Philippe

No, …just cold 🥶…as ice; like the hearts to the passengers invited aboard. 😁

Natalie, Opehia, and Leo, belong on that same sinking ship that sets sail with Ian and Amanda on board. I’m willing to spare Carlos as a long victimized son that might still have a chance once the manipulation has ended. Quick everyone, load up, as the whole lot has been exposed for high crimes; some neck stretching is possibly in the works. Step abroad, step abroad, welcome to the new and improved and unsinkable Titanic II.

A deadbolt or locking door knob needs to be installed on Leon’s door, as Stephen doesn’t need that visualization until he starts to recall more naturally as a minimum; and even that needs to be after some basic cleaning is done in there. The detectives were pushy but that’s their job to investigate, however, as guardian/parents I would have prohibited that questioning until approved by the doctor and a nurse was available as the vitals were tracked. A kid in shock and/or mentally blocking that type of traumatic experience is unpredictable. A known sex offender, outside his state/travel area without parole officer knowledge, in a prohibited area restricted by his parole conditions, caught with his pants down…literally, should allow for a little more patience in questioning a victim for guilt, when the neighbors, parents, and friend all gave collaborating statements that Stephen had only been there a couple of minutes. He obviously could not have staged the event or had anything to do with it other than the facts showing he witnessed a heinous crime against his brother, in their own house, and defended Leon and himself rightfully. Those facts from the detectives notepad and the EMT statements are sufficient for self defense against a sexual predator. Argh 😠 where has common sense and deductive reasoning gone when a 13 years old boy has to be automatically treated as a suspect for self defense from a house invasion with your brother found tied down and stripped, with bleeding head trauma? Don’t victimize the victims further applying standardized guidelines that don’t have common sense and higher thinking compassion. The perpetrator and the victims were all present, there were no missing parties, so all the pieces of the puzzle were readily available. They should be more focused on the fake identity and how the parole jumping predator came about those IDs and travel means; they have to alert the authorities back were Mark started his crime filled day. 🤦‍♂️ But Sgt Smart and his sidekick think it more important to question the defending victim about how he might be guilty of something while still in shock and damn near having a heart attack at 13.

This story is in the police workplace setting so it’s expected. Besides, some procedures are somewhat universal, across police and military forces. But as mentioned, there may be specialized forces or teams that allow better training or currency than expecting to train a universally reassignable policeman; that’s just not realistic, equipment and even tactics change with specific teams/forces and even that was covered in the dialogue. I’m really enjoying all aspects of this story.

In this case, shrinkage is good 😊

🎶 He was a no eyed, no horn, dying, purple penis eater. 🎶 Lost his sight, lost his mind, then his lost his precious dong, First no eyes 😜, then lost his balls, now his tongue is gone, Blinded in life, now in death, a spooky ghost this pervert be, Wandering in a purgatory hell, no brain nor dick to pee. Follow the light, not for thee, welcome to Georgia Uncle Mark, Meet Stephen, your youngest nephew, the one with a Glock. 🎶 He was a no eyed, no horn, dying, purple penis eater. 🎶

Ian proves once again to be the devil in plain sight. Ian, Amanda, and Natalie are admittedly the main culprits for Mia’s demise, but while Leo acts like Ian is the devil on a whole different level, he too is admittedly a willing accomplice to the crime of murder for Mia, assault with Gael, and needless to say tampering with evidence, and interference with a police investigation, etc. So Leo is no different, just doesn’t have the blood stains himself.

I’m hoping that on the journey back to the evil Bitchdom that in the witches gloating arrogance Gabriel became aware of even more deceit and went all aggro beast; catching the Head Bitch and minions off guard enough to take them down completely or at least enough that once again their powers are waning under the strain of defending themselves and the siphoning of shifter energies being reduced with the appearance of Ray. Of course, no battle is without casualties, but hopefully Gabriel didn’t suffer too much. As to why his whereabouts and that of the Bitchnappers is unknown, I’m hoping that the ancients have helped mask and heal the champion True Mate of Ray. How is that for the imagination of where this story world can take us? Haha 🤣, I have a great imagination.

I thought he was dead balls on! 😂

Stephen to Mark: blow you? Nah, let’s play Wiffle Balls, that’ll blow your mind!

Having to use force to defend yourself or a loved one, or even an unknown victim is a shock, then once the adrenaline wears off the brain tries to process the events, each and every sequence. If recall is not blocked, then sometimes the brain gives us vivid slow motion recall or a temporal distortion of time. Stephen may have even been experiencing some snippets of recall as he was keeping his vigil of his target, formerly known as Uncle Mark. Those motions may have been very real to Stephen but the time may have been distorted; So Uncle Mark got the extra special introduction to his nephew Stephen. He was indeed a mark, as he experienced what the disfigured Stephen could do with his un-uniform eye alignment. Which webbed or nonwebbed finger Stephen used to pull the trigger sure gave it to Mark; like a pro assassin, Stephen protected his brother Leon. Now it appears there may be two teens in that counseling session Leon requested.

I sensed the reservations Tony had about the questions for a video interview, but surrounded by friends, he took comfort even told Guy would be his producer for that project. It’s very encouraging news for both the Nathan’s Rescue Project and for the Sand Castle House offer. Hopefully the remaining day serves up as well. Hmmm 🤔, camping out with a seventeen year old lawn boy…I hope this heart can handle what’s cumming, ahem, coming.

The sales pitch is a tough thing to understand. Obliviously they think it to their advantage, but is it to protect them from losing his talents and skills to competition, or is it to fleece him from royalties and ownership rights? Maybe that director spot with exclusive rights to his plans as long as they show growth in sales for each of those plans; so it’s leasing them more than transferring ownership. Their own pitch using sales logic puts them in a bind to not accept growth as the basis of it being a good deal for both. But should growth not be sustained for whatever performance window is to be used, then full ownership rights revert to David.

As for the girls, both could be called bad ass, just that for one it’s a pronoun and for the other a complimentary adjective…I think, as english mapping is not my favorite pastime. 😂

A trap or an opportunity? Mia was obviously being tracked, followed, or used. It appears she was sincere and gave no indication that she suspected or thought she would be dead before leaving that hotel room. Though the liquor doesn’t boast of resolution, it does seem to be within character. Those officers may very well be the same people that just staged the scene but are likely friendly to Ian’s money just in case any snafus occurred in the setup. But is it unexpected that the first officer commanded show us your hands, but then another would enter the scene and command “drp the weapon” when Gael no longer even had it in is hand as he had dropped it before the door even crashed open. Why would Gael agree to such a setup? If goin to confess, I can meet you at a lawyers office or the police station, but why a hotel room when you have already said you’ll confess? Likewise it seems too coincidental that Alex was unreachable, so did he really need to go right then? Alex may still be in the meeting or he could be facing his own set of challenges. Hopefully, Sam had the observation coverage on Gael, and Alex too, to know what has happened, even if his local men have been incapacitated at the time. Wow, what a vile creature Ian truly is. Raping his best friend’s wife because he felt it his right after being betraying by his love…huh? Amanda enjoying that Ian killed the man that likewise shunned her love. Well Natalie, you sure know how to pick your mentors. Please, please, Sam/Alex, say you have a plan that didn’t involve Mia’s death. Is she truly death or is this a double trap setup, where Mia too has been drugged and staged by friendlies that replaced the hit team? As Ian’s corrupt police try to “process” Gael for Ian to give a special send off after baiting Alex to his rescue. Strategically place officers could easily keep Mia stage drugged until she is in hiding… hmmm 🤔??? So so many possibilities here. OBJECT: IAN TAKE DOWN WITH PLENTY OF CONVINCING EVIDENCE, NO PLEA DEALS FOR IAN, AMANDA, OR NATALIE.

Maybe a good rub down to soothe that hard muscle…ahem…those hard muscles.

That’s not a weed whacker, that’s a tallywhacker…the best multipurpose tool around!

So the collusion between Ian, Natalie, and Amanda is now known; they’ve been working together for sure. All along they preached their high and mighty mantra, while in reality they have known well and good just how high and mighty their crimes are. Mia is a question mark. On the one hand you want to believe her, that she’s not with Ian in his war. However, she’s been living the lies herself for many years; even forsaking her own son. Just how much of the truth about Natalie and Ian does she know? Is she really really to put an end to Ian’s reign to terror or does she real just want to save her own bacon and live her fake green life next to Ian. Or even worse, is she still hiding her own history that Ian is blackmailing her into being his pawn? Could this be what Sam is sensing? The Sandoval household is a snake pit! I think Carlos will stay true, especially if Sam starts to disclose the insights he has, but his reluctance may be withheld for a reason. Carlos and Mia or still possibly Ian pawns and need watching for staying the course. Hopefully Sam has Gael and Alex warned of his Mia doubts as they are targets for sure.

AMEN

I’m glad you emphasized the talents and appreciation that the author has given the readers @drsawzall. My comments are not to dismiss any talent or efforts in writing this story, and I enjoyed it until the cliffhanger of the shooting. But in reality it wasn’t a cliffhanger but tragic recounting, where you get to relive the loss again and mourn in sympathetic emotions…nope, not for me, past 23. However, I’m also glad to hear that we won’t be reading any more stories along this journey of killing the beloved and brightest star within the story; such a series or style would not be my desire nor pursued to only be slammed with a tragic and depressing ending. I can get plenty of that in the headlines of world news any day. But I understand that’s just my opinion, but I also wanted to be honest. So please accept my comments as just my personal opinion and feedback, it’s not an attack or meant to belittle your talents @Josh Aterovis, as your writing and the mystery unfolding was a good journey until chapter 23. 🤣 Ironically, I wish I had never read the epilogue. At least the possibility of Aidan pulling through, even after Will’s depression and losses convinced him that Aidan was already gone, would have been like a soap opera season finale where the next chapter shows Aidan propping up in the hospital bed saying “I’m not dead yet!”

I’m imagining that if any art continues at all, it will reflect rather darkly and may have very limited interest. Hey, anyone want this portrait of the screaming boy reaching out from a murky pond as if to grab and pull you in? Or how about this, one where it appears as if you’re affectionately holding a wounded young man in his final moments, as the black abyss strips him from your grasp?

Yup, me too. It’s naturally a darker story with murder and suicide in the forefront. Yet the one true light that pulled Will through it all was Aidan. Now the ending snuffs that light and we’re too believe after: loosing his best friend, getting raped by his best friend, multiple suicide attempts, multiple murders associated with him, being duped into supporting the murderer, loosing his father before acceptance in differences and then watching his husband’s life fade as he held him, that somehow he is now in control? Will would be depressed and suppressing severe survivor guilt that Aidan gave his bright and cheerful life to save his miserable soul. His suicidal thoughts would be rocketing and saving himself for Aidan’s sake wouldn’t be within his grasp; he would be mad as hell at Aidan for his foolish actions of continuing to investigate and then sacrificing himself (his option, not mine). No, I can’t accept this dark mystery ending that suddenly gives Will more sanity than he has display throughout the story…sorry, it doesn’t fit. As well as it disqualifies the young Killian character that many of us were glad to see reappear. He enters as a hero that saved a friend versus a hack that could be charged with obstruction and possibly involuntary manslaughter of multiple people/counts. It also removes him from any believable reappearance of other mystery investigations and it would be a probable separation of Killian and Asher should any mystery be investigated by Killian ever again, if that’s to be believed. Nope, too many mismatches for me; the enjoyable light faded with Aidan, as he is needed to make a mentally surviving Will exist. I just don’t see Will wanting to survive without Aidan, in the context of getting past these tragic events of those terrible two days.

I’m not sure that Lyn hates Alexander, but he is distracting to Brad, of which Lyn fantasizes constantly and Alexander just doesn’t fit into those “if only he was gay, fantasies.” So it’s not traditional jealousy but yet it is “his Brad.”

You guys are all giving up before anyone qualified and rational pronouncing Aidan dead. Nope, I still believe in there only being only one possible death this morning, and that would be Caitlin as Will hit her again and again…because she deserved it! 😈 From the Prologue we hear from Will’s mind, the voice of Joey, then what I believe to be the two witnesses from the pool house. Perhaps both Aidan and Caitlin will live, but please oh please EMS, save Aidan first. Let the bludgeoned bitter bitch suffer as she doesn’t need to plan after recovery activities anyway.