Death Is Forever

Chatper One

Northern Territory, Australia
October

"Two people died getting this to me."

Cole Blackburn looked at the small worn velvet bag in Chen Wing's hand and asked, "Was it worth it?"

"You tell me."

With a swift motion Wing emptied the contents of the bag onto the ebony surface of his desk. Light rippled and shifted as nine translucent stones tumbled over one another with tiny crystalline sounds. The first impression was of large, very roughly made marbles that had been chipped and pitted by use. Nine of the thirteen stones were colorless. Three were pink. One was the intense green of a deep river pool.

Cole's hand closed over the green marble. It was as big as the tip of his thumb and surprisingly heavy for its size. He rubbed it between his fingers. The surface had an almost slippery feel, as though it had been burnished with precious oils. He turned the stone until he found a flat, cleanly ... read full excerpt from Death Is Forever ebook