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Tory Allyn
Category:
Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Createspace
ISBN-10: 1719208549
Type: Fiction
Pages: 258
Copyright: May 18, 2018
ISBN-13: 9781719208543
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
Alter Girls is the third novel of my four-book series, The Davenport Decrees
With the stolen formula stashed away in an old perfume bottle and a possible pregnancy looming, Lydia Reome dodges the paparazzi in hopes of enacting her revenge on the wife on an unsuspecting boyfriend. All is disrupted when a phone call from Rue Munroe throws a wrench in her plans. Lydia struggles to keep Rue out of the scheme, but to no avail. Rue inadvertently uncovers another heinous plot and enlists the help of Bren Williams and Derek O’Rourke. As the detectives gain control over their new attributes, their strategy emerges—to squash the destructive forces of a group known as C.U.F.O.M.
Excerpt
As AirFrance Flight 1025 circled the Charles De Gaulle Airport, the light from the morning sun illuminated across a bevy of faces waiting to land. Chatter clamored within every row as Lydia strolled back from the restroom. The passengers knew they were about to exit the plane soon after a long night of travel. She sat down and exhaled.
“I am nauseous again.”
The little old lady turned from looking out of the window. “When I was pregnant and had a bout of morning sickness, I’d eat crackers and drink ginger ale,” she said. “It always did the trick.”
“How could I be pregnant?”
“You must know about the birds and the bees.”
“Excuse me?”
“Dear, there’s only one way that can happen,” Mae Belle reacted. “When was the last time you had your period?”
“My monthly visitor, as my mother called it, is sporadic at best. Some months it would show up; the others not so much.”
“I still feel that crackers and ginger ale will be your best bet.”
“Do you think they have them on this aircraft?”
“Well, you don’t know unless you ask.”
“This is true.” Lydia flagged down the flight attendant. “May I have a package of crackers and some ginger ale?”
“Yes, I’ll bring them to you momentarily.”
“Thank you.” Lydia sat back. “Mae Belle, I hope your remedy will do the same trick for me.”
“My mother used it when she carried me and her mother used it with her. It’s tried and true,” she assured. “Besides, if it’s a false alarm, they should still settle your stomach.”
Lydia exhaled. “If I am pregnant, how long does this morning sickness last?”
“Well, my dear, it has been a long time.” Mae Belle angled her head. “Let me see, my first born, Charles, it started early spring and lasted into late summer. Thank goodness, I had him in the middle of autumn.” Her face beamed. “Now, my second child, Cynthia, it lasted only a couple of months. She was my winter miracle.”
The flight attendant brought Lydia the crackers and soda then leaned in. “This is what I lived on the first few months of my pregnancy,” she whispered. “May I bring you anything else?”
“No, thank you.”
The little old lady edged forward. “She’ll feel better in no time.”
The flight attendant nodded and left.
Lydia popped the top of her soda. “Mae Belle, several months of this will feel like a lifetime.”
“I thought so too, but it finally subsided.”
Lydia opened the crackers and shoved one into her mouth, followed by a sip of ginger ale.
“I can see the Eiffel Tower through the clouds,” the little old lady squealed. “It looks so little.”
“Not when you are standing on the ground looking up at it.” Lydia leaned in and peered out the window. “It is quite intimidating,” she added, sitting back.
“I cannot wait to see Paris this time of the year.” Mae Belle cupped her hands. “I just love the different colored leaves and the smell of wood burning from the chimneys.”
“I despise winter,” Lydia confessed. “It is so cold and bleak.” She munched on another cracker.
Mae Belle glowered. “It also exacerbates my aches and pains.”
“Speaking of aches and pains, the nauseous feeling is going away.”
The little old lady winked. “It works every time.”
“This is your Captain speaking.” The PA system crackled. “Flight attendants, prepare for landing.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has put on the seatbelt sign. Please turn off all of your cell phones, computers or any other electrical devices,” the flight attendant directed. “Also, please put your tray tables and seats in an upright position.”
An abrupt outcry burst forth as six men jumped out of their seats and grabbed some duffle bags from the overhead bins. Once thrown to the floor, they unzipped them and began removing various items. Both flight attendants hurried over and asked them to please have a seat. Their requests went ignored. When asked again, two of the hijackers grabbed the women and tied them up. Lydia watched as they were dragged to the back of the plane and placed in the service area. The passengers were abuzz with commotion as total chaos broke loose. Three other men ran to the cock-pit and were drilling something into the door while another walked around the plane with a black bag. “Put all of your cell phones and electronic devices in here,” the man shouted, his accent shaded with an Arab dialect. He roamed up and down the aisle barking his orders.
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