Sunday Snippet: Wires Crossed

Had a super busy week between work projects and personal projects and, whew, I'm exhausted. Also, the weather is being contrary with lots of rain and chilly temperatures. I don't think we got above sixty degrees with the exception of Thursday when we topped out at seventy.

I'm still juggling six work projects but two are in a state of simmering on the back burner, which isn't optimal, but it does help manage the load.

Had a slow viewing week and didn't quite make it through my usual round of shows. Too much going on that needed my full attention.

I did end up catching an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. It's one of my favorites with Phyrne showing off her flying skills.

Also watched an episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. A holiday episode that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm kind of bummed there aren't any new episodes until the next season.

Death in Paradise kind of blew my mind. I knew what would happen and it still caught me a little off guard. I think because Neville acted so out of character. I have a really good idea of who killed the professor, and I hope I prove myself right.

Got another episode of Return to Paradise viewed and I'm really enjoying this show. I'm very on the fence with Glen's engagement to Daisy. I really think things could get very messy.

Finished out the week with another Poirot episode. I kind of pegged who the kidnapper was from the beginning, and I loved the razor-sharp way Poirot called the guy out.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Wires Crossed, a novella that pulls a couple who don't see eye to eye together to work their issues out before someone gets hurt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Vanessa Twill and Justin Hardwick don't always see eye to eye and the tension between them is thick and taut. When a training exercise goes bad, the duo is grounded until they get their act together. Forced to communicate, they work out some issues and realize they didn't have their wires crossed … a saboteur did. Literally.

And a sneaky peek…

Chastised and humbled, Vanessa never wanted to face another stinging rebuke from the CO. But she needed to know what the hell happened? Staying angry obviously wouldn't help.

Justin didn't offer any discussion, but he couldn't be happy with being grounded either. One of them would have to break through the wall of silence they'd erected between them. And waiting wouldn't get them any closer to being back out in the black.

Vanessa ventured a comment first. "Why did you change the plan?" She kept her tone quiet and non-accusing. "I honestly thought you followed orders to a painful level." Which often annoyed her.

Justin stopped a moment. "I didn't change the scenario. And I tried to tell you before the CO grounded us." He raked a hand through his hair. "I mean, think about it. When would I have had the time?" He started forward again. "I thought you altered the game plan." Frustration came through his voice but no heat.

She stopped and grasped his arm. "If you didn't and I didn't. Then…" Her stomach churned with something nasty and bitter.

Justin frowned. "Who did?"

Vanessa gave a nod. "Obviously someone and that's a problem." A big, huge shiny one.

She ducked into a small conference room and dragged Justin in behind her. They didn't need an audience right now. Or eavesdroppers.

Her voice lowered. "Look, we've had our wires crossed in the past … are you sure you didn't decide we should run option C?"

Justin folded his arms over his chest. "I'm sure. You said A. I didn't agree, but I let it slide. Like you said, I follow orders." His eyes narrowed. "No matter how painful the level is."

Yeah, okay. She probably deserved to have her words handed right back to her.

Vanessa sighed. "Well, I didn't like option B so no way would I have changed it—not even to spite you." And definitely not to put their recruits in danger.

Justin lifted his chin. "Which brings us back to who did and how we ended up with such a cluster fuck?"

Yeah, she wanted to get whoever tampered with their scenarios alone for five minutes. But they had to figure out the who and how part first.

Vanessa met his gaze. "How do you wanna go about this? Should we work together?" It would save time, but she wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to be anywhere near her.

His eyebrows arched. "You're asking?" He relaxed his stance and propped a hip against the conference table.

Vanessa nodded. "Well, yeah. This affects both of us. I mean, I want answers now, but that might not happen if we're both poking around on our own … so…" She shrugged. "If we coordinate our efforts…"

Justin finished her thought. "We'll smoke out whoever made the change, and hopefully do it before they can cover their tracks." His head bobbed up and down. "Yeah, we figure it out together." He thrust his hand forward.

Vanessa's lips quirked and she clasped his palm. "Together." She squeezed his fingers then let go. "I have a maintenance shift to get to, but I'll be free later." She hoped he'd have time to get started today.

Justin grunted. "I'll find you. Since I'm free, I'll ask around and put some feelers out." He pushed away from the table and headed for the hatch but paused before leaving. "We'll get to the bottom of this." He held her gaze a long moment then exited the room.

Vanessa had a new appreciation for Justin. Because she believed they absolutely would solve the puzzle of what happened.

Here's to the beginning of a new path forward for Vanessa and Justin. This one is very fun to write.

 

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

ML Skye