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JoAnn Smith Ainsworth
a book bubble about
Expect Trouble
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Author Insight
Clueless, but Enlightenment is Coming!
Trey doesn't know it, but he's about to be plunged into a whirlpool of espionage and psychic phenomena.
Book Excerpt
Expect Trouble
Trey made the turn into the estate grounds. His eyes widened upon recognizing the man slowly exiting the rear seat of a car parked in front of the mansion—his friend from college with a high-level D.C. job. Trey blasted the horn multiple times as he pulled to a stop. He rolled down the window, stuck his head out and shouted, “Walter Oberson, you old bastard. What’re you doing here?”“I’ve got orders for you.” Walt held up his briefcase.Whatever his friend was carrying must be important for the government to send him by car and not by train. Gasoline and tires were in scarce supply from being directed overseas to the war effort. Most people couldn’t afford to drive and simply put their vehicles up on blocks.Walt pointedly glanced up and down the estate driveway. “The place looked abandoned when we got here. I expected to see your sports car at the very least.”“In the garage.” Trey’s family had ways of getting extra wartime ration cards for gas and tires. He didn’t exacerbate a scarcity situation, but indulged himself occasionally. The top secret Hamilton House facility was somehow important enough to the government that both a sedan and a Jeep were allotted to it. He wouldn’t often need his car, but liked keeping it nearby. Besides, the estate had six garages. Plenty of room.Trey rolled up the window, made sure the gearbox of the Ford was in neutral and set the hand brake before climbing out to greet his friend. He left the engine running to keep the car warm for Livvy. Upon meeting Walt halfway between the two automobiles, Trey embraced his college buddy in a bear hug and added several hard pats on the back. “You old son-of-a-gun.”“We need to talk.”Trey’s brow furrowed. “You sound serious. Help me get my lieutenant inside and we’ll pow wow.”Walt cocked his head. “What’s the matter with her?”“A saboteur planted a bomb at a naval facility we inspected this morning. She got hurt in the blast.”That announcement more than startled Walt. “You’re kidding!”“It misfired, but still caused damage.”“Are you hurt?”Trey shook his head, a frown expressing his concern. “I lucked out, but my lieutenant got clobbered by some wood. She may have a slight concussion.”Walt’s face mirrored Trey’s concern. “It puts the face of reality on what we’re doing.”“You’re telling me.”“Does the admiral know we have spy activity in the area?”Trey nodded. “Naval personnel working on the premises contacted headquarters.”“The FBI?”“Alerted. They hadn’t arrived by the time I left.”“You didn’t stick around?” Walt appeared puzzled.“My job is to search out future vulnerabilities. It’s somebody else’s job to clean up.”Walt nodded. “You have a point.”“Besides, I needed to get back here. The brass is pushing hard to get this place up and running.”Walt grinned. “It’s just as well you came back or I could’ve been sitting out in a cold car for hours. I timed my arrival for when you were expected, not for any delay because of an explosion.”“You should have let me know you were coming.”“It wasn’t in the cards.”“Well, let’s get my lieutenant inside and we’ll talk.”
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