Friday, May 3, 2013

Sample Saturday - Opening scene - END OF THE NIGHT


As part of Sample Saturday, I am pleased to present the opening scene from END OF THE NIGHT, the final installment of my Emerald Seer Series now available on Amazon.... 


Beep, Beep, Beep.
Storm groaned and rolled over, right into PacMan’s back.  “PacMan, you bad boy.”  She halfheartedly mumbled the reprimand and attempted to push his body to no avail.  “Fine.  Be that way.”  Slapping the snooze button to silence the alarm, Storm draped an arm over her dog and snuggled into the short soft fur, relishing the gentle rise and fall of his chest. 
Beep, Beep, Beep.
PacMan snorted and licked Storm’s face.  “Alright,alright, I’m getting up.  I don’t know why you’re so put out.  You get to lay around in bed all day.”  Pushing off the bed, Storm reached down and flipped the alarm to off before breaking into a yawning stretch that was highlighted with a serious of soft cracks and pops as her spine realigned.   For a second, Storm swore she heard a baby crying and paused at its closeness.  She mentally chastised herself and shrugged.  Must be the neighbors.  The apartment walls were paper thin after all. 
Stepping into the shower, Storm stood for several minutes under the steaming hot water, washing away the grime from the day before and the vague discomfort following the vision she’d had.  The vision.  It was an ugly one and somewhat painful if truth be told.  She’d made the call to the precinct from her disposable cell and hoped they nabbed the sicko in time.  Part of her wanted to call Dan and Shane to ask about it but then they would wonder how she knew.  Every time Storm had the same internal argument but ultimately waited for the news story.  She rinsed off and stepped out, wrapping herself in a worn bath towel.  PacMan sat in the doorway of the bathroom staring at her in his usual concerned way.  Storm called him a worry wart because he always appeared to be frowning at her. 
“I think I talk to you too much, boy.”  Storm turned from her dog and wiped off the mirror.  A man’s face looked back at her.  She blinked, rubbed her eyes and wiped at the mirror again but only saw her own reflection.  “Yes, definitely.  I am losing it.”  Storm grumbled to herself and went about methodically combing the tangles from her hair before neatly plaiting it.  With the towel secured tightly around her body she slipped back into the bedroom and flipped the television on to the morning news.  Sifting through her wardrobe, Storm half listened to the weather and traffic.  By the time the main anchor re-took the screen she’d slipped into a pair of black pin-striped pants and her least ratty white lace camisole.  The story Storm had been waiting for came on just as she was slipping into her emerald green satin blouse. 
“This morning, the sole suspect in the serial rape case has been apprehended and remains in police custody.” Bob Roberts announced in the serious tone he saved for such stories.  “Officials say they received information pointing them to the home of one Aaron Michaels who has been working at local restaurants for the last several years.  Allegedly Mr. Michaels has been selecting victims while on shift as a server at some of the most popular restaurants in town.”
“I think the town can feel safer now that he’s in custody, don’t you Bob?”  Erin Calmes, the heavily made-up, eye candy co-anchor tilted her head toward Bob with an overly sweet smile on her too pink lips. 
“I’d say they’re sleeping together, wouldn’t you PacMan?”  Storm straightened her blouse, relieved that the cops had followed her tip off and captured the sociopath.   Now she could focus on the more pressing task at hand, something she’d put off for far too long.  “How do I look boy?”

No comments:

Post a Comment