An Excerpt from Into the Devil's Underground by Stacy Green

Into the Devil's Underground by Stacy Green

We are delighted to welcome back mystery author Stacy Green to Omnimystery News.

Stacy visited with us last week, when we discussed her new novel of psychological suspense Into the Devil's Underground (Twisted Minds Press; May 2014 trade paperback and ebook formats and formerly published as Into the Dark), and we are pleased to introduce you to it with an excerpt from the first chapter.

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SWEAT DRIPPED DOWN THE BACK OF Emilie's neck and saturated the collar of her shirt. Her shoulder-length hair clung to her sticky skin like a drenched yarn mop. She covered her nose as the acrid smell of perspiring bodies permeated the air. The air stopped running over thirty minutes ago, and she assumed police had shut off the power in the hopes of drawing out the two gun-wielding men. The temperature inside had immediately soared. The hot sun peeked through the closed blinds in the front windows and cast the lobby in gray shadow.
  She rapped her fingernails on the tile floor, sweating, shaking, and feeling sick.
  The sense of being watched overwhelmed her.
  One of the robbers had isolated Emilie from the group. He sat quietly beside her, his head turning every time she moved: the slightest shift, an anxious sigh, the continuous checking of her knock-off Cartier watch.
  The rest of the hostages cowered in front of the teller's counter, at the mercy of the other robber. Gun drawn, he stalked the lobby, the filthy duffle bag Emilie had filled with cash slung over his shoulder.
  One of the trapped customers started to cry. Mollie put her arm around the terrified woman.
  "Shut that bitch up." The ringleader stopped in front of Mollie and stuck his gun in her face.
  "Shh," Mollie begged. "Please."
  The customer pressed her fist against her mouth and nodded.
  "Keep her quiet." Crazy man waved his gun at the terrified group. "Rest of you too." He stomped away to resume his pacing.
  What were these men thinking? Police surrounded the building. Escape is not an option.
  Crazy seemed to understand this. He paced the room, reminding Emilie of a caged tiger she'd seen in the zoo as a child. The animal's huge paws had worn a bare path in the green grass as it constantly circled its enclosure. Like the tiger, the man's eyes shifted from person to person, spot to spot, but never settled. He knew he was as trapped as the hostages.
  But the man sitting next to her was calm. Serene. And he scared her to death.
  "Why are you here?" Butterflies swarmed in her stomach. Sweat rolled down her forehead and stung her eyes.
  Laugh lines appeared at the corners of the man's eyes. "You don't know, Miss Emilie?"
  Her heart skidded to a stop. How does he know my name? Throat constricted, she shook her head.
  "For you, Miss Emilie. I'm here for you."

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Photo provided courtesy of
Stacy Green

Born in Indiana and raised in Iowa, Stacy Green earned degrees in journalism and sociology from Drake University. After a successful advertising career, Stacy became a proud stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. Now a full-time author, Stacy juggles her time between her demanding characters and supportive family. She loves reading, cooking, and the occasional gardening excursion. Stacy lives in Marion, Iowa with her husband Rob, their daughter Grace, and the family’s three obnoxious but lovable canine children.

For more information about the author, please visit her website at StacyGreen.net or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Into the Devil's Underground
Stacy Green
A Novel of Suspense

For Emilie Davis, it was business as usual in her job as bank manager of WestOne until two men storm in demanding cash. However, it doesn't take long before Emilie learns one of the men isn't there for money — he's convinced they have a connection and has come to claim her. And he won't give up.

When hostage negotiator Nathan Madigan and Las Vegas SWAT enter the bank on a rescue mission, Emilie's captor makes a shocking escape into the abyss that lies beneath the city: the Las Vegas storm drains, a refuge for the downtrodden and the desperate.

Through the darkness of the Devil's Underground and secrets from her past, Emilie finds there is no escape from her stalker. She turns to Nathan, who is determined to save her no matter what it takes.

But will it be enough?