March 3, 2024
Signs and portents...
The first signs of spring are here. I can finally see the mini-daffodils in the yard. Most of the past couple of weeks has been spent building a new website. I used to do this for a living when it was html and java script coding. I’m finding it a challenge with a steep learning curve using some of the tools now - but I’m getting there!
The new website will still be tkeldridge.com but it will have a cleaner look and interface - and drop down menus on each book for the format available. I’m also adding merchandise like mugs, t-shirts, tote bags, hats, hoodies, and more. And yes, I’m picking up a few things from the shop for myself. I’ll be rocking a black hoodie with the Supernatural Intelligence Network logo all over it :grins:.
Another new thing I’m doing is I have set up an account on Ream.
Ream is a subscription based program and it is growing fast with a lot of great authors. If you’re not a subscription reader, don’t worry about it -it’s just one more way I can add to my audience.
I’ve been reading a lot of late, too - and some new to me authors. I enjoyed L.L. Bartlett’s Murder on the Mind and J. Robert Kennedy’s Protocol. Next up is Tracy Cooper-Posey’s Kobra.
I’ve also been enjoying some of the new workouts in Quest’s Supernatural Fitness programs. Songs from a wide range of genres that I probably wouldn’t have picked to try are fast becoming my favorites to work out to. I love the virtual environments and boxing is my favorite. And yes, I do listen to a wide range of music, but I’m comfortable with some styles over others - and this has been expanding my repertoire.
In other news, Jojo and Ace are fast friends - while Bear is still reserving judgement. They’ll figure it out - at least Bear is okay with snuggling Jojo on my bed at night.
Lastly - Substack has opened up a new option called ‘direct messaging’. You can click on the profile image and message the person. If you’re not comfortable dropping a comment here, just DM me.
Have a great week!
Remember - if you’d like to read the serialized content, just click the button below.
From Darkness into Love is a fast-paced, deeply emotional, second-chance romance that readers have described as “full of action, suspense, and romance.”
Not once, but twice, tragedy had torn Jessie's world apart. Cameron had saved her and captured her heart. However, before they could reach their happy ending, threats from a sinister stranger forced her to abandon everything she loved.
It had taken years for Cameron’s heart to heal, allowing him to move on with someone else. Except - the heart wants what the heart wants.
When Jessie returns home, the chemistry between them is too powerful to resist. Then threatening messages return, bringing their second chance for a happy ending to a halt. They’re left to face the fact - someone in Swan Harbor intends to keep them apart.
For a chance at the future they want, Jessie and Cameron must rely on everyone available – even the suspected enemy.
And So It Begins - Chapter 7 - College Park, MD 2023
“It’s been over two years and we are no closer to finding out who is behind all of this than we were when we started,” Aisha said to Jolene as they sat in the back of the Bentley limo and awaited their turn to disembark.
Aisha’s gown was heavy gold satin that glowed against her dark skin, while Jo wore a dark red sheath with a slit that rode dangerously high on her left hip. Everything from their perfectly coiffed hair to their dyed silk shoes was designed to scream power and money. The earrings were nanotech listening devices, the ornate necklaces had multiple nano cameras, and they both had invisible earpieces so they could hear as well as they could be heard.
“Hopefully we get a bit more information tonight,” Jo replied. “This was an excellent idea, Aisha. Your godfather’s connections are coming in handy.”
“When he was named Ambassador to the US from Morocco, we got to spend more time together and with the meeting of the African Union about the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, he suggested I attend the festivities.”
Jo smiled at Aisha. “You look amazing, just relax. How are you related to Ambassador Mansouri again? You did say there was a blood relationship, correct?”
“He’s my mother’s first cousin. His father and my grandfather were brothers,” Aisha replied. “I’ve called him Uncle Adil since I was small, but he is technically a cousin, not an uncle.”
“I appreciate the introduction,” Jo told her. “Hopefully, it will help get us more information.”
Aisha smoothed her skirt with nervous hands. “He said he wanted to share some information about events in Morocco and the surrounding areas. Since they’re just over the water from Portugal and Spain, it makes sense that this disease of violence has spread.”
A faint nod from Jo was all they had time for as the Bentley pulled up to the portico and a valet opened the door. After that it was a whirlwind of process and procedure before they were allowed into the East Room of the White House. Tuxedo-clad staff moved about the room with platters of appetizers and trays of beverages as they skillfully wove through the crowd. There were approximately one hundred guests from the various member states of the AfCFTA coalition, some in Western formal attire, some in the formal attire of their home countries. Ambassador Mansouri wore a Western-style tuxedo with a sash of dark red silk from his left shoulder to his right hip, easily spotted as he left the group he’d been conversing with to pull Aisha into a hug.
“There’s ya kamar, my lovely moonbeam child. How are you, Aisha?” Adil said as he held her hands and beamed.
“I’m fine, Uncle. You look well, yourself,” Aisha replied, then pulled one hand free to gesture to Jo. “This is Jolene Wilder, Director of The Wilder Institute and my boss.”
Jolene offered the Ambassador her hand, and wasn’t the least bit surprised when he lifted her hand to brush a kiss in the air over her fingers. She couldn’t help but think he looked like the actor, Omar Sharif, with his white hair and dusky skin.
“A pleasure to meet you, Ambassador,” Jo said.
“The pleasure is all mine, Director Wilder,” the ambassador replied.
“Jo, please,” Jolene said.
“Then you must call me Adil. Let’s get you ladies a drink and see if I can find some of the people I want you to meet,” the ambassador replied.
A glass of wine was procured for each of them before the ambassador led them through the crowd to a corner where three men and two women stood in quiet conversation. Jo recognized William Harrington and his new wife, Alyssa Cartier Harrington, but none of the others. All of them looked to be in the prime of life which Jo knew meant absolutely nothing. She looked like a woman in her mid-thirties and she was all of about two hundred and seven years old.
“Ambassador Mansouri, would you be so kind as to do the introductions?” Jo asked as she looked at each of the faces.
William’s blonde hair and dark blue eyes lit up in a face that would’ve fit on a Marine recruitment poster. “Jo, a pleasure,” he said as he turned to his wife. “Alyssa, you remember Director Wilder, don’t you?”
Alyssa’s white-blonde hair and violet eyes gave her an otherworldly air as her smile settled on Jo. “Of course, darling. A pleasure, Director. So good to see you again.”
“And you, Mrs. Harrington,” Jo replied as the ambassador stepped up and gestured to the statuesque brunette that stood to Alyssa’s left, and the rather rumpled looking man with a band of hair around a bald spot that reminded Jo of a monk.
“This is Dr. Cassandra Jacobs and her guest, Dr. Edward Jonesboro,” the ambassador said. “They’re down from Yale, on loan to DHS.”
The usual polite greetings were exchanged before the ambassador turned to the last man in the group. “This is His Grace, Ashton Lennox, Duke of Richmond in England, and Duke of Lennox in Scotland.” The man had dark red hair trimmed into short waves and eyes that shifted from blue to green depending on the light. The tux fit him perfectly, tailored to the wide shoulders, narrow hips, and muscled arms and legs of a man who spent time on his physical appearance.
Jo found herself staring at his mouth, neatly framed with a dark red moustache and goatee that flashed a dimple in his cheek when he smiled at her.
“A pleasure, Your Grace,” Jo said to the man, but didn’t offer her hand. Something about him had her hackles up before he’d even opened his mouth.
“Just call me Ash,” the duke said. “Or Lennox. I’ll answer to either.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Jo said with emphasis that clearly told him she had no interest in becoming that familiar with the man.
Adil made sure that Aisha was also introduced and then gestured to the others to continue the discussion he’d interrupted. “Please continue. These ladies have a similar interest in the topic of domestic terrorism.”
“As I was saying,” Dr. Jonesboro began. “The theft of biological material is clearly a greater threat than most understand. It would be a simple matter to create an aerosol delivery device and infect a large group of people, who would then spread the disease in an ever-widening vector.”
“And while I agree that is a valid threat, the theft of nuclear materials to make a dirty bomb is as great a threat, if not greater,” William Harrington replied.
Jo shook her head. “Why does it matter? If either one happens, it’s a threat that needs to be dealt with. It’s like those people who say we should take care of veterans before we take care of immigrants. Why is it one or the other? Why can’t it be both? We are one of the richest countries in the world and we have enough resources to take care of both veterans and immigrants. It’s not a one or the other scenario – it’s both.”
The group fell silent for a moment, and the duke spoke up. “I believe Director Wilder is correct. No matter which scenario ends up being in play, or in a nightmare situation, both scenarios – they are both something that needs to be dealt with. I suppose the question is – which is more likely?”
“Either one, Ashton,” Dr. Jacobs said. “They’re both highly secured substances, but nothing is completely secure. There’s always someone who finds a way.”
“I suppose you’re right, Cassandra,” Ashton replied. “This time.”
Jo knew she wore her best resting bitch face and turned to Aisha. “If you will excuse me, I need the facilities.” She walked away from the group before anyone else could speak. The urgency she felt to put distance between herself and Ashton Lennox was unusually strong.
When she returned to the gathering, people were being seated for dinner and she found herself at the same table as Adil and Aisha, the Harringtons, Dr. Jacobs and Ashton Lennox. Adil’s guest was his daughter, Yasmine, a recent graduate of Georgetown University. Jo sat between Aisha and Dr. Jacobs and did her best to ignore Ashton and his open flirtation with the doctor.
Aisha chatted quietly with Yasmine, then leaned over to murmur to Jo. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t like the duke. There’s something off about him,” Jo murmured back.
“Then ignore him,” Aisha said and turned to Yasmine. “You’ve not met Director Wilder yet, have you? She’s my boss, but she’s also a dear friend.”
“Hello, Yasmine. A pleasure to meet you,” Jo replied. “Did I hear you were headed to Oxford in the fall?”
“Yes, Director,” Yasmine said. “I’m going to study international law. Papa wanted me to stay in the United States, but the invitation to Oxford was too good to pass up.”
The rest of the meal passed pleasantly enough, but Jo found herself listening to Ashton’s conversation more than she intended. She couldn’t help but wonder what it was about him that irritated her so.
“Come on, honey, you know you want to,” Ashton said to Cassandra and Jo sighed. Loudly.
“What’s wrong, Director Wilder?” Ashton asked, and his tone held both sarcasm and laughter.
Jo knew he was baiting her, but she’d had about enough of his bullshit for the evening. “What’s wrong?” she said to him. “What’s wrong is that you’re an arrogant asshole with a penchant for misogynistic behavior and a talent for thinking you’re all that, when you’re not.”
Adil hid his amusement behind his linen napkin, while William blinked at Jo in astonishment. Cassandra bit her lip and Aisha snorted laughter.
“Excuse me?” Ashton said, as anger replaced his amusement.
“I don’t believe you’re deaf, and I do believe I spoke English, correct?” Jo replied. “However, if you wish to be excused, I’m sure we’d all be most grateful if you departed the gathering.”
“You arrogant bitch,” Ashton hissed, and Adil interrupted him.
“Watch your tongue, young man,” Adil said. “These women are my guests, and one of them is family. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for an international diplomatic incident now, would you?”
Ashton’s face flushed with rage. He tossed his napkin onto his plate and rose from his seat. Without another word, he left the room and the general expression of relief from those at the table was palpable.
“I’m sorry,” Jo said to Adil. “I tried to tolerate his behavior, but it reached intolerable levels.”
“I wanted to say something earlier,” Cassandra told Jo, “but I’m not as well connected and didn’t need to make an enemy of the duke.”
“He’s still a man, puts on his pants one leg at a time,” Jo said with a shrug. “I don’t care what his title is, his behavior was reprehensible and insulting. If he wanted respect, he should have behaved respectfully.”
“I agree,” Adil said and they all fell silent as the wait staff came around to clear plates and set out dessert.
“Aisha, after dessert, if you want to stay and visit with the ambassador and his daughter, I can send a car back for you later,” Jo murmured, her voice kept low as the conversation around the table picked up once more. “I’m going to leave early. I need to check on the team.”
“That works for me,” Aisha said. “I can see if I can get any more information for us. I believe my uncle has invited Cassandra and Dr. Jonesboro to the embassy tomorrow for breakfast, so I’ll see if I can wrangle an invitation to stay overnight and get some eyes and ears on the discussion.”
“That sounds like a plan. I’m interested in why they were invited in the first place, and what their take is on the threat levels that they were discussing earlier,” Jo said. “Just call for a car when you’re ready to head back and put it on the Institute’s tab.”
“Thank you, Jo,” Aisha said.
“No, thank you. This has been rather illuminating,” Jo replied. When dessert was over, Jo made her excuses and left the dining room. She paused in the lobby while the valet let her driver know she was ready, and took a moment to appreciate the art from the last two centuries that hung on the walls.
“You made a big mistake,” the voice was pitched low from behind her.
She turned to look at the duke and gave him a brilliant smile. “No, Your Grace, I believe you made the error. You assumed your misogynistic behavior and patronizing attitude would be accepted, tolerated, and encouraged. You’d think after the age of #metoo, you would’ve figured out that the old frat boy party behavior was no longer apropos to a social setting.”
Ashton stared at her, then gave her a smile in return. “I’m going to do my best to ruin your life, Director Jolene Wilder. This is your only warning.”
He turned then and left the lobby, and Jo watched as he climbed into the back of a Lincoln Town Car and was driven away. A shiver ran through her and she had a moment of premonition. He was going to impact her life, but not in the way either of them anticipated.
Chapter 8 next week! Or you can grab the book here and read ahead.
Cannot wait for the next chapter