Why is it the smallest books take the longest time to write? I had a lot of fun with the characters and situations in this story. Or as much as a person can when there’s a serial killer on the loose. Want a little taste of the beginning? Sure you do!
Chapter 1
“Mandy? I need your help.”
The pain and fear in her brother Marty’s voice scared her. Mandy Hays gripped her cell phone tighter and went over to shut her office door. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Rachel. She’s gone.”
“Oh no, Marts. I’m so sorry.” She eased down to her chair behind the desk. Resisting the urge to tell him what an idiot his girlfriend was for leaving him, she rested an elbow on her desk. The poor guy needed comfort from her instead of an “I told you so.” She enjoyed teasing her younger sibling, not tormenting him. “You know, meeting the parents is a big step for anyone. It sounds like she just wasn’t ready.”
His voice came through the tiny speaker thick with tears. “No, it’s not that. She’s dead.”
The news stunned her for a moment. People their age, mid to late twenties, didn’t die. Not suddenly unless there was a car wreck involved. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, wanting to know what happened without making things worse for him. Mandy heard him sniff before blowing his nose. As soon as he finished, she asked, “What happened, or can you not talk about it yet?”
“I can, but it’s bad. Really bad.” He cleared his throat. “Someone found her on the beach.”
Living in Nova Scotia meant miles of shoreline. She waited for a moment so he’d continue. The silence stretched between them, and she almost ground her teeth in frustration. Their family had barbecues out near the shore. She didn’t want to skip asking him now and risk suggesting a beach where Rachel had died. “Which one?”
“Martinique. We’d gone for a walk last night after she left work. It was cold, but not as much as usual.”
She could imagine the ocean, sunset, Marty and Rachel holding hands and just being together. The romance of their last evening broke her heart. Mandy couldn’t find words to comfort him. “It sounds like it was a really nice evening. Did you arrive separately?”
“No, I drove us there and back.” Marty coughed. “Her car was there the next morning, parked a little way from where mine had been. Before I can tell you more, I need to know if you’ll go to the police headquarters with me.”
Mandy reached for her mouse and clicked open her schedule. “Of course. When?”
“Can you meet me there now?”
Want more? Pick from your favorite vendor.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4TMA5F
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pleasures/id1135220371…
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/1124115809;jsessionid=1D9A8…
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasures-2
editing Pleasures: a Nova Scotia Murder Mystery, and plotting Surplus from the same series has kept me busy. November got away from me and December is all about helping Christmas Veterans. Our unit adopted three families, so there’s a lot of shopping and coordinating!
vastly honored by being asked to participate in a box set of historical romances and it gave me the chance to rewrite a story I’d called Love’s Prisoner way back in ’92. My villain’s name was Dirk and little did I know I’d meet a real life Dirk who’s still my hero today. The menus above, the photos, the new Java enabled website I’m migrating to are all due to him. He’s the George to my Liberache, the Theo to my Vincent. I could have done it on my own, but not as fast nor as easy as he’s made it.
for publication in November as well. It’ll complete that series and while I love all my Men and have a few others who do too, I’m probably going to leave that genre alone for a while. I won’t say never, but it doesn’t get the love my historicals do.
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December was fun. I spent the time writing and working on our American Legion Auxiliary’s Veteran Christmas family. Every year, my auxiliary unit picks a family or two who needs a little extra help around the holidays. Thanks to us, we get to give a family presents for their kids, help with a bill or two, and a Christmas dinner. If anyone is wanting to help veterans directly, contact your local auxiliary. The money stays local and must go to veterans. Volunteers are needed, too, and you don’t have to have prior military service.
Yeah, I’m seriously lucky. So I’d planned on hanging out, writing, waiting until February to hit the gym. You know, after all those New Year’s people passed out for good. Or for next year.
February. The month of edits. Harsh, serious edits. I work hard 99% of the time to give my editor nothing to do and fail miserably. The box set story I slacked on because I had less than a month to write and proof it. I let my editor work and she did. Can’t believe she still thinks I’m an upright walking human after her work, but she does. Yay! Add Girls State interviews and paperwork to this month, plus George Washington birthday celebrations, and I’ve had reasons to wear something other than pajamas. Did you forget about my gym goals? Ha! So did I. Oops!
Laura Stapleton, Author 