Cover of King of Ashes: A Novel

King of Ashes: A Novel

by S. A. Cosby


Genre
Crime, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery
Year
2025
Pages
316
Contents

Chapter Twenty-Five

Overview

Neveah's investigation into her mother's death yields little from Bonita's friend Marion, but she openly accuses her father of murder to a horrified Dante. A machete attack by the Ghost Town Crew at Candy's bar marks an escalation of the gang war, injuring Dante's friends. Neveah severs her affair with Detective Chauncey by threatening to expose him, protecting Dante from being hauled in for questioning.

Summary

Neveah meets Marion Carter, an old friend of her mother Bonita, outside the hospital to ask about her parents. Marion insists Bonita loved Keith and that he never hurt her, but admits Bonita felt neglected because Keith devoted himself to the crematory. Marion believes whatever happened to Bonita wasn't Keith's fault, leaving Neveah unsatisfied.

Neveah goes to Candy's bar to drink alone, ignoring texts from Chauncey. Dante arrives with his friend Tug and Tug's girlfriend Raynell. Neveah presses Dante about the day their mother disappeared; Dante confesses he can no longer remember Bonita's voice and feels like a bad son. When Neveah declares their father killed their mother, Dante angrily defends Keith, refusing to accept it.

As Neveah storms out with Dante following, two Latino men with machetes burst from Candy's after slaughtering patrons inside, shouting "Tripulación de la Ciudad Fantasma" (Ghost Town Crew). Tug emerges carrying a bleeding Raynell. Neveah calls 911 and forces Dante to stay with her rather than run to his friends, fearing the attackers could return.

Police arrive in force. Detective Chauncey approaches and tries to haul Dante downtown as a person of interest in Getty and Cassidy's disappearance, also threatening to bring in Roman over their connection to Torrent Gilchrist. Neveah stands up to Chauncey, threatening to expose their affair to his wife by forwarding his texts. Chauncey backs down but issues a veiled threat. Neveah drives Dante home, ending her entanglement with Chauncey, and the siblings share a laugh.

Who Appears

  • Neveah Carruthers
    Investigates her mother's death, confronts Dante about their father's guilt, and severs ties with Chauncey by threatening to expose their affair.
  • Dante Carruthers
    High at the bar, defends their father against Neveah's accusations, witnesses the machete attack on his friends, nearly hauled in by Chauncey.
  • Chauncey
    Married detective and Neveah's lover; tries to take Dante downtown as a person of interest, backs down when Neveah threatens to expose him.
  • Marion Carter
    Older friend of Bonita; tells Neveah that Keith loved Bonita and never hurt her, though he neglected her for the crematory.
  • Tug
    Dante's friend at the bar; carries his wounded girlfriend Raynell out after the attack.
  • Raynell
    Tug's girlfriend, severely wounded in the shoulder during the machete attack at Candy's.
  • Ghost Town Crew attackers
    Two Latino men with bloody machetes who slaughter patrons inside Candy's, shouting their gang's name.
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