut, shaking the walls. Anna’s hands shook as she turned the lock, grabbed the chain and put it in place. Her heart jumped against her ribs like a bucking horse. She collapsed against the door, holding herself up.
She risked a look. She pressed her eye to the peephole. With a fisheye view, she saw the dude on the landing, hands still stuffed in his pockets. He looked down, his face still obscured. He didn’t reach for the knob, but Anna worried he might. Maybe he’d try to kick the door in.
“Anna?”
She jumped a foot, almost screamed.
Anna turned around, saw Kayla behind her in the living room. Her roommate wore sweats and a Titans t-shirt. Her eyes were puffy from sleep. “Hey, Anna. What’s going on? I heard the door—”
“Look outside. Look. It’s the Rambler—or it’s—I don’t know.”
Kayla came over, rubbing her upper arms. “I was dead asleep. Are you okay?”
“Look.”
Kayla pressed her face to the door, turned her head from one side to the other. “I don’t see anything.”
“Kayla, there was a dude. He was out there in the dark. He came toward me—and—and—I think he said my name.”
“Do you know him?”
“No, Kayla. I mean, I didn’t get a good look at his face. Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick.” She dropped her keys and purse on the floor, clutched her stomach. The tequila roiled like a stormy sea. As if that wasn’t enough, tears leaked from her eyes. “He scared the shit out of me.”
“Anna, I’ve never seen you like this.” Kayla covered the distance between them, reached out and took Anna in her arms. “My God, you’re shaking. Let’s call the police. Okay? Right now. That could be the Rambler. Or if he said your name—”
“I don’t know. Maybe I imagined it. I don’t know…”
“Let’s call the police, okay?”
“No, no. I feel…I had too much to drink. I need to go to bed.”
“But Anna, if you’re so scared…”
“Just, just…” Anna moved back, out of Kayla’s arms. “I can’t involve the cops. My dad—it’s just too complicated.”
“Anna, are you sure? You look terrified.”
“I’m just going to go to bed. I need to sleep this off, okay? I’m sorry I woke you.”
“It’s not about that, Anna. It’s about you—”
“I’m fine. Really.” Anna started for the bathroom, but she looked back once, studied the door.
She wanted to make sure—really, sure—that the lock and chain were in place.
###
Morning light leaked through the blinds, assaulting Anna’s eyes. She pulled the pillow over her head, burrowed into the warm sheets. She willed the world away.
Until the bedroom door swooshed open. Kayla. Always on time, always prepared.
“Anna? Hey, girl. Are you ready to talk about last night?”
Love the cover and first chapter of Learn To Breathe.