Sunday Snippet: Gotta Make a Living

We definitely had a hot week and I'm so glad I got rid of most of the yucky upper respiratory crud. We're due for some major storms later today so that should be interesting.

I'm still not quite caught up on my work projects but I'm making headway. Thankfully none of them have red line due dates. I did manage to finish a proofread and will be sending it on its merry way later today. I still have another proofread and a copy edit to work on this week.

Had an almost nonexistent viewing week. Between playing catch up on my work projects and still being kind of bleh, I stuck with my comfort viewing of Perry Mason and Midsomer Murders. I did work in a few binge episodes of Death in Paradise on regular television.

That said, I did start the new season of My Life Is Murder and I'm loving the premiere episode so far. So nice to have Alexa and Madison back!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Gotta Make a Living, a novella with a sexy noir vibe.

Here's the miniblurb:

Niles finds Claire standing over a dead body and can't decide if he should call the cops or haul her into his arms. Claire makes the choice easy by asking him if he sees any smoking guns. They decide they better work together to find the killer before Claire is framed for a murder she didn't commit.

And a preview snippet…

Claire entered through C&P's private executive alcove and took the elevator up to the corporate office suite. The need to put this case in the done column meant she called Conrad as soon as she walked in her door. She didn't even get a chance to change out of her tarty clothing before Conrad insisted she bring the file.

Rolling her eyes, she sighed. "Should have waited until I'd changed into something more comfortable." But he sounded almost desperate to see the information.

The lift slowed to a stop, and a creepy feeling assailed her when she got out. But she chalked it up to being in the building so late. She always had an uneasy feeling when she had to meet her clients under clandestine circumstances.

Conrad's office door had been left open a crack. Clair nudged it and entered the room. She found the desk lamp on but the chair empty and turned at an odd angle.

Frowning, she resisted the urge to flip the switch for the overhead lights. "He might not want anyone to know we're meeting." Hell, she didn't really want anyone to know.

Creeping further inside the space, she almost tripped over a body. Glancing downward, she barely smothered a gasp. Shit. Conrad!

She had no idea if the killer remained or not. She stooped down, dreading the thought of touching Conrad, but needing to get a general idea of how long he'd been dead. She reached out, her hand trembling, but the elevator pinged again.

Thinking quickly, she beat a hasty retreat behind the door. The killer could be coming back or trying to leave. Or it could be the cleaning people. Whoever … she didn't want to get caught.

Trying not to breathe too heavily, she cursed leaving her gun behind in her haste to give Pesterman the file. Her purse would have to do as a makeshift weapon. Wouldn't be the first time she'd used that tactic.

A man entered, wearing a trench coat and fedora, his gaze scanning the room. Claire had to move now, before he discovered her. She raised her arm, intent on slugging him in the face from behind, but he spun and blocked her, jerking her forward. The momentum carried her past him and into the wall next to the door jamb.

Well, damn. Definitely didn't anticipate his quick reflexes.

His voice rumbled from behind her. "What are you doing here?" His hand flattened against her shoulder blades, keeping her pushed forward.

Considering she only caught a glimpse of a face she might have recognized, she stayed silent for the moment. She needed a hot minute before she figured out how to handle this dilemma. And she'd rather not do it smooshed up against the wall.

Not a great position to be in.

I love writing this story! Claire and Niles are fun characters and weaving in some noir-type vibes is a favorite thing of mine.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye