On the Brink

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http://www.amazon.com/EN-McNamara/e/B004C6DUU0

On The Brink

Book 4 in the Jamie Keller Mystery Series

Chapter One

Our Silver Saturn station-wagon had never been the same after our cross-country journey from Ohio to Oregon, but she was all we had besides the old truck and Jenny and I were grateful that mom had let us use the car for our audition. Mom's concern really wasn't about the car. She was more worried about us driving the 16 miles of winding highway from Rosemead to Promise at night. She had good reason. My older sister Jenny was at the helm, and in my book, driving with her was dangerous anytime - night or day. Only two more months and I would get my license. I could only hope to live that long.

"I just know we're gonna get the gig," Jenny said adjusting the mirror and managing to hit a few speed bumps in the process, "I feel it in my bones." Jenny righted the Saturn with a jerk.

"Eeegad. Watch it," I yelled, involuntarily bracing myself for the worst.

Jenny ignored me and continued with her assertions that our band, Waiting in the Wings would get the gig at the Blue Heron Inn in Rosemead. If we got the gig, it would be for three nights a week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The pay was the unbelievable amount of $300 a night. We were a trio. You can do the math. This would be life-changing money.

"I'm going to use every bit of my first nights pay on a shopping spree," Jenny said dreamily. She clearly wasn't the only one excited about our possible fortune.

I didn't know where Jenny got her confidence, but I suspected she'd gotten a big ol' heap of mine. Even if we did get the gig, how would we get there? Mom couldn't let us use the car three nights a week. She had her own obligations.

"Edgar said that he had a few other acts to check out," I reminded her.

But Jenny wouldn't hear any of it.

"Just wait," she predicted, "I bet you ten dollars that he'll call by Friday."

I prayed she was right. It would be so fabulous to have money. We had been living in the poor house ever since my dad was killed in Iraq. He and mom were so deeply in debt, that mom had to sell our house in Hamilton, Ohio and move my brother, two sisters and me, to my grandfathers farm in Promise, Oregon. My grandpa had left her the farm when he'd died a few years back, and the place was paid for. The trip across country was disastrous. Our mom went missing in Reno, Nevada, and we kids, fearing foster homes, were forced to drive the remainder of the way on our own. We did finally reunite with my mom, but before that glorious day we spent many hair-raising days of uncertainty, laying low on my grandpa's farm. I don't know what gave us the gumption. Our neighbors, the Sousas, saved the day during this trying time and since then have become the backbone of our family.

Grandpa's farm was off the grid, so we relied on Mr. Sousa, who knew tons about solar power, windmills, generators and gravity fed water, along with all the other stuff you need to know when you're not hooked up to the electric company. It was pretty weird at first but the whole family has learned how to deal with it. My younger brother, Jake takes care of most of these issues now. He grew up a lot after dad died - I guess we all did.

Anyway, we'd lived close to the bone for the last two years and it was getting old.

Mom had a job selling ad time at the local TV station in Rosemead and did her best to give us all the stuff we wanted, but by the time groceries were bought and bills were paid she didn't come close. That would be the first thing that I'd buy. If we got the gig at The Blue Heron, I could afford a car.

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⏰ Last updated: Dec 30, 2013 ⏰

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