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Saturday, January 30, 2021

#WeWriWa - The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé: Vet Your Fiancé?

 Welcome to the Weekend Writing Warriors 

I'm sharing a snippet from the 2nd Alex O'Hara mystery novel, The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé. Alex is a P.I. in the small Lake Michigan resort town near Grand Rapids. This continues from last week. Some changes were made to the original.

Snippet:   

A flush of embarrassment flashed across her fine features. “Oh.” She recovered quickly but didn’t rise. “Maura Finley.”

Without further ado, I retreated behind my desk to Pop’s only splurge, a high-back, leather office chair. On days when I worked late, I appreciated the comfort. The Pops—mine and Nick’s—were the original O’Hara and Palzetti. Before they retired to Arizona, they’d sold the business to me, the only offspring who wanted it.

Before leaving work at night, I always left a pad of paper and a pen on top of my desk, just in case someone came early. First time it had been necessary. I picked up the pen before looking at Maura Finley. Even though I was in the middle of a major case and had another one waiting, I never turned down a prospective client. At least, not right away. I’d hear her out and then decide.

 For the rest of the scene:  

“What can I do for you?”

Her expression completely changed. The high-powered exec disappeared. In its place, caution and . . . vulnerability. “Ellen VanderVeen said I could trust you.”

I smiled. Ellen and I had been friends since college. The girl who had more fashion sense in her baby finger than I did in my entire body.

“Yes, I know Ellen.”

“She said you helped her investigate her fiancé.” When I nodded, she hesitated and appeared to rethink what she was doing in a private investigator’s office. Just as fast, she came to a conclusion. “I’d like you to do the same.”

“You want me to vet your fiancé?”

“He’s not my fiancé. Yet.”

When she didn’t explain any further, I asked, “Why? Do you suspect something?”

“No. Oh, goodness, no.” She pursed her lips before continuing. “My father left me a prosperous financial firm plus a sizeable inheritance. I am not saying that to brag but to explain my concerns. In my younger days, I was, uhm, taken advantage of. I need to be sure this man truly loves me—me, not my money.”


 Blurb:

She’s at it again. Alex O’Hara just can’t say no to a new investigation. What do a 45-year-old boyfriend, a deadbeat dad, and a teenage runaway have in common? All new cases. With no receptionist, phone and internet problems, and her own boyfriend in the wind, Alex has no idea how she’ll manage. But the question for the past three months is why did Nick disappear. Is this the end of O’Hara & Palzetti? 



Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ B&N ~ Smashwords


Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week!



22 comments:

  1. That makes sense. Sounds easy for Alex, but I wonder what she'll find out.

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  2. I have a friend like Alex's. She wakes up looking like a fashion plate. I wake up looking like a messy dinner plate - lol. Nice snippet.

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  3. Hmm - this could go very badly for her. But she is smart having her not-yet- fiance vetted.
    Tweeted

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  4. In my opinion, the prospective client has a good point, although setting a PI on her possible fiance is not perhaps the best start for a future happy marriage.

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    1. She's been burned before. Doesn't show trust, does it?

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  5. Maura has her own story to tell. I look forward to learning more.

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  6. I wonder if he'll turn out to be trustworthy?

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    1. When Alex checked out her friend Ellen's guy, he turned out to be exactly what he said. Maura is hoping for the same.

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  7. She doesn't strike me as very lovable, so she's probably right to be suspicious.

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  8. So far it all sounds nice and easy and routine but I bet there are significant plot twists ahead. I enjoyed the snippet and the way the client's emotions are all over the place.

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  9. Somehow I think this request isn't as mundane as it seems on the surface. A little too easy for the way this woman comports herself. Great snippet! Can't wait for more!

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  10. So far so good. I understand her concerns, but nonetheless, having a private investigator vet your boyfriend doesn't bode well for the future of the relationship.

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  11. She'll know for sure one way or another after she gets a report.

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