Too Many Women, Book #1 of the Becker Trilogy - Bob gets a surprise.

Today’s excerpt is from Too Many Women, Book #1 of the Becker Trilogy.  Extra help in protecting Terri arrive and Bob is surprised that he knows one of the two men.  Enjoy and have a fantastic day.

m.j.

 

When those on the plane started disembarking, Bob muttered to himself, “I’ll be damned,” before he walked over to one of Hector Garcia’s men and held out his hand.  “Good to see you again, Sergeant Major.”

Leo Gowen, retired Marine Sergeant Major and SEAL, shook the offered hand.  “Same here, Bob—and its ‘Leo’ these days.”

“Not to me, it’s not…Sergeant Major.”

Dan, also a SEAL, knew Bob from those days, but had never met Leo Gowen until he went to work for Hector.  Since both were SEALs, he was not surprised they knew each other, but was a bit surprised at the utter respect Bob was showing Leo.  He knew there had to be a story there, and wondered if he’d be able to get it out of either man—or both.

After the thought flashed through his mind, Dan introduced LAPD Homicide Detective Bert Smiley and his partner Homicide Detective Sergeant Alan Evans.  Dan noticed the salt and pepper team (Bert was black, Alan white), but thought nothing of it.  Then Dan introduced Horace Housmer, a very heavily decorated retired Army Special Forces First Sergeant.  As Bob and Horace finished shaking hands, Janet came bouncing down the steps of the plane and rushed over to Bob and gave him a big kiss…right on his mouth.  She had a habit of doing so to men who had been to war with her husband and, due to the circumstances of Dan being alive, that certainly included Bob.

After the kiss and hug from Janet, Bob pointed to his vehicle.  “Okay, I only got room for three at a time in my jalopy.  And no room for much luggage.  I’m thinking I drive three of you back to the house, and one of those three can drive back my other rig like this one.  The next load everyone left behind the first time, and all luggage can come on the second trip.  Would have had a friend who lives on the property drive the other one, but didn’t want to leave our star witness alone in the house.”

Dan volunteered, “I’ll go in the first group and drive the other buggy back.”

Janet smiled. “Alan, you and Bert go along, so you can start interviewing said witness.  I’ll go on the next go-around.”

Those two picked up their small overnight bags, got in the buggy, and waited as Dan and Bob got in.  Arriving at his home, Bob led the other three in and introduced them to Bill—except in the case of Dan, who he already knew—and Terri.  Then he drove Dan over to Bill’s home to get the other buggy, since Bill had walked the short distance from his home to Bob’s. 

While those two were getting the second buggy, driving to the airplane, loading everything else up in the buggies, Bill showed Alan and Bert to Bob’s den, followed by Terri.  Before Alan and Bert could even ask any questions, Terri handed them two copies of a full statement, signed, which Bob had printed out on his computer, after taking dictation from Terri.

She grinned.  “It’s all there.  You have any questions beyond that, shoot.”

They were still reading as the others were bringing various luggage items into the kitchen.  Done, Bob went to the den, after asking Bill to show everyone in the kitchen to the bar in the game room.  As he walked in, Alan asked, “Miss Hawksworth, is this signed statement you have supplied us with a full and true accounting of the events in your home outlined herein accurate?”

Alan had a small tape recorder running, which Terri knew about.  “Yes.”

Alan looked at Bert and asked, “You have any questions?”

Bert shook his head.  “No.”

Alan glanced at Bob.  “We’re done.  You and Miss Hawksworth sure made things easy for us.”

“Guys, Terri is okay…since we’re finished playing cops and witness.”

 

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How 'bout Both, Book #3 of the Bader Trilogy - LAPD Chief of Police has decision to make.

Today’s excerpt is from How ‘bout Both, Book #3 of the Bader Trilogy.  Now knowing who the terrorist is, the decision of to broadcast that information or not is put to the LAPD Chief of Police.  Enjoy and have a wonderful day.

m.j.

 

Homer arrived before Gordon and the Chief.  He was shown the full information on Simmons.  Everyone there talked over the pros and cons of the matter of releasing the information until those two did arrive.  When they came into the conference room, the Chief gave Helen a questioning look, which could be interrupted as disapproval.  But due to her heroic efforts in helping to pull Elmer from his situation the previous day, he kept his peace on the subject.  Without showing it, he was less than pleased to find Homer Spradling there, even though he and Homer had gotten on well during an FBI investigation of his department the previous year, on into the current year.  He had found everything the FBI came up with to be valid, so had personally thanked Homer for his efforts—including the professional manner in which the investigation had been conducted.  He was also aware Elmer had a habit of working closely with Homer—and, for that matter, with NCIS Special Agent Gregory Noonan.  The thing concerning him about the FBI being involved in the current situation was he wanted the LAPD to be responsible, with the public being fully aware of it, for capturing the man wanted for the horrors of seeing not only two of his officers killed, but now fourteen civilians.

At Elmer’s invitation, the Chief and Gordon sat down.  The Chief looked at Elmer and glanced again at Helen.  “What do you have, Elmer?”

Before Elmer could answer, Helen, who had noticed the two glances in her direction, stood up.  “Maybe everyone would be more comfortable if I left the room.”

Elmer looked at her.  “Sit.  Don’t be dramatic.  Save it for television.  What we have, sir, is probably what Reggie told you on the phone.  We know who’s responsible for the murders yesterday, but have no idea where he is.  More to the point, where he’s likely to be if we put it out about us knowing.   Helen pointed out she feels this guy is after attention for whatever reason…the call to her station seems to back that up.  If this is the case, putting his name out will only give us the public to help spot him, and he’s not gonna hide out.  If wrong, we might lose him. 

“On top of all this, my dear partner, the black-headed vixen over there, pointed out what better place to make good on his threat to take out still more police officers than at the funerals for the two already lost.   Reggie and I agree that once the cemetery, or cemeteries, are selected, we best get some plainclothes types out, combing the area in workers’ clothing, looking for anyone trying to plant bombs there prior to the funerals.  Also, we better have heavy security during the funerals.”

The Chief nodded, “I’m in complete agreement on the last.  As to making this suspect’s identity known publicly, I’m not too sure.  But the more I think about it, the matter of the phone call to Miss Bledsoe’s television station would seem to indicate this terrorist does seek notoriety.  Do it.  I’ll hold a press conference to announce the particulars on him.”

Elmer grinned.  “Everyone in here, except the Chief—fingers in ears for a bit.”

With several chuckles, smiles, and grins, fingers were soon placed in ears…with Maine needing to bend down a bit to get the finger of her left hand in her left ear.  Then Elmer looked at the Chief.  “Sir, we…I…owe Helen.  I’d like to give her what we have.  Let her break the news about half an hour before your news conference.”

The Chief curled up the corners of his mouth, thought a second, then nodded.  “Okay—as long as I don’t know about it.  Oh, if you can make one of your famous deals with her to feed her what we want to put out on the funerals…maybe we can get lucky enough to catch this guy trying for the bunch of us there.”

Helen still had her fingers in her ears.  “Deal.”

Everyone laughed, most with their fingers still in their ears.  The Chief nodded, “Come on, Gordon—let’s let these people get back to work.”

 

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Whodunit Did It, Book #1 of the Bader Trilogy - Ruth has two ideas.

Today’s excerpt is from Whodunit Did It, Book #1 of the Bader Trilogy.  Elmer, Ruth, his third ex-wife (and future fourth wife), and NCIS agent Greg Noonan head to Berlin on a NCIS executive jet.  They want to interview the fence who bought the stolen gems.  On the flight Ruth comes up with two ideas.   Enjoy and have a great day.

m.j.

 

“What about his disguises—any of them likely to be bought someplace?  Would he maybe have used his credit card to buy them—or had this Skeets guy buy them for him, using his credit card?”

Elmer looked at Greg as Greg looked at Elmer, who smiled, “Well, color me stupid.  We’ve got pictures of several different disguises he’s used.  We can put them all together, and hit all the shops selling that kind of stuff.  A lot of his disguises could have come from someplace like that.  We can worry about credit cards later—except in the case of Skeets.  I’ll give Reggie a call…have him go back to check Skeets’ credit card history to see.  It’ll probably come up dry, since I’ve a feeling ‘Whodunit’ would have taken care of buying the stuff himself.  Excellent point, Ruthie.  I knew you weren’t just a pretty face—right, Greg?”

“From where I sit, she’s one hell of a lot more than just a pretty face.  She sure as hell is that—with a great bod and great mind…if you don’t mind me saying so, Elmer.”

“He doesn’t,” joked Ruth, as all three laughed.

Elmer looked at Greg.  “Will my cell phone work up here?”

“In theory, but use the plane’s phone—it for sure does.  Oh, let me give you the number, so Reggie or whoever can call you here, if need be—just in case the cell phone doesn’t work.”

After getting the number, Elmer used the phone Greg had pointed to.  He soon had Reggie.  “Hi, Reg…got something for you to check out.”

“Before or after we check out the fifty-six hundred names on this list?”

“Before.  How’s that going?”

“Oh ,fine.  Alan is talking to himself…I’m not far behind.”

“Now take good care of my soon-to-be ex-brother-in-law.”

“What?  What are you talking about?”

“Well, if he’s marrying my ex-wife’s sister, that would make him my ex-brother-in-law.”

“You say so—what’ve you got?”

While Greg and Ruth were laughing at the absurdity of Elmer’s bit of logic, Elmer told Reggie about Ruth’s idea on costume shops or any other business that might sell disguises of any type.  When he finished, Reggie agreed.  “Yeah—good thought.  We’ll splice it in with what we’re doing, so we won’t go bonkers on your Sherman Oaks list.”

“Good idea.  One last thing.  Let me give you the phone number here on the plane, in case you need me while we’re in the air.”

For the remainder of the flight, Greg, Elmer, and Ruth took turns talking, then resting.  At one point, when Greg was thought to be asleep, Ruth whispered, “You know, El, I’ve never done it on a plane.”

Before Elmer could respond, Greg joked, “You two want me to go up to the cockpit to talk with the pilots for a while, I’ll be happy to.”

Ruth laughed, “Oops—thought you were asleep.”

“Obviously.”

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Horace Goes Home, Book #2 of the Bader Trilogy - Elmer gets a new partner.

Today’s excerpt is from Horace Goes Home, Book #2 of the Bader Trilogy.  Elmer gets a new partner and learns just a bit about her.   Enjoy and have a fantastic day.

m.j.

 

Reggie laughed, “Got a favor to ask.  Gordon and I talked.  We both like this idea of you working alone.  I know you seem to like it.  But I need to ask you to work with someone for a while.  Her…”

“Hold it.  Don’t start with the ‘her’ bit.  Remember, I’m married to a redhead.”

“This nice lady—coming over from drug enforcement—has been working undercover for three years, but nearly got banged.  Gordon wants her to get a chance here.  I want her on the evening shift.  But I want you to train her for a few weeks.  Can you do this for me?  Please…for old time’s sake?”

“Reggie, just how many times are you gonna use ‘for old time’s sake’ in the next several years?  Okay…but you owe me.  You’re also calling Ruth right now to tell her this is your idea.  Tell her I objected first.”

Elmer had been taking out his cell phone as he spoke.  Reggie sighed, held out his hand, then took the phone from Elmer, after he pressed the “one” on the speed dial.

When Ruth answered, “Hi, you sexy devil—I’m ready for a little action,” Reggie nearly choked.

“Hi, Ruth—this is Reggie…using Elmer’s phone.  How are you?”

Ruth laughed, “Hi, Reggie.  What’d he do now?”

Reggie laughed, also, then explained the situation with the new detective in Homicide.  When he finished, Ruth joked, “Sure—just tell him to sleep on Red’s downstairs couch tonight.  Goodbye.”

Reggie looked at the dead phone in his hand, as he smiled.  “She said ‘no problem’.”

“Come on, Reggie—what did she really say?”

Reggie told him.  Elmer smiled, “Okay, I’ll do it.  Got ten says I don’t sleep on any old couch tonight, either.  But please tell me this gal isn’t good-looking.”

“No bet…see for yourself,” Reggie said as he waved to the thin young lady standing outside the door with Alan.

Elmer turned and saw how attractive—if a bit small chested for Elmer’s taste—she was.  He turned back to Reggie and said, “You rat,” as the young lady came into the office.

Elmer stood up as Reggie introduced them.  “Elmer Bader, meet Maine Bobbitt.”

Elmer put out his hand.  It was taken and shaken by Detective Maine Bobbitt.  “Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Bader.  Like every detective on the force, I’ve heard of you.  It’s an honor.”

“Nice to meet you—and it’s ‘Elmer.’  Come on—you’re stuck with me for a while.  See you, Captain.”

Reggie laughed, watching them walking out of the office.  When they got to Elmer’s desk, he pointed to the desk back-to-back with his.  “That’s yours.”

Maine sat down.  Elmer smiled, “Pity you weren’t here a couple of hours ago.  I just got one of those once-a-year deals.  Closed a new case in less than two hours.  Got an easy confession.”

“I know…I saw from the observation room.  Alan and Bert took me in there…as Alan said, ‘to watch the great Elmer Bader in action’.”

“Did that idiot also tell you he’s my brother-in-law?  Did he also tell you the last person I tried to train only made it a day or six with me?”

“‘No,’ to the brother-in-law; ‘yes’ to Bert only being with you a short time.  He also told me why Bert was now with him.  Alan did mention you taught Bert everything you knew in that short period of time.”

“Nice of you to repeat that little tidbit.  Now then, I only have two rules for new partners.  One, you get the coffee in the morning.  If it’s not made, make it.  Learn how from Alan.  You see Reggie make coffee, dump it immediately.  Make a fresh pot.  I forget what two is.  Tell me about ‘Maine’?”

“My mother, God rest her soul, had a states thing.  I’ve got a sister named Georgia, and a brother named Missouri.  My brother is now called ‘Mo’ by his pals in the Corps.  Everyone thinks my sister is from the south, so she has practiced an awful southern accent.  End of story.”

 

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Adios, Amigos, Book #9 of the Asps Series - An al-Qadia in Bolivia drug operation gets a visit.

Today’s excerpt is from Adios, Amigos, Book #9 of the nine-book Asps Series.  The team and friends take out a terrorist drug processing facility in Bolivia.  Enjoy and have a great day.

m.j.

 

While Drew was enjoying himself immensely, Bruce and his team had made their way to the al-Qaida camp.  They had it surrounded on three sides…though on the two sides other than the longest stretch, the person on the end of the attackers was less than a third of the way to the far side of the camp.  There would be no shooting each other.  Bear, Dusty, and Ike were up trees.  Their job was to keep any of the armed men from reaching the tree line surrounding the camp—with special emphasis on the far side of the compound and the two sides above where their comrades had moved. 

All members of the team wore Ghillie suits.  So, with the exception of the three in the trees, they were now well concealed in their various assigned places.  They could see over a hundred armed men in various places around the camp.  There were also over two hundred workers.  Everyone agreed this had to be the main al-Qaida processing center, as Maggie and Jack had reported this camp was half again as large as the one they chose not to try to attack alone.

Jim, a few feet from Bruce, looked over at him, as he sighed.  He said into his communication set, “This could be a pip.  Sure wish we had some grenades or something, but with all those peasants around, we’d kill innocents if we used something like that.”

Bruce just nodded.  “Anybody not ready?”

Holly grumbled, “You gotta be kidding, Bruce Edmonds.  This is gonna be a piece of cake.  We’re all ready—just waiting on the word.”

“Yeah, Wendy—fire at will.”

Even as the onslaught started, there were a few chuckles at Bruce calling Holly, Wendy.  But it only lasted a few seconds, when terrorists started dropping all over the camp. With all fourteen members of the team firing virtually silent sniper rifles, and most of them firing at close range, it was a turkey shoot for a few seconds.  In those first few seconds, over forty terrorists died.  When the remainder did react, they really had no idea where the shots were coming from, nor how many shooters there were.

Some of the terrorists fired wildly in all directions; those who were returning fire were picked out as immediate targets by the experienced shooters in the group, which was everyone but Edgar.  He had been given one of the spare sniper rifles the team always carried with them for various obvious reasons.  He was quite pleased with both the rifle and himself, as he was sure he had not missed a shot taken.  He noticed the recoil on these rifles was much less than any he had used in his training—which fact also pleased him.  Bear, Dusty, and Ike were making sure armed men who broke for the tree line were eliminated before they could reach the trees or other vegetation.

Bear, on the far right of the three tree snipers, was also watching a shack everyone assumed was the headquarters of the camp.  Just as he killed a man running for the fringe of the camp, something caught his attention, as one of the terrorists threw his own weapon out a window and soon followed it.  Bear had caught a glimpse of the weapon.  When the man came out of the window, Bear nailed him even before he picked it up. 

Dusty saw one of the armed men running in the middle of a group of workers.  He tracked him carefully and squeezed off his shot, before moving on to his next target as the man fell to earth.  While he had been intent on him, another one made the tree line, but not far enough in for Dusty to have any trouble ending his terrorist days.

Less than ten minutes after the assault started, over a hundred armed men lay dead on the compound. 

 

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Father Mulligan, Book #8 of the Asps Series - Oops, nice try bad guys.

Today’s excerpt is from Father Mulligan, Book #8 of the nine-book Asps Series.  Another try to kill Jim is foiled, and he wasn’t even on the ranch at the time of the would-be raid.  Enjoy and have a fantastic day.

m.j.

 

While Jim and Hector joked about flying, Fugleman sent his team forward, but he held back at one of the trees near the edge of the incline from the car park.  Bruce had everyone at the ranch spread out at various locations.  They watched with night vision gear—also being worn by the attacking force—as the would-be attacking group made its way slowly toward the main ranch house. 

When they were about halfway from the car park to the house, Bruce shook his head.  “These guys all seem to move like military.  Sure hope they aren’t our guys, but I’ve a feeling they are.”

Dusty, also on Jim and Holly’s veranda with Bruce and Holly, nodded.  “Yeah, I’d bet they’re military.  We gonna give ‘em a chance to give up, Bruce?”

“Oh, sure.  But one chance only…then we take them out.  You see the one guy holding way back, just above the car park?”

Boris answered, “Yes…and I can tell you who it is.  A former Stassi officer—not too bad at his job by the way…but a butcher.  Name’s Hans Fugleman.”

Just as Bruce was about to reply, he grunted, “Damn and damn.  I know one of those guys.  Okay, I’ve a feeling they have been told some crock of crap.  Let’s do everything we can to capture rather than kill.  Okay, folks, off with our vision gear—I’m gonna turn the lights on down there.”

Everyone who belonged on the ranch soon had their night vision gear taken off, so they wouldn’t be blinded when Bruce put on the several banks of spotlights, as well as other lights to light up the area where the intruders were.  When he did toss the switch for the various lights, the men with Fugleman were instantly blinded.  They were quickly ripping off their own night vision gear.  Fugleman, further back, was also blinded, but not to the extent of his men.  In no time he had his own gear removed.  His sight came back to him much faster than the others.

There was a speaker system in the middle of where the attackers were.  Bruce growled into the microphone attached to it, “Freeze.  You are in the middle of a claymore mine field.  I push the remote button controlling it…you’ll all die where you stand.  Sleepy Houser, this is Sergeant Major Edmonds—now retired—and with CIA.  Tell your friends they best do as told.  I don’t know what you’ve all been told about the man you’ve come to kill, but it was a load of horseshit.  Fugleman, the man who brought you here, is, as I speak, headed down the embankment where he stood to the cars below.  I’m sure by the time you all regain full use of your eyes, you will realize he’s gone.”

Hans Fugleman heard little of what was being said, because as soon as the lights came on, he knew the frontal attack was now ruined.  He opted to flee while he could.  As soon as he got down to the cars, he got in one, made a fast U-turn, then headed back to Billings, with no thought about the men he was leaving behind.

The man furtherest from the house, in just a bit less light, laid down his weapon.  He turned just in time to see the car making the U-turn.  He shouted out, “Damned Schneider just split guys—or whatever in the hell his name is.”

Sleepy Houser, a retired Army Special Forces First Sergeant, raised his voice to be heard by all, “Hey, guys, Sergeant Major Edmonds is cool—he taught me everything I know.”

Those two reports soon had the entire attack team putting their weapons on the ground very gently.  A few had looked over their surroundings carefully.  Some had spotted a few of the claymore mines.  They reported the fact even as they put their weapons down.  When all the weapons were on the ground, Bruce muttered, “Okay guys…good move.  We could tell by your movements all or most of you were military.  I sure didn’t want to kill any of my own.  I can only guess what load of crap Fugleman passed out to you, but the guy you came to kill is named Jim Scott, in case you weren’t given his name.  He’s a retired Marine Major…also former CIA.  He’s a billionaire—that’s billionaire, with a ‘bee.’  Best damn guy I ever worked with—sorry about that, Sleepy.  But this guy is the top of the line…one hundred percent loyal to the flag.”

Sleepy nodded, “Your word is good enough for me, Sergeant Major.”

 

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Billy's Rescue, Book #7 of the Asps Series - Billy scores.

Today’s excerpt is from Billy’s Rescue, Book #7 of the nine-book Asps Series.  Not satisfied with just escape, Billy leaves a deadly calling card.  Enjoy and have a wonderful day.

m.j.

 

While those three hurried to catch up, and the rest of the team moved forward, Billy found what he was looking for.  In addition to a clear shot at one of his pin-less hand grenades, he had also been looking for a convenient place to duck down.  The spot he found had a mini-outcropping, above the one he was on.  He settled in, took careful aim, then squeezed off his shot.  As soon as the gun fired, Billy rolled down to the smaller outcropping.  Even as he went, the shot had hit just above the grenade, but caused it to move enough for the lever to spring free.  When the grenade went off, it set off a chain reaction of explosives in the cave—including the other grenades—to cause a horrendous explosion within seconds of Billy’s shot.  All the terrorists Billy had seen died instantly.  The cave curved around in the general direction Billy had gone.  Around the first bend of the curve were nearly eighty more terrorists Billy hadn’t seen.  They too died almost instantly.  The cave and tunnel leading from it went for a few miles.  For nearly a mile of the distance, the tunnel was blackened, with the sound of the explosion traveling on down the tunnel for miles.

 

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