Tag: drama

Categories
Fiction

The Last Bookstore (Furious Fiction)

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FURIOUS FICTION

A Bookstore like you never imagined – October 2019 Furious Fiction – Enjoy!

 

THE LAST BOOKSTORE

I glanced around the empty store on Thursday night and sighed, dropping my chin onto my hands. The back shelf had been broken for over a month, but it wasn’t worth the trip to the hardware store. Moving to the counter, I opened my emails on the out-dated computer that I preferred and clicked on the email from Martin Summers again.

–IT WOULD BE IN EVERYONE’S BEST INTEREST FOR YOU TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY ‘IVY’S BOOKSTORE’ TO ‘SUMMERS HOLDINGS’. FAILURE TO DO SO WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE FOR BOTH PARTIES.

Unfortunate? I scoffed. He’d been after my store for almost twelve months now, but I was the final holdout. I smiled at the thought of being the final bookstore owner keeping her doors open, like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.
I dropped my shoulders and a deep frown creased my already wrinkling forehead. This was the last bookstore left, and I wasn’t giving it up without a fight.

The bells on top of the front door jingled and I plastered a smile on my face for my first customer of the week. A young man in a black suit flew through the door, talking loudly through the tech implant in his ear.
“I told Dallas last week that his proposal was never going to be accepted. This is the new way of the world; if you don’t have the implant, you don’t get the high power jobs. He knows how we operate.”
The man looked over at me and tapped his ear twice, turning off his phone. He flashed an insincere smile and readjusted a backpack on his shoulder.
“Do you have something called ‘Sherlock Holmes’?”
I cleared my throat, trying not to laugh and cry at the same time, “It’s in the back corner with the mystery novels.”
He nodded and turned, “They don’t print on paper anymore, are you really the last bookstore?” He asked as he disappeared from view.
“I sure am. There’s just something about leafing through a real book and hearing the pages smack together. You can’t get that from the digital ones.” When he didn’t answer, I started making my way towards the mystery section.

Empty.
Had I imagined a customer? Was I that desperate? I moved back to the counter and waited a few minutes before I spotted him outside my front window, walking away. I took a deep breath, and a distinctive smell wafted from the back room.
Smoke.

I moved quickly, trying to push open the door. When it wouldn’t budge I yelled for help to an empty street. I stepped back as the fire crackled, spreading through the walls. Grabbing my bag from behind the counter, I pulled it close to my chest. I inhaled sharply as I looked at the books one more time. Martin Summers was going to get what he wanted after all.
I watched quietly outside as the flames swallowed up my legacy and I said goodbye to the last bookstore on earth.

Thanks for reading this Furious Fiction from October 2019 by Christy Grace

Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

Rescue Mission | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (SIXTY-TWO)

Your Briefing:
Hannah Carmichael, Super Spy, is trying to take down the corrupt Spy Agency – CGT – and stop their World War attack – CATACLYSM.
She was surrounded by CGT agents and drugged, where she woke up in a snow hospital, only to realise she has no memory. Two others are with her, both without their own memory – Stephanie Winchester and Evelyn Carmichael.
When she broke free, she saw someone she thought she recognised coming to the doors, and followed her instincts, letting them inside.
Will they be able to escape? What about CATACLYSM? Can they stop it if she can’t even remember who she is?

 

SIXTY-TWO

HCC 62

Authors Note:
Thanks so much for checking out the latest Hannah Carmichael instalment!
The next one will be coming VERY SOON, so keep an eye out to see if Hannah and Zeke can protect the Peace Talks and stop CATACLYSM!
See you in the Adventures – Christy Grace

Categories
Fiction

Lady Eloise (Furious Fiction)

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FURIOUS FICTION

Murder, Inspectors, and Birthdays – June 2019 Furious Fiction – Enjoy!

 

LADY ELOISE

I held my breath, as the blood stained her white blouse.
The air was thick with tension.
We were all suspects, and no guest could leave the house until the Inspector had investigated. He held a magnifying glass to the woman’s forehead then raised his hand into the air.
“Aha!” He exclaimed loudly, causing us all to jump.
“The killer is in this very room,” the Inspector said, spinning and knocking over a lamp. He reached down to catch it, just before it hit the floor. I giggled and he scowled at me. I tried to appear invisible as he readjusted his floppy hat.
“I object to this accusation in my own home!” Lady Eloise said, crossing her arms and huffing. The Inspector pulled out a smoking pipe.
“I don’t care, there’s been a murder and we have to catch the killer.”

The victim opened her left eye and cleared her throat, “Adam honey, is this going to take long? I have to pull the pies out of the oven.”
The inspector frowned, his voice instantly turning into a whine, “Mother, you’re ruining my murder mystery party. Please lie there and be quiet.”
The victim rolled her eyes, then closed them and sighed.
Inspector Adam stood taller, “As I was saying, I have discovered who the murderer is. It all came down to something small, something simple.” Adam reached into his pocket and pulled his hand up high.
“A button!” He yelled, startling everyone again. I exhaled and shook my head, “Whose button?” I asked.
Adam frowned and narrowed his eyes, “I’m getting there Susan, relax.”

I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. We had been through all the clues twice, and this was Adam’s third guess as to who the murderer was. Everyone else had already worked out that the killer was Lady Eloise, but Adam seemed oblivious to the clues.
Clearing his throat, he extended his hand, the button in his hand.
“This button, could only have come from one person, and it was lodged in the victims’ hair.” He turned and pointed at Lord Pemberton, “You, Lord Pemberton, are the killer.”
The whole room groaned and Lady Eloise stood up, “It was me Inspector. I’m the killer. Can we eat dinner now?”
Adam frowned, then smiled, “You fell for my trap! I knew it was you all the time Eloise, now you have confessed in front of all these witnesses. Take her away Chief,” Adam threw the button onto the ground and everyone mumbled as we made our way towards the dining room.

“Susan,” Adam said quietly. I turned and raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Do you think people knew that I hadn’t worked it out yet?” He asked, his head dropping as his eyes locked onto the floor.
I smiled and shook my head, “No, they knew you’d worked it out.”
Adam looked up and smiled, “Good.”
I giggled and followed him into the dining room, where his birthday cake awaited.

Thanks for reading this Furious Fiction from May 2019 by Christy Grace

Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

WHERE AM I? | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (SIXTY-ONE)

Your Briefing:

Hannah Carmichael was a Super Spy,  trying to take down CGT – an evil spy agency which she used to be a part of. Her husband Zeke, was secretly working to take them down as well, and roped Hannah and her friend and fellow agent Stephanie into the fight.
Hannah’s mother Evelyn was a known terrorist and CGT enemy, but now seems to have been on the same side all along. Her Father James, was believed to be dead and missing for over a decade, but has now shown up from his fight in the shadows to help take them down once and for all.
Hannah and Zeke were surrounded by CGT assassins, trying to protect a world leader from World War – a project labeled Cataclysm by CGT. When things went sideways, Hannah was injected with something that made her world go dark. 

SIXTY-ONE

I opened my eyes and squinted at the sudden burst of light overstimulating my optical senses. The pain in my head registered and I groaned as I closed my eyes again. I heard shuffling around me and I flipped open my eyes, suddenly unsure of where I was. The light was harsh, but I forced myself to readjust quickly as the adrenaline and the panic overtook my other senses.
Women I didn’t recognise surrounded me and pulled on my arm, checking on an IV which was releasing a clear liquid into my veins. As I started to process what was happening, I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and all that escaped was a small squeak.
“Don’t try to talk Dear,” an older woman in a nurses uniform said as she readjusted my pillow. I nodded, trying to remember how I got here.
“You’ve been through quite an ordeal,” another nurse said and I turned, watching as she wrote down my vital signs on a notepad. Frowning, I reached for the small cup on the table beside me. The first nurse saw my hand and picked up the cup, handing it to me and letting me take a big sip.
When the water had loosened my throat enough, I took in a deep breath and locked eyes with the first nurse.

“Where am I?” I asked. A smile lit up her face and she nodded towards a window on my right. I glanced over at it and frowned as the sight of snow covered mountains lined the window.
“You’re in a hospital Dear. We found you and some others abandoned in the snow.”
I closed my eyes and tried to remember.
“What’s your name Dear?” The nurse asked.
I shot my eyes open and shook my head, “I don’t know. I can’t remember,” I said quietly. The frustration overwhelmed me for a moment and I allowed tears to escape. The nurse moved closer to my side and started stroking my arm, “It’s ok. It’ll come back to you. All of you had been out there for a long time; we almost lost the lot.”
I took a deep breath and swiped at the tears, nodding and looking around the room.
“Where are the others you found?” I asked, hoping they might remember who I was, or how I got here.
The nurse looked behind her and smiled, “Right over there Dear.”
I frowned, suddenly noticing her foreign accent, and tried to decipher it as she moved out of my view. Another young woman and an older woman were in beds side by side on the other end of the room.
They both smiled softly at me and I returned a sheepish grin.
“We were hoping for better news when you woke up,” the older woman said. Her voice was cracking like mine and I frowned.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice fading as my throat grew sore again. Their faces seemed familiar, but the memory wasn’t snapping into place.
“We don’t remember either,” the younger woman said softly. She smiled and shrugged, “I guess we’re all in the same boat.”
I looked back to the window and frowned as exhaustion overcame my eyes.
I gave in and closed them.

When I opened my eyes again it was getting dark outside, and I readjusted to the flickering lights inside the hospital.
“Good, you’re awake,” The young woman across from me was now sitting upright in her own bed, glancing around the room. I frowned and shook some of the sleepiness away.
“What? Why?” I asked, glancing at the older woman, now standing guard at the door.
“We’ve been getting scattered memory back since you’ve been asleep. We think something’s wrong,” The young woman said quietly, starting to get out of her bed. “Do you remember anything, anything at all?” She asked me, watching as I tried to think. The fog from earlier had lifted slightly and I closed my eyes, visualising anything.
Flashes of a Father holding a young girl tightly as she cried; a teddy bear that the girl was clutching; and a large snowy field were the only images I could recall. I groaned and opened my eyes.
“Anything?” The young woman asked, now standing beside my bed.
“Not really, nothing that would explain why I’m here or who I am,” I said.
The woman pulled the blanket off me and tried to help me sit upright, “Well, we’ve remembered things like guns, needles, and being bound and gagged.”
I frowned and suddenly remembered a blurry scene with guns aimed at me from all directions.

“What, are we going to just bust out of here? We don’t even know what our injuries are, or if we can find our way out there, let alone surviving the snow,” I said, pulling my arm away from the woman. The older woman moved away from the door and closer to me, her face softened and she smiled, “I know that I recognise your face; I just can’t remember how. I feel care and comfort. When I look at the nurses, or outside the window, all I feel is rage and suspicion. We need to get out of here and regroup; to try and remember.”
I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to decide. A flash of the first nurse from earlier filled my mind, but this time her expression was twisted into a snarl.
As I opened my eyes, a shiver went through my spine and I looked back at the two women who had been found with me. Nodding, I pulled myself out of the bed, looking for clothes.
A loud siren filled the room and I covered my ears. The door flung open and five nurses ran inside, two surrounding each woman. The nurse in charge raised her voice above the alarm, “No need to worry, we just have someone trying to break into the hospital. It happens more often than you think, people want our drugs.”
Nurses grabbed each of my arms and started to usher me out of the room.
“There’s a secure room we need to take you to. Just a precaution to keep you safe,” the nurse continued behind me.
They moved me through a dimly lit hallway and I noticed the other rooms we passed were empty. At the end of the hallway, I was moved through two large double doors. Behind us, the nurses and women struggled, and one of my babysitters moved back to help.

With a sharp tug, I pulled my arm away from the nurse next to me and started running. Shouting competed with the alarm, which still echoed through the hallways. I ducked into a small room, closing and locking the door behind me. I ignored the pounding on the other side, and turned to where computer monitors lined the walls; security feeds filling each screen. I could see the fight in the hallway, outside several external doors and other hospital rooms inside.
I took a breath and tried to decide my next moves. Something told me that I knew those women, but fight or flight was urging me to try and escape. The room only had one exit, but I didn’t trust what was behind it.
One of the outside monitors lit up and I stared at it, frowning at the man in heavy ski gear and a mask. I couldn’t see his face, but it had to be the intruder. He looked behind him and pulled out a bag of tools, standing at the door.

Another figure came into the cameras view and my breath caught. The face; I recognised his face. The memory of his face as we spun around a dance floor.
I glanced down at the controls and hit the button to release the door. 

Author’s Note:
Thanks for reading the latest instalment of the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles! Hannah will be back SOON for the next part of her adventure – we both look forward to seeing you there!

Christy Grace 

Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

CHILD OF A TRAITOR | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (FLASHBACK 6)

Your Briefing:
Hannah Carmichael is a Super Spy, who is trying to take down CGT – the evil spy agency which she used to be a part of. Her husband Zeke, was secretly working to take them down as well, and roped Hannah and her friend and fellow agent Stephanie into the fight.
Hannah’s mother Evelyn was a known terrorist and CGT enemy, but now seems to have been on the same side all along. Her Father James, was believed to be dead and missing for over a decade, but has now shown up from his fight in the shadows to help take them down once and for all.
In this Special FLASHBACK Instalment, we will get a glimpse into Hannah’s life when she had what she thought was one of the last conversations with her Dad before he went missing. Why did her Dad send her away?

 

FLASHBACK 6

Hannah snapped her head up from the desk and frowned at her dad as he stood in the doorway. His arms were crossed as he leant against the doorframe, but at her expression, he dropped them to his side.
“This is the best thing for everyone Hannah,” he said softly.
She shook her head, “Best for everyone, or just you?”
“Oh come on Hannah, don’t throw clichés in my face. You know things are different for our family.”
Hannah scoffed then turned back to her English homework. At the door, her Dad sighed, then moved into the room and sat on her bed.
“With your Mother AWOL, and the accusations that landed her there, we just can’t keep going the way we are.”
Hannah shook her head, trying to keep the tears from escaping.
“What about me? About us? How am I supposed to be away from my Father right now?” She asked turning and watching his expression soften.
“It’s only two years, and you get to come home in between Semesters.” Her Dad squared his shoulders and gave a small, firm nod, “You need structure; to get out of the media storm.” He relaxed his body and lowered his voice, “Don’t you want to spend time with people who aren’t convinced you’re the child of a traitor?”
Hannah shrugged and looked at the plush carpet that she had begged her Mother to put in her bedroom. Her Mum hadn’t wanted to agree, saying it would fray too quickly and they would just have to replace it six months later.
Hannah exhaled sharply as she stared at the now frayed carpet edges, only three months in. Looking up at her Dad, she inhaled deeply and forced a smile on her face, “Would we still do our special Christmas tradition when I came back for the holidays?”
He smiled and shook his head, “aren’t you sick of that silly tradition by now?”
Hannah chuckled and let a tear slip down her cheek, “never. The smell of gingerbread cookies and Mac and Cheese is-“
“It’s wrong is what it is,” Her Dad jumped in before she could finish, and Hannah grinned. At five years old, Gingerbread and Mac and Cheese were the logical choice to put into a blender. At least now, they made them separately.
“A tradition is a tradition. Of course we will,” her Dad said as he stood up and walked to the door.
“How long until I have to go?” Hannah asked.
Her Dad stopped walking but didn’t turn to face her, “two weeks.”
She nodded silently and watched him close her door behind him. As she exhaled, Hannah turned back to her desk and pulled out a small wooden box that her Mum had given her. A puzzle box, which apparently held something important, and the last thing she had given her before she disappeared a traitor.
As Hannah worked on the box she heard voices in the hallway and carefully put it away in her draw. Opening the door a crack, she listened carefully to hear what her Dad and another voice was saying.
“Does she know anything?” The other male voice was gruff and Hannah frowned.
“I told her she’s going away to boarding school,” her Dad said, sighing. Hannah held her breath and she tried not to make a sound.
“Her whole world is going to change,” her Dad groaned.
“It already has.”
The voices trailed away and Hannah let out the air in her lungs. Slowly she closed the door and fell onto the ground. Her Dad was right. Her whole world was different; and it may never be the same again.

Author’s Note:

Thanks for reading the latest instalment of the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles! Hannah will be back Soon for the next part of her adventure – we both look forward to seeing you there!

Christy Grace

 

 

Categories
Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

I am a Super Spy

“I am a Super Spy!”

Have you ever wanted to say that to somebody? You know, without having to kill them afterwards for National Security reasons….

I am ferociously working on new Hannah Carmichael Chronicles Instalments because THINGS ARE GETTING CRAZY!

If you tuned in to the last one, you will know that Hannah and Zeke’s future is unknown right now. Cliff hangers can be frustrating, BUT they will be back in Two Weeks. If that isn’t soon enough – don’t worry, because I flashback instalment will be uploaded at the end of this week to tide you over in the meantime.

Hannah Carmichael may not label herself a ‘Super Spy’ but others certainly do.

What would you do if you were a spy? Traveling the world, fighting for good (or not – depending on who you work for – is Dr Evil still around?? 😛 ), being a general badass… normal stuff.

If I could have said “I am a Super Spy” and it actually be true, part of me thinks that would be the coolest thing ever; but most of me (the sane part of me) knows that it’s better for me to be behind the keyboard.

Last but not least, I have a present for everyone still reading… A very special message from Hannah Carmichael herself!!!

“CGSP Readers: The stories you read about me have been officially declassified and are available only on ChristyGraceScarletPen. If you want to know the Truth, not just the government cover stories, keep reading to see just how far CGT goes.”

…. Well then, thanks Hannah – that’s not concerning at all.

Anyway, enjoy the coming instalments!

-Christy Grace

Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

HOW UNORIGINAL | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (SIXTY)

Your Briefing:
Hannah Carmichael is a Super Spy, who is trying to take down CGT – the evil spy agency which she used to be a part of. Her husband Zeke, was secretly working to take them down as well, and roped Hannah and her friend, and fellow agent – Stephanie, into the fight.
Hannah’s mother Evelyn was a known terrorist and CGT enemy, but now seems to have been on the same side all along. Her Father James, was believed to be dead and missing for over a decade, but has now shown up from his fight in the shadows, to help take them down once and for all.
It seemed as though everyone in Hannah’s life knew about CGT’s true motives but her. So how will she navigate her new status, new team members, and new family dynamics?
With CGT linked to a World War III event called ‘Cataclysm’ – What will Hannah and her team find out, and how will they stop it? 

 

SIXTY

“Hannah, I like the new look. Your hair suits you better this way,” Anthony said with a smug grin.
“I guess Level 13 was bad luck after all,” Zeke said to Hannah as they shielded as much of the Prime Minister as they could.
“Anthony, why don’t you just let us leave with the Prime Minister and we can all walk away without any problems,” Hannah said with a smile. She flinched at the loud boom of Anthony’s laugh and took a miniature step backwards as he stopped and locked eyes with her.
“Hannah, I don’t know how you found out about the Prime Minister, but your mere presence here indicates you know more than you should.” He smiled and lowered his gun, stepping into the room as Hannah glanced back at the Prime Minister. His face was stone but the terror was unmistakable in his eyes.
“Okay, we admit it,” Hannah said lightly as she turned her attention back to her former boss.
Anthony frowned and tilted his head, a small smile appearing, “Well that was easy.” The scepticism was obvious in his tone and Hannah shrugged, glancing at her confused husband.
“We were on a second honeymoon, and we stumbled into the wrong room. It was pure coincidence that the Prime Minister was tied up in here.”
Zeke rolled his eyes then turned to face a CGT agent who had slowly been advancing on him.
“Second honeymoon? You two?” Anthony snorted and Hannah readjusted the grip on her gun as he inched closer to her.
“Just ask the manager downstairs,” Zeke said, taking another cautious step towards the Prime Minister.
“Skip it,” Anthony snapped. “Let’s get down to business,” he sighed then shook his head. “It may sound cliché, but you all know too much to stay alive. You do know that right?”
“You ‘re right,” Hannah said, nodding. Anthony narrowed his eyes and she smiled, “That does sound cliché.”
Rolling his shoulders, Anthony nodded to the door of the bedroom, “You see Hannah Dear, you and poor Zekey over there are a just little bit outnumbered. So you don’t really have an out here. Since you do seem to know too much, we’re going to have to-“
“Deal with us once and for all, right?” Hannah interrupted, exhaling loudly. “Would you at least say something other than clichés if this is going to be the last villain monologue I ever hear? It’s getting pretty boring.”
Anthony nodded, “You’re right. It is a shame that the P.M. here was hoping for a more peaceful agreement, otherwise there wouldn’t have been such a dramatic display with the rope and the tape.” Anthony moved his head and shifted his gaze to the Prime Minister, “Sorry about that Sir.”
Hannah moved to her left, blocking his view and allowed her anger to take over, “We aren’t going to let Cataclysm happen Tony. We just aren’t.”
Anthony laughed and Hannah glanced back at Zeke, the CGT agent now only a few steps away.
“Cataclysm is going to happen whether you’re alive or not. So I guess I get to pick if you live or die,” her former mentor spat the words like they were bile and Hannah inhaled. She took a quick step forward as Anthony reached behind his back with his free hand.
Sounds behind her distracted her focus and she turned to where Zeke and the CGT agent were now struggling, both guns on the floor. Agents started to lunge forward at them and Hannah turned back to where Anthony had stood moments before. The space was now vacant, and she released a bullet from her gun as hands around the back of her neck curled tightly. She clutched the gun tightly and her arms flailed as she craned her neck behind her. Zeke fell to the ground and a sharp prick in her neck filled her veins with an icy chill. The last thing she could do before the world once again disappeared into a cloud, was to roll her eyes and whisper, “how unoriginal.”

Author’s Note:

Thanks for reading the latest instalment of the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles! Hannah will be back Soon for the next Chapter of her adventure – we both look forward to seeing you there!

Christy Grace

*Disclaimer: All persons and events in the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles are Fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 
Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

THE HONEYMOON PLAY? | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (FIFTY-NINE)

Your Briefing:

Hannah Carmichael is a Super Spy, who is trying to take down CGT – the evil spy agency which she used to be a part of. Her husband Zeke, was secretly working to take them down as well, and roped Hannah and her friend and fellow agent Stephanie into the fight.
Hannah’s mother Evelyn was a known terrorist and CGT enemy, but now seems to have been on the same side all along. Her Father James, was believed to be dead and missing for over a decade, but has now shown up from his fight in the shadows to help take them down once and for all.
It seemed as though everyone in Hannah’s life knew about CGT’s true motives but her. So how will she navigate her new status, new team members and new family dynamics?
With CGT linked to a World War III event called ‘Cataclysm’ – What will Hannah and her team find out, and how will they stop it? 

 

FIFTY-NINE

Hannah sighed as another bump in the road threw her into Stephanie’s shoulder. Behind her in the SUV, Zeke and Evelyn were attempting awkward small talk and someone from James’ team was driving. Hannah cleared her throat, “Collin, how far are we from the hotel?”
Colin glanced back at her through the rear view mirror then moved his eyes back to the road, “A few minutes.”
Hannah nodded then felt Stephanie lean in closer, “If we don’t stop this Cataclysm attack, it means more than just War,” Stephanie said quietly. Hannah nodded and sighed deeply, “We were branded terrorists before this attack, and if the world finds out we’re still alive, we’re the easy scapegoats.”
Zeke leaned up and through the two chairs, “I just want to clarify something.” He said softly. “These leaders, they don’t know we’re coming right?”
Hannah turned to face him, “No, neither leaders knows we’re coming to see them. Neither leader knows they are being targeted, and neither leader will be happy with what we have to tell them.” She turned back in her seat and took a deep breath in, “lets just hope we can talk sense into them before the plan takes effect, and before the peace talks start in a few days.”
The SUV slammed forward and Collin shut off the engine, turning with a frown.
“We’re here. Boss said the Little Lady is in charge; so what’s the plan?” Collin asked, cocking his head to the right as he watched Hannah. She took a small breath in, then nodded.
“Collin, you Evelyn and Stephanie go through the Employee access points and check their security. I want entry and exit points covered, security cameras monitored and everybody stays on alert at all times.” Hannah turned to face Zeke and nodded at him, “We’re going to get the master key from the Manager, then head up to the Prime Ministers’ room.”
“How are we getting the key? Asking permission?” Zeke asked, the light hearted teasing a welcome change. Hannah masked a smile then shook her head, “We’re going to have to be a bit more creative this time.”
As the two teams split, Zeke took Hannah’s hand as they walked into the hotel. She flinched, but relaxed into his hold and rolled her shoulders.
“So, the honeymoon play?” Zeke asked, winking at her as they walked closer to the door. She chuckled and shook her head slightly, “It’s odd to hear you say things like that.”
Zeke frowned then shrugged his left shoulder, “I guess things would have been a little different if you knew that from the start.” They moved quietly until Hannah smiled and gave her husband a small shove, “I guess so”. He momentarily lost balance then shoved her back, smiling and pulling her into his hold. He kissed her and Hannah tried not to let it distract her from their surroundings. A man opened the doors to the hotel and excused himself as he saw Hannah and Zeke in the doorway. They pulled away from each other and Zeke smiled, winking at her again as he whispered into her ear, “Here we go.”
They booked a room, asking for the honeymoon suite and requesting special newlywed discounts. While the manager ducked into the office at the back for the necessary paperwork and coupons, Zeke slipped behind the desk and started searching. Hannah watched for other staff until Zeke whispered, “Got it.” She turned back and smiled as he tugged it into his pocket and returned to her side. The Manager reappeared and they signed the paperwork for the room, heading towards the elevator. As they stepped inside, Hannah pushed the button for Level 13 and Zeke tapped his foot, looking up at the roof.
“Level 13 huh?” He asked.
Hannah shrugged, “I guess so. That’s what all the intel said.”
Zeke scoffed, “that’s not a bad sign at all.”
Hannah ignored his comment and stepped out of the elevator and into the hallway. As she clicked the key card into the lock, the door buzzed and she pushed it open.
“Prime Minister?” She asked as they made their way into the hotel room, closing the door behind them. The small living room was empty and Hannah turned to Zeke, “Check the bedroom.”
He moved towards the open door and she walked through the kitchen until Zeke’s voice boomed through the apartment, “Hannah!”
She pushed her way through the door to see the Prime Minister tied to a chair, hands bound behind his back and a blindfold over his eyes. Masking tape was stuck over his mouth and he was struggling, mumbling behind his gag. Hannah pulled her gun out of the holster as Zeke removed the blindfold, then started on the tape.
“Well, well, well.” A familiar voice from behind her made Hannah’s stomach flop over and she raised her weapon as she spun. The room was being invaded by a flood of CGT agents and Hannah and Zeke stood, with guns raised at either side of the Prime Minister. Hannah aimed her weapon at the man she had considered a friend, mentor, and father figure for years and spat out his name, “Anthony.”

Author’s Note:

Thanks for reading the latest instalment of the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles! Hannah will be back Soon for the next part of her adventure – we both look forward to seeing you there!

Christy Grace