Sunday Snippet: Keeper of All Things Secret

We had another week of record high temperatures, which means we'll be having brisk, chilly weather this week. Time for more soup! Trick or treat is actually on Halloween this year and we're supposed to have rain and wind. Should make handing candy out lots of fun.

Had another busy work week and also got a good bit of writing done. I'm very close to being ready to launch my new venture. I think everything is lined up.

Had a decent week watching television. I'm still in that weird place of needing silence to focus sometimes, which is truly odd for me. I usually need some kind of background noise going on.

Ended up catching two episodes of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed both. Alexa is growing on me a little more. I'm very interested in getting some additional backstory for her.

Watched a full episode of Agatha Raisin and started another one. I'm kind of crushed they're going to drag out the whole deal with James. I kind of love them together.

Caught the second half of the Silent Witness two-parter. Ended up liking the twists in this one.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. I remembered this one from my sporadic watching on the Ovation channel. So weird that this episode timed so closely to Haydn's death. She guest-starred in this episode.

Watched another episode of Only Murders in the Building. Seriously enjoyed this one. But I do miss having the trio solving the mystery together.

Caught an episode of The Batman. It was the first of a two-parter and introduced the origin of Clayface in this version.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered one of them but not the other. Kind of nice to be surprised.

Watched another episode of VIP and enjoyed it. It's fun when the whole team goes out for job.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Keeper of All Things Secret, a novella that features political intrigue and a hot couple.

Here's the miniblurb:

Gili Main, chief of security for an orbiting space station, supports her boss who is up for reelection. Parr Minerval is an excellent leader and should have the election in the bag. But his opponent is playing dirty and Gili appoints herself as the keeper of all things secret to prevent the wily upstart from twisting the facts to his advantage.

And a sneaky peek…

Gili straightened Parr's lapels. "I know you do. And I hate that you have to go this direction to guarantee safe passage through the Danzig Sector." She pressed a kiss to his lips. "If people can travel without fear of pirates or raiders dogging their steps, there's less of a chance your opponent will gain a foothold." And Sal Hander would make a terrible director.

The man drank too much and gambled too much, but somehow managed to maintain his political capital and leverage. Probably by underhanded tactics. He had a cadre of worker drones that always took a fall if their boss got out of hand.

Parr's shoulders slumped. "You know how I feel about the lack of transparency." He walked away, his back now rigid with tension.

Yeah, she understood the weight he carried. But she also grasped, on a level he didn't, the importance of protecting those who came and went from this station—the ones who put their lives in the hands of the director—no matter the smokescreen needed to make it happen. "Parr, you do good work here. As long as you always have the best outcome for everyone in mind, you'll keep doing that job." Because people like Sal would use the position to line their pockets and screw everyone and anyone over.

Parr turned. "Good intentions don't always win, Gili. Someday the wrong deal will be made, and the repercussions won't be worth the cost." He gave her a determined smile. "But not today. The Danzigs have too much to lose." He opened the door and exited, leaving her to discreetly follow a little later.

Gili waited the usual five minutes then left the cabin. "Someday Parr is going to really get why they call it a discretionary fund." Until then, she'd keep him out of the line of fire.

This story is a lot of fun. I enjoy this couple so much, and it's kind of my jam to write an established couple trying to keep their relationship together during a conflict.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye