In a shopping bag at his feet, he had a bottle of champagne, crystal wine flutes, and a jug of tea for Harry so they could christen their new business in—he looked down at his watch—ten more minutes. Next to the shopping bag was Cyrus, a huge, sleek, 140-pound black German shepherd, who was his new best friend forever. Cyrus was two years old and, as far as Jack was concerned, half human and half dog. Cyrus was so in tune with Jack, he knew what Jack was going to do before Jack knew it himself.
Four months ago, he had stopped in for his morning bagel while Cyrus waited outside. While he waited in line for his coffee and bagel, the door opened, and a man bellowed, “Everyone on the floor!” As he was dropping to the floor to obey the robber’s orders, Jack saw a black streak clear the door with inches to spare. In the blink of an eye, all 140 pounds of ferocious dog propelled the robber to the floor, then sat on him. Jack, in a lightning move, scooped up the gun the man had been brandishing while Domingo Lopez, known to his patrons as Ding, called the police. Cyrus was the hero of the day, and, as Ding said, “I don’t care what the Health Department’s rules are, Cyrus can come in here anytime.” His patrons agreed, and everyone else looked the other way. Jack reached down to pat the magnificent dog on the head. Cyrus nuzzled his hand.
Jack returned to his thoughts as he stared out the window. The weatherman had predicted a possibility of snow flurries later in the day. It was, after all, December, so snow flurries were to be expected. Just like last year, when the same prediction led to three weeks of arctic air and so much snow that the District had to shut down because there was nowhere else to move the white stuff.
So much had happened during that short period of time. Charles Martin had flown the coop, Jack and Nikki had hit a rough patch, and he’d resigned, to her initial chagrin. But in the end, she agreed because she just wanted him to be happy with his life. During the past year, her twelve-member all-female law firm had taken on six new associates and seven new paralegals. The expansion was needed to deal with three class-action lawsuits that would make the firm kazillions of dollars. If the workload didn’t kill everyone first. All they had to do was work twenty hours a day to make it happen. Sometimes, he didn’t see or talk to his wife for days at a time. What the hell kind of life was that? Things were still sticky between the two of them, but they were both trying to work it all through. Alexis Thorn, Joe Espinosa’s significant other, had given Espinosa the boot shortly before Valentine’s Day, saying she preferred her job to a relationship, and she hoped that he understood that she couldn’t do both. Espinosa did not understand, any more than Jack did. They’d cried into their beers way too many times over the last ten months.
Maggie Spritzer was back at the Post as the EIC after John Cassidy resigned because he didn’t have enough time to go fly-fishing. It had taken a lot of sweet-talking on Annie de Silva’s part to get Maggie back in harness, but, finally, all the perks Annie dangled in front of Maggie won her over, and she was once again calling the shots at the Post. Not a bad thing, Jack had decided at the time. Or as Ted put it, “She’s out of our hair for now.”
Jack’s little “guy group,” as he called it, had three new exclusive members and one long-distance member. The other members referred to it as “an off-the-grid spy group,” whatever the hell that meant. The name conjured up all kinds of weird images and possible scenarios. Bert Navarro was the long-distance member. Dennis West, cub reporter and Ted Robinson, hero worshipper, as well as a new billionaire, Abner Tookus, hacker extraordinaire, and Jack Sparrow, who out of necessity was called Jay for a little while, were the latest recruits to the off-the-grid avengers club.
Jack let his thoughts wander to Myra and Annie, who had settled in for the long winter ahead. The last time he’d checked with Myra, she was knitting. Knitting. She’d said she was making a scarf that was two miles long, and she needed a wagon to carry it in. Or, as Annie put it, one long line of colored yarn filled with sloppy stitches. Annie said she was taking cooking lessons and brushing up on her pole dancing. She had mumbled something about feathers on shoes, or maybe it was her white cowboy boots that she always wore, but he hadn’t understood a word of what she was saying. What he did understand was that, unlike the others, who were running themselves ragged, she and Myra were bored out of their minds.
Women! He would never understand them. Never!
Isabelle Flanders Tookus was still in England, designing a new-age city, and had no downtime available for Abner, which pretty much left him at loose ends and ready to dive into the guy group. Yoko, it appeared, at least according to Harry, was happier than a pig in a mud slide with her plant nursery and raising Lily, which left precious little time for Harry, who these days was meaner than a wet cat on a treadmill.
Kathryn Lucas, fiancee of Bert Navarro, thrived on driving the open roads in her eighteen-wheeler, making two stops a month in Las Vegas for, as Bert put it, booty calls. He also said theirs would be the longest engagement in history because Kathryn had no intention of ever marrying again. Bert said he was okay with the engagement because he had no other options, and he loved Kathryn heart and soul.
Cyrus raised his head, then reared up. He’d heard the sound of Harry’s Ducati before Jack had. “Okay, big guy, do your thing while I pay the bill.” Doing his thing meant going from table to table to offer up his paw and, with luck, get a little treat from his friends at the other tables. When he finished his rounds, he barked, and Ding came out from behind the counter and handed the big dog a monster dog treat. Cyrus barked, offered up his paw, and waited for Jack to open the door. Ham that he was, Cyrus turned and bowed. The patrons loved it and always clapped. Jack said, “You are the biggest ham I’ve ever seen, Cyrus. Hero worship is a sin. Do you know that?” Cyrus barked, waited for a break in traffic, and raced across the road to greet Harry, who obligingly ruffled his ears.
“Hi, Harry!”
“Hi, Jack!”
“Let’s walk around back so we can all go in together. I want us all to oooh and aaah at the same time. Ted just turned the corner, and I think I saw Sparrow come in from the other direction. Haven’t seen Abner yet, though. Oops, there he goes. How’s it going, Harry?”
“It’s going, Jack. You?”
“It’s going, Harry. You up for this gig?”
Never long on words, Harry said, “I’m here.”
“Let’s do it!” Jack said as he picked up his feet and raced to the back alley behind the newly remodeled property, where the guys were waiting for them. Cyrus barked a greeting, then offered his paw. It was a ritual that had to be observed, or Cyrus would bark relentlessly until the others made it happen. Satisfied that he had all the attention he needed, the big dog stood back while Jack allowed the retina scanner to check his eyeball, then listened for the hydraulic hiss of the door opening at their new, off-the-grid digs.
Photo by M2IFOTO © 2006
About the Author
Fern Michaels is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Sisterhood and Godmothers series and dozens of other novels and novellas. There are over seventy five million copies of her books in print. Fern Michaels has built and funded several large day-care centers in her hometown, and is a passionate animal lover who has outfitted police dogs across the country with special bulletproof vests. She shares her home in South Carolina with her four dogs and a resident ghost named Mary Margaret.
Visit her website at fernmichaels.com.
Tuesday’s Child
SECOND CHANCES
Ten years have passed since young nurse Sophie Lee was accused of murdering her wealthy patient, Audrey Star. Georgia attorney Mikala Aulani believed in her innocence—and Adam Star’s guilt—but the prosecution convinced a jury otherwise. Sophie was convicted on a Tuesday—the day on which every significant event in her life, good or bad, seems to happen. Now, on the verge of his death, Adam exonerates Sophie and also leaves her a huge fortune in atonement.
Sophie retreats to Kala’s house and tries to evade the media frenzy that su
rrounds her. Kala is determined to help her client make her way back into the world. Yet for both, there are still revelations in store—about the nature of redemption, the strange workings of fate, and the power of forgiveness. And most of all, about the secrets that hide in every heart—even those we think we know best . . .
Ey es Only
#1 New York Times bestselling author Fern
Michaels takes the Sisterhood to a tropical paradise,
where they confront an adversary more ruthless
and devious than any they’ve yet faced in this
much-loved series.
It’s been a long time since the Sisterhood and their allies gathered together at Myra Rutledge’s home—far too long, in Myra’s opinion. She’d had enough of missing Charles and feeling the weight of the passing months. What’s needed is another mission to pour her energy and the Sisterhood’s talents into, and her dear friend, Countess Anna de Silva, has provided the very thing.
Lush, exclusive Spyder Island is home to many of the world’s billionaires. Though the inhabitants guard their privacy jealously, resident Gretchen Spyder, daughter of the island’s namesake, is making headlines. Years ago, Gretchen gave her twin babies up for legal adoption. Now Gretchen and her father are trying to get them back. The twins’ adoptive parents are a loving but poor couple, completely outgunned by the Spyders’ wealth. Myra, with the full force of the Sisterhood behind her, intends to give them a fighting chance at keeping the family together.
After assembling in their War Room and gathering intel, the gang is ready for action. But nestled among the lavish mansions and immaculate landscaping of Spyder Island is a sinister enemy. And in a case that’s far more twisted than it first appeared, the ingenuity, courage, and friendship of the Sisterhood will be tested as never before.
Seasons of Her Life
TO DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
Having left behind a bitter childhood, Ruby Connors quickly finds that marriage is not quite the escape she imagined. Instead, as a military wife in Washington, D.C., loneliness turns out to be her most dependable companion. But determined to realize her faith in happiness, she raises her two children in a nurturing, beautiful home that mirrors her resourcefulness and good sense. It’s the perfect environment in which to bake delicious, unforgettable cookies. After years of struggle, Mrs. Sugar’s Cookies succeeds beyond Ruby’s wildest dreams. But closest to her heart is the memory of the man she longs for in her soul . . .
Desperate Measures
SOME FAIRY TALES ARE TRUE
An orphan rescued by a wealthy uncle and raised in spheres of privilege, Pete Sorenson is set to launch his career as a high-powered attorney. At his side is Annie, the perfect princess of a companion, ready to support him in every way, gracefully, patiently. But then Maddie Stern enters Pete’s life. More than her notable beauty and enigmatic allure, it’s her past as a foster child that draws a connection between them that Pete could never share with Annie. But on the eve of their wedding, Maddie disappears. Distraught, Pete reaches out to his most trusted friend. Annie drops her life in Boston to once again provide the emotional support Pete needs. Together, they try to solve the mystery of Maddie. And together, they discover life is always unexpected . . .
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Copyright © 2015 by Fern Michaels
Fern Michaels is a registered trademark of KAP 5, Inc.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
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First Zebra Books Electronic Edition: July 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4201-3592-3
In Plain Sight Page 25
