With her ex-boyfriend down for a permanent three count and her twin brother at the top of the suspect list, it’s up to Zoey Wilde to pin down the killer…

After a near-death experience at the hands of her abusive and narcissistic ex-boyfriend, Zoey Wilde has spent the past six years rebuilding herself, her confidence, and her semi-professional wrestling career. Her career is finally back on track, and she is on the verge of being crowned the first ever LAW Women’s Champion.

When Devon Isler—who is fresh out of prison and making his return to the world of pro wrestling—winds up getting booked at the same event, Zoey breaks kayfabe and engages in a very public argument with him. Knowing that the show must go on, Zoey pushes forward with her match. But when Devon turns up dead in the parking lot following his No Holds Barred Match against Zoey’s brother, the Wildes finds themselves topping the suspect list.

Devon’s murder may have breathed new life into her wrestling career, but none of it will matter if she or one of her brothers is charged with the crime. With the help of family and friends, Zoey needs to clear their names before her career—and her life—is K.O.-ed…  

ONE 

Saturday August 18, 2018

“Where’s Zoey? Where’s my soon-to-be first ever Women’s Champion?”

The shout echoed throughout the VFW Hall’s cavernous banquet room, causing Zoey Wilde to flinch. Beneath her, the six-foot-tall stepladder wobbled on the old, uneven floorboards. Zoey shifted her weight and steadied the ladder.

“I’m right here,” Zoey muttered. “How can you possibly miss seeing me?”

Ignoring the person looking for her, Zoey carried on with hanging up a gigantic vinyl banner. Printed along the top of the banner in red, two foot-high block letters was “Linville Association of Wrestling.” Lined up along the banner were some of the wrestlers who had appeared at LAW events throughout the past year. Tacked on the end like an afterthought, Zoey was the only woman pictured: a tattooed, leopard print-clad Beauty alongside a half dozen shirtless, speedo-clad Beasts.

After securing the banner, Zoey pivoted so that she could look around the banquet room. Her movements caused the ladder to totter to the side.

“Don’t fall!” Hannah Stoltzfus—Zoey’s twenty-year-old protégé and her opponent for later in the evening—grabbed the swaying ladder. Despite her best efforts, the ladder continued to wobble.

With the ladder threatening to tip over, Zoey fumbled along the wall for something to hold on to. With one hand, she clutched the bottom edge of the banner. With the other, she accidentally tore down a string of half burnt-out twinkling Christmas lights. Zoey didn’t feel too bad about tearing down the lights—it was August after all.

“I told you the top step is not really a step,” Hannah scolded as she finally steadied the ladder. “There’s a big sticker that says you should never stand on the top step. But, no . . . You insisted on standing on it anyway.”

“Well, you know me . . . I’m not just a wild woman. I am the ‘Wilde Woman,’” Zoey said, referring to her professional wrestling personae. “I like to live dangerously. After all, what’s life if you don’t occasionally ignore the warning labels and break a few rules?”

“Oh please, you hardly live dangerously. You’re just barely living,” Hannah said. “All you do is go to work and wrestle. I mean, yeah, wrestling can be dangerous but—”

“Hey, I also go to the gym.”

“And that’s positively life-threatening.” Hannah managed to look stern for a second or two before she ruined the effect by giggling. “Seriously, Zoey. You don’t date. You don’t go to parties. You don’t jump out of airplanes—”

“When was the last time you jumped out of an airplane?” Zoey clenched her hands into fists and jammed them against her hips. She glared down her nose at Hannah. “I’m sorry my life isn’t exciting enough for you. But I’m perfectly happy with it.”

“I’m just saying . . . You need to get out more. Live a little.”

“And you need to mind your own business.” Zoey hated being lectured to—especially by someone who was a decade younger than her and didn’t have a fraction of the life experience that she had.

Above Zoey’s head, a speaker crackled and screeched. The sound left her ears ringing.

“Zoey? Where are you? Are you even in here?”

“I’m right here, Uncle Leland.” Zoey pivoted towards the stage that was at the other end of the room and waved her arms to get Leland Freeman’s attention.

Leland was not Zoey’s biological uncle, but he was considered family because he was her dad’s closest friend. Leland and Marlon Wilde had also been tag team partners back when they had wrestled on the independent circuit.

“Oh, there you are.” Leland waved as he continued speaking into the microphone. “What are you doing on top of that ladder? Get down from there. The last thing I need is for you to fall and break your neck this close to showtime. Who told you to climb up there anyway?”

“You did.”

Leland was the man behind the curtain at the Linville Association of Wrestling. As the owner, operator, CEO, promotor, and booker, he wore many hats. Among numerous other duties, he created the storylines, booked the matches, and decided the winners.

Back on solid ground, Zoey yelled, “Where’s my title belt?”

“It’s right here!” Leland held up a fabric wrapped bundle. “Get on up here if you want to see it. And bring Hannah with you. I need to talk to both of you.”

“Are you excited about winning the title tonight?” Hannah asked.

“I’m always excited to win a title,” Zoey said. Throughout her twelve year wrestling career, she had worked for various promotions up and down the East Coast. She had won so many Women’s Championships that she had long since lost count. “But tonight is going to be extra exciting since I’m going to be the first LAW Women’s Champion.”

“Plus, this is your hometown,” Hannah said, as if Zoey needed a reminder that she was a lifelong resident of Linville, Pennsylvania. The small town was located in what was known as Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, and was about halfway between Harrisburg and the city of Lancaster. “I hope I get to win a championship someday.”

“Your career is only just getting started. You’ve got plenty of time to win a championship or two.” Zoey linked arms with Hannah and pulled her towards the other side of the banquet room. “Now let’s go see this title belt.”