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JoAnn Smith Ainsworth
a book bubble about
Expect Trouble
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Author Insight
The Plot Thickens and Trey Cries "Uncle"
Skeptics and psychics aren't "birds of a feather". It will take much adjustment on both sides before these two can co-exist.
Book Excerpt
Expect Trouble
“How much do you know about your new assignment?”He stuck to the basics as he’d read them this weekend. “We’re to inspect naval facilities and point out vulnerabilities in their security preparations. We’re to locate Nazi spies on the East Coast before they can damage naval facilities.” Trey paused, but decided to go ahead with his concerns. “That part doesn’t make sense. The FBI should handle spies.” He lifted an eyebrow and turned his head in a sidewise glance at his friend and his gut clenched at the serious expression on Walt’s face. “Am I in some kind of trouble? You look like you did that time in college when you bailed me out of jail after a frat party.”Walt pointedly ignored the comment, but since it was his friend standing across from him Trey added, “It’s beyond me why the brass would want an engineer to head this project instead of security staff.”Again no response before Trey added, “We’re a joint project with Allied forces. I report to U.S. Naval Command.”“Partially.”“Partially?”“Actually,” Walt said, “the operation’s not under the Navy. The head man and my superior is one of President Roosevelt’s most trusted civilian advisers. He and your father are members of a top-secret committee code-named The Watch. Its mission is known only to a handful of top legislators, businessmen and military personnel—and now to you.”The tiny hairs on the back of Trey’s neck started to rise.“I work for the White House,” Walt said. “I’m on The Watch staff.”Trey’s eyebrows rose. Impressive. Even though advancement came quickly in wartime, Walt was young to be assigned to such a high-powered, secret committee. Being 4F because of flat feet, Walt didn’t participate in ROTC like Trey did, but instead took government studies at Dartmouth. The studies had taken him high up in the administration. Maybe, like with Trey, advancement was more a factor of how few men were left in the states to run the country.“We thought you’d take this better if the information came from me,” Walt said.This was not setting up to be a run-of-the-mill briefing. Walt was the man to count on in college. Trey hoped that was still true. “What’s going on?”Giving in to a college-days’ habit, his friend nervously ran fingers through his hair before speaking. “Your father is one of the wealthy industrialists chosen by President Roosevelt for appointment to The Watch. He was appointed a couple of years ago when it looked like we’d be drawn into this conflict. The British were already reporting that spies had infiltrated the U.S.”Although the Deuce wielded the breadth of power to be among top decision makers, his dad had never breathed the name, The Watch. “His fingers are in a lot of pies.”“Your father was sworn to keep The Watch’s existence a secret.”“He certainly kept it a secret from me.”“The only reason I can tell you about the committee is because this Operation Delphi facility is an extension of The Watch. As its head, you have need-to-know.”“Operation what?”Trey’s heart speeded up. Since Friday, he was part of a hushhush project with a code name and he only learned about its composition a minute ago.“Operation Delphi.”This was sounding less and less like something Trey would enjoy. “How does being under the White House instead of under the Navy Department change our status to super-secret?”“The mission.”“We’re to find spies based on Allied intelligence. What’s so strange about that?”Walt seemed nervous and delayed getting to the point.“Well, spit it out. What has my old man gotten me into this time?” Trey heard the anger in his voice.His friend unlocked his briefcase and started pulling out papers. “The White House created The Watch, and subsequently Operation Delphi, at the urging of Prime Minister Churchill. British spies report that Hitler has brought together an occult team to disrupt the Allied war effort through mind control.”Once more, the little hairs on the back of Trey’s neck stood up. “Occult? Mind control?”“Psychics.”Trey’s jaw dr
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