Category: NaNoWriMo

NANOWRIMO November 2023 – Day 16

“Opposites Attract”

…

Mr Rothstein gets into trouble.

…

Everyone lives on that edge of the precipice that can plunge us into a place we don’t want to be, rather than a phone call to try and bail ourselves out.

Mr Rothstein unfortunately found himself at the edge of that precipice.

It doesn’t help when after a few rounds of layoffs and citing that money is tight, you are caught out spending it like water.  Or perhaps that was Mrs Winkle making the most of her opportunities.

The press can be very cruel, especially when they smell blood in the water.

Our problems started went an invoice slipped through the cracks, didn’t get paid, went past the due date and the power, since it is an electricity bill, was cut off.

For the factory that employs 7,000 people.

Nor does it help when the press, or one reporter in particular, gets a hold of the story and puts a menacing slant to it that is, Rothstein’s can afford a private jet but can’t keep the lights on for employees who, yes, the old story, need to keep a roof over the family’s head, and food on the table.

And waiting for our intrepid new friends are the press gang at the front door asking Emily all of those difficult questions, like where is her father to answer them.

…

Today’s words:  2,076, for a total of 32,127

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 21 days

Are you David, or are you, well, David?

…

Spies never really use their real names.  David was no exception, not that he was a spy anymore, but slipping back into that life again, if only for a few days, he travelled under the name of David Bentley.

He learned the hard way a long time ago to keep his first name, because sometimes, with another, you might not respond to it, and give the game away.

He also had a lot of expert help in transforming into someone else, and the man who landed in the Riviera looked nothing like David Cheney.

And it was oddly satisfying to have something to do.

…

But first things first, we have an interesting character to introduce, a man who is as enigmatic as David himself.

And one who knows David by various names, and whom David came across in Moscow in the middle of a mission that went sideways.

Boris, last name unpronounceable, was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or perhaps, in the end, the right place, depending on your point of view.

David ended up saving his life, and in the process of becoming friends, of a sort, when asked, Boris decided to tell him he was a humble policeman.

Of course, he is anything but a ‘humble’ policeman, and in making a new friend, considered one day that friendship might be mutually beneficial.

…

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 20 days

Not so ‘humble’

…

While David may have considered Boris the so-called humble policeman at the time, Boris, being the suspicious person he was, knew he was dealing with a foreign agent.

And he knew in time that letting him go provided two benefits, time to investigate who he really was, and how knowing him could be beneficial.  Pity then when after a few meetings in various cities in Europe, news came of David’s untimely death.

Thus, to get a call from a man who was supposed to be dead was intriguing, to say the least, and from one who was now married to a person of interest, the new Lady Featherington.

And to be asked about three Russian ‘maids’ piqued his interest.

Of course, the same could not be said for Prendergast who learns of this dubious Russian connection from his God-daughter Susan, complaining about David threatening her staff.

It’s the last thing on David’s mind as he heads off to Monaco, propelled by an anonymous text message with a place a date and a time.  Normally he wouldn’t care, but it appeared someone was trying to tell him something.

About Susan?

He would soon find out.

Booked into a hotel near the famous casino, and at a loose end, he goes to mingle with the rich and famous.  But not as himself, but his version of going ‘undercover’.

…

NANOWRIMO November 2023 – Day 16

“Opposites Attract”

…

Mr Rothstein gets into trouble.

…

Everyone lives on that edge of the precipice that can plunge us into a place we don’t want to be, rather than a phone call to try and bail ourselves out.

Mr Rothstein unfortunately found himself at the edge of that precipice.

It doesn’t help when after a few rounds of layoffs and citing that money is tight, you are caught out spending it like water.  Or perhaps that was Mrs Winkle making the most of her opportunities.

The press can be very cruel, especially when they smell blood in the water.

Our problems started went an invoice slipped through the cracks, didn’t get paid, went past the due date and the power, since it is an electricity bill, was cut off.

For the factory that employs 7,000 people.

Nor does it help when the press, or one reporter in particular, gets a hold of the story and puts a menacing slant to it that is, Rothstein’s can afford a private jet but can’t keep the lights on for employees who, yes, the old story, need to keep a roof over the family’s head, and food on the table.

And waiting for our intrepid new friends are the press gang at the front door asking Emily all of those difficult questions, like where is her father to answer them.

…

Today’s words:  2,076, for a total of 32,127

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 20 days

Not so ‘humble’

…

While David may have considered Boris the so-called humble policeman at the time, Boris, being the suspicious person he was, knew he was dealing with a foreign agent.

And he knew in time that letting him go provided two benefits, time to investigate who he really was, and how knowing him could be beneficial.  Pity then when after a few meetings in various cities in Europe, news came of David’s untimely death.

Thus, to get a call from a man who was supposed to be dead was intriguing, to say the least, and from one who was now married to a person of interest, the new Lady Featherington.

And to be asked about three Russian ‘maids’ piqued his interest.

Of course, the same could not be said for Prendergast who learns of this dubious Russian connection from his God-daughter Susan, complaining about David threatening her staff.

It’s the last thing on David’s mind as he heads off to Monaco, propelled by an anonymous text message with a place a date and a time.  Normally he wouldn’t care, but it appeared someone was trying to tell him something.

About Susan?

He would soon find out.

Booked into a hotel near the famous casino, and at a loose end, he goes to mingle with the rich and famous.  But not as himself, but his version of going ‘undercover’.

…

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 21 days

Are you David, or are you, well, David?

…

Spies never really use their real names.  David was no exception, not that he was a spy anymore, but slipping back into that life again, if only for a few days, he travelled under the name of David Bentley.

He learned the hard way a long time ago to keep his first name, because sometimes, with another, you might not respond to it, and give the game away.

He also had a lot of expert help in transforming into someone else, and the man who landed in the Riviera looked nothing like David Cheney.

And it was oddly satisfying to have something to do.

…

But first things first, we have an interesting character to introduce, a man who is as enigmatic as David himself.

And one who knows David by various names, and whom David came across in Moscow in the middle of a mission that went sideways.

Boris, last name unpronounceable, was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or perhaps, in the end, the right place, depending on your point of view.

David ended up saving his life, and in the process of becoming friends, of a sort, when asked, Boris decided to tell him he was a humble policeman.

Of course, he is anything but a ‘humble’ policeman, and in making a new friend, considered one day that friendship might be mutually beneficial.

…

NANOWRIMO November 2023 – Day 15

“Opposites Attract”

…

Mrs Winkle

…

There are two things going on here.

The first is the animosity between Emily and her stepmother.  When Emily’s mother died, it was probably expected there would be a period of mourning.  There probably was. 

But some men don’t like the idea of being alone, and either go looking for a suitable partner that might be helpful in helping with the children, or maybe that person decides there is an opening, and makes a move to fill that void.

Mrs Winkle did the chasing.

Mr Rothstein is too good a target for her to pass up, after all, unmarried billionaires, even if only on paper were far and few between.  Besides, she had children of her own that needed money to look after, a lot of money, and to cement the relationship, it’s always wise to have children of their own to be used as bargaining chips and longevity.

The divorce settlement would indeed be very costly.

The second is that our boy knows exactly who Mrs Winkle is, and figures the best policy is to stay as far away from her as possible.

Except when summoned.  They meet, and he can tell she does not consider him suitable.

Maybe someone should tell Mrs Winkle that Emily does not agree with her.

…

Today’s words:  2,566, for a total of 30,015

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 22 days

While the cats away

…

While David promises to be good, and not give the staff at the castle a hard time, Susan whiles away her time overseas tending to business.

Or is she?

A familiar sound from a familiar place tells David his wife is not where he says she is.

But, that’s a problem for another day.  He has a mission to plan and execute, and it’s going to involve the unwitting assistance of a most unlikely accomplice.

First, there’s a rather uncooperative and snotty cook to take care of.

And like all sorties, no amount of planning can cover every eventuality, but quick thinking saves the day, leaving him with more questions than answers.

And the household wondering if he was having an affair.  A talk the following morning with Susan, who seems to have a version of events, finds that, no, he can’t take his shadow back home when he leaves the castle.

Whether or not she is checking up on him, she arrived at the castle in person and makes an attempt to let him know she has not forgotten him.

Pity then she is gone the next morning before he wakes up.

Finally tired of meddling in castle affairs, it takes a very odd message from an anonymous source to get him on his way to Monaco to see what it all means.

…

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 21 days

Are you David, or are you, well, David?

…

Spies never really use their real names.  David was no exception, not that he was a spy anymore, but slipping back into that life again, if only for a few days, he travelled under the name of David Bentley.

He learned the hard way a long time ago to keep his first name, because sometimes, with another, you might not respond to it, and give the game away.

He also had a lot of expert help in transforming into someone else, and the man who landed in the Riviera looked nothing like David Cheney.

And it was oddly satisfying to have something to do.

…

But first things first, we have an interesting character to introduce, a man who is as enigmatic as David himself.

And one who knows David by various names, and whom David came across in Moscow in the middle of a mission that went sideways.

Boris, last name unpronounceable, was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or perhaps, in the end, the right place, depending on your point of view.

David ended up saving his life, and in the process of becoming friends, of a sort, when asked, Boris decided to tell him he was a humble policeman.

Of course, he is anything but a ‘humble’ policeman, and in making a new friend, considered one day that friendship might be mutually beneficial.

…

NANOWRIMO November 2023 – Day 15

“Opposites Attract”

…

Mrs Winkle

…

There are two things going on here.

The first is the animosity between Emily and her stepmother.  When Emily’s mother died, it was probably expected there would be a period of mourning.  There probably was. 

But some men don’t like the idea of being alone, and either go looking for a suitable partner that might be helpful in helping with the children, or maybe that person decides there is an opening, and makes a move to fill that void.

Mrs Winkle did the chasing.

Mr Rothstein is too good a target for her to pass up, after all, unmarried billionaires, even if only on paper were far and few between.  Besides, she had children of her own that needed money to look after, a lot of money, and to cement the relationship, it’s always wise to have children of their own to be used as bargaining chips and longevity.

The divorce settlement would indeed be very costly.

The second is that our boy knows exactly who Mrs Winkle is, and figures the best policy is to stay as far away from her as possible.

Except when summoned.  They meet, and he can tell she does not consider him suitable.

Maybe someone should tell Mrs Winkle that Emily does not agree with her.

…

Today’s words:  2,566, for a total of 30,015