Sunday Snippet: Serving Justice (companion to Justice is Served)

Once again, Ohio weather is all over the place. But at least it hasn't been sweltering hot. Had setbacks with our cars. Mine is still not quite ready. The new engine computer the garage ordered didn't work so they got another one. Hopefully this week. My husband had a deer literally jump on top of his CR-V, shattering the windshield, knocking the rearview mirror off, and sending the driver's side mirror clear over to the passenger side floor. It even dented the top of the car up to the sunroof. I'm pretty sure it's a total loss. Luckily my husband is okay, aside from having a ton of glass all over him. He found glass all the way in the back of the vehicle.

Really busy work week. I finished up a copy edit and continued work on a developmental edit. Also started a new project that's not quite a developmental edit, but it is cleaning up a lot of formatting in a manuscript to get it ready for a copy edit, which a colleague is going to do. Had an exchange with a new author and hope to work with her in the future.

Semi-decent week of viewing. I didn't quite make a full round, mainly because I spent a lot of time on the phone trying to get the insurance sorted and line up a rental until we know for sure what's going on with the CR-V.

I did get an episode of My Life Is Murder in and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of twists and turns in this one. Once again, Madison stole the show. Also really cool to have indigenous representation for the storyline. And … more hints about Alexa's family. Here's hoping we'll see more of them.

I think I watched the finale of Signora Volpe, and it might have set up a future episode featuring Sylvia's ex. That would be a lot of fun. So awesome to see her niece again and getting to know her dad. Isabelle ended up stealing this episode. Going to watch the behind-the-scenes stuff next.

Finished up Best in Paradise with the first of the two-parter that set up Florance's exit. It was a great episode and very bittersweet as the actress mentioned when she introduced the episode.

Also caught another Death in Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. It's also fun to see Jack trying to move on from the loss of his wife. The awkward but awesome communication with Anna is lovely to watch.

Started an episode of Elementary but need to finish it this week. Too many distractions to get all the way through the show. It looks like a good one though.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's episode is from Serving Justice, a novella that's part of an experiment I'm doing with the other two pseudonyms. This is the sci-fi version of Justice Is Served.

Here's the miniblurb:

Jaxine Goodstone is an unwilling pawn in a battle for control of an asteroid field and its mining colony. When a control chip is activated in her, she executes the sitting board members then stumbles into the arms of Upton Viccars, a government agent sent to negotiate the mineral rights. When Jaxine has no memory of her actions, Upton suspects foul play and gradually earns Jaxine's trust—while slowly falling for her—and together they uncover a devious plot that leads back to her childhood in a group home for orphans.

And a sneaky peek…

Jaxine Goodstone stared at the bright light shining over her head, listening to the monotone voices of the doctor and his surgical assistant as they discussed the procedure they wanted to do. Her eyelids drooped and she hated the cold feeling of the fluid they were administering to her through the IV in her arm. The sterile antiseptic smell of the operatory made her nose itch. At twelve, she didn't understand the reason she needed to have surgery, but Dr. Leonardo Moon convinced the matron of the group home Jaxine would be forever changed by the treatment. Her foster brother Lem Falco said he'd be happy to stay at the hospital with Jaxine until the doctors cleared her to go home. At seventeen, he thought he deserved a chance to show his responsibility.

What a load of crap. But the matron apparently bought into his sincerity, because he'd come along with Jaxine.

"Jaxine, you're relaxed now and ready for the procedure. Do you understand?"

Jaxine automatically responded, "Yes, Dr. Moon."

"Good, good." He placed a rubber mask over her face and moved in closer. "Do you remember what we covered in our pre-op discussion?"

Jaxine nodded. "Yes, Dr. Moon."

"And what was that, Jaxine?"

She didn't hesitate with her answer. "I have to count backward from one hundred."

Dr. Moon smiled. "Good, Jaxine, very good." He lifted his surgical mask into place. "Please begin."

Jaxine began as instructed. "Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven…" A floaty sensation filled her, and she drifted along a sea of clouds.

Dr. Moon glanced up when someone else entered the room. "She's ready. You know what the parameters are once this is complete?"

Jaxine's eyes twitched and she tried to pay attention. Parameters for what? Did the matron know about this?

"I know exactly what the goal is. I'll make sure she carries through with the plan."

Lem? Why is he in the operating room?

Jaxine tried to voice the question, but her sluggish mind couldn't fight pull of the IV and the sedative gas from the mask. The conversation around her became muffled and distorted, and she finally gave in and drifted back with the fluffy, white clouds.

I love the concept for this story and it's a lot of fun to write similar books in three different genres. Looking forward to getting them out there in the universe.

 

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

ML Skye