Sunday Snippet: Serving Justice (companion to Justice is Served)

Once again, Ohioweather is all over the place. But at least it hasn't been sweltering hot. Hadsetbacks with our cars. Mine is still not quite ready. The new engine computer thegarage ordered didn't work so they got another one. Hopefully this week. My husbandhad a deer literally jump on top of his CR-V, shattering the windshield,knocking the rearview mirror off, and sending the driver's side mirror clearover to the passenger side floor. It even dented the top of the car up to thesunroof. I'm pretty sure it's a total loss. Luckily my husband is okay, asidefrom having a ton of glass all over him. He found glass all the way in the backof the vehicle.

Really busy workweek. I finished up a copy edit and continued work on a developmental edit.Also started a new project that's not quite a developmental edit, but it iscleaning up a lot of formatting in a manuscript to get it ready for a copyedit, which a colleague is going to do. Had an exchange with a new author andhope to work with her in the future.

Semi-decent week ofviewing. I didn't quite make a full round, mainly because I spent a lot of timeon the phone trying to get the insurance sorted and line up a rental until we knowfor sure what's going on with the CR-V.

I did get anepisode of My Life Is Murder in and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of twistsand turns in this one. Once again, Madison stole the show. Also really cool tohave indigenous representation for the storyline. And … more hints aboutAlexa's family. Here's hoping we'll see more of them.

I think I watchedthe finale of Signora Volpe, and it might have set up a future episodefeaturing Sylvia's ex. That would be a lot of fun. So awesome to see her niece againand getting to know her dad. Isabelle ended up stealing this episode. Going towatch the behind-the-scenes stuff next.

Finished up Bestin Paradise with the first of the two-parter that set up Florance's exit. Itwas a great episode and very bittersweet as the actress mentioned when she introducedthe episode.

Also caught anotherDeath in Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. It's also fun to see Jacktrying to move on from the loss of his wife. The awkward but awesomecommunication with Anna is lovely to watch.

Started an episodeof Elementary but need to finish it this week. Too many distractions toget all the way through the show. It looks like a good one though.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's episode is from Serving Justice,a novella that's part of an experiment I'm doing with the other two pseudonyms.This is the sci-fi version of Justice Is Served.

Here's theminiblurb:

Jaxine Goodstone is an unwilling pawn in a battle forcontrol of an asteroid field and its mining colony. When a control chip isactivated in her, she executes the sitting board members then stumbles into thearms of Upton Viccars, a government agent sent to negotiate the mineral rights.When Jaxine has no memory of her actions, Upton suspects foul play andgradually earns Jaxine's trust—while slowly falling for her—and together theyuncover a devious plot that leads back to her childhood in a group home fororphans.

And a sneaky peek…

Jaxine Goodstone staredat the bright light shining over her head, listening to the monotone voices of thedoctor and his surgical assistant as they discussed the procedure they wantedto do. Her eyelids drooped and she hated the cold feeling of the fluid theywere administering to her through the IV in her arm. The sterile antisepticsmell of the operatory made her nose itch. At twelve, she didn't understand thereason she needed to have surgery, but Dr. Leonardo Moon convinced the matronof the group home Jaxine would be forever changed by the treatment. Her fosterbrother Lem Falco said he'd be happy to stay at the hospital with Jaxine untilthe doctors cleared her to go home. At seventeen, he thought he deserved achance to show his responsibility.What a load of crap. Butthe matron apparently bought into his sincerity, because he'd come along withJaxine."Jaxine, you'rerelaxed now and ready for the procedure. Do you understand?"Jaxine automaticallyresponded, "Yes, Dr. Moon.""Good, good."He placed a rubber mask over her face and moved in closer. "Do youremember what we covered in our pre-op discussion?"Jaxine nodded."Yes, Dr. Moon.""And what wasthat, Jaxine?"She didn't hesitatewith her answer. "I have to count backward from one hundred."Dr. Moon smiled."Good, Jaxine, very good." He lifted his surgical mask into place."Please begin."Jaxine began asinstructed. "Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven…" A floatysensation filled her, and she drifted along a sea of clouds.Dr. Moon glanced upwhen someone else entered the room. "She's ready. You know what theparameters are once this is complete?"Jaxine's eyes twitchedand she tried to pay attention. Parameters for what? Did the matron know aboutthis?"I know exactlywhat the goal is. I'll make sure she carries through with the plan."Lem? Why is he inthe operating room?Jaxine tried to voicethe question, but her sluggish mind couldn't fight pull of the IV and the sedativegas from the mask. The conversation around her became muffled and distorted,and she finally gave in and drifted back with the fluffy, white clouds.

I love the conceptfor this story and it's a lot of fun to write similar books in three differentgenres. Looking forward to getting them out there in the universe.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside

ML Skye