Jan
8
Written by:
Bruce A. Sarte
Sunday, January 08, 2012 11:08 AM
Today's Sample Sunday is from the upcoming release, Philadelphia Story - due out in Paperback, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Smashwords, Omnilit and Apple's iBookstore on January 25th!
In this scene where Lance has rushed to meet with Gabby in Washington Square Park -- she has information for him that is critical to his investigation! We learn a little about Lance, a little about Gabby and a little about Philadelphia history.
Here is the excerpt -- enjoy and look for the release of Philadelphia Story on January 25th, 2012!
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The sky was overcast by the time I reached the park. This picturesque respite in the middle of the city was originally designed in 1682 and named Southeast Square. The open-space park served as the southeaster corner of the city of Philadelphia as laid out in William Penn’s original city grid that featured five parks in total. One at each corner and one in the center of the city. This park had been transformed several times throughout history to serve the needs of the budding country. Initially just a beautiful respite from the hustle and bustle of busy colonial America and a place for the city’s African American community to bury their dead it was then was then transformed into a potter’s field. When the Revolutionary War engulfed the land it then became a burial place for the dead soldiers. Soon thereafter, yellow fever gripped the city and the dead were interred here. But as the fever broke and the city returned to normalcy, the park began to host farmer’s markets and camp meetings. In 1825, the park was renamed to Washington Square in honor of George Washington and the efforts made by the soldiers during the Revolutionary War. A monument to Washington was planned but never built. In 1952 the city put a lot of money into renovating and beautifying the park. The City Council decided it would be a more fitting tribute to the soldiers to, instead, build The Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier. And as I stood staring into the fire that was a constant beneath the statue of George Washington, my eyes rose to meet the words inscribed on the tomb:
Freedom is a Light for Which Many Men Have Died in Darkness.
I mouthed the words silently as I read them with my eyes. I was so engrossed in the moment and the inscription that I didn’t notice the elf-like person standing next to me.
“Absolutely mind boggling how many people died.” Gabby said with reverence. “I mean, revolution is something that is such a part of our culture and yet… we resist it at every turn.” She turned her bespectacled face to me and smiled a bright and friendly welcome.
“Gabby?” I asked knowing the answer.
“And finally we meet.” I was greeted with the biggest hug from one of the littlest people I’d ever met. She was dressed in khakis, a long sleeve black shirt that minimized her small waist and accentuated her ample bosom. Add to that a black backpack that she carried over one shoulder and the look was compete. Geek-sheik! Looking at me, she threaded her arm through mine and lead me to the side of the tomb, where a bench sat overlooking the monument. She sat and invited me to do the same, crossing her khaki covered legs and pointing a blue flat shoe at me.
“Why did you need to meet with me?” I asked with an edge to my voice, “why so urgently?”
“What?” She looked hurt, “you didn’t want to meet me?”
“No, no.. that’s not it. You’re the best and…” I made a show of looking her up and down, “your quite beautiful too. You didn’t mention that on the phone.” She blushed but didn’t acknowledge the comment any further.
“Two things and one of them isn’t a phone thing.” She looked around, making sure we were undisturbed and no one could here her. “First, I found your MacBook. It’s at this address.” She handed me a piece of paper that had the address of the #1 Velvet Dragon warehouse written in a red flowery scrawl.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me. These guys have been nothing but a pain…”
“Lance,” she interrupted placing her small pale hand on my knee. I looked down admiring the purple nail polish and gold Claddagh ring on her middle finger. “Remember you called me and asked me to look into that file you couldn’t access?”
“Lindsey Collins? Yea.”
She leaned in and whispered, “That file is classified Lance. As in, government classified.” She nodded her head at me as if to head off the inevitable disbelief that I was about to express.
“Were you…” She shook her head and closed her eyes as she pulled away. She pointed to the entrance to the park and stood. I stood with her and began walking toward the entrance. She laughed and smacked my shoulder.
“I am almost certain I am being watched,” she said with a giggle. “I don’t think they can hear what we are saying but I’m pretty sure that they are hear and watching. From the time I pulled the information tot he time I texted you wasn’t long enough for them to get a full blown surveillance team out on me… and you.” She looked up at me with another smile, “but it was enough time for them to dispatch a couple of goons to tail me.”
“What did you uncover, exactly?” I asked, smiling and playing along.
“Your friend, Lindsey Collins, does not actually exist. Her real name is Laura Palmer and she was in the CIA for almost twenty years before she was killed in the line of duty. Her death is listed as an execution by foreign hostiles and also marked unsolved. The suspect list is short, Lance. And Ram Don Ming is at the top of that list.” I couldn’t keep the smile on my face.
“Ming is on top of the list? Mother…” she reached up and put her manicured finger to my lips while stopping our walk.
“No, you can’t freak out here.” She shook her head slowly, her red curls swung back and forth with her head. “I need you to lose the negativity or it might pique someone’s interest. We don’t want to make anyone any more interested in us then they already might be.” I stared down into the green eyes trying to bring something up within them but was failing miserably.
“Lindsey…” I stopped, looking away from her gorgeous eyes, “Laura was my friend. Why… I mean how could I not have known this?”
“Deception was her job,” she tweaked my nose, “silly!” That made me laugh at myself for just a second. But I still couldn’t muster up a smile that stuck.
“I’m trying to wrap my head around everything this could possibly mean. And what it means now for Jenny. Ten years ago, when Lindsey… Laura was murdered people were after Jenny. I got in the middle of it and pulled her out but now people… specifically Ming, are after her again.”
“And you’re in the middle.” She said matter-of-factly and I nodded in response. I looked back into her now clouded emerald eyes. “If you’re here, then who is standing between Ming and Jenny?”
“I’ve got someone with her, she’s safe.”
“Safe?” She looked at me questioningly.
“Yes, safe. We’ve been watching her. Ming isn’t going to get to her.” She didn’t look convinced.
“I’ve dealt with these types before. They are tough and they treat women like animals. That business that Ming runs, the club, it’s just a front.”
“I knew it. The dancing and grinding is bad enough. Jenny told me what some of the other girls do.”
“Is she mixed up in that?”
“No,” I shook my head, “Ming wants her for some other reason. We don’t know why.”
“I really hate scum like Ming. Human trafficking… abusing women no matter the age is disgusting.” I look at her and sensed something else there. Something in her eyes flared and then it was gone. “OK, no more serious talk.” She smiled. “How can I make you smile? Have I told you today how undeniably handsome you are?” Her teeth sparkled against the soft lavender shade of lipstick she had on. I smiled back unsure of what to do with that compliment since I hardly knew this very attractive girl in my arms.
“How old are you, Miss O’Brien?”
“I’m twenty-seven and that’s Doctor O’Brien to you!
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Copyright ©2012 Bruce A. Sarte