Been a while

Well, NaNoWriMo is over. Didn't make 50,000, barely squeeked to 10,000. Ah well. Better luck next year. Cause now I have a whole year to work on those parts of my brain that bring me to a standstill. You know, talking myself down, self doubt, all that good stuff. :)

The story will continue to be worked on until the bitter end, whenever that may be. And I'll keep this blog going for it and other things that I'll write. I've got an entire fantasy world budding in the back of my head.

I promised a while back to Angel that I'd post another excerpt, and I was going to do it yesterday, but didn't get around to it, so for you hon, here it is!



Terrence pinched the bridge of his nose, his cameraman behind him, as the pair stood in front of Detective Marshall Grant. “What the hell is going on in this city anyway?” The reporter muttered as two uniformed officers shooed away a group of people who’d come out of the bar down the street to find themselves eyewitnesses to a murder investigation while trying to find a cab. “Another one that we have to fudge the story on? This is bad Detective…real bad.”

“You don’t think I don’t know that?” Marshall huffed, practiced eyes watching everything around him. “But this particular murder is going to fall into the hands of our special friends, and like the others, its real details can’t be related to the general public. We’d have mass hysteria on our hands and the Mayor doesn’t want that.”

Terrence sighed and waved a hand at his cameraman, who turned off the camera. With a municipal election coming up in the fall, and after the summer of the Gun, the last thing the current municipal administration would want was another round of panic. And even if the potential rival candidates wanted to use these fresh murders as proof that the Mayor couldn’t handle crime, Terrence doubted sincerely that they’d want to use this. Not if they had even a hint of what lay beneath.

“The usual then?” The reporter ran a hand through his hair, peering over the detective’s shoulder, trying to get an inkling of the state of the body. Hard to see when it was deep in the alley, people milling around it. He did get a sense of a great deal of blood each time the flash of the FIS camera went off.

“Damn straight. And hurry up. The Special Unit is on the way and they can’t be seen on film.”





Drake sank onto his leather sofa, balancing his right foot on his left knee while caressing the soft chocolate brown hide with his hand. His eyes never left his visitor, whom he noted kept a careful eye on Red. Dante too seemed to be watching the petite enforcer, although Drake was quite certain it was for slightly different reasons. “Tell me Chan…what is the reason the Honourable Society of the Dragon had for refusing me my cut?” Even as he asked the question, he picked up a sleek black remote control and turned on the stereo, Wojciech Kilar’s Brides filling the room at a low volume.

Red couldn’t help but giggle. Especially considering that Chan jumped slightly when the music started. Classical generally wasn’t her taste, but this particular piece was all right.

Drake winked at her. “I’m waiting Mr. Chan.”

Chan cleared his throat, dragging his eyes away from the young woman towards her boss. He might be making a serious mistake, but then, she wouldn’t dare to attack in the man’s living room.

Would she?

“The Honourable Society of the Dragon felt that perhaps your cut was slightly higher than what you receive from others within the city.” Chan laced his fingers over his stomach. “And since the leadership of our Hong Kong branch changed hands recently, we thought it wise to bring the new Shan Chu up to date on the Toronto Branch.”

“And your new Shan Chu decreed that payments were to cease?” Drake’s voice held a dangerous edge to it, and Dante moved away from the bar to stand beside Red, one hand lightly on her slender shoulder.

“He did.” Chan confirmed, his back straight.

Red snorted, the soft breath ruffling the hair that hung in her face. She didn’t believe half of what Chan was spouting, and her entire demeanor showed it. “Yer Shan Chu woulda been better off negotiating.” She muttered as Dante’s fingers tightened slightly on her slender shoulder.

Drake glanced briefly at her and returned his gaze to Chan. “In fact, I do believe we sent a gentleman in to begin proper discussions. Did we not?” Under Dante’s fingers, Red’s shoulder stiffened.