Excerpt Wednesday – The Stalker

He nodded, mumbling a quick good-bye, then watched her walk away, her curvy hips slightly swaying and her long, reddish-blonde hair falling gently over her shoulders. He couldn't believe what had just transpired. He pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his forehead. Rebecca Walker had actually paid attention to him. She'd noticed him, and she'd taken the time to soothe him after his humiliation in class. Why would she do that? She had even touched him. He could still feel her hand on his shoulder burning through to his flesh. What did this all mean? Could it be possible? Could a woman like Rebecca Walker actually be attracted to him? Was she making a play for him? Had he missed the signals most guys were aware of? He had no friends to discuss this with, so he wasn't sure. Could he talk to his father about this wonderful event? His father was at work more than he was at home, and even if he were at home, Jeremy knew that dear old Dad would offer him no hope, instead brushing it aside as wishful thinking on Jeremy's part. Nevertheless, hope was all he had to cling to.

He could barely wait to get home. He needed to look up Rebecca in the student directory. Maybe he would get the courage to call her tonight and ask her out. Yes, that was what he would do. He smiled at his newfound self-confidence, but as quickly as it had come, it disappeared as the demons of doubt entered his thoughts. Why would Rebecca Walker want to go out with a loser like you? the demons shouted through the corridors of his mind, laughing and taunting him. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to get them out of his thoughts. No, he'd prove them wrong. She did want him.  

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Excerpt Wednesday – Over The Edge

"Did you or did you not insinuate that my wife and I were responsible for Christopher Jacoby leaving you for another woman?"

She placed her hands on her hips as she stood mockingly in front of him. The fear she'd felt just moments before quickly left her. "I didn't insinuate it, Brant, I said it. Since when does that warrant an investigation?" She glanced at Tom who was observing the standoff with one eyebrow cocked.

Brant's eyes narrowed into two black slits. "Did you tell her that she'd be sorry for what she'd done?"

"What? You're nuts!"

"I can take you in right now for threatening my wife's life, and don't think I haven't thought about it. The only reason I didn't have you arrested last night was because Janna begged me not to. You should be on your hands and knees thanking her for that." He pointed a finger in her face. "But let me tell you something, if you so much as even look at my wife the wrong way, I'll haul your ass in so fast it'll make your head swim!"

"Now hold on a minute, Brant," Tom broke in. "You have no right to talk to Maggie like this. She has rights."

"Stay out of it, Tom." He glared at the older man. "You don't need to become involved in this. Maggie needs to learn that life goes on and she's not the first woman to have ever been dumped."

"You bastard!" Maggie spat out without thinking of the consequences.

"I should take you in right now," he said squaring his jaw. 

She looked fiercely into his cold, heartless eyes. "Go ahead. I've done nothing wrong. And what happened between Chris and me is none of your business…oh, I should take that back," she said with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. "You, as usual, couldn't stand to see me happy, so you had to make sure you ruined my life."

"Now, Maggie, what reason would I possibly have?" He chuckled. "You need help. Have you considered seeing a shrink? I can recommend someone, or better yet, you can sign yourself into the state hospital. It appears to me that you're on the verge of a breakdown. A long rest may do you some good."

Her eyes flashed. "Janna came here yesterday just bursting at the seams to tell me about Chris, but you know what? I don't care. He's not worth it."

Brant smirked. "I really couldn't stand to see Chris dating someone so beneath himself…white trash," he sneered. "And if you don't care, then why did you lash out at my wife?"

Maggie's body trembled and she opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Tom hastily grabbed her arm. "Let it go. He's not worth it. He's only trying to provoke you," he whispered close to her ear.

"What's that?" Brant asked moving toward them. "What'd you say, Tom?"

"Nothing, I was just calming Maggie."

"Well, you'd better continue." He put his notepad back into his pocket. "By the way, Maggie, I'll let you know whether my wife decides to press charges against you for making threats against her life. In the meantime, you'd better watch that temper of yours." He tipped his hat as he slowly made his way out of the kitchen through the diner and out the front door.

After Tom was certain that Brant was gone, he slammed his fist on the butcher-block table. "That son of a bitch! Someone has got to do something. He can't keep harassing people like this."

"But he will keep on, Tom. No one can stop him." She was thoughtful for a minute. "At least not yet." 

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Excerpt Wednesday – Silent Dreams

Kami climbed into her king-sized bed and pulled her comforter to her chin. She put her hands beneath her head and stared up at the ceiling. She needed to come up with a plan, but had no clue where to begin. Time definitely was not on her side. Josh had made that perfectly clear. She chewed her bottom lip. She had to be cautious with Blaine, enticing her without letting her know it was a trap. Josh wouldn’t be put off any longer. If only she could think of something, anything, to stall him for just a little longer. She removed her hands and rolled onto her side. She stroked the silk sheet. Her apartment was lavish compared to the rattrap Blaine called home, but if she made one wrong move, she’d be back in the gutter and all of this would be gone in a flash. She blew her breath out. If only Blaine was someone she didn’t care about it would be so much easier. But she did care about her. Blaine was not only her friend, but Blaine trusted her. Kami loved Blaine like a sister and treasured their friendship, but how would Blaine feel about her when she learned the truth? More importantly, Kami wondered how she would ever be able to live with herself after she betrayed Blaine in the worst imaginable way. Her lips trembled as tears stung her eyes. Her breathing became raspy as the threatened tears brimmed, and then fell from her eyes.

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Excerpt Wednesday – The Black Heart

Carter Rogers sat at his kitchen table sipping a cup of coffee. He watched as a gentle breeze softly moved the curtains on the open window. It was an unusually warm evening for early May, but not warm enough to need air conditioning. He loved nights like this with the fresh air coming through the windows. He breathed deeply and then pushed back his chair and stood. He was setting his coffee cup in the dishwasher when an explosion sounded in the distance. The force was strong enough to rattle the dishes in the cupboard. Almost immediately, sirens could be heard in the distance.

Carter turned to his wife Morgan who was wiping down the counter. "I wonder what that was."

"Probably just some kids setting off firecrackers," Morgan replied with a slight shrug. She glanced at her wristwatch. It read exactly nine o'clock.

He shook his head. "I don't think so. Something's exploded," he said. "Don't you hear the sirens?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "I'm sure it's nothing serious." She smiled. "Would you like to watch TV or go to a movie? There's a new mystery I've been wanting to see. It doesn't start until ten. We could get a sitter," she said hopefully.

"Morgan, I'm too tired tonight. Besides, I doubt we'd find a sitter this late. Anyway, I don't like to do things on the spur of the moment. You know that."

She frowned. "I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe for once in your life you might want to do something spontaneous instead of mapping your life out minute by minute. Next time I'll ask you a month in advance so you can pencil it into your schedule."

Carter laughed at her sarcasm. "I'm sorry, honey." He came up behind her and put his arms around her slim waist. "We'll do something special tomorrow night. I promise. I already have it penciled in."

Morgan turned around facing him. "I suppose I'll let you off the hook. But no excuses tomorrow night. I'll line up a sitter."

"I'll even spring for dinner first. We'll make a night of it."

"I'm looking forward to it." She brushed his sandy brown hair from his brow. "Looks like you need a trim."

"I think I'll let it grow out a little."

Morgan began to reply, but the phone rang interrupting her.

"I'll get it," Carter said.

Morgan finished straightening the kitchen, tuning out her husband's phone conversation. She had other things on her mind to mull over. She jumped when Carter placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. "What's the matter, Carter?" He was ashen-faced and trembling.

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