An invention that can save the planet?
Somehow, someway the O’Malleys have found themselves in the
thick of things once again. On peaceful, bucolic Whidbey Island, they become
entangled in a corporate plot to stifle a paradigm-shattering discovery, one
that promises to upend conventional thinking, topple markets, and create an
entirely new industry.
Excerpt
It was one of those dark, rainy afternoons in the Pacific
Northwest. Four-thirty, and already the headlights were bouncing off the slick,
shiny freeway.
I was on my way back to Whidbey Island. Playing golf in
Seattle in late November was not for the faint of heart. Bundled up with rain
gear, umbrella stuck on the push golf cart, wet khakis tucked into even wetter
socks, we had slogged through eighteen holes of betting and swearing.
Usually, the Wednesday round was followed by more swearing,
drinking wine, and playing gin rummy, but today was different. Today was
Jenne’s birthday. It was the big one, double nickels. Well, sort of a big one.
Of course, she told me to stay, have fun and enjoy myself –
no big deal. When you’ve been married more than once, you absolutely know for
sure that birthdays are a big deal. Unless, that is, you don’t care if your
sexual activities are curtailed for, say, a month or two.
Well, not this husband. No sir. I managed to make the 5:30
ferry. And also had the foresight to stop at Walgreens and select a lovely
greeting card. From Hallmark. I figured the card with a heartfelt message,
along with the bouquet purchased at the Star Store when I drove through
Langley, would put me in Jenne’s good graces.
It should have been a wonderful evening.
But it wasn’t.
I made the right onto Little Dirt Road. About five hundred
yards up the hill, on the unpaved surface, I turned on the crushed gravel
driveway leading to our tidy, shingled home. We live on a bluff that normally
overlooks Saratoga Passage. Tonight it was dark and rainy.
And there were no lights on in the house or on the grounds.
This seemed odd. I negotiated the six steps to the porch in
the dark. Emma was inside, barking as only a German shepherd can, when
anything, and I mean anything, is perceived as a threat.
“Easy girl, easy. It’s me.” She quieted only slightly until
I opened the door—it was unlocked—and she calmed down. I flicked the lights on,
rubbed behind her ears, and stupidly called out Jenne’s name. She’s not here,
you dope. She wouldn’t be sitting in the dark. I walked to the kitchen counter.
There was a note in her writing. “Went for a walk in case you get home early.
Back around 4:30.” It was followed by a little heart and a smiley face.
It was 6:45. Still not accepting reality, I dialed her cell.
The sounds of “The Irish Washerwoman,” her ringtone, came from the little nook
with the fireplace, just off the kitchen.
This was strange. Even though she always thought she had
forgotten her phone, she seldom did.
I stood there, searching my mind but coming up with nothing.
Her car was in the courtyard, her phone in the house.
We didn’t know that many people on the island. We knew our
neighbors and a few others, but few were close friends. The only people Jenne
was close to lived off-island. And they did not come up in this crappy weather.
One thing was certain, if she left around 3:30, she sure as
hell wasn’t still on her walk.
I walked across the dark, grassy area separating us from our
neighbors, Tim and Raye. I knocked on the door, perhaps a little too
forcefully.
“Kevin. Hi, good to see you.” Tim was a gentle soul and a terrific
neighbor, always there if you needed him, and highly considerate in every way.
“Hi, Tim. Have you seen Jenne? When I got home, the house
was dark. She left a note saying she’d be back at 4:30. Do you know where she
could be?”
“Geez, Kev, no, I don’t. I did see her a little before five.
She was headed down the street. I thought it a bit odd because it was getting
dark, but that was about it.”
“She was headed south?”
“Yes.”
“She always goes the other way on her walks and finishes by
coming up the hill. She says it feels good to stretch out at the end of it.”
“Well, I don’t know about that, but I’m sure she was headed
down. Is there anything I can do?”
“Thanks. Not yet. Let me think about it first.”
Tim’s face showed genuine concern. “You know we’re here if
you need anything.”
“I do, Tim. Thanks.”
I went back home and stood in the kitchen. “Emma, what do
you think? Where the hell is your mom?”
The ninety-pound black and tan animal looked directly at me
and twisted her head to the left. “Ah, I wish you could talk, kiddo.”
If Tim saw Jenne go back down the hill, maybe she was going
to one of the homes on Saratoga Road. For some reason. To someone’s house, she
didn’t know. Sure.
“Emma. Let’s go. Get in the truck.” Before I went entirely
off the deep end, I figured a drive around the area might be productive. Maybe
Emma could be of some help. Maybe.
We drove slowly down the hill, past Tim and Raye’s house and
past the Robinsons, who lived on the opposite corner. Most of the properties
were well over an acre. As a result, there weren’t many homes nearby.
After turning right on Saratoga, where there was no traffic,
thankfully, we crept as slowly as possible. I rolled down the rear windows in
case Emma caught a scent.
We passed three homes. Emma acted as though this was a
simple trip to the store. Maybe even treats if she behaved.
On the left was a huge vacant field where sheep occasionally
grazed. Beyond that was a long, straight two-track that served as a driveway
for a home hidden by tall firs and cedars.
During our walks, we’d always speculate as to who lived
there. Occasionally we would see an island car chug and sputter down the drive.
Island cars are beaters that nobody would ever take on the ferry. They
frequently break down, and hell hath no fury greater than ferry patrons missing
the boat because some yahoo couldn’t start their car.
We passed the mailbox and then the driveway. Then Emma went crazy.
It was close to nine o’clock when I pulled to the side of the road. I shut the
engine off and turned out the lights, and tried everything to get the dog to
quiet down, with no success. She had picked up a scent.
About the Author
I've lived throughout the US, the past 35 years in the Pacific Northwest. I'm an Army vet, sales and marketing VP, entrepreneur, business owner, avid reader, one of nine children, former caddie and lover of dogs and golf. The last twenty-five years were spent in partnership with my wife Patte as the owners of highly respected and published hospitality interior design firm in the Seattle Area. We're now living on Whidbey Island and enjoying its rural bliss.
~~ Website ~~
I enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book sounds like it would be good.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it with me and have a marvelous weekend!