Category: NaNoWriMo

“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 19 Days

There are high rollers, and then others

…

I’ve been to the Monaco main casino, a rather interesting piece of architecture, and of all things in the bathrooms, gold taps.

And it was fascinating to watch the patrons, people who had single articles of clothing or jewellery that were worth more than my house, in fact probably more than I would earn in twenty years of my working life.

Let alone the value of the chips they had in front of them on the tables.

There was a sort of elegance and unreal atmosphere about it all like I was in a place where I shouldn’t; the proverbial ‘on the outside looking in’.

Not for David.

He belongs here, among these people, where he could, if he wanted to, pull a wad of money out of a coat pocket and make a splash.

But that’s not why he’s here.  He’s filling in time until the date and time of the message, tomorrow.

Only there’s no one there that he recognises, just a particular high roller who stands out from the others, and a girl at the bar, looking like she needed to be rescued.

Perhaps the night will not be a dead loss.

…

NANOWRIMO November 2023 – Day 17

“Opposites Attract”

…

A small favour

…

There’s nothing like trying to impress the new relatives.  Well, maybe that wasn’t our boy’s first intention, he likes the idea of just blending into the background and trying not to make waves.

Of course, he is an aspiring journalist and can recognise overzealous journalists trying to make a name for themselves.

And what is just plain biased reporting?

But here’s the thing…  When you are a celebrity, you don’t get the normal protection a citizen is supposed to get, you are simply a moving target.

Our boy is not moving in completely different circles now– he’s in Emily’s world.

And the grandmothers, and since Mr Rothstein has gone away to make things right, and the fact the grandmother had basically bailed him out, she needs a spokesperson.

Someone the media doesn’t and won’t tear the strips off.  Not initially, anyway.

So, one small favour, go out and explain the situation, don’t answer questions, and get off the stage.

Easy.

…

Today’s words:  866, for a total of 32,993

“Strangers We’ve Become” – The final countdown to publishing in 19 Days

There are high rollers, and then others

…

I’ve been to the Monaco main casino, a rather interesting piece of architecture, and of all things in the bathrooms, gold taps.

And it was fascinating to watch the patrons, people who had single articles of clothing or jewellery that were worth more than my house, in fact probably more than I would earn in twenty years of my working life.

Let alone the value of the chips they had in front of them on the tables.

There was a sort of elegance and unreal atmosphere about it all like I was in a place where I shouldn’t; the proverbial ‘on the outside looking in’.

Not for David.

He belongs here, among these people, where he could, if he wanted to, pull a wad of money out of a coat pocket and make a splash.

But that’s not why he’s here.  He’s filling in time until the date and time of the message, tomorrow.

Only there’s no one there that he recognises, just a particular high roller who stands out from the others, and a girl at the bar, looking like she needed to be rescued.

Perhaps the night will not be a dead loss.

…

“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 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’.

…