The granite didn’t care about the cold.

Neither did Nick Stello.

The hardened stone mason adjusted his grip on the three-pound steel club hammer, his thumb resting just beneath the head for maximum control, and delivered a short, rhythmic strike to the tungsten carbide chisel.

Clink!

The sound rolled across the valley and disappeared into the trees.

No sirens.

No radios.

No shouted orders.

Just wind.

Most people would have called the valley isolated.

Nick preferred the word…Continue Reading “DEAD LOAD (A Nick Stello Action Thriller) Chapter One: The Plumb Line”