Lea and Drak conspire to eliminate anti-American Franklin County’s Commissioner in “Stepping on Fingers:” “Befitting the senior position of his office, Commissioner Soames arrived in a leisurely fashion. As Wilemena Soames’s sparkling blue Honda Clarity Hybrid entered the lot, he…
First Terror of “Stepping on Fingers”
The frightening beginning of “Stepping on Fingers:” “Something was tearing into the base of my skull, a silent, ripping power drill. Sticky fingerprints of the last nightmare clouded my eyes. I desperately wanted to scour away their crusty residue…
High Noon in Camden, Maine
Lea’s back in America but still in danger in “Stepping on Fingers:” “…a tiny American flag dropped into a growing pool of water, blood, and home heating oil in the center of High Street. Eleven, twelve. High noon on Memorial…
Escaping from Syracuse Airport
Former Governor Lassiter and Tariq leaving Syracuse airport in search of Lea, in “Stepping on Fingers:” “Pulling up a pace or two short of the guard station, the hovercraft slowed to a stop and automatically opened its left wing. Lassiter…
Memorial Day in Camden, Maine
The beginning of Lea’s return to America from Russian Penal Colony 627 in “Stepping on Fingers:” “Thrasher glowered at her from the far edge of the gathering crowd, now focused on what was left of the accident rather than the…
Lea’s Daughter Clara in Danger
“Lea’s burner phone rang; “someone’s onto where you are. I’ve had someone trying to watch you and he saw some old woman go into your hotel room in Scranton where you and your daughter were sleeping…” The voice continued but…
Train to Russian Penal Colony
Beginning of Lea’s trip from an American religious court to a Russian penal colony: “Inside the crowded compartment, a robotic arm dragged Lea’s jerking body along the rail then dumped her onto a wooden bench beside a vertical window-slit. Corroded…
Source of “Stepping on Fingers” Title
Source of “Stepping on Fingers” title: “David was worried the professionally dressed woman still jammed against Gillespie’s right shoulder might remember him as the platform under him began to vibrate with the throaty rumble of the coming train’s arrival, its…
Remembering the Fallen
Remembering the crew of the U.S.S. Picuda in “Goshawk:” “Ensign Luther Marsden pulled himself up the ladder, eyes at the level of David’s scuffed and oil-stained boot tops, running his fingers through a short red crew-cut. “What’s up?” the young…
A Voice from the Past
After Buddy Lassiter finds Lea and their daughter in “Stepping on Fingers:” “Loud knocking at the front door interrupted the conversation. Drak stuck his pistol behind his belt in the middle of the back and scurried over to the front…
