Code Name: Crescent: A Matt Preston Novel

by Paul Shadinger

  Gladys patted Sharon’s arm in return as she told her, “Tell you what, any time you want to give it a try, I’ll make the arrangements and you can come to Robbie’s and do it. I’ll bet we can put enough makeup on you and change your hair so that even your own mother wouldn’t know you.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t. I’m a really crappy dancer.”

  I piped up, “You should see what some of the gals there call dancing. Moving from one foot to the other and taking off your clothes is not dancing.”

  Gladys scowled at me, “Matt. Stop!”

  “Well, you know the main reason I noticed you was because you were actually dancing.”

  “And here I always thought it was my body that drew your attention,” Gladys shot back. Now it was my turn to turn red and Sharon started to laugh.

  “Well, it’s something I’ll have to think about. And something I’ll have to have several drinks before I could do. Hey, speaking of drinks…” Sharon held up her glass and shook it, the ice cubes rattling against the sides of the empty glass.

  Both ladies’ glasses were empty so I grabbed them and headed off to the kitchen to make new ones. While I was gone I could hear them chattering away and I wondered what they were talking about. After passing out the new drinks I returned to my chair. Sharon took a sip and then let out a deep sigh. “I’m really sorry to intrude on the two of you. I know I should’ve called, but I just didn’t want to go back to the houseboat and be alone after the day I had.”

  Gladys leaned forward and put her hand just above Sharon’s knee. “I understand. My day kind of sucked too. One of our girls has been trying to break a drug habit. We thought she was making headway but today they found her overdosed in her car in the parking lot behind Robbie’s. I know we all have our demons. She was working so hard to get hers under control. She had grown up in an abusive home, she got into an abusive marriage and she was trying to get free. She had turned to drugs to deal with her problems only to find out it just made things worse. I spent so much time with her… I tried so hard…” Gladys sobbed and Sharon quickly reached out and pulled Gladys into an embrace. I watched as Sharon patted Gladys on the back and stroked her hair. It took a few minutes before she finally calmed down. Gladys smiled weakly at Sharon. “Thanks. I really wasn’t going to cry. I made myself a promise that I wasn’t going to cry, and now look.”

  Gladys started to push herself up off the couch. Sharon looked at her and asked, “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “I’ll leave so the two of you can be alone.”

  Sharon shook her head back and forth and replied, “No, I was the rude person, I was the one who didn’t call ahead so I’m the one who should leave. I’ll go.” Sharon looked over at me, “I’m sorry, Matt.”

  Gladys was still sitting on the edge of the couch and she looked long and hard at Sharon. When Gladys looked over at me she smiled and winked. Her smile was one of total mischief. “Sharon, your day sucked,” Sharon nodded. “My day sucked,” Sharon nodded again. “I have a wonderful idea.” Gladys smiled at us.

  “Oh, and what’s this wonderful idea?” Sharon asked with a bit of trepidation.

  “Well, I have an idea where neither one of us has to leave…”

  Oh shit!

  But that my friend is another story.

  THE END

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you to my editor Ellen Campbell for stepping up to the plate and repairing what I have written. When the editing was first started, Ellen was unable to finish and I was forced to muddle on without her. But now she is back at the helm and has fixed this novel. Thank you and I missed you while you were absent.

  I would like to thank Kevin G Summers for another great cover and once more for his expertise in formatting and preparations of the manuscript. I am so glad there are people in this world who can get those little bytes and electrons whipped into shape to do their necessary things so an author’s stories can be read. Thank you, Kevin for your patience while I kept making so many revisions and you kept formatting. I promise, I’m done now!

  I would like to thank all of you who read the original manuscript before it was edited and cleaned up. At the risk of missing somebody, I will not name them, however, they saw something in my works and they felt the novel should be finished. Without your positive reinforcement, continuing pressure and reassurance, I would never have allowed this to be published.

  I want to acknowledge my current Cocker Spaniels all of whom play a part in the character of Beanie in this book. They have done a wonderful job just in filling the holes left by Buttons (BJ).

  Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to my wife, Sandy, who was so instrumental in the development and writing of both Houseboat and Code Name: Crescent. It is always assumed that a wife is supposed to support and encourage her spouse, however, I feel she has gone way past that. It is no exaggeration to say that without her, neither Houseboat or Code Named: Crescent would exist today. Thank you.

  Pull back the covers my darling… I am on my way.

  About the Author

  Paul lives in North Fort Myers Florida with his wife and biggest fan Sandy, and their three beautiful American Cocker Spaniels, (Mas, Bean and Sam) whom are better now as “The Kids”.

  Born and raised in Seattle and now transplanted to Florida, in addition to writing Paul keeps busy involved with community events and working on a model train layout. A graduate of Western Washington University in Education, Paul taught for 4.5 years and became self-employed when he left teaching. Over the years Paul has owned and operated several businesses, where he met many interesting people who always seem to confide in him hence the varied knowledge of people that he uses to create his fascinating characters.

  Code Name: Crescent grew out of a trip through Illinois in the winter which is partially described in the prologue of this book. From the prologue grew this story, covering old characters introduced in Houseboat and new ones introduced in this novel. As always, this grew out of bits and pieces and when Houseboat was published, more time and energies were focused towards finishing this book.