This
month, I'm trying something a little different. I've shared a variety
of things here, but I've decided to revisit some of my favorite
excerpts from my books. Starting today, I will be posting snippets
from my published works – and probably some of my unpublished as
well. To kick it off, Undiscovered. Set in Daytona Beach, this story
is near and dear to my heart.
Someone
wants Kent Griswald dead. Could it be his browbeaten younger brother?
His haughty personal assistant or the disgruntled director of his
next movie? Whoever it is, misses the first time, shooting someone
else instead. It's up to Detective Walter Scott to uncover the truth
before it's too late.
Wednesday,
November 3, 2010—Noon
"How
much did you say the payments are a month?"
Same
question seven times.
"That
depends on how much you put down, Mr. Anderson. Bob in Fiance will be
happy to discuss that with you." Pay attention. The answer
won't change.
"So,
whatcha think, baby?" he asked his bride.
Susan
Anderson wriggled with glee. Everything under her skin tight, skimpy
dress shimmied. "Oh, honey, it's perfect! It's so wonderful! I
love it! Can we get it?"
"Whatever
my baby wants, my baby can have. Where do I sign?"
"Also
a matter for Bob in Finance," Cadence Stuart replied. "Do
you want to see the upstairs before you make your final decision?"
"Oh,
of course!" Susan Anderson bounced gleefully, clapping her
hands.
Cadence
felt like she was at a pep rally. She wasn't surprised to find out
that Susan was head cheerleader in college and that Ted, her hubby,
was quarterback. They were newlyweds, on their honeymoon in Florida
and looking to buy a condo.
"The
stairs are this way," Cadence said with a sick smile. "I
think you'll find it very spacious."
"How
many bedrooms?"
"This
is a three bedroom, Mr. Anderson. There are some two bedrooms and
even a four bedroom available."
"Oh,
we hardly need four."
"But
we need three," Susan said, grasping his arm as they climbed the
stairs. "So Teddy has his office and we can have a nursery when
we have a baby."
"You're
not already expecting, are you?" Cadence couldn't keep the
disgusted curiosity from her voice.
"No,"
Susan giggled. "But we want a baby right away. Don't we
snookums?"
"Anything
my doll baby wants, she gets."
And
you get unlimited access until she's preggers. Smart man, knows when
he has it good.
Cadence
led them upstairs. Susan oohed and ahhed over the bedrooms. She loved
the drapes, the carpet was to die for, everything was darling, clever
or precious. Cadence was just about ready to lose her lunch when they
said the magic words. "We'll take it."
Concealing
a smile of satisfaction, Cadence led them to the sales office on the
same floor. She introduced them to the sales manager and he took them
in his office.
"Thanks,
Cadence. I've got it from here, sweetheart."
"No
problem, Bob. I'm gonna go close up."
"Sit
down. Take a weight off. You look tired."
"I'm
exhausted. I was up late grading papers. But I couldn't let this
sales possibility pass me by."
"True.
Well, you go get some rest. Leave this to me."
"Thanks,
Bob."
"Anything
for you, honey." Bob was a nice man. Twice her age, he took a
fatherly interest.
Cadence
sank into a soft chair in his outer office as he shut the door on the
sales room. Closing her eyes, she let the murmur of voices wash over
her. The loud report of a heavy caliber rifle shocked the air.
Another followed.
Cadence
ran down the hall. That sounded like it came from the room she'd been
showing. What the hell? Frozen with indecision, she stood in
the hallway. Pounding footsteps sounded from down the corridor to her
left.
Turning,
she saw a man in a black ski mask and anonymous clothing barreling
down the hall toward the elevator ahead of her. Although he was
running away from her, she noticed he was tall, broad shouldered and
moved like an athlete. He hit the stairway, running full tilt. It
wouldn't take him long to clear four stories to the ground floor.
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