Hump Day Hook 31 – Derailed

DerailedCover_MEDAnother Hump Day Hook!

The past couple of weeks poor Cole has been suffering the wrath of you readers because of the hooks I’ve been choosing to show.  Cole is so good when he’s bad…but there are times when he is just good…and so I thought I’d let you see his softer side…This looks a little longer, but it’s dialogue w/ some short lines so I took a teeny bit of liberty.

I can’t go into details on this scene without giving away a lot…I’ll just let Cole shine for what it is:

This time she didn’t move, and he pressed his forehead to hers. “I ain’t gonna run. I’m right here. Can’t promise to be perfect.”

“Gee. What a surprise.”

“We’re gonna fight.”

“We do it so well.” She laughed weakly. Her hands clamped down on his neck. “I’ve needed you. I still need yo.u I need to know you’ll be there when I need you.”

“You got me.”

“All in?”

“All in.”

 

*~*

Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published.  Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library!  To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:

Meet Jill Grant of San Diego or Bust

1.  Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?

*Rolls eyes* Oh that Vicki Batman was traveling to San Diego and just felt she had to write a story about all the great places she’d visited there. She plays this game What If??? and then voila! I appear.

I’m Jill Grant and have planned a wonderful getaway to San Diego with my beloved.

2.  What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

*sigh and clasping hands to chest* Davis Griffith Swansea III. He seemed so perfect. Everything a girl could dream of. Puppies, kitties, and old people just love him.

3.  What’s your greatest fear?

That Davis wouldn’t propose.

4.  What’s your motto in life?

Life is an adventure-go forth and live.

5.  How do the other characters in your book view you?

Another guy on the plane helped me with my tote when it decided to explode open. There was a huge line behind me and they weren’t nice, especially Mr. Obnoxious Person who kicked my seat the whole flight. Anyway, the other guy and I chatted while waiting for our luggage. I think he thinks I’m funny. And he’s being sweet about possibly hitting on me.

6. What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?

Neither. Gossiping really isn’t nice.

7.  What is it about you that is going to draw us readers in?

How many of us have dated Mr. Right only to find out he’s not? Bet most of us have been there. So readers out there are going to want to know what I did about the wrong Mr. Right.

8.  What was your happiest moment?

I wouldn’t say totally happy happy. I’d say mucho relieved that– I can’t say!! It would giveaway the story. Lol. Let’s just say the happiest moment is when I’m by myself and get a text.

9.  What trait in others do you find most deplorable?

It’s all about me attitude. (And I don’t mean me.)

10. The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

Red! It explodes and gets attention. And it’s flattering to me. *fanning face*

SANDIEGOorBUST333x500| [amazon_link id=”B00BXNNO2Y” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | BN | Smashwords | MuseItUp |

Blurb:

When a young woman plans a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, disaster strikes, and she soon finds Mr. Right could be someone else.

Excerpt:

            My boyfriend is a dirt wad. I just decided.

With a humpf, I dragged my pink tote up the narrow aisle to the plane’s exit, accidentally banging it into the seats along the way. The relieving notion of being back home in Sommerville caused the tension in my chest to fade a smidgen.

A quick peek to the exit told me where Davis, my boyfriend, stood waiting for the okay from the ground crew to head out. His glance my way didn’t look at all pleasant. Similar to one wrapped in disappointment with a downward tilt of his mouth.

I didn’t care much. I just decided.

The words creep, jerk, moron, and “why in the hell am I still dating him??” jumbled my thoughts around. My heart pounded as anxiety ratcheted inside me again.

Maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe I should not put up with him anymore.

The deepest part of me knew I shouldn’t be with Davis Griffith Swansea, III any longer. I was just in denial. Over the past year, I’d had brief, momentary twinges of dumping him; then, he’d go and do something incredibly romantic like bring me Godiva chocolates—“I know how you love these.” Or buy me a new book by my favorite author—“I happened to see this today.” Or whisk me off to an intimate dinner à deux at the latest and greatest bistro–“I know you’ll like this place.”

My head had gone stupid.

06 2012 VBauthor photoBio:

Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm–the list is endless.

She has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking “What if??

 

Tuesday Tales – Shoe

portrait of beautiful plus size curly young blond woman posing on grayThe prompt this week is Shoe.

I’m heading back to Lake Point again.  I’m going to return to Eve’s New Year.  Since the past two weeks have been drama for Eve and Jake – I wanted to show you the silly side of these life-long friends. They make me happy when they are silly. Hope they do the same for you. 🙂

As always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

Jake let himself into Eve’s apartment without knocking. The pain that streaked his heart at the line of packing boxes against her wall eased when he found her with her head buried deep in a box, her gorgeous ass wiggling with each grunt of displeasure.

She muttered, “Where the hell is it?”

He covered his mouth to keep his laughter silent. It would be far more fun to enjoy the show.

“Damn it. You stupid shoe. Where the hell are you?” One hand grasped the edge of the box, a silver shoe dangling from her finger.  “I specifically didn’t pack you, so why can’t I find you?”

Her rant was reaching whine-levels, but Jake still didn’t speak or move. He thought the veins in his forehead might burst from the laughter he was holding in. The shoes in the box rumbled as she shoved them around.

For his part, Jake was content to keep watching her ass. The past few weeks he’d been trying to figure out why he couldn’t keep his eyes off her lately. Since he knew she was leaving soon, he’d decided to just relax and enjoy it rather than worry.

“Son of a—argh.” The silver shoe dropped to the floor and both hands dove into the box, shoving the shoes aside so forcefully several tumbled out onto the floor.

He shook his head and looked toward her bedroom. If history was any indication, the shoe she was looking for would be in the first place she’d looked.  He let her keep digging and slipped down the hall.

The room, like the rest of her apartment, was almost empty. Evidence of her packing could be seen in the empty shelves he knew to be decorated with pictures that included himself, and knick-knacks from as far back as kindergarten.  Everything that had made the apartment Eve’s was gone.

He sighed and shoved aside the aching hole that had begun to open. Today was supposed to be a good day. There were going to be in a wedding, after all.

Once he’d shaken the melancholy out of his shoulders, he scanned the room. He dropped to his hands and knees. Crawling across the floor he first peeked under the bed and then the dresser. Just before he rose he spotted the toe of a shoe sticking out from behind the planter.

How, in a clean and packed apartment, she’d managed to get a shoe hidden behind a planter was beyond him.  He snatched it up and hopped to his feet. On his way back down the hall he brushed at wrinkles he’d caused in his tux.

Eve still had her head stuck in the box, although there were now more shoes on the floor than in the box. Jake leaned on the wall and dangled the shoe from his finger. He cleared his throat loudly. “Ahem. Looking for this?”

With a shriek, she leaped to her feet. “Jacob Anthony Gardner, you sneaky bastard.”

He lost his train of thought at the sight of her. The plum dress hugged her curves just right, the fabric gathered and pinched at her right side. A plunging neckline revealed just enough of her cleavage to leave him salivating.

Jake. What is your problem? You’ve got no defense?”

He had to physically shake his head to clear it and realize she wore a teasing smirk. She must have been trying to bring him down to size with her words, and by the gleam in her eye he could tell she thought she’d won. He quirked up a corner of his lip. “How in hell can you lose a shoe in an almost bare apartment? The perils of a packrat, maybe?”

“Swine.” She raced toward him. Before he could properly defend himself she was smacking him with both her hand and the heel of her stiletto.

“Ow, ow, damn it.” He laughed and squirmed away. Once he’d ducked under her arm he spun around to catch her around the waist.

She grasped his arms and tried to pull free. The shoes dropped to the carpet as she got a good hold. “Let me go.”

“No, you’ll hit me again.” He tried to capture her hands before she pulled them away.  Before he managed she shoved her ass back into him hard.  He stumbled backward, but didn’t let her go.

Three steps back and he bumped into something. He tumbled, bringing the shrieking Eve with him. A sharp pain hit him when he landed right inside the box Eve had been digging through. “Oh, damn it. Ow.”

Through her laughter she managed to continue smack his arms. “Let me go, you’re going to ruin my dress.”

He obliged, and she scrambled to her feet.  With a groan, he sank back against the side of the box that hadn’t collapsed. “Crap.”

“What?”

“I landed on a damn stiletto.”

“Serves you right, butthead.”

*~*
Hope you enjoyed it!  Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!

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Victoria Falls ~ Author Ann Siracusa talks Inspiration

Guest Author Ann Siracusa is stopping by to talk about an authors inspiration. Enjoy the post, and the beautiful photos she’s included.
*~*

Readers always want to know where authors get their ideas. The answer is everywhere. Newspapers, TV, things people tell you about, things you see and experiences first hand. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and ask “What if?”

The last book in my humorous romantic suspense series, Tour Director Extraordinaire, is set in southern Africa. I outlined the novel while I was traveling in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in 2008. This blog is about one of the most outstanding sights I saw there.

Victoria Falls – One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Victoria Falls is an amazing waterfall located on the Zambezi River, at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It is named as one of the seven natural wonders of the world on the 1979 CNN list.

On the map below, the falls are located about in the center, where Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia come together. Botswana is slightly to the west.

SouthernAfricaMap

The first white man known to see this amazing work of nature was Scottish explorer David Livingston, in 1855, who named it in honor of Queen Victoria. The native name is Mosi-oa-Tunya. Victoria Falls was designated as a UNESO World Heritage Site in 1989. And, in my opinion, it’s one of the Must See locations in the world.

Mosi-oa-Tunya – The Smoke That Thunders

There’s a good reason why it carries that name.

The falls are not the highest or widest in the world, but Mosi-oa-Tunya is the largest falling sheet of water in the world. The full width of the Zambezi River (5,604 feet – over one mile wide) plummets straight down for 354 feet in a single sheet.

300x500 Victoria Falls view from Rain Forest 1

Geography

The Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa, flows through six countries from central Africa to the Indian Ocean. Along the central plateau of Africa, the wide river moves through a shallow valley over a level sheet of basalt bounded by low sandstone hills far in the distance. There are many islands, increasing in number as they approach the falls.

200x270 Zambezi RiverThe Zambezi at dusk

Where are the mountains? This is the part of the uniqueness of the falls. There aren’t any mountains or deep valleys as you would expect. Just flat land with a wide river…and then you see a billowy column of what looks like white smoke.

300x450 Plume of spray over Victoria FallsPhoto by Mike Myers

It’s not smoke. It’s a plume of water spray, rising sometimes a mile high and visible for 20 Kilometers, as the river drops into a deep horizontal chasm carved by the river along a fracture zone in the basalt.

Well, heck. Where does it fall to?

It plummets into a deep vertical chasm caused by water erosion over thousands of years in the fracture zones. Underneath the plateau of hard basalt, lies much softer sandstone. Where the fractures exist in the surface material, the cracks have filled with sandstone which the river has eroded.

Water pours over the edge into the first gorge, which varies in depth from 260 feet to 354 feet at the western end. The outlet is only 360 feet wide. The fracture and resulting chasms zigzag across the central stretch of the plateau. The falls are considered the dividing line between the upper- and the central-Zambezi zones. Considering that during the wet season, 540 million cubic meters of water per minute fall into the first of the Batoka Gorges, that’s very restricted outlet.

From the air, the gorges look like this.

300x400 Victoria Falls - fractures 300x400 Victoria Fall from helicopter 3175x258 Victoria falls from the air 175x295 7wonders photo Victoria Falls
275x415 Satellite_view_of_Victoria_FallsSatellite view of the river, the falls, and the gorges.

In the Future

Victoria Falls has been in the western world’s radar scope since 1855. Only 158 years. But it’s a work in progress. For the past 100,000 years – which, geologically speaking, isn’t that long — the falls have been receding upstream. The river has fallen into different gorges during the past. Today, it is cutting back to the next gorge on one side of the “Devil’s Cataract”, also called “Leaping Waters.”
200x300 Devil's Cataract 175x235 facing fallsThe Devils Cataract

Just A Beat More

Sometimes the unpleasant places and experiences are as important in our writing as the beautiful ones. Although Victoria Falls is mentioned in the book (current working title is “All For A Blast Of Hot Air”), the part that got the most attention was the awful airport at Victoria Falls (the name of the town) in Zimbabwe.

175x230 VictoriaFallsAirport

It may not look too bad in this photo, but below the excerpt from the unpublished novel which should be released this fall.

Excerpt

We arrived at Victoria Falls an hour and a half later, unprepared for the long wait to come. After two hours inside the worst airport I’d ever experienced, waiting for our luggage, we were tempted to abandon the bags, return immediately to South Africa and forget the safari.

At best, the airport smelled like an unwashed armpit and rotting fruit. The rest rooms were so filthy even the insects avoided them. Instead, the annoying little creatures buzzed around our heads and flew into our eyes, noses, and mouths. Another set of angry passengers swarmed the airline officials, complaining about their bags being broken into after they were checked in by the airline.

If the building had air conditioning at all, the near-hundred degree heat and ninety percent humidity rendered it useless. Oh, the fans rumbled and groaned—yes, they did. Loud enough to be distracting even above the high-pitched incessant shouting and yelling, but they did nothing to move the stale muggy air.

In seconds my clothes were more than moist and my hair assumed the appearance and texture of steel wool struck by lightning.

The facility offered no seating for passengers while the Zimbabwe customs officials went through every bag looking for anything they could tax, which took forever. Every inch of the building was old, worn, and beyond depressing.

Welcome to Victoria Falls, seventh natural wonder of the world!

“I’m not overly impressed.” I panted the observation as we hauled our bags outside after the unbearable hours of torture. No luggage carts or baggage handlers to be seen anywhere. Neither one of us carried much although, for this flight, we’d packed all our electronics in our carryon bags. I’d been warned not to check such items―if we ever wanted to see them again, that is. “It looked better in the photos.”

Will frowned, his lips thin, and shook his head slightly, unwilling to go there. “You think? Pfft.” He spit a bug out of his mouth and held the exit door open for me while I shoved our bags through to the outside.

Resources
http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/places/zambezir.htm
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/zambezi-river-africa-photos/
http://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/natural-places/earths-crust/victoria-falls-zimbabwe-and-zambia.html
http://www.victoriafalls.com/
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509

Meant to Be by Jennifer Labelle – #FREE

Who Wants a FREE Book?

FREEBIE Over HERE…

Have I got your attention yet?

It’s my birthday week, and I’ve decided to give you all a present to help celebrate my 33rd this past Tuesday June, 4th. What better way than to have my very first release up for FREE on Amazon for the entire weekend! (June 7th, 8th, and 9th)

I’d like to thank everyone for joining me here, and I hope you enjoy it! *coughs* Don’t forget, I’m always up for some new reviews too. If you have the time that is, in the meantime please check out the blurb and excerpt below and get your very own copy today before time runs out! J Spread the word…

Meant To Be[amazon_link id=”B004OYTSHE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]GET IT HERE (AMAZON)[/amazon_link] 

Book blurb:

Jenna Baker is shaken up after her recovery with a near death experience. As if, being haunted with visions and losing her husband in a car accident weren’t hard enough. Could she be losing her mind? She finally moves on, only to have the husband she thought was dead suddenly reappear.

After the shocking task of convincing Jenna that she’s not seeing his ghost, Tyler becomes overwhelmed with guilt for saving himself and leaving her to almost die. Jenna’s recovery takes its toll while Tyler’s vulnerability gets the best of him. He’s harboring secrets that will devastate her and as Jenna unravels the truth her life takes an unexpected journey.

 

Excerpt:

He smiled again, taking the last plate from her to dry and shook off the extra suds. Drips of water and soap suds flew through the air getting her wet in the process, and he laughed at her shocked expression.

“Oh, really,” she said in the mood to play. Taking the sprayer hose from the faucet, she turned it on and gave him a squirt. She laughed, and it was his turn to pause in shock.

She could tell by his expression that this meant war and made a run for it, laughing the whole way. She made it into the living room before he extended his arm to catch her, swooping her up as if she was feather light.

“Got ye.”

They both laughed, but when she turned to face him, he became serious suddenly. She knew then that the games were over. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and pulled her towards him. Slowly moving his face closer, his eyes sparkled and completely absorbed hers.

The kiss started out slow, and she wanted him to take his time with it. She held back a groan when his mouth pulled away and pulled him tighter against her. Her adrenaline pumped faster, and she could feel the warmth coursing throughout her body. There was no thinking twice about it; her desire consumed her.

Pushing him against the wall, she kissed him hard, wanting him in that moment more than she’d ever wanted anything. She liked where this was going, liked being in control, needed it in that moment.

Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly moved them down his beautifully sculptured abs. “Stay,” she whispered, taking a step back so that he could watch as she unzipped her dress. It slowly slid to the floor exposing her bare breasts and the sexy black thong she wore. She kicked it out of the way, pulled his shirt off, and pressed herself against him again, flesh against flesh.

Author bio:

Jennifer Labelle resides in Ottawa, Ontario Canada with her husband and three beautiful children. After her third child she became a stay at home mom. In her busy household Jennifer likes to spend her down time engrossed in the stories that she creates. She is an active reader of romance (especially historical), mystery and anything paranormal. With an education in Addictions work she’s decided to take a less stressful approach in life and hopes that you enjoy, as she shares some of her imagination with all of you.

Author contact links:

Website: http://www.jenniferlabelle.com

Blog: http://labellebooks.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/1JenniferLabell

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292#!/pages/Author-Jennifer-Labelle/168414043184292

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4649930.Jennifer_Labelle

 

Best wishes,

Jennifer Labelle

 

 

Book Reviews ~ A Guest post by author Gordon Osmond

*Today I have Gordon Osmond stopping by to talk about Book reviews. He’s welcoming a lively discussion, so let’s give him one.
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The following article expresses only my own personal opinions and observations and was written primarily to stimulate discussion on a subject important to authors. Contrary opinions and other comments are encouraged. 

Many questions arise on this subject once a book has been accepted for publication and the author is starting out on the daunting task of promoting it with a view to stimulating sales.
 
When should the search for a review begin?
 
It depends upon which reviewers you’re courting. If you want a “free” review in Publishers Weekly or other well-respected and notorious review sources, you’d best submit your book pre-release.
 
Getting reviews in advance of publication also makes it possible to put squibs from glowing reviews on the printed copy of the book itself. This is, of course, more important when your book will be on shelves rather than only online.
 
What different kinds of reviews are out there? How do they rank in terms of credibility and exposure?
 
A statement from John/Jane Q. Public which reads something like, “A real page turner. I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next one” whether it appears on Amazon or in Macy’s window, is a nice comment but not my idea of a review, especially if it is written by a blood relative who owes you money.
 
On the other end of the spectrum is a thorough and well reasoned review written by someone who has no reason whatsoever to be kind and who also has some experience writing reviews for credible reviewing sites, like Bookpleasures or Bookideas for which I write reviews. One of my most treasured reviews of my debut novel, Slipping on Stardust, was a 5-Star Amazon review from an author whose own book I rated less then perfect on my review sites. Now that’s impartiality! Amazon is a mixed bad, including as it does reviews from their Top Ranking Reviewers as well as from Aunt Edna. Also, in deciding whether a review can be posted, Amazon seems more concerned with whether the reviewer has a customer account with Amazon than with whether the reviewer has actually received the book being reviewed.
 
One of the many great things about Secret/Sweet Cravings Publishing is that reviews on a book’s page are divided between regular reader reviews and professional ones. Amazon seems to make a comparable effort, but I’m not convinced it’s always successful.
 
Paid reviews are to me prima facie questionable despite protestations of impartiality by the reviewing site.
 
And don’t let the stars get in your eyes and hope they don’t get in the eyes of those browsing for good books to read. I received a 4-Star review from a Top Amazon reviewer that showed more care in reading my book than I took in writing it.
 
By the way, there’s a difference between a “mixed” review wherein a single writer carefully balances a book’s merits and demerits and “polarized” reviews where there’s a wide range in a group of reviews between good and bad.
 
How should authors react to reviews?
 
With stoic restraint. There’s nothing wrong with thanking a reviewer for the time taken in reading your book, and an author can certainly express the pleasure of receiving a good review. But challenging or arguing with the author of a less-than-glowing review is downright foolish and should never be done.
 
If an author’s frustration or anger level is at the breaking point, it might be acceptable to say something like what’s been said to me sometimes by the author of a book I have reviewed more or less unfavorably, viz,. “It’s always interesting to see my work seen through other eyes.” Of course, the subtext is, “And your eyes are not functioning,” but no harm done. As a critic, I have more respect for an author who takes the lumps in silence.
 
Final advice and comfort from the great American actor Geraldine Page.
 
Ms. Page received precious few bad reviews in the course of her long and distinguished stage and film career, but when asked how she would react to a bad one, she answered simply, “I would just think the critic has poor taste.” That should sustain all authors in their darkest hours.
*~*
SlippingonStardust_gordonosmond.jpg| [amazon_link id=”1618856618″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | BN | SCP |
Blurb:
The ultimate guilt-free escapist adventure, Slipping on Stardust is a riveting tale of small-time life, adolescent rebellion, community theatre intrigues, and legal scandals, with a kidnapping demanding suicide as ransom thrown in for extra spice. The book is an ideal gift, suitable for stuffing in beach bags, holiday stockings—in fact, everything but the Thanksgiving turkey.
It all starts when Adrian Conway, an aging Hollywood movie icon, arrives in Johnson, Ohio to star in a community theatre production opposite the local reigning drama queen, who is the wife of the town’s leading lawyer and the mother of a handsome, but sexually undecided son, who suffers from every adolescent plague except acne. To say that all hell breaks loose thereafter is not to do justice to hell. The conflicts that follow fling family members to New York City and to Hollywood in a trail of betrayal, scandal, and crime.
The exposure of small-town foibles and secrets plus the depiction of the tragic and sometimes comic consequences of sacrificing real values for false ones have caused Slipping on Stardust to be viewed as a cross between Peyton Place and Madame Bovary.
After only five months on the market, Slipping on Stardust has already garnered no fewer than 10 five-star reviews on Amazon, including reviews from a Pulitzer Prize nominee and a Ph.D. who teaches creative writing at the university level.
Book excerpt (not previously featured on guest blogspots):
In Columbus, an assistant district attorney, well down the bureaucratic totem pole, had listened patiently to the separate testimonies of both Mason and Allerton. Mason’s account was liberally peppered with references to Allerton; Allerton’s contained nary a single reference to his boss, focusing solely on his own innocence.
As the meeting was winding down, a secretary announced the arrival of one Danton Brockway, who apparently had something to add to the proceedings. Dan entered the room, acknowledged the two he knew and shook hands with the one he didn’t.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me without an appointment, but I fear that your office may be about to make an erroneous determination of guilt in the Malorex matter. As I understand it, neither of these two gentlemen has offered evidence of their whereabouts on the night in question. I am in a position to do so.”
It would be difficult to choose which participant in the meeting was the most astonished.
Danton continued, “Alibis tend to be suspect when provided by loved ones or by those with a financial interest in a particular result. What I’m about to tell you is not only not self-serving, but the very essence of an admission against my own interest and therefore, under well established evidentiary principles familiar to us all, worthy of the highest possible degree of credibility.”
Mason interrupted, somewhat frantically. “What are you talking about, Danton?”
“Let him speak, Mr. Kriek. I think he’s about to tell us.” The junior DA was earning his wings.
“What I’m talking about, Mason, is that Mr. Allerton could not possibly have taken the documents during the time period in question for the very simple, and to me fatal, reason that he was with me at the Bird’s Nest motel that entire night. He was with me at my request—a request reinforced with the clearest possible threat of professional retaliation should he have refused.”
While the others were reeling, Dan was drilling through Allerton’s eyes with an urgent message for his brain. Deny this and you’re dead.
Speaking of eyes, the assistant district attorney was suddenly looking at Mason Kriek with new ones.