C James

Oh no you don't! We all know it was your fault, because everything is! Graeme, blame Shdowgod, he did it!!! Why? Wouldn't it have made a perfect ending?

Authors who use cliffhanger are definitly evil. Looking forward to chapter 4!

Unless you developed the headache while reading the chapter, I hear by, now and forever, deny any responsibility for said headache. Seriously though, i hope you feel better soon. Hmmmm... You expected the mother to react to the news of her son and Chris becoming boyfriends by sending them to Chris' apartment, implying that they would have sex, and be accepting enough to tease her son about it? What did I do in prior chapters that would indicate that she had that open an attitude? Gay accepting, yes, but sexually permissive? Granted, you do have a good point: there was a great deal of "wrapping up" here, and this is were where I intended to answer some of the questions that the prior chapters raised. Steve's freinds play a major role soon, but aside from that, I can't really say much (your spines, again!) There will be new arcs to the story, some beginning very soon. This isn't a one-issue-at-a-time story. :ranger: Thanks!!!! The "peace at last" line was my favorite of the chapter. Well, now you know why I was vauge in chapter 3 regarding Steve's plans. So, did anyone think they were going to hang him? The chapter title, "necktie party", kind of hinted at that. Rat bastard?!?! Demon seed?!?!?!? Hmmm, Poor misunderstood Eric. I'm sure he's going to have a nice heart-to-heart chat with his folks, be made to understand the error of his ways, and will be a perfect angel from now on, and keep his mouth shut at school. I'm still undecided on whether there will be another chapter or not. All I can say for sure is that it will be online this coming Tuesday. Or maybe Tuesday... Could sweet, innocent Eric do such a thing? Graeme, there is no actual tape: it's a digital recorder. Take a look at this for an idea of the type. That one in the link has eight hours of recording capability, plus the ability to port into a computer via the USB port. I'll give one spoiler: Either the recorder is now gone from the story, or it isn't. What? Me, comment? I never comment! ( lurker here, remember!). So put those evil spines away!!

Major scandal in the making! I like where this is heading, and the "insider feel" is spot on. The scandal itself is well-crafted, and all too realistic. One comment I'd very much like to make here: I love the very realistic way that interactions between opposing political operatives is portrayed: usually collegial, rather than adversarial. This is definitly true in most cases, and it really "clicks" with me.

The politics have a great deal of depth and detail, which I really love. I very much like the intermixing of real and fictional references; it makes the whole "atmosphere" very believable to me. I also liked the architectural references related to the building in Chicago.

Thank you Jack!! However, I really don't see why everyone is so down on poor, misunderstood Eric. Maybe he was just trying to show how much he cared? Ahh yes! Now that they are finally together, alone, mostly undressed, and horny, and they have all night, it makes the start of the next chapter so easy! Heh, actually I made up the "locked the door" part for that other post.

See? I knew you were evil! OK, speaking of evil, what did everyone think of that waitress? Yeesh!! Steve called her "The Nazi Waitress" and I have to agree! What a monster! I'm sure she won't be seeing any tips any time soon!

Hi Mirage! Very intriguing! Plenty of questions raised for the story to answer.

Thank you Rick!!!! I've been dying to see what people think of the "explanation", now that Chris has given his. Me? Evil? It's not my fault that you keep such odd hours. Have fun (as much as possible, anyway) at work. Don't work too hard!

Chapter 4 is up, and the title is "Necktie Party". Please let me know what you think, good or bad. :pickaxe:

Ahh, thanks! I've carried a camera bag that was kind of similar. I came close to losing that (left behind in any number of places) so many times it scared me to take it out of the suitcase. I am so glad that there are now decent digital cameras that are pocket-sized. LOL that's totally me! But I like the bag because I don't like to put anything in my pockets, at least not my front pockets. LOL basically if my pants are loose enough that I can easily put something in the front pocket, they're too loose! So I tend to keep my wallet, cell phone, and keys in one of the back pockets if I can, or else I tend to just carry them around and yeah I'm sure to put them down and walk off . LOL, when I was a teen it was so bad that my friends would joke that if I've been somewhere I've probably left my keys there. The bigger the object though the less likely I am to leave it mostly because 1) it's easier to see and notice when you get up/walk away and 2) I'll miss it sooner and 3) if I'm not visibly carrying it I know that I do need to go back (whereas with my keys for example I'd probably just assume they were in a pocket. LoL! I am not deterred by size when it comes to losing things. I lose jackets regularly. If I go to Phoenix (the nearest place with a large mall) I tend to lose my SUV on occasion, at least while I spend an hour walking around the parking lot trying to remember where I parked it. Generally, I drive most everywhere so I just leave things in the vehicle rather than carrying them around. Usually, I can be sure that I won't forget to take my vehicle with me. LoL. As for the pockets thing, I discovered the "cargo pockets" styles of shorts and pants a few years ago, and love 'em!

Thanks! Those are funny!!!!!!!!!

Don't feel bad. I nearly did something far worse. Just outside of Torquay (UK), heading southwest, there is a fork in the road with a sign point the way to Kingsbridge. The sign stands at the point of the fork, and has "Kingsbridge" at the top, and arrows pointing to BOTH forks of the road. It so confused me that I nearly drive right into that sign!

<cough>wallet <cough> (I thoguht most everyone kept them in there?) Sunglasses are indeed a must. Even moreso at high altitude where I live than in the desert, due to even higher UV. I am never without them (I'm even wearing them in my personal pic in my profile). What does it look like? A camera bag? I've never actually heard of ,or seen, what you are describing. Hmm, just did a google, and this page came up: Is that about right? I've packed less than that (though more clothes!) for a month-long trip to South America! Aside from clothes, I took a book, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, water, a comb, a razor, a Swiss army knife, a notepad and two pens, granola bars and sunblock. And that was all in one bag that stayed in my room, not being carried around with me every day. The main reason I usually don't carry around more than will fit in my pocket is that I soon wouldn't have it. I tend to put things down and forget them. I don't even wear a coat if I can avoid it because I'm always losing the things when I take them off.

Nope! I'm home and want to go away! The person below me hasn't had a vacation in far too long.

Hi Tracy!! That was indeed an evil cliffhanger!! Poor Matt!!! I totally agree with you about that Mosquito: Definitly Steve's fault! What ever happened? Hmmm, perhaps an evil writer came along to complicate things? I seriously never noticed! Hmmm, it does make me feel better though, to see that even you do that. Hmmmmm!! In Chapter one Jacob's Mom teases him about "which one are you looking at", which to me says she knows he is attracted to both males and females. His actions in this chapter and the last one sure seem to bear that out! So, he's attracted to both Matt and Valerie. Valerie is Matt's best freind. Clearly, Matt is not attracted to both males and females, otherwise something would have happened there long ago. Hmmm. So, I think Jacob will end up having to chose between Matt and Valerie, or maybe they will make the choice for him and nobody ends up together. Damn, this is REALLY complicated! Talk about a love triangle! ARGH!! My hunch is that Jacob and Matt don't get back together anytime soon, and in the interlude Jacob and Valerie become "serious" (if they haven't already, in that "diner incident". They did have to clean the seats...)

Thank you, I'm happy to help, but the real thanks go to Matthew for suggesting the way around a technical problem. I'm certianly looking foward to it! The realisim of the location, and the vividness of its description is especially good IMHO. Looking forward to Tuesday!

Don't worry Steve, It's all good things that we are keeping from you! (Pssst, guys, let me lul him into a false sense of security, and THEN we strike!! ) I most certainly agree! Well, providing you don't put vaseline on my hooves again, that would be.. Tuesday, Tuesday, or maybe even Tuesday. I haven't made up my mind yet... :wacko: (Goats confuse easily, ya know... ) Ahhh, College life. I remember it well. Though, there are plenty of blank spots in my memory due to doing a bit too much of the aforementioned partying.

Sorry for the double reply, but I had to split my reply due to being over the quote limit... Uhoh!!! That sounds like it is going to come back to haunt her!! Whoa, Fireworks ahead!!!!! Jacob and Valerie both have lightning wits, and this part in particualr is very cleverly written. I was really wondering how Valeie would take this revalation. I thoguht she would be jealous. I'm glad she's not. Ummm, if she's really not, that is. I also found this exchange absolutly hilarious! Ahhh! FINALLY we find out about the "incident" that prompted their move. I can certainly see why that would be embarrassing! Uhoh!!!!!!!!! This can only get... complicated! (understatement alert!). Jacob likes both Matt, and Valerie. This can only spell trouble. Poor Matt!!! Uhoh, again! This sounds like something is, ummm, building.... I love the teasing her about her driving, though! Well, now we know what Jacob meant when he said he was sure Valerie would "take care of it"!! Their first time, and it is in public, in a diner?!?!?! This is my favorite line so far!!! Poor Matt! And what a way to find out! I Hate that waitress! I hope she and Richard get married, they are made for each other! Wow, this was one hell of a ride, and certainly not what I was expecting!

Then why do Matt and Jacob both buy matching Yogos in the next chapter, right before joining a Yugo club? (uhoh! plot leak!!!) No, no, no! Far too subtle! CHAPTER 8 is UP!!!! It's a really big chapter in a lot of ways!

This story is really developing! Asher is still a mystery. What are his intentions? My guess is that he wants to work his way up the chain to find his brother, but I don't know. I wonder if he is evil, due to his considering David a pet? Great chapter, Darkshadow!!

Chapter 11: Excellently done! The whole kidnapping and movement-to-cover and them movement-to-refuge was fast paced, be detailed, and the plot was superb!! The plot really impressed me. Chapter 12 continued with the excellent plot, and I liked the re-working of the tracking data, and also the use of an IR-quipped drone (Predator, or Global Hawk?) for the initial recon. Chapter 13 was exciting, and well-executed. I liked the field craft being displayed by Dex: keeping to a more formal exchange with his client is wise on several fronts.

I'm coming in late here, but I'm well and truly hooked! I LOVE politics!!! I'll cover the last few chapters here. The online job aptitude test was intriguing!!! It added a lot of depth IMHO, plus made it interesting!

Nick, I have no idea why you would say that? The story came togeter, and the Muse was happy (and well fed).

Wow! Geat prologue, and what an evil cliffhanger!