Under My Skin feature
#Crime #Mystery/Suspense #Thriller
An ex-con tattoo artist is hired to ink seductive beauties, but when the newly illustrated models turn up dead, he must solve the mystery, clear his name, and evade a corrupt cop on his tail.
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Summary
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112 pages |
2 years ago
|
Draft 1
After seven years at MacNeil Island Correctional Facility, Deano Sheehan is Deano free man.
And while he probably should've tried to better himself by obtaining a college degree or lifting weights like his fellow inmates, he instead chose to immerse himself even deeper within the art that has chosen him... Tattooing.
As he steps back into the free world, his legend has grown to almost mystical status. People from all walks of life see his markings as a good luck charm or at least see themselves as walking art galleries. But his strait-laced brother, Mike, a high-powered attorney in Seattle, has him convinced to leave all the ink stains behind. He's set up an important interview, even scheduling a laser removal appointment for his little brother, to make him more presentable to the corporate world.
But just as a leopard can't change its spots, Deano finds it impossible to escape the subculture of tatts.
Soon, he's skipping out on the doctor's appointment and the job interview, touching base with his fellow tattoo artists and friends from more than a half decade ago: Vinny, the grizzled old pro, Trent, the uptight shop owner, and Jenna, his old flame. With Vinny and Jenna's cajoling, Deano has his old job back, much to the jealous Trent's chagrin.
Enter mysterious businessman Burton Giles, about the last person you'd expect to see in a tattoo parlor, who lays out a proposal almost as startling as the elaborate designs he wants engraved on the backs of his beautiful models. It's a job ideally suited for Deano's particular technique and draws the envy of his fellow ink slingers when he snares it: 50,000 dollars, and a high-end photo shoot awaits, after he skillfully administers the series of tribal Thai tattoos to four alluring Asian women that have been selected.
With Jenna's urging, things appear to be turning around for Deano. That is, until Sonny Tran, the local drug kingpin pays them a visit, demanding 40,000 for the drugs he lost in the bust; A wide ranging drug sweep that cost Deano years for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, leaving a bitter stain that will outlast any tattoo.
Now, the gig at Burton's mansion is do or die. And, as he rekindles things with Jenna, and makes new plans for a life with her, he also enters a seductive world filled with exotic women, sex, and drugs. It's not long before his new occupational hazards include a depraved descent into decadence.
But when Burton disappears without paying him, and the newly illustrated models all turn up dead one morning, a disoriented, drug addled Deano is left holding the bag, fleeing a bloody crime scene with a bull's-eye seemingly tattooed on his back.
Soon, he's back at the tattoo parlor, trying to blend back into his old life like a faded symbol within an elaborate sleeve, but clearly standing out as a prime suspect to Detective Moylan, the same corrupt narc who pinned the trumped-up drug rap on him years ago. It's a delicate game of show and tell as he tries to evade the cops and find answers, and yet, Deano's search for the truth is about to hit another snag. Sonny Tran, tired of waiting, has kidnapped Jenna and is demanding full payment of the 40 grand for ransom.
When his now estranged brother and a shadowy DEA agent come to his aid, he is given a shot at busting Tran and saving Jenna. But as new evidence emerges and Moylan's murder probe tightens, the sting goes horribly awry and ends up putting her in even more danger... Deano's a full-fledged fugitive now and must team with Vinny, to help track down Burton, solve the mystery of who framed him, and more importantly, why?
Beneath the surface lies the secret of the needle, and the damage done...
UNDER MY SKIN
Blood is thicker than ink.
And while he probably should've tried to better himself by obtaining a college degree or lifting weights like his fellow inmates, he instead chose to immerse himself even deeper within the art that has chosen him... Tattooing.
As he steps back into the free world, his legend has grown to almost mystical status. People from all walks of life see his markings as a good luck charm or at least see themselves as walking art galleries. But his strait-laced brother, Mike, a high-powered attorney in Seattle, has him convinced to leave all the ink stains behind. He's set up an important interview, even scheduling a laser removal appointment for his little brother, to make him more presentable to the corporate world.
But just as a leopard can't change its spots, Deano finds it impossible to escape the subculture of tatts.
Soon, he's skipping out on the doctor's appointment and the job interview, touching base with his fellow tattoo artists and friends from more than a half decade ago: Vinny, the grizzled old pro, Trent, the uptight shop owner, and Jenna, his old flame. With Vinny and Jenna's cajoling, Deano has his old job back, much to the jealous Trent's chagrin.
Enter mysterious businessman Burton Giles, about the last person you'd expect to see in a tattoo parlor, who lays out a proposal almost as startling as the elaborate designs he wants engraved on the backs of his beautiful models. It's a job ideally suited for Deano's particular technique and draws the envy of his fellow ink slingers when he snares it: 50,000 dollars, and a high-end photo shoot awaits, after he skillfully administers the series of tribal Thai tattoos to four alluring Asian women that have been selected.
With Jenna's urging, things appear to be turning around for Deano. That is, until Sonny Tran, the local drug kingpin pays them a visit, demanding 40,000 for the drugs he lost in the bust; A wide ranging drug sweep that cost Deano years for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, leaving a bitter stain that will outlast any tattoo.
Now, the gig at Burton's mansion is do or die. And, as he rekindles things with Jenna, and makes new plans for a life with her, he also enters a seductive world filled with exotic women, sex, and drugs. It's not long before his new occupational hazards include a depraved descent into decadence.
But when Burton disappears without paying him, and the newly illustrated models all turn up dead one morning, a disoriented, drug addled Deano is left holding the bag, fleeing a bloody crime scene with a bull's-eye seemingly tattooed on his back.
Soon, he's back at the tattoo parlor, trying to blend back into his old life like a faded symbol within an elaborate sleeve, but clearly standing out as a prime suspect to Detective Moylan, the same corrupt narc who pinned the trumped-up drug rap on him years ago. It's a delicate game of show and tell as he tries to evade the cops and find answers, and yet, Deano's search for the truth is about to hit another snag. Sonny Tran, tired of waiting, has kidnapped Jenna and is demanding full payment of the 40 grand for ransom.
When his now estranged brother and a shadowy DEA agent come to his aid, he is given a shot at busting Tran and saving Jenna. But as new evidence emerges and Moylan's murder probe tightens, the sting goes horribly awry and ends up putting her in even more danger... Deano's a full-fledged fugitive now and must team with Vinny, to help track down Burton, solve the mystery of who framed him, and more importantly, why?
Beneath the surface lies the secret of the needle, and the damage done...
UNDER MY SKIN
Blood is thicker than ink.
