Hi everybody! I know I promised to do an entry on writing advice I usually take, but I've had quite an active week. I signed a contract with Whiskey Creek Press to publish Splinter, the sci-fi apocolyptic novel I wrote for National Novel Writing Month in 2010, I had an author interview at Realmantic Moments, and I wrote 6 chapters for Move, my mystery novel-in-progress. I also had a meeting yesterday and wound out behind the computer a lot today catching up on things, and frankly, my wrist hurts. It actually locked up on me at one point before I left work - scary. It passed and I'm ok, but I think it's best that I don't push my luck too much.
I did want to blog, though, so I decided to offer you another excerpt from Move. I hope you enjoy it - and don't worry, I will give you that writing advice in an entry in the near future. But for now, enjoy more of my novel in progress and this song, which I believe sums up how Ruby Josen, my protagonist, is feeling about life.
Happy Friday!
Chapter 19
“Cheyenne, is now a good time to talk?” Ruby asked, poking her head around Cheyenne’s office door.
Cheyenne picked up the clock on her desk that read five o’clock in bright red numbers.“Is the office locked up?”
“I locked the office. I believe the intern is still in the graphics room printing materials for tomorrow’s meetings, but she can get out when she needs to.”
“Very well,” Cheyenne said, waving to the chair across from her desk. “Have a seat.”
Ruby sat. “I’ll get right to the point. Denise called me last night and said you were telling everybody that hair clip they found at Detective Wesson’s murder scene is mine.”
Cheyenne set her jaw. “I don’t recall ever saying that.”
“Detective Barnes called me an hour later and said the same thing Denise told me. She said you called her Monday evening and told her I was wearing a hair clip just like that Friday at work.”
“Well, Denise told her it was my hair clip.”
“Denise said you had a hair clip like that. There’s a difference between saying someone had a clip like that and that they were wearing one found at a murder scene later that evening.” Ruby paused. “Why would you do that, Cheyenne? Why would you try to get me in trouble with a detective investigating two murders?”
“Because you were wearing that clip Friday.”
“Really? Because I looked through my entire apartment and I didn’t find it.”
“Well, of course you wouldn’t if it were left somewhere else.”
“Why are you doing this?
“Doing what?”
“Trying to get me in trouble? I don’t understand. What did I ever do to you?”
Cheyenne stared out the window but didn’t comment.
“Cheyenne, we used to get along so well. You even offered me a reference for the executive secretary position last winter.”
“I never …”
“Yes you did, Cheyenne, yes you did. Then Millie got the job and you changed. You turned cold toward me and I don’t understand why. What happened? Did Millie turn you against me?”
“I knew it!” Cheyenne said, jumping from her chair. “You resented her because she beat you out of the job. I knew …”
“You don’t know anything!” Ruby shouted, jumping from her chair. “And I obviously don’t know you. What’s happened to you Cheyenne? You’ve been so bitter the past few months. Ever since …” She paused. “Your husband left.”
“How dare you,” Cheyenne screamed. “How dare you pass judgment on me.”
“You’re the one trying to throw me under the bus in a murder investigation. You never answered my question. Why did you tell Detective Wesson that Swiss Army Knife was mine? Why did you tell Detective Barnes the hair clip was mine? Why Cheyenne? Why are you acting like this?”
“Because I have to tell them something or I’ll be the prime suspect!”
Ruby stared at Cheyenne. “So you get them off your case by putting them on mine. Some friend you are.”
“We were never friends, Ruby. Get that right. You’re my employee. And you’d better get yourself straight, or you won’t be anymore.”
“Is that a threat?”
Cheyenne leaned her arms on her desk. “That’s me saying outright that you haven’t been the same since we hired Millie for the executive secretary position last winter. The quality of your work has declined and you’ve done nothing but whine and complain ever since she came to work here. I know you resented being beat out of that job, but grow up, Ruby. This is reality and we don’t always get what we want. A lot of life is taking the hand you’re dealt and doing the best you can with it. I suggest you do that, or it might not go well for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ruby asked, leaning on the desk and matching Cheyenne’s stare.
“You and Denise quit pointing the finger at me, and I’ll quit pointing the finger at you. Simple as that.” Cheyenne pulled herself up straight. “And you might even keep your job, if you stop being a thorn in my side.”
“I’m being a thorn? What have you been?”
Cheyenne smiled bitterly. “What I have to be to survive.” She looked at her clock. “I have to pick up my son. We’re done here. Get out of my office and get your attitude right before you come in here tomorrow. Am I clear?”
Ruby stood.“Explicitly,” she said, storming out of the office, knowing what she had to do next.
Poor Ruby! This is probably what she played on her iPod next:
I did want to blog, though, so I decided to offer you another excerpt from Move. I hope you enjoy it - and don't worry, I will give you that writing advice in an entry in the near future. But for now, enjoy more of my novel in progress and this song, which I believe sums up how Ruby Josen, my protagonist, is feeling about life.
Happy Friday!
Chapter 19
“Cheyenne, is now a good time to talk?” Ruby asked, poking her head around Cheyenne’s office door.
Cheyenne picked up the clock on her desk that read five o’clock in bright red numbers.“Is the office locked up?”
“I locked the office. I believe the intern is still in the graphics room printing materials for tomorrow’s meetings, but she can get out when she needs to.”
“Very well,” Cheyenne said, waving to the chair across from her desk. “Have a seat.”
Ruby sat. “I’ll get right to the point. Denise called me last night and said you were telling everybody that hair clip they found at Detective Wesson’s murder scene is mine.”
Cheyenne set her jaw. “I don’t recall ever saying that.”
“Detective Barnes called me an hour later and said the same thing Denise told me. She said you called her Monday evening and told her I was wearing a hair clip just like that Friday at work.”
“Well, Denise told her it was my hair clip.”
“Denise said you had a hair clip like that. There’s a difference between saying someone had a clip like that and that they were wearing one found at a murder scene later that evening.” Ruby paused. “Why would you do that, Cheyenne? Why would you try to get me in trouble with a detective investigating two murders?”
“Because you were wearing that clip Friday.”
“Really? Because I looked through my entire apartment and I didn’t find it.”
“Well, of course you wouldn’t if it were left somewhere else.”
“Why are you doing this?
“Doing what?”
“Trying to get me in trouble? I don’t understand. What did I ever do to you?”
Cheyenne stared out the window but didn’t comment.
“Cheyenne, we used to get along so well. You even offered me a reference for the executive secretary position last winter.”
“I never …”
“Yes you did, Cheyenne, yes you did. Then Millie got the job and you changed. You turned cold toward me and I don’t understand why. What happened? Did Millie turn you against me?”
“I knew it!” Cheyenne said, jumping from her chair. “You resented her because she beat you out of the job. I knew …”
“You don’t know anything!” Ruby shouted, jumping from her chair. “And I obviously don’t know you. What’s happened to you Cheyenne? You’ve been so bitter the past few months. Ever since …” She paused. “Your husband left.”
“How dare you,” Cheyenne screamed. “How dare you pass judgment on me.”
“You’re the one trying to throw me under the bus in a murder investigation. You never answered my question. Why did you tell Detective Wesson that Swiss Army Knife was mine? Why did you tell Detective Barnes the hair clip was mine? Why Cheyenne? Why are you acting like this?”
“Because I have to tell them something or I’ll be the prime suspect!”
Ruby stared at Cheyenne. “So you get them off your case by putting them on mine. Some friend you are.”
“We were never friends, Ruby. Get that right. You’re my employee. And you’d better get yourself straight, or you won’t be anymore.”
“Is that a threat?”
Cheyenne leaned her arms on her desk. “That’s me saying outright that you haven’t been the same since we hired Millie for the executive secretary position last winter. The quality of your work has declined and you’ve done nothing but whine and complain ever since she came to work here. I know you resented being beat out of that job, but grow up, Ruby. This is reality and we don’t always get what we want. A lot of life is taking the hand you’re dealt and doing the best you can with it. I suggest you do that, or it might not go well for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ruby asked, leaning on the desk and matching Cheyenne’s stare.
“You and Denise quit pointing the finger at me, and I’ll quit pointing the finger at you. Simple as that.” Cheyenne pulled herself up straight. “And you might even keep your job, if you stop being a thorn in my side.”
“I’m being a thorn? What have you been?”
Cheyenne smiled bitterly. “What I have to be to survive.” She looked at her clock. “I have to pick up my son. We’re done here. Get out of my office and get your attitude right before you come in here tomorrow. Am I clear?”
Ruby stood.“Explicitly,” she said, storming out of the office, knowing what she had to do next.
Poor Ruby! This is probably what she played on her iPod next:
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