That Way Lies Madness: A Florida Action Adventure Novel (Scott Jarvis Private Investigator Book 8)
Page 34
“I don’t know what the transmission was,” Ariel continued. “It was encoded. However, I can guess and I’m sure you can as well. It could be the coordinates that you plotted for U-2626. It is vital, Scott, that no one finds that submarine but us! You’re the only one aboard who knows that I’m not from Dubai but from Israel. These canisters of streptococcus could be a devastating weapon of mass destruction. I cannot… I will not allow it to fall into the hands of anyone! Hitler’s disgusting evil must stop here and now!”
She was clearly upset. I understood and agreed with her. Ariel leaned back in her chair and grinned at me, “I’m sorry, my love… but there is something else. My equipment detected an errant signal. I traced it down just a few minutes ago to the engine room. I found a block of C4 plastic explosive wired to the fuel line feed to the port engine. It seemed to have been rigged to a remote detonator. I believe there was a tamper switch on it, too… but whoever set this… and I think I have a very good idea who it was… is something of an amateur. I was able to remove the device and have placed it in the rigid inflatable. I’m not sure what else to do with it, other than throw it overboard. However, its evidence, and one never disposes of evidence. This was somebody’s idea of an insurance policy… but I’ve managed to declaw that plan for the most part. I think you and I both know who set the bomb.”
“Audrey…” I said with a flash of deep anger. Anger that I’d once trusted the former CIA agent and even more anger that her machinations robbed the world of the good woman now appearing on my laptop’s screen.
“Oh, Scott…” Lisa breathed. She’d read the book and of course knew how it ended.
Ariel sighed, “Well, I don’t know what else to say. In a few hours, if your calculations are correct… we may be diving on the last of the Nazi U-boats. And I think you are right. You are one of those rare people who always seem to be able to find the answers. I can’t quite tell you how I know that, or why it should be. Of course you’re a brilliant man… yet there’s more. An…indefinable quality.”
“Belief,” Lisa said almost too softly for me to hear. “He can’t accept anything but success.”
“Well, I simply wanted to tell you a few things,” Ariel went on. “Just in case… and because I felt I needed to unburden myself. I wanted to tell you about the business… and about my feelings. And now I feel I want to go and wake you up again.”
She chuckled mischievously, “You can’t know how much pleasure you bring me. Not simply when our bodies are mingling… that goes without saying. Yet perhaps not. Making love to you is an elevating experience. Yet just talking with you, or laughing at your silly jokes or the look I see in your eyes… it’s your strength, integrity, honor and kindness as well as your dedication. You’re a rare man and I’m privileged to have known you. You remind me of what Cleopatra said to Caesar… ‘but for you, the world is filled with small men.’ Well, again, I hope you never have to see this. If so, then I’m so sorry for both of us. Good night… and good bye.”
The screen went blank. I tried to clear the lump in my throat, feeling an aching in my heart that I thought had faded. I simply stared at the screen for a long moment.
“Are you going to be all right?” Lisa asked.
“Sure,” I said wanly. “Are you? Was that hard to watch?”
Lisa climbed into my lap and held me tightly, “I think it was for you. I just feel bad for her, mostly. I know it hurt you to lose her… but she missed out on you. And you know something… she’s absolutely right. What she said, about the way you are… remember that’s why I had to leave you. You’re so… so overwhelming. You’re like this huge roaring sound so strong I couldn’t hear myself. I thought I had to get far away to listen… but it turns out I needed to get closer.”
“I’m glad you did,” I whispered.
“Did you love her, too?”
I took in a deep breath, “You really want to hear this?”
She nodded against my neck.
“I… I don’t know,” I said. “I think maybe so, or it was beginning. What I do know is that I miss her and that the world is a little darker now that she’s no longer in it.”
“I understand,” Lisa said.
I lifted her chin to look into her sea blue eyes, “But you know something? I also know how wonderful life is, because you’re in the world.”
She smiled, “that sounds like it’s from something…”
I chuckled, “Paraphrased from Elton John. This is your Song.”
We kissed.
Author’s Notes
See? See? You were all worried for nothing!
“Woe is me! Woe is me! I finished book 7 and now what? Who shall save me from the tedium between the watching of my favorite TLC programs, such as I didn’t know I was Pregnant, Cupcake Hoarders and of course Battle to Attain What I Found Under my Bed…?”
Uhm… that is to say, thank you dear reader for once again spending a few hours with Jarvis and the gang. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this ride, and that you didn’t guess who Shade was too early on!
“Of course we loved this book, Scotty!” You shout with glee, “yet what now? Once again, you’ve left me with a bleak future filled with nothing to do or look forward to!”
Now don’t fret, valued consumer of fiction, I’m already working on book 9 and a few more things are banging around in my capacious brain box. I’m even now formulating no less than 2 spin-off series. The first being the adventures of the U.S.S. Bull shark – before her final mission as chronicled in Sins of the Fatherland, of course. The second may come from the historical components I’m working on in book 9, which I’m tentatively titling To Honor We Call You.
So as to prove that I’m not entirely heartless, however, here are a couple of things you can do to pass the time between this and the next Jarvis adventure… and adventure that, as implausible as it sounds, will no doubt involve our hero in some crazy twisted nonsense!
If you enjoyed this book in whatever form you’ve procured it, would you be so kind as to leave a review on Amazon and / or Audible? Your feedback is appreciated and never goes unnoticed by this humble scribe.
Also, my new and improved website has all sorts of fun goodies and stuff to read on it, and I’m always adding more. For example, should you subscribe to my email list, you’ll get early notices on new projects, deals, discounts and other stuff exclusive to my true Jarvis fans.
Please visit:
www.scottwcook.com
You may want to follow me on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/swcwriter
Again, thank you and I can’t wait to entertain you once more very soon!
Scott W. Cook
Other books by the author…
In the Scott Jarvis Private investigator series…
Choices – book 1
The Ledger – book 2
Play the Hand You’re Dealt – book 3
Isle of Bones – book 4
Shadows of Limelight – book 5
Sins of the Fatherland – book 6
A Fortune in Blood – book 7
You may also enjoy:
World of Corpses – World of Corpses zombie apocalypse book 1
About the Author
Scott was born in Providence, RI in 1974 and spent the majority of his childhood growing up on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Touched by the creative bug early in life, Scott began writing his first short stories in the 4th grade.
Growing up in Stuart, FL, Scott was immersed in the outdoor lifestyle. Fishing, scuba diving, water skiing and sailing were among his favorite activities and still are. Always an adventurer who wants to see what's around the corner, Scott is one of those people who just can't resist learning something new or seeing someplace he's never seen before... and writing fiction gives him the ability to let others travel with him.
An evident glutton for punishment, Scott's primary day job is as a freelance copywriter. His copywriting career came about both as an extension of his love for writing fiction as wel
l as his unswerving entrepreneurial spirit. Scott started his first real business, a website development company, back in 2000 and spent the next nine years working with clients on larger and more complex projects.
Although he enjoyed the technical side of his work, Scott was always more interested in the sales aspect of the business as well as helping his clients market their sites and in creating copy for them. After the market downturn of 2008, Scott had to close his business and turned his attention to his true passion - helping other people grow their businesses through his writing talent.
Yet it’s story telling that really sparks his passion. With his ongoing Jarvis series as well as others as well as those yet to come, it gives Scott great pleasure to entertain.
"If I can entertain my readers and keep them hungry for more... then I feel like I've really done something worthwhile. Thank you to my readers and to those friends and family who have encouraged me over the years!"
Scott W. Cook