Chapter Twenty-Two: The Dress Rehearsal for Chaos
The return to the Merrick manor was a study in thermal shock.
The air in Finn’s truck still smelled of Aunt Jenny-Lynn’s bread-and-butter pickles, Steve’s electric-blue optimism, and the lingering warmth of a family that fought with its whole chest. But as they crested the hill and the wrought-iron gates of the Manor swallowed them, the temperature dropped ten degrees. It wasn’t just the cool evening air; it was the psychic chill of th
Thank you for your message, and I apologize for the offense caused. My intent was to describe disorganized data, but I now understand how using 'schizophrenic' in that context is harmful and perpetuates stigma. I have revised the chapter and will be more mindful in the future.
I appreciate you bringing this to my attention.
Carter's Echo:
In the summer of 2001
Andrew Highmore's world has shattered. His boyfriend is gone, a traumatized teen is hiding in his guest room, and a violent threat from his past is circling his home. To protect his makeshift family, the gentle law student must become the ruthless strategist his father once was, forging a dangerous alliance to dismantle an empire of hate—one bolt and one secret at a time.
Chapter 25: The Fairy Tale Offensive
Location: The Spirit of Detroit (Campaign Plane), En Route to Orlando, FL. Time: 14:00 EST. Status: The Pivot.
The conference cabin of the campaign plane had become a digital den of chaos. On the left monitor, a Fox News pundit—a man with a face perpetually clenched as if smelling something foul—was mid-rant. The chyron beneath him screamed: FAMILY VALUES UNDER FIRE: CARTER’S “MODERN FAMILY” A DIRECT ASSAULT ON TRADITION.
On the right mon
so what you guys don't know is that Axl was originally going to be who I paired Finn up with, before I thought Oliver, and then Orel kind of grabbed my hand and dragged me, willingly, down the path of the story we have.
Trying to pair Finn up was... HARD there are like, seven drafts of this.
here is Tarquin from the third draft of the story:
A subject for a much younger Andrew to investigate when he goes after the Northern Cross, Alistair Merrick, and the Montreal Pipeline.
I haven't forgotten her, I just haven't developed her beyond knowing she's key to that plotline.
I must admit I quite enjoyed writing Echo, it's fascinating to see a character I have written about for so long (over twenty years) have an origin point.
Sorry I have enjoyed my day off today... getting warm again after getting drenched in Warwick (not as fun as it sounds) so I am enjoying hanging in the comments section, doing ma thang.
Well Kenny's already found that the documents surrounding the sale were forged, Orel did not sign them. Tarquin is in for a LOT of trouble when that comes out. Now just to get it to the right people... hmmmmmmm.... :: insert Heist music ::
And we are never going to mention that there are three different Jason Jensens in the series, in three different settings, of three different ages... shhhhhhhh totally a common name. Don't know what you mean
Note again, sometimes in the text I make mistakes... ages, eye colours... who's uncle to who... sorry for the confusion, I do try to keep it all straight, but this is a 20 year old book series with upwards of a million plus words... and I am old.... did I mention old? So Doc's right, I try to post clean ups that are for my sanity.