When I sent the first draft of We Are Shadows to my editor, the first thing he said was if I wanted to be in the “Cozy Mystery” genre, I couldn’t show the actual murder taking place — it had to be “off stage” and only referred to after the fact. That meant my very first chapter had to be deleted. It was the death of Denny by hanging. Here’s the entire chapter for your reading pleasure:

“What’s the word, Daisy? Da been good to ya while I’ve been gone?” The lad spoke soothingly to the cow while he milked her. “I’ve missed this early morning time, you and me and the sunrise. Almost done, there’s a good girl, close to a full pail. I’m WHAA–oomph!” A hand covered his mouth from behind and when he tried to yell, a gag replaced the hand, silencing him. Someone threw him onto the ground and sat on his back while his hands and feet were tied together. Someone grabbed him under his arms as another took up his feet. Hoisted over a strong, well-built shoulder, he was carried-shoved-manhandled up the ladder to the hayloft. A noose was already attached to the rafters and a chair underneath. As much as he thrashed and struggled, the iron grip held him steady while the noose was lowered over his head. Someone reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out his mobile.

       No need to place him on the chair, that was only for looks. A push off the side of the loft would be enough, then the chair theatrically turned onto its side. At the last moment, they untied his extremities and removed the cloth from his mouth.

       “Wait! You don’t need to do this!” were his last words before a shove at his back tightened the noose around his neck.

Three dark-clad figures silently slipped from the barn just as the sun began to peek through the birches on the hillside.

Return here for more deleted scenes to come!