When the Penny Drops
Karla Brandenburg
Ten years ago, a woman was killed in a train accident near Bells Hill, Illinois. Her unidentified remains were buried under a memorial stone. With advances in DNA testing, the NAMUS project wants to dig her up to identify her. When they exhume the coffin, they find a second body.
In Carlos’s five years as a police officer in the sleepy town, he's only encountered one violent crime. The haunting nightmares of having failed the victim leave him reconsidering whether he’s cut out to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Bella and Carlos have been friends with benefits since high school, but she saw him entering the police academy as the ultimate betrayal. When she was a teenager, her single father would call the police to track her down any time she wasn't where he expected her to be—including when she was working at her aunt’s coffee shop. The harassment by one cop in particular fostered deep distrust of the police. While she loves Carlos, she can't see past the badge when he's on duty.
A ghost follows Carlos home from the exhumation and takes up residence in Bella's coffee shop. It warns that "she isn't safe," but the "she" in question remains uncertain. In addition, several women in surrounding towns have turned up dead, and the one thing they all have in common is complaints against the police officer who terrorized Bella in her youth. Is Bella next?
Duration - 7h 10m.
Author - Karla Brandenburg.
Narrator - Jude Erin.
Published Date - Thursday, 01 January 2026.
Copyright - © 2026 Karla Lang ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
Ten years ago, a woman was killed in a train accident near Bells Hill, Illinois. Her unidentified remains were buried under a memorial stone. With advances in DNA testing, the NAMUS project wants to dig her up to identify her. When they exhume the coffin, they find a second body. In Carlos’s five years as a police officer in the sleepy town, he's only encountered one violent crime. The haunting nightmares of having failed the victim leave him reconsidering whether he’s cut out to follow in his father’s footsteps. Bella and Carlos have been friends with benefits since high school, but she saw him entering the police academy as the ultimate betrayal. When she was a teenager, her single father would call the police to track her down any time she wasn't where he expected her to be—including when she was working at her aunt’s coffee shop. The harassment by one cop in particular fostered deep distrust of the police. While she loves Carlos, she can't see past the badge when he's on duty. A ghost follows Carlos home from the exhumation and takes up residence in Bella's coffee shop. It warns that "she isn't safe," but the "she" in question remains uncertain. In addition, several women in surrounding towns have turned up dead, and the one thing they all have in common is complaints against the police officer who terrorized Bella in her youth. Is Bella next? Duration - 7h 10m. Author - Karla Brandenburg. Narrator - Jude Erin. Published Date - Thursday, 01 January 2026. Copyright - © 2026 Karla Lang ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:10
copyright
Duration:00:01:30
blurb
Duration:00:00:16
Chapter 1
Duration:00:11:06
Chapter 2
Duration:00:14:10
Chapter 3
Duration:00:16:02
Chapter 4
Duration:00:13:52
Chapter 5
Duration:00:11:34
Chapter 6
Duration:00:12:10
Chapter 7
Duration:00:15:59
Chapter 8
Duration:00:12:41
Chapter 9
Duration:00:12:32
Chapter 10
Duration:00:09:50
Chapter 11
Duration:00:16:36
Chapter 12
Duration:00:10:12
Chapter 13
Duration:00:14:06
Chapter 14
Duration:00:11:24
Chapter 15
Duration:00:10:44
Chapter 16
Duration:00:11:58
Chapter 17
Duration:00:14:00
Chapter 18
Duration:00:12:32
Chapter 19
Duration:00:11:22
Chapter 20
Duration:00:09:06
Chapter 21
Duration:00:11:10
Chapter 22
Duration:00:13:13
Chapter 23
Duration:00:11:11
Chapter 24
Duration:00:14:07
Chapter 25
Duration:00:16:30
Chapter 26
Duration:00:14:53
Chapter 27
Duration:00:11:50
Chapter 28
Duration:00:17:33
Chapter 29
Duration:00:08:20
Chapter 30
Duration:00:12:00
Chapter 31
Duration:00:12:37
Chapter 32
Duration:00:14:04
Chapter 33
Duration:00:16:10
Acknowledgements
Duration:00:01:02
Dear Listener
Duration:00:01:35
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:10