Characters

Morris Sinclair, late 60s, Some people believed Morris Sinclair was the devil incarnate (he even looked devilish with his black hair and black eyes) while others worshiped him for the horror he created in his bestselling novels. The most famous was the “Necropieces” series which followed a man who is able to bring the dead (or pieces of the dead) back to life. The character in the series does not do this for altruistic reasons, though. He is a true devil incarnate. The books inspired a cult-like following for Morris.

The fame and money from the books allowed Morris to indulge in whatever he wished. If you can imagine it, he was guilty of it. Like a snake, he was able to wiggle out of most trouble. But perhaps his day of reckoning has come.

Seth Bryan, 41, is the county sheriff. Until 20 months before, he was a captain on the Greentree (think Pasadena), California, police department.  A local boy who married his cheerleader high school sweetheart, he was the rising star of the department and destined to be the chief.  A rival on the department, knowing he could not exceed Seth, plotted with Seth’s lover–an administrator in the department, to accuse him of sexual harassment.  The charges fell apart and the rival was dismissed, as was the administrator.  Seth, however, went from golden boy to pariah.  When the sheriff’s job (appointed by county commissioners, not elected) came open, he took it.  His wife, who hated the desert and even more hated that he embarrassed her and lost his chance at prestige, has separated from him; she refuses to sign the divorce paper.

Rubicon Ranch is a pain in the neck for him because it is so exclusive, high-profile and full of eccentrics—even before the death of Riley.  He tends to be bitter, cynical and untrusting.  Underneath it he is a good lawman and disarmingly sly.

Melanie Gray, 43, has traveled the world with her husband, a world-renowned photographer. Together they authored many coffee-table books (she did the writing, he the photographs). One of the books told about mountains of the world, one about rivers, one about oceans, one about forests, and now they have a contract to do deserts. After they rented a house in Rubicon Ranch to begin their in-depth study of the southwestern deserts, he died in a car accident.

Now, not only does she have to deal with the pain of losing her husband and figuring out what she’s going to do for the rest of her life, she needs to fulfill the publishing contract or she’ll have to reimburse the publishers, which she cannot do because the advance is all but spent. Since she is not a photographer, she roams the desert bordering on Rubicon Ranch, taking hundreds of photos, hoping that a few of them will accidentally end up being as brilliant as her husband’s photos always were. On one of her walks, she finds a dismembered foot. Her calling the sheriff makes her an automatic suspect, as does reports of her very vocal altercation with her famous neighbor. Besides, the sheriff does not trust her completely, thinking she is hiding something.

Psychologist Mary “Moody” Sinclair, 36, is the psychologist daughter of famous horror writer, Morris Sinclair. Following her imprisonment for child endangerment after the controversial death of a young patient, Moody fled to her father’s house in Rubicon Ranch. She ran from one hell straight into another.

Life with Morris is full of high drama, loathsome habits and unconcealed hostility. Morris enjoys creating confrontations and Moody is left to clean up his messes. But, that is the price she pays, as she has nowhere else to go.

After discovering the horrible pictures Morris kept as inspiration for his writing, Moody knows the clock is ticking down for her father. Moody has no doubt that Morris harbors more disgusting secrets she has yet to uncover. But, some secrets are best buried as Moody discovers the horror in her own life is greater than any in her father’s novels.

For her own sake, Moody needs to put Morris away — for good.

Eloy Franklin, 82, a fixture of Rubicon Ranch, sits on his porch day in day out, dawn to dusk, leaving his cane rocking chair only to replenish his glass of iced tea, grab a snack, relieve his bladder.

Virtually invisible to the residents of the neighborhood, he stands watch over them all. A force really if anything were to happen there within his eyeshot. Two bum knees and riddled with rheumatoid arthritis in his hands it’d be a miracle to even be able to punch 911 on the cordless sitting on the table beside him, let alone chase after any offender who dared to endanger his Rubicon Ranch.

No one had assigned him the duty . . . and yet, still, he watches.

Ward Preminger, 29, is, in his mind, average. He’s neither tall nor short, handsome nor ugly, brilliant nor stupid. If he were to compare himself to anyone, it would be Harry Potter – in general looks if not magical powers. He works in a bookstore as a clerk, bolstering his salary with an inheritance from his grandmother. He’s a bit of a geek, but loves to ride his bike and jog – until one day when he’s sucked up on a tornado.

After an extended hospital stay, he moves to Rubicon Ranch, having found out there are very few tornadoes in the high desert. Paranoid of the weather, he spends the first weeks there inside as much as possible. He goes from home to work and back, rarely even seeing his neighbors.

One day, while at work, Ward encounters Morris Sinclair. The two have an altercation and Ward ends up in the hospital once more. He blames Morris for his injuries and develops an obsession with revenge. This desire is so strong, he puts aside his fear of outdoors and stalks the old man incessantly. Having sworn revenge, Ward is determined to lure Morris to his demise.

Alex Morton Sinclair, 41, had changed his life. Over the years, his famous father’s influence lessened as Alex put more and more distance between himself and Morris Sinclair. Obsessively, Alex sought redemption for his past sins within the circle of the ministry that he hoped was his salvation.

Happen-chance, serendipity, divine direction, quantum entanglement; Alex did not know what to call the next chapter in his life as he arrived in the city not far from his father’s home. He had vowed to never cross his father’s path again, but Alex’s destiny laughed and sent him straight into hell’s living room.

But, that was all right. Alex was finally strong enough to confront the demon he called “Father.” He was ready to confront the horrible sin that had driven him from his family.

The Sinclairs’ hands were bloody with sacrifices. Alex was ready to administer atonement. He was prepared to walk his golden path to heaven — even if he had to take everyone with him.