Publication date: July 28th, 2022
Synopsis:
All in one day, thirty-five-year-old Hallie Marsh learns that the man she loves, works for, and is living with has found someone else--and that she no longer has a job, a place to live, or a car since she crashed it into a hedge. Her feelings of rage and desire for revenge are soon replaced by a fascination with her new neighbors--four peculiar, elderly people who decide to buy an old run-down estate, fix it up, and live in it "just like family."
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Excerpt
Jeff Darnell stumbled over several boxes and something unidentifiable in the dark as he tried to locate the ringing telephone. The awards dinner had gone on much later than expected the night before, and by the time he and Susan got back to the house, she was too tired to do any more unpacking. Cursing, Darnell finally managed to locate a light switch and turn it on. The phone was tangled on the floor under Susan's dress--the one he had bought for her to wear to the banquet.
"This is Vince Barnes," the voice said, "and I am interested in looking at the Braswell property you have listed."
Jeff had to use every bit of self-discipline contained in his forty-five-year-old athletic body to keep from sounding too eager. "There are some people from up north who are also looking at the property, Mr. Barnes," he lied, "but I'll see what I can do to work you in ahead of them." Jeff's eyes, now adjusted to the glaring light, paused on a clock in the vicinity of the large, king-size bed. It was 5:10 a.m. Jeff could feel himself salivate. He wasn't going to let this one get away. Barnes must really be interested or he wouldn't be calling so goddamn early. He postured himself for his next move. "Are you interested in buying the property for yourself or as an investment?"
The voice on the other end of the line mumbled something about an alliance. What in the hell is that thought Jeff. He postured himself one more time. "I shall be happy to pick you up, Mr. Barnes, and we can drive out there together," he said. "When did you want to go look at it?" Jeff liked to haul his clients around on the pretense of saving them the trouble. It helped to relax their defenses so he could find out the information he wanted without asking directly. Like where they currently lived, what kind of car they drove, how they dressed, were there kids, and if so, any in college, where they worked. And, the bottom line, how much money could he squeeze out of them. It was amazing how much people revealed about themselves without being asked. All he had to do was use his boyish smile and throw in enough personal crap, it didn't have to be true, to make him seem like a benevolent uncle instead of a piranha, and he would have all the information he needed to give him what he was looking for--that vulnerable spot.
"That won't be necessary," the voice answered. "I'll meet you there at seven o'clock Monday morning." And the line went dead.
Jeff hung up the receiver and stared at the sleek-line phone. That's all right, he thought to himself. I've dealt with tight-lipped bastards before. He crawled over some more boxes trying not to disturb Susan, not that she was a light sleeper anyway, and went over to his desk where he hauled out the telephone directory from a bottom drawer. There was no listing for a "Vince Barnes," but there were nine listings that had the letter "V" as the first or middle initial preceding the surname Barnes. It could have been any of them or none of them. Jeff shut the directory and shoved it back into the drawer. "Well, that's all right," he repeated, this time out loud. "There's plenty of time." He smiled confidently. He went over to the closed draperies and opened them partially so he could enjoy the early morning dawn. This was a live one. He could just feel it.
BARBARA CASEY is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency, established in 1995, representing authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014 Barbara became a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in true crime and other cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her three cats who adopted her.
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