The Throwbacks, Book 1 of The Scotland Yard Exchange Program Series

The Throwbacks, Excerpt # 34

Dear Readers, There will be one more excerpt after this, bringing us very close to the exciting climax of Grace and David's story.

What's even more exciting is that the entire novel will be available for sale in e-book form at Amazon, B&N and Smashwords within the next two days. I'll keep you posted. 

But don't buy it yet - I wouldn't want you, my faithful readers, to miss out on the Blow Out sale starting December 1st when The Throwbacks will be only $.99!

Read on:

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Chapter 16 

            “Noodles chased him off.  Let’s go upstairs and I’ll fill you in,” he said and was glad to be back in detective mode where he belonged and felt at home.  He’d worry about that being his singular identity later.  Some day.  When he could afford to take another look in a mirror without keeling over from horror.  They all walked up the stairs to Grace’s apartment.

            David sat with Grace on the couch.  Dan walked the three steps to the other side of the room and took a seat in the small chair.  Grace clenched Noodles to her chest, barely letting the small pooch room to breath.  David couldn’t stop himself from thinking the obvious—what a way to go.  If it weren’t for her sniffles and bowed head, he would have plunged into the details of the unfolding investigation right away.

            He put his arm around her, still wary about getting too close, but not heartless enough to ignore her pain.

            “Don’t worry Grace.  We’ll make sure you and Noodles have a place to stay first thing in the morning,” he said.

            “Why?  What’s going on?  And by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, it pretty much is first thing in the morning,” Dan said glancing out the window and pointed out at the emerging sunlight.

            “My landlord evicted me because Noodles woke everyone—but he was scaring the intruder away—weren’t you Noodles,” she said.  Then she looked up with her watery eyes.

            “Strictly speaking, I’m not supposed to have a Noodles in this apartment, so it’s better that we move.  We’ll be Okay.  It’s just that I’ve lived here for the last ten years.  Since I graduated college,” she looked at Dan and then turned to him.  His heart melted completely and whatever had been holding him back gave way.

            “I’ll arrange a mover to put your things in storage.  You can pack a bag of essentials for you and Noodles for now and we’ll book into the Parker House Hotel.  I know the manager there and he won’t mind Noodles at all.  We’ll get the two bedroom ‘Mayor Curley’ suite if it’s available. I’ll be staying with you until we lock up everyone involved in this case,” he said.  He watched her and didn’t give her a chance to say yes or no.  Then he looked at Dan who merely nodded his approval.

            “Sounds like a good plan for the duration.  I’m sorry to say, Grace, you’re a target and you will need the kind of protection David can provide,” Dan said as he leaned forward in the chair.

            “As for the case, any idea who intruder number two is – the mysterious man in the shower?  We haven’t had any luck with Arturo Diego giving us info.  He’s insisting on silence until he talks to his attorney, who will of course tell him to keep quiet,” Dan said to him, still leaning forward with his forearms across his knees and a frown on his face.