Welcome to Saturday Spankings. If you read last week’s snippet, I’ll let you know Cassie and Christian are just fine. If you want to know what happened, you’ll have to read the book. In today’s snippet from Suspicions on the River, there has been more problems with Pat. Her tires were slashed and Jenny was brought in for questioning. Then Cal gets an early morning call.
Cal woke suddenly, wondering as he sat up, What was that? A car door? Probably nothing. Sounds from outside the house were nearly impossible to hear from their room. He looked to Jenny’s side of the bed. She wasn’t there. “Jenny,” he called into the darkness, hoping she was in the bathroom. There was no answer.
The clock said two-fifty when Cal got up and pulled on his pants. There were no lights on in the kitchen or family room. Looking out the window he saw both cars in the driveway. He went to the porch overlooking the river and found her, rocking quietly and sipping a beer.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“You ‘bout scared me to death,” Jenny told him, jerking up in her chair. “I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. So I thought I’d sit out here and have a beer. It’s beautiful tonight.”
“You needed a beer in the middle of the night?”
“I was trying to get back to sleep, should I have an energy drink? And yes, before you ask, I only had one.”
“Did you go out to the car? I woke up thinking I heard a car door shut.”
“Nope. I’ve been quiet trying not to wake either you or Ryder.” Jenny drained the last of her beer. “I’m ready to go back to bed, you coming?”
~~
The ringing of Cal’s phone woke them the next morning just before five. Groaning, Cal reached for it.
“What?” he growled, none too pleased at the early hour. He listened intently for several minutes before saying, “Fine, I’m on my way.”
Jenny, used to her husband taking off at all hours, murmured, “What time is it?”
“Time for you to go back to sleep. I gotta go. I’ll try to get home early since everyone’s coming tonight. I’ll talk to you later.” And he was gone before Jenny was really awake.
Cal drove directly to Pat’s apartment where Chief Waters had asked him to join him. Several officers were milling around as Cal parked. “What it is?” he asked as Waters came toward him.
“Come see for yourself.” Cal followed him to Pat’s doorway. There was a small brick alcove at the street level with a glass door and then the stairs going up to another locking door that led directly into the apartment.
Something, probably red paint, had been tossed around the alcove – thrown or splashed on the glass door and the walls. Cal imagined it was supposed to look like blood.
Waters sighed and said, “I have to ask the standard question. Where was Jenny last night?”
Cal gave him an angry look. “She was home in bed with me, that’s where,” Cal barked at him. “Is that a good enough alibi?”
“Depends on how sound a sleeper you are,” Waters answered.
Cal’s scowl deepened. But the chief had turned away. “Come on,” he urged. “The coffee shop turned its camera at our request last week, to cover Ms. Harris’ door too. My guys are looking at it now.”
Cal followed him into the coffee shop and on to the back room. “We’ve got something,” one of his men spoke up as they entered. They did, but it wasn’t much.
“Time stamp shows this guy walking up at two-fourteen. We only get him from the back. He’s wearing a gray hoodie with the hood up and jeans. Not very distinctive. You see him step into the alcove and it looks like he’s splashing the paint from the can.” Cal watched, disappointed that his face wasn’t visible but relieved that no one would accuse Jenny of this one. His relief was soon gone.
“Now watch,” the officer told them needlessly. Everyone was glued to the screen. A shorter person, mostly likely a woman, stepped into the scene. This person was also wearing a hoodie and jeans. She stuck her head in the alcove, seemed to nod and then the two disappeared around the corner.
No one said anything for a moment, then Chief Waters spoke. “We’re going to be looking at cameras from all over town to see if they show up on any others. Hopefully we’ll catch a face.”
Waters walked with Cal back to the sidewalk. “I’ll let you know if we have any more pictures showing them,” he promised Cal. He paused, then went on. “Those heights just about match Jenny and your nephew, don’t they?” he asked.
“We were together all night,” Cal snapped.
Waters nodded. “Does Ryder have a girlfriend?”
“No,” Cal answered shortly. “Keep me informed.” Not waiting for an answer, Cal went to the car and drove to his office.
Suspicions on the River,
Book Three
(a Cassie’s family story)
Cal and Jenny have a nearly idyllic marriage. There are rare trips across his lap for minor problems, but most of those trips are just for fun. Could that be changing? Pat, Cal’s former lover, has moved back to town and she wouldn’t mind giving it another try with Cal. She feels he can’t be serious about this little twit that he married so quickly. Pat feels that once Cal realizes she offers him a better option, he’ll choose her. But soon mysterious things begin happening to Pat. Is someone trying to run her out of town? Could that someone be Jenny?
Cassie and the whole river family try to keep Jenny occupied and out of trouble, but suspicions just go from bad to worse. Both Jenny and Pat want Cal and they’re willing to fight for him. How dirty will this fight get?
Cassie’s Space series
These nine books introduce Cassie. She is my friend and has been since she wandered into my imagination fifty-four years ago. She is married to Tom, the man who loves her in a way that makes my heart nearly burst with happiness for the two of them. He loves her, guides her, protects her and when necessary, spanks the fool out of her. I’ve been told that their adventures are exciting, funny and realistic. Their love-life is passionate and fulfilling – but you’ll hear no graphic details, Cassie is a lady and giving too much detail would not be proper.
Cal’s Law series
Cal and Jenny are one of my younger couples. The spanking in their relationship began mere minutes after they met, and Cal hasn’t let up much since. Their relationship has it’s struggles, but these two are meant to be together. They live in the same town as Cassie and Tom and there is a lot of interactions among the character of both series. Jenny is not as reluctant as Cassie to openly discuss her sex life, so you’ll find a little more spice in this series.
On the River series
And, of course, the links -
Cassie’s Space Series:
Cal’s Law Series:
On the River Series
Geez - didn't remote security cameras change the way our police can track down a criminal! I love a good mystery! Great teaser, PK!!
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, everyone will be wishing Pat would give up and leave! Great teaser PK. Coincidence Jenny was up and Cal heard a car door? She's got her work cut out convincing him. Still wouldn't put it past Pat setting it all up herself and blaming Jenny.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz