Category: Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Argus Enterprises International
ISBN-10: 0982305001
Type: Fiction
Pages: 265
Copyright: May 04, 2009
ISBN-13: 978098205003
Sammi Evans is wanted by the police, the FBI and people in trouble. She has a special talent and can find out information from anyone. Few in the world around know how she does it; but she shares with her readers.
Politicians, policemen and an entire ring of vicious criminals join forces to infiltrate the office of the Governor of Pennsylvania in furtherance of their master scheme involving drugs, murder and money-laundering. Allowing nothing to stand in their way, the evil cartel moves relentlessly forward with their handpicked candidate for the Governor's seat. Their plan: total dominance. Their secret asset: a mole in the police ranks. Their obstacle: a detective in Scranton, PA and a 'sensitive' with a secret of her own.
Excerpt
Samantha Evans grabbed her black handbag from the kitchen counter, took a quick look around and headed for the front door. She grumbled as she turned back, remembering her car keys. Taking time for a calming breath, she headed out a second time, realizing everything was finally in order. As she reached the door, the telephone rang. She paused, irritated at the timing. Should she bother to answer it? She was in a hurry. But then she'd wonder who it was. Waiting impatiently until the answering machine picked up the call, she recognized the excited voice of Dave Patterson.
"Sammi, Hello Sammi, If you're there, pick up. I need to talk to you; it's urgent."
Dave Patterson was one of the lead detectives from the local precinct. She'd known him since college and he often consulted with her; usually when he was stuck and needed information. She had to pick up.
"Hello Dave," she answered in an exasperated tone.
"I'm so glad I caught you. I desperately need your help."
"No, please Dave, I'm on my way out the door. My bags are already in the car. I'm heading to Ontario. You know, that vacation I keep planning and then canceling?"
"Oh damn, is that today? Do you think you could postpone it a little while? I really need you."
"I canceled two weeks ago remember?"
"But I desperately need your help. Give me a minute to explain. Just listen, okay?"
"Okay," said Sammi believing that she was being played again. "Tell me what's going on. I don't promise anything, but I'll listen."
"Okay, good enough. We're having a problem with someone on the Governor's staff. The Harrisburg police are asking for our help and I'm right in the middle of it. There's been too many mistakes happening lately. Some documents on file have disappeared totally and others get lost and then show up a few weeks later changed in some way. I can't say anymore than that. But I need you to attend a party tonight. And with me, see how lucky! We need to see if you can find out anything."
"Dave, is this really desperate? Can't it wait a week or two? I've planned this trip three times already."
"It's got to be tonight. The party's the perfect cover. We need to find out who's involved, at least that. Who do we start to target? What's this all about? Anything you can pick up that will point us in the right direction. That's all I want."
"What you want is for me to cancel my plans again. Gee, I don't know."
"I know I can't force you, but I could if you'd let me hire you."
"No thanks, that I don't want. Well, I guess another day shouldn't matter. Just this party tonight, right?"
"Yeah, just this party. If you could listen in on a few people -- I've got the name of three we're wondering about and they'll all be there. That's all I need right now, I promise."
"Well ... okay," said Sammi irritated because her civic duty wouldn't allow her to say no. "But you owe me--again."
"I can't thank you enough, Sammi."
"That's right," she said, "you can't thank me enough."
"It's formal, so dress for the occasion and I'll pick you up at 6 o'clock."
Sammi puckered up her face as she put down the receiver. He did it to her again. Why did all these crucial matters happen at the last minute when she had already made plans? She was somewhat irritated, but couldn't easily refuse. She did have her way of finding out information and only a few people knew about it. Her parents had a slight inkling, but they were now deceased. And she had never trusted her two brothers with the news. So besides Dave, there were a total of three other people in the entire world who knew what she could do. And they were people who had needed her help in the past and had been sworn to absolute secrecy.
Most weren't sure how she did it. She wasn't entirely sure herself. She'd been called a psychic and all those things, but she was none of that. It's simply that she could hear what people were thinking. If she stood next to someone and concentrated, his or her thoughts talked to her out loud, like a regular conversation. Strange, right? But true, nonetheless. She didn't know how she did it, but she had been able to do it since she was little. It was natural to her and nothing she'd practiced. When he was around seven years old, it had started, and it never stopped.
This cozy murder mystery takes place aboard luxury liner, Queen Elizabeth II, as wealthy couple celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with family and friends.
