Sunday Snippet: Bad Chemistry

Final day of November and it's cold and windy outside. We're due for some snow in the next day or so. I'm kind of not prepared. It's been a long week.

Had to prep for the colonoscopy on Monday and I can now commiserate with anyone who's gone through the process. It's not fun. Seriously not fun. By the time I got to the surgery center, I was completely spaced out, which maybe didn't hurt. I have a major phobia of being put under and I was in full freak-out mode. Thankfully, everything went well and even though it was a holiday weekend, I got the test results back and all looks okay. Whew!

Had a full slate of work projects also. I'm a little behind because, honestly, while I should have bounced right back from the procedure, I ended up being out of it until Thursday. I have a copy edit I have to finish up today then I'll have a little breathing room.

I literally watched one of my normal slate of shows this week. I'm hoping to get back on track, but even with breathing room, I've got a busy week ahead. We'll see how it goes.

I did get an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in. It was a fun episode that I enjoyed the first time around.

I started an episode of Foyle's War but haven't made it all the way through yet. I'll probably pick up with it this week and finish out the round of my usual shows.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Bad Chemistry, the opening book in the speculative series about an uncivil revolution.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lex Durban and Charlotte McIntyre do their best to survive in new world hierarchy, each with a different kind of target on their back. But when they have to undertake the dangerous task of moving refugees to a new location, Lex wants Char to stay behind so only one is in danger, but Char has other ideas.

And a sneaky peek…

Charlotte McIntyre shoved her fist against her mouth and bit back the scream that wanted to come roaring out. Charlie Miller—immediate superior, mentor, friend—dead, cut down too soon. She couldn't grieve; she didn't have time. She had to stay clear, focused, and think. 

If the board had Charlie killed, she couldn't be far behind. "He made no secret I've been his right hand and know everything about Project Hope." What she wouldn't give to be blissfully ignorant right now.

The true intent of the project had been leaked. By Charlie. He'd gotten the word out, let his contact know Project Hope had the power to wipe out a large portion of the world's population. But global annihilation didn't happen to be on the agenda. Not yet.

"It'll start at home, in our very backyard."

Targeted disbursement would take out the malnourished and indigent. Half a city's population could waste away to nothing and die with no traceable reason. Okay, half might push the numbers, but the demographic range of homeless, low-income families, and drug abusers made up a large portion of residents. The board decided if they could remove the load on the social system, it would ease everyone's burden.

"And by everyone, they mean the upper echelon of global corporations."

Her gaze scanning the lab, she looked for something, anything, she could easily carry as a weapon. Her sight landed on an array of syringes. She dashed over and grabbed a handful. It wouldn't help much, but it could slow down anyone who tried to pursue her.

The sound of running footsteps had her crouching low against the wall. She had to get out of the lab … down more floors than she wanted to think about and out the gates of the complex. The elevators had security cameras so no way would she use them.

The stairwells had the stupid things, too, but one of Char's soon-to-be-former coworkers had found a way to stay hidden from them. Thank God the woman had an insane sex drive and a penchant for taking willing participants to the nearest landing for quickies. And a mad desire to overshare about her exploits.

That unwanted knowledge might just be the thing to save Char's life.

She made it halfway down the eight flights of stairs before she got busted from behind.

"Charlotte McIntyre! Hold up." A burly security officer called out. "I've been instructed to keep you on the premises until further notice." He hustled down the remaining steps to the landing.

Char stood still, keeping her hand in pocket of her lab coat and worked the cap off one of the syringes. She knew this guy. Not terribly bright and he didn't demand she show him her hands.

A mistake. When he went to grab an arm to secure her and Char lashed out … jabbing the sharp needle into his neck. His eyes blinked rapidly and he tilted his head to one side.

She didn't think the solution worked at first, but he finally went down, collapsing in a heap.

Char dashed the rest of the remaining four floors, stumbled out into the parking garage, and sank to the floor. She dragged in a shaky breath and willed her heart to slow down. She had to get moving or lose her life.

Forcing herself upright, she took a wobbly step forward only to shrink back against the wall when a motorcycle came roaring up along the exit.

The helmet visor popped up, and her eyes met the clear blue of the rider's.

He held out a gloved hand. "Charlotte McIntyre? Name's Dom. You need to come with me."

She stood, mouth hanging open, wondering how he knew her name.

He grabbed another helmet off the back. "Lady, if you wanna survive, get on. Now." He tossed the spare and revved the throttle.

Char did the smart thing. She strapped on the protective cover and settled in behind Dom.

He sped out of the parking level and headed for the main gate. "Hang on!"

The words, shouted loudly, gave her warning. Char risked a peek over his shoulder and gripped him tight around the waist. Her eyes slid closed, and she groaned. Dom planned to ram the panel blocking the garage exit.

The bike picked up speed and Char bit back a scream. The splintering sound of smashing through the gate hit just before the screech of tires when Dom rounded the sharp curve that would lead them away from Coburn Pharmaceuticals.

Char had no idea how he kept the bike upright let alone how she managed to avoid flying off. She held tight, leaning to the side when he did and hoped like hell he had some kind of plan.

Because she sure as hell didn't.

This story keeps me on my toes. I have the general plot hammered out but I also have to sprinkle in some seeds for the other two books. These characters are a lot of fun to write.

 

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

ML Skye