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Lazar Books
Lazarbooks
Category:
Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Paladin Timeless Books
Type: Fiction
Pages: 230
Copyright: Sept 15. 2009
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Join Gus LeGarde in this European rollercoaster ride where he unearths a scandalous family secret linked to a nineteenth century composer. When brother-in-law Siegfried is framed for a neo-Nazi's murder, they're plunged into a sizzling cat-and-mouse game where the stakes are lethal.
Music professor Gus LeGarde is about to embark on a European honeymoon with his new wife, Camille, when his socially challenged brother-in-law receives a mysterious invitation to visit an ailing relative in Germany. Siegfried can’t travel alone, but the newlyweds have no qualms over bringing him along.
Unfortunately, their idyllic vacation takes a dark turn at the first stop in Paris, when Gus and Siegfried are caught in a bloody street brawl with a group of neo-Nazis -- and a flawed news report frames Siegfried for the murder of one of their leaders, thrusting him into the deadly group’s crosshairs.
After a narrow escape, Gus manages to bring his brother-in-law safely to Germany, where he hopes to both salvage the rest of the honeymoon and explore the shocking family secret that awaits there. But the events they’ve set in motion have far-reaching consequences, and the ruthless leader of the terrorist faction has lethal plans in store for Gus, Camille, and Siegfried -- and ultimately, the world.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
The Boeing 747 bucked and shuddered, sending shouts of alarm up and down the aisles.
I tried to ignore the panicked voice in my head that kept telling me our European honeymoon was over before it started. When the wings finally stopped dipping, I started to breathe again.
Camille sat beside me, terror flaring in her eyes. She already hated flying, and this tumultuous trip had exhausted her since we took off eight hours ago from Dulles Airport on the same day we’d become man and wife.
I tried to relax and shot her a reassuring smile. “Almost there, honey.”
She acknowledged me with a nod, but didn’t smile back.
As if flaunting its massive power, blue lightning flared against the plane’s window, blinding us. Seconds later, the right wing plunged, then suddenly leveled out as if nothing had happened.
I waited with bated breath while thunder boomed around us.
We’re almost there, almost to Paris. Just a little bit longer.
When the next gust of wind battered us sideways, I seriously began to wonder if we’d make it safely to the Charles de Gaulle Airport.
With another massive shockwave, the plane veered to its side. Overhead bins snapped open, disgorging travel bags and paraphernalia into the aisle. More cries of alarm filled the air. Cold sweat popped on my brow.
“Gus?” Camille grabbed my arm and locked eyes with me. “I don’t know if I can do this.” Her complexion waxed sickly green. She brushed damp curls from her forehead, leaning back with eyes squeezed shut.
“You’ll be okay.” I held her hand tightly. “We’re almost there.”
Another bolt of lightning burst against the window and the aircraft wobbled its way through black clouds. Like a beacon from below, a field of twinkling lights broke through the clouds. I sighed with relief. We’d passed over the Atlantic and were now flying over solid ground. No watery death for us. Now all we had to do was reach the airport and put down safely.
“Look.” I pointed to the lights. “We’re over land.”
She blinked. Hope glinted momentarily behind her long lashes until the plane quaked again.
I wondered how I’d ever get her back on a flight for the return trip to East Goodland, New York.
I twisted the overhead air vent, letting tepid air ruffle my hair. With a deep breath, I collected myself and tried to sound calm. “You’ll love Paris. It’s so full of color and motion and…people. An amazing variety of people.”
Her eyes darted to the window. “Uh-huh. Keep talking, Gus.”
Fiercer now, another bolt of lightning blazed. I braced myself as the plane rocked sideways. The wing quivered in counterpoint to my heartbeat, its metallic stutter reverberating outside our window.
“Well, uh, let’s see. Notre Dame is spectacular, dark and mysterious. The view from the bell tower is incredible. It’ll take your breath away.”
The plane stabilized for a moment, giving me hope that the worst was over.
Camille shifted in her seat and shot me a glance. “You were there with Elsbeth, right?”
I looked into her eyes. No jealousy lurked there. “Yes. Ten years ago. For our anniversary.”
My throat tightened. Elsbeth, my soul mate, my fiery partner, had been murdered five years ago—shoved to her death from the Letchworth Gorge cliffs. It still hurt to think about it, and I didn’t think I’d ever get over the pain of her loss.
In a rush of empathy, Camille kissed her fingertips and gently pressed them to the side of my mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
“It’s okay.” I flashed a half smile. “I’m fine.”
She sat up, feigning interest in the tourism topic. “Let’s talk about Paris.”
I took her hands in mine, trying not to think of my first wife. “What’s the first thing you want to do when we arrive?”
She forced a playful smile. “Besides kiss the ground?”
I laughed. “Yeah. Besides that.”
High winds splattered rain against the window, making it dance in parallel conga lines across the glass.
She took a deep breath, as if continuing to ignore our plight was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. “I want to walk along the Seine and find a nice little outdoor café where I can order a cup of café au lait. I was actually craving fresh croissants and strawberries before my stomach started to flip flop a few minutes ago.”
A sudden gust caught the aircraft, sheering it sideways. Camille froze, plastered against her seat back. She reached again for my hands, mouthing my name. “Gus?”
I reassured her with words I didn’t mean, and when the plane settled, I reached over to tighten her seatbelt. “That’s better.”
How much longer can this go on?
The captain’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker. “Folks, this is Captain Wilcox. Sorry for the bumpy ride. I’m going to try to fly above the storm. Meanwhile, please remain calm. Observe the seatbelt sign and stay in your seats. As soon as it’s safe to move about the cabin, I’ll let you know.”
Camille took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “So, where’s our hotel again? Aren’t we close to some famous places?”
“We are, it’s a great location on the right bank. We overlook the Seine, just around the corner from Notre Dame. We’re walking distance to the Musée D’Orsay, the Louvre, and the Jardin de Tuileries.”
Without warning, we plunged downward, diving through the clouds. A volley of flames erupted from the engine outside our window. Camille’s eyes widened and a sob burst from her lips. My head snapped against the headrest and the force of the descent pinned me to the seat.
Oxygen masks dropped and dangled elusively in the air. I pried one hand from the armrest and fumbled for my mask. Reaching for it, I snagged it and stretched the elastic strap around my head. Camille caught her mask, placed it over her mouth, and looked at me. Terror flamed in her eyes.
I clutched her hand as a kaleidoscope of images flitted through my brain: Camille in her wedding dress, my grandson’s impish smile, our dogs, Max and Boris, asleep by the fire.
We plummeted through a time continuum that blended slow motion with eternity. I struggled to remember the crash position and my heart drummed beneath my ribs. The captain’s voice thundered over the loudspeaker, words muffled beneath the roar of the descent. Craning my head against the heavy force, I faced Camille. It was surreal. A dream. A nightmare.
Abruptly, the aircraft leveled out. A stainless steel coffeepot rolled down the aisle and lodged against my foot. The fire in the engine snuffed out and the plane soared forward as innocuously as it had hours earlier from Dulles Airport.
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