Virtual Book Tour: Swipe Right for Murder by Polly Harris

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome author Polly Harris to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here to tell us about her  new release, Swipe Right For Murder. Polly will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

Swipe Right for Murder

by Polly Harris

 

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GENRE:   New Adult Thriller

 

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BLURB:

 

 

DATING IS TOUGH. ESPECIALLY IF THE GUY YOU LIKE MIGHT BE A SERIAL KILLER.

After a devastating heartbreak and a string of short-lived, failed relationships, college student Georgie Itoyama has now decided to approach dating in the same way that she approaches everything else: methodically, logically, and efficiently.

Georgie downloads countless dating apps, determined to find the love of her life as easily as she orders jeans online. And while her love-at-first-sight aspirations don’t exactly come true, she does find someone she likes. Quite a lot.

There’s only one problem. Girls are going missing at Georgie’s university, and all the signs are pointing to . . . him?

But that’s ridiculous. What are the chances that she’s dating an actual serial killer?

Then she matches with Nate. Mysterious, intelligent, and oddly fixated on solving the local disappearances. As Georgie’s relationships deepen with each of her guys, she unwittingly finds herself caught up in the mess that is murder, intrigue, and the nightmare of online dating.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

I laugh, and Ash finally breaks too, standing closer until he’s inches away from me. I look up at him, his forehead almost resting against my own. “You really gonna make out with a boring, nonbusiness-owning shop girl? You’re putting your gold-digging aspirations to shame,” I say.

 

“I don’t know about that boring part, but yes, I am totally going to make out with you,” he replies.

 

I giggle, but then he’s already kissing me. He deftly sets our coffees aside on the counter, and then presses me against the nearest bookshelf. His hand glides along my cheek and into my hair, and I can feel him smiling against my lips.

 

There’s this moment of suspension, like time means nothing, like we could stay here forever and I’d never notice, never miss anything else. And I remember now why I wanted a boyfriend again. The best thing about this whole process, the element I missed the most. Not the fun dates, not the flirty banter, not even the kissing, per se, but this. This feeling of going crazy. Like losing your mind on purpose.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Polly Harris is the author of six YA novels and runs her own editorial company where she works on books just like this one. When Polly isn’t writing or editing, she can be found cuddling her cat (professionally known as her editorial assistant), crafting, or swiping through dating apps.

 

Twitter: @PaulineCHarris

Facebook: Facebook.com/PaulineHarrisEditorial

Email: harrispaulinec@gmail.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0965VC7T1?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

https://www.paulineharriseditorial.com/my-books

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

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 The Questions – please choose at least 5

1) You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?

Ooooh, such a good question! I think I’d choose to be stranded with my brother. We’re similar, we get along, and I think we’d make a good team in terms of finding a way off the island. And as far as an item … maybe some matches? I highly doubt my ability to create fire without any, lol

4) What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

I love traveling, and I love traveling with the people I care about. So I think the ideal “date” or way to spend time with a significant other would be exploring some place new. 😊

5) When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

Definitely a plot! Sometimes even a title. For example, for SRFM, my beginning idea was, “What if I accidentally started dating a serial killer from a dating app?” and it went from there!

8) Do you have an historical crush and if so, who is it?

I don’t have a historical crush, but I can tell you about my weird first crush ever, lol! My first crush (as a little kid) was Spock from Star Trek, haha!

9) Is there a story that you’d like to tell but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

Good question! There are a few stories that I know I want to tell, but I think that I’M not ready to tell them. These are stories for thirty-year-old, forty-year-old Polly to tell. But not for right now. 😊

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Silverview         

Author: John Le Carré

Publisher: Viking

American release date: October 12, 2021

Format/Genre/Length: Hardback/Espionage/224 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Julian has left life in the big city to run his own bookshop in a small English seaside town. After a chance visit from a local resident, Edward Avon, aka Teddy, he learns that Avon was a friend of his father and had worked with him at one time. Edward is a very agreeable fellow and is delighted to share his ideas with the younger man, including plans for a sort of literary paradise to be located in the basement of the shop. And thus the idea for the Republic of Literature is born.

Unsure of just how to take Edward, Julian questions another shopkeeper, Celia, who is very fond of Edward, and gives him a great deal of information. Edward’s wife is very ill, and she and Teddy aren’t on the best of terms. Her late father bequeathed her a great deal of money, as well as the house now known as Silverview. Teddy changed the name after he became fascinated by Nietzsche. The couple have a daughter named Lily.

Stewart Proctor receives a letter from the daughter of one of his agents. The information it contains is very disturbing, and so he begins his own investigation to check into the accusations contained therein. In the meantime, Teddy has graciously installed computers in the future Republic and has begun to search for just the right books they will need to fill its shelves when the time comes.

Proctor uses the cover story of using retired agents as potential training instructors for future hires to questions them on various subjects. In particular, a spy whose code name was Florian, who was active during the Bosnian crisis and who was deeply affected by events that happened then.

The more Julian learns about Edward, the less he knows. He meets his dying wife Deborah, herself once an agent, and their daughter Lily. There is some sort of spark between him and Lily… maybe.  But as events begin to unfold, Julian finds himself in the middle of something he never dreamed he’d ever be a part of.

John Le Carre’s SIlverview is like a tapestry. It starts out with a number of loose threads, but as you keep reading the threads begin to wind themselves about one another until they form a picture. It’s a fascinating story about spies as people, and some of the aftermath of their experiences and how those affect them.  I like Julian and found him an astute and sympathetic observer, but the true star of this book is Edward, aka “Teddy”, aka Florian. A very likeable and complex man whose life of professional deception has carried over into his actual personal life, to the point where it’s hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins. Is he who he seems to be? Was he ever?

If the ending isn’t quite as clear-cut as one might like, well, that’s life. It’s clear enough to those who are left behind. After all, life doesn’t always wrap up nicely and neatly, much as we wish it might. But we have a clear idea of what lies ahead for the characters we’ve come to care about. Can one ask for anything more?

John Le Carre is truly the master of spy fiction, and I think his final work is a testament to his craft and well worth reading.

Saturday is Horror Day #36 - Waxwork II: Lost in Time, See No Evil: The Moors Murders, Jeepers Creepers 2

 Waxwork II: Lost in Time

Mark (Zach Galligan) and Sarah (Monika Schnarre) have just escaped from the flaming ruins of the Waxwork. They're tired and they just want to go home. Their job is done... or so they think. Little do they suspect that a disembodied hand has survived the inferno and has followed Sarah home! The hand attacks her stepfather. Sarah tries to save him, but her efforts are in vain. Unfortunately, that's a hard scenario to explain to the police, and Sarah is accused of her stepfather's murder!

Mark is determined to save her, but they need proof. The question is how to get it? They go to Sir Wilfred's house and find a video message he left for Mark in the event of his demise, with a cryptic explanation of how to go back in time. But the two figure it out and off they go!

The second Waxwork film is even campier than the first one as the two would-be lovers seek the evidence they need to clear Sarah of murder (whatever that might be, to prove that disembodied hands do exist and can kill people). Played for even more laughs than the first one, this film is also gorier, so watch out for that spraying blood and flying body parts. At the same time, don't look for any kind of logic here either.

Doesn't this remind you of a scene from Die Hard, where one of the bad guys is about to take down Bruce Willis, John McClaine? Not surprising, as this is Alexander Godunov, who also played in Die Hard. And that will give you some indication of what the film makers were going for as they fly through various points in time and pay homage to a number of different stories, some of which I may even have missed.  (One reviewer referenced Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, which I remembered from the first film, not the second). 

We see Baron von Frankenstein and his monster, and also the ship and crew from the movie Alien. There are references to Poe, including the Raven, as well as Dawn of the Dead. One black-and-white sequence has a very funny Bruce Campbell. I believe he's meant to be related to Mark, but if so, no one mentions it. There is a montage of quick visits that include Jack the Ripper and Godzilla, and a lengthier story that takes place in the time of King Arthur (although they never use his and his knights remind me of the Knights Templar, with their Maltese crosses. John Ireland plays the king, and Michael Des Barres his right-hand man, George. Alexander Godunov is Scarabis, the would-be usurper of the throne. Look for a small cameo appearance by Drew Barrymore in the Nosferatu sequence.

While the film was funny,  sometimes it's just a bit unbelievable. I mean, Sarah is being tried for murder, and they're not holding her in the jail? When does that happen? I find it hard to believe either one of them could make her bail, assuming they even set bail for such a heinous crime. The story is inconsistent and weak, and most of the time we forget why they are really traveling in time and just going with the traveling thing.  The ending is rather unbelievable too, and the film is, much like the first one, too long. Better writing would have benefited this immensely. I don't think there is room for a third. I'll give this one 3 Stars.

See No Evil: The Moors Murders

In 1965 England, children disappeared without explanation, alarming the community. Maureen and Dave Smith (Joanne Froggattand Matthew McNulty) are a young married couple with a baby of their own. They're distraught when the child unexpectedly dies. Maureen is close to her older sister Myra (Maxine Peake), although she is wary of Myra's boyfriend Ian Brady (Sean Harris). Even so, she encourages her husband to get close to Brady, at Myra's request.

The two couples takes trips out to the moors together, where Brady shows Dave how to fire a gun. They talk about robbing a bank, as the Smiths are low on funds and about to get evicted. Myra comes to get Dave one night and takes him back to their house where he witnesses Brady kill a man. Dave is horrified and tells his wife. Together they approach the police, who pick up Brady and Myra, who lie and say that Dave helped Brady kill the man.

Dave tells the police that Brady boasted of having killed someone before. and he shows them photos taken on the moor. The police begin to look at Brady and Hindley as suspects but they have no evidence of the missing children. Life is getting harder for the Smiths, who are looked up as suspects despite the fact that they came to the police of their own volition.  If only they could find the spot where the photos were taken, then maybe they'll be able to find the childrens' graves and make a case against the pair.

This is the true story of the Moors Murders, a case I read about many years ago. The series is very well done, and very well acted. Most of it is from the POV of Maureen and Dave Smith, and doesn't glorify the killers in any way. It's very informative and interesting besides being good drama. I give this series 4.5 Stars.

Jeepers Creepers 2

The Creeper lies dormant for 23 years and then he returns for 23 days in order to feed. Twenty-three years have passed since the last time, and now it's day 22...

Billy Taggart is helping out on the family farm, putting up scarecrows, when he notices that one is acting rather strangely. Too late, he realizes this is no real scarecrow. Despite his screams for help, his father Jack Sr (Ray Wise) and older brother Jack Jr (Luke Edwards) are helpless to do other than watch as he is flown away by a large creature.

On Day 23, a busload of high school students is returning from a victorious tournament. Suddenly the bus lurches to a halt. The bus driver, Betty (Diane Delano) discovers a strange looking implement has shredded the tire, something very odd and disturbing, as it contains what appears to be a human tooth.

It's getting dark, but no one can get cell reception. So the coach goes out to light some flares and put 

them on the road so they can be seen. But he suddenly disappears. Another adult goes to finish the job, but this time they see what flies out of the sky and grabs him, to their horror!

One by one the adults are picked off, leaving just the frightened teens. But rather than behaving like a team, they fight amongst themselves, which doesn't help the situation. When they finally manage to make contact with someone, he tries to pinpoint their location, but they only vaguely know where they are. They believe that help is now on the way, but they have only managed to contact Jack Taggart Sr, who is determined to kill the creature who killed his son.

I liked this sequel to the original Jeepers Creepers. It has a solid premise and decent acting. Not surprising that it has good production values, it's a Coppola production. It was certainly creepy, and the division among the team players was realistic, although it never came out and said racism, but it was pretty evident what the problem was, at least for one student.

The part about the student who had some kind of telepathic abilities, though, was a bit much, and really just served as exposition to explain to the kids what they were dealing with. Seemed kind of hokey to me. Still, all in all, it was a decent horror film, and worth watching. I'll give it 4 Stars.

Book Review: Demon Slayer, Vol 8 by Koyoharu Gotouge

 

Demon Slayer, Vol 8      

Author: Koyoharu Gotouge

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: September 3, 2019

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Fantasy Manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

 

Thanks to the Demon Slayers, the Train of Infinite Dreams has been derailed, but Tanjiro stays Inosuke’s hand when he would kill the demon responsible. Tanjiro says “he’s suffered enough”. The demon blames Tanjiro for what happened, but most of all he blames Rengoku. Although Tanjiro is injured, he is encouraged by Rengoku to keep doing his best, which words he takes to heart.

But it’s not all over, not when a higher rank demon suddenly appears! Impressed by his strength, he tries to get Rengoku to become a demon. If not, he plans to kill him. Rengoku warns Tanjiro to stay still, so he can heal, and not to get involved in this fight. As morning approaches, and with it the light, the demon fights even harder, and although Inosuke and Tanjiro join in the battle, the results are not as they would wish.

Rengoku tells Tanjiro that he believes in Nezuko, having seen that she is good, and  not to grieve over him. But of course Tanjiro grieves, as so the other Hashira. Meanwhile the demon reports to Lord Muzan, who is currently using the appearance of a child. Muzan isn’t impressed with the death of one demon slayer – he seeks the death of the entire corps.

Entrusted by Rengoku with messages for his father and brother, Tanjiro slips away, although not fully healed, in order to comply with Rengoku’s wishes. While his brother is sad, Rengoku’s father is angry and denounces his son as worthless. He takes out his frustrations on Tanjiro. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Tanjiro has to face Haganezuka again!

Tanjiro stops Ranao from being kidnapped in order to go on a mission,  but finds himself volunteering in her place, and he is joined by Inosuke and Zenitsu.  Oh-oh, what’s up now?

This volume was unexpected due to the loss of some we barely got to know. Much sadness, but that, of course, is a part of life., which is one of this manga’s strengths. The good don’t always win and the bad don’t always lose.  Tanjiro is growing as a character, but to are Inosuke and Zenitsu.  I am curious to see what mission the three will undertake next, and who is this guy with the unusual bejeweled look? Good volume, looking forward to the next one.

Book Review: Blue Exorcist, Vol 26 by Kazue Kato

 

Blue Exorcist, Vol 26      

Author: Kazue Kato

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 5, 2021

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/manga/paranormal/234 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Aboard the Illuminati airship, Rin and Yukio face one another, while Satan is out of control and baiting them both. Sir Pheles has slipped a hapless Miwa onto the same ship in order to give something to Rin, and he is freaking out when he runs into Shima. Prior to Rin’s arrival, Yukio was prepared to take out his own eye… the one Satan is peeping through. Rin immediately tries to persuade Yukio not to join the Illuminati, telling him what a bad idea that is.

Miwa and Shima come upon the two brothers as they face off, hiding and biding their time while they bear witness to their conflict. Rin is determined to bring his brother back to the fold, alive, while Yukio wants Rin to kill him and put him out of his misery and out of Satan’s control.

Meanwhile, an announcement comes over the ship’s intercom system informing everyone to prepare for Serafim pulse in five minutes. Shima explains that it’s a blast from the ship’s power source, but they should be safe where they are… hopefully.

As Rin and Yukio go toe to toe, Rin is waging his own internal war with his other side, and it’s anyone’s guess how this will turn out.

This volume is largely the wildly fluctuating battle between the two brothers. Even as they fight, I think each is learning a new appreciation for the other. Rin has always looked upon Yukio as the weaker younger brother but he’s finding out otherwise. And Yukio is gaining a new understanding of Rin’s strength. In the meantime, we have an over the top Satan. Without Yuri to keep him in check, Satan is a nasty piece of work. She was what kept him even remotely human. Will he destroy everything, or can he be overcome?

And just where is Sir Pheles hiding?

Another great volume, looking forward to more. Although to be honest, I’d like to see the plot move forward at a slightly faster pace, and I wish there wasn’t so long between volumes.

Virtual Book Tour: Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome author Cherie Colyer to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here to tell us about her new release, Merry Little Wishing Spritz.  Cherie will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

Merry Little Wishing Spritz

by Cherie Coyer

 

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GENRE: Paranormal Romance (Holiday)

 

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BLURB:

 

Modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life turns upside down when her friend foresees the wrecking ball that threatens to destroy Cassie’s home and workplace. But Cassie isn’t giving up without a fight. She casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.

 

Jack Quinn has had his eyes on Lakeside Books for years, and he couldn’t be happier the owner is finally ready to sell. He has big plans for the cozy waterfront property, but he didn’t expect to care about the store or its employees. And he never imagined he’d be drawn to a certain brown-eyed saleswoman.

 

Almost as if by magic.

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

Jack tucked the midnight blue candle under his arm and picked up one of the beaded bracelets.

 

“The magnetite stones help to ground the wearer,” I said.

 

“Do you believe in that sort of thing?”

 

I nodded. A person didn’t have to be a witch to believe gems, stones, and herbs had mystical properties. He rolled the black beads between his fingers. “Magnetite also attracts love, loyalty, and commitment, if I remember correctly.”

 

 “You’re right,” I said, amazed he knew the property of the stone.

 

He held onto the bracelet and wandered to the suspense sections.

 

I followed. “If you buy Lakeside Books—”
His gaze met mine, one eyebrow hiked. “ ‘If’?”
My fingers trailed over the nicked shelves as I walked. “Now that word is out the store is for sale, you might not be the only one interested in purchasing it.”

 

The corners of his mouth curved into a smug smirk, implying he wasn’t worried. Would he up his offer if I countered? Jack reached for a book.

 

Frustrated at the whole store situation, I flick my finger, sending several paperbacks flying off the shelf with the one Jack grabbed. Books pelted his chest.

 

I jumped back, acting shocked by the books jumping off the shelf. I couldn’t exactly tell him I did it. “We must have packed them in too tightly.”

 

I pressed my lips together to hide my smile and helped pick up the fallen books.

 

“This is quite popular.” I held one out. “Lots of twists and surprise attacks.”

 

Jack glanced sideways. “Is that right?”

 

 

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Professional network technician by day, novelist by night, Cherie lives a quiet life in the Chicago suburbs with her charming husband. She has four amazing sons who she loves dearly. Cherie magically weaves together stories with a paranormal twist. She’s the author of the Embrace series (Embrace, Hold Tight, and Entwined), Challenging Destiny, Damned When I Didn’t, and Friends to the End. She waltzes into the adult novel world with this enchanting holiday romance, Merry Little Wishing Spritz.

 

 

Keep in Touch:

 

Website: https://cheriecolyer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherie-Colyer-author-250631921629169

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CherieColyer

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherie_colyer/  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5288487.Cherie_Colyer 

Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cherie-colyer  

 

 

Buy links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FWZYS9Z

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/merry-little-wishing-spritz-cherie-colyer/1140147083

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/merry-little-wishing-spritz/id1585526848

Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/m0BJBV

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59022878-merry-little-wishing-spritz

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/merry-little-wishing-spritz-christmas-cookies-by-cherie-colyer

 

 

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday Briefs: An Unholy Alliance #24 (6.3)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day ! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.  

Charlemagne refrains from killing Tyrone's cousin, but he is sorely tempted. Tyrone defuses the situation and suggests they get a drink in town. See what's going on in this week's chapter of An Unholy Alliance. Also, I think that I will stop posting the story after next week, so that I can write it faster and not in short spurts. I'll start a new story, but I wanted to let anyone who might be reading so it isn't too much of a shock. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

An Unholy Alliance #24 (6.3)

Frank didn’t move so much as a muscle. Hardly surprising considering I had my weight pressing down on his neck, and I had just threatened him with instant death. His cohorts certainly didn’t waste their opportunity to flee the scene—they scattered to the winds without a backward glance for their companion. So much for familial solidarity. Frank was far from silent, however, screaming something that was undoubtedly aimed at me. But his words were rendered unintelligible due to his unfortunate position. Not as though he had anything half-way intelligent to convey anyway, even at the best of times. Despite his previous bravado, his current fear was more than evident—he reeked of it. He’d also apparently lost control of his bowels.

My anger at this waste of space continued to grow. I visualized myself reaching down, grabbing his limp soiled body and drawing it up, up, up until I could better reach his neck. I saw myself tearing into his throat, imbibing his warm blood with great gusto. My fury was overriding my normal prudence, my canines enlarging at the prospect of fresh food, even though I wasn’t actually hungry.

A gentle but firm touch on my arm drew me back to reality.

“He’s not worth it.” Tyrone’s warm brown eyes held empathy, as well as a glint of amusement. Maybe even regret for what might have been, but I may have been overthinking that one. “Tempting, I’m sure. But much as I’d like to do so, I can’t treat him like that other one, alas. He’s family, even if he is an asshole.”

The realization that he meant last night’s dinner/this morning’s breakfast entrée hit me a moment later. As did the reality of what had come too close to happening right here and now.

I’d almost killed someone in anger, a course of action I normally abhorred. Bad enough that I managed to do it accidentally on occasion, but on purpose? I was suddenly grateful for Tyrone’s thoughtful intervention on my behalf, as well as his unexpectedly not-unwelcome presence. So much had changed in such a very short period of time, I honestly didn’t know what to think, or how to feel.

“I don’t know about you, but I could sure use a drink,” Tyrone interrupted my reverie.

Didn’t that sound like a great idea? But where? We were in the middle of nowhere.

“I know a little place in Cabool. We’re not that far from it now.”

I glanced around, but saw no sign of his vehicle. “Are you proposing we walk there?” That seemed unlikely. Well, I could do it easily, but I didn’t see him being up for such an expenditure of energy, although I had to admit he did possess a strength I wouldn’t have thought him capable of before. And then I remembered the car I’d heard but dismissed earlier. “Let me guess, you’re actually parked nearby?”

He favored me with a sheepish grin. “I am,” he admitted. “Just over the hill, in fact. I thought I could get the drop on them better if I didn’t announce my presence first.”

That only added more questions to my growing list. What in the world was going on here? And how had I become involved in it? A small moan from below reminded me I was still stepping on Tyrone’s cousin. I should probably remedy that. I moved my foot and he rolled over onto his back, gasping and sputtering, and looking thoroughly miserable. But at least he had nothing more to say, offensive or otherwise.

 “A drink, yes,” I acceded to Tyrone’s request. “Lead on, MacDuff.” All right, maybe that was a misquote, one that should actually be Lay on MacDuff.  But people had been usurping the line for years until it had taken on a life of its own—don’t blame me for doing the same.

“As you will, MacBeth,” Tyrone quipped.

I was favorably impressed that he was at least somewhat familiar with the Bard. That just went to show that he was different from these others.

Tyrone’s gaze flickered to his moaning cousin.  “Later, Frank. Try to be good, won’t you?”

Not waiting for a response, we quickly repaired to Tyrone’s vehicle. I couldn’t help but notice it was the same nondescript sedan he’d offered me a ride in earlier. “I see you haven’t upgraded to a different model,” I joked.

He laughed as he pulled the car back onto the road. “Not yet. And not here. I know too many people here. That could be a problem. Besides, there’s no rush. I’ll get to it sooner or later.”

Did that mean he lived near here? Fairly safe assumption to make. Maybe. I still didn’t have enough information to know for sure. But I could look up the town, anyway, so I pulled out my phone.

Smaller than Mason Springs, Cabool was a largely rural area possessed of a number of businesses of varying sizes as well as a school, police department, and library. Should I be worried that we might get caught driving around town in a stolen vehicle? Tyrone didn’t seem concerned, so I decided to follow his lead for now.

We ended up near the end of a small strip mall that contained a large grocery store, a gift shop, and a clothing consignment shop. There was a moderate amount of foot traffic for late afternoon. People stopping on their way home from work, perhaps, to pick up a few things. Tyrone parked near the other vehicles and we headed toward our destination. Hannibal’s Hideaway was spelled out in subdued neon lights on the window, along with stickers bearing the name of various types of beer that were no doubt available within.

Tyrone turned to me, grinning. “Like the name?”

What?

“Hannibal. It’s an inside joke. You know. Hannibal Lecter.”

“Who’s that?”

He rolled his eyes as he held open the front door. “Dude, you have so much to learn.”

Excuse me?

to be continued

Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb