The 13th Hour: A Marston Thriller (The Marston Series Book 4)

by Brigitta Moon

  “What are the charges?” asked Mayor Harden.

  “We just discussed them, but here they are again. “Money laundering, obstruction of justice, abuse of a public office, kidnapping—”

  “What? I haven’t kidnapped anyone.”

  “That’s just the beginning. I’m sure the prosecutor will come up with more.” The chief looked at Riley. “Get him out of here. Oh, and make sure he gets his one phone call.”

  Riley walked with the mayor through the halls toward intake where the mayor was finger printed, relieved of his belongings, and his power. Only then was he allowed his phone call.

  He dialed the number he knew by heart. The call was answered on the third ring.

  Before he could say hello, a familiar voice said, “I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

  “Look, King, you told me everything was clear. I did what you wanted. I came to the station and played the dutiful uncle to plead for my niece’s release. I have agreed to reinstate the blockade, and anything else you want.”

  “I know you have, but don’t you think it’s risky to waste your one phone call on me?”

  “No, I want you to fix this.”

  “Oh, I have. Protecting the business is my priority by eliminating threats. To protect our business, we have to make sacrifices. Just as Jesus was sacrificed so man could live on, so shall you be forfeited so my business can thrive. Goodbye, Mayor Harden.”

  Epilogue

  Gina has come to learn that family is not always blood and blood is not always family. People are not who you believe them to be, and stereotypes don’t always hold truth.

  Renee was setting the table for lunch. It was her first luncheon party since the divorce. The windows and doors were open to let in the summer sounds and aromas—flowers, evergreens, traffic, and laughter of the people enjoying the park. Gina walked up on the porch, pressed her forehead to the screen, and peered inside. It was just as she had remembered.

  “We’re here,” Gina shouted through the screen.

  Renee came running to the sound of Gina’s voice. She had missed her while she was on her honey moon.

  “Come on in. You don’t have to knock.” Renee pushed the door open, smiling at Gina and her new husband. “I can’t believe you did it. Eloped, for goodness sake.

  Gina walked through the house dragging John by his hand. “It smells delicious in here.”

  “Well, I wanted this to be over the top, as our first family lunch together, and I wanted to impress my new son-in-law.”

  John let out a belly laugh. “I never thought I would be anyone’s husband, especially not Gina’s.”

  John sat on the couch and pulled Gina onto his lap. “Don’t we make a perfect couple?”

  Renee cocked her head. “I can’t wait to have grandchildren.” She looked at the stalk contrast between her daughter and son-in-law. Her with strawberry-blond hair and fair skin splashed with freckles, and him with a cocoa chocolate complexion with handsome features. “You know what they say, opposites attract and make the most beautiful offspring.”

  “Stereotype,” said Gina. “We don’t believe in them. Beautiful or not, we will love all of our children.”

  “I will too.” Renee hugged them both.

  “Thank you for everything,” Gina said. “I know how he hurt you.”

  Renee put her finger to Gina’s lips. “Not another regret. If he had not been such a cheating bastard, I would not have you.”

  Gina blushed. “I’ve never heard you speak like that.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, but I’ll keep you guessing.”

  Gina laughed. “You’re an open book.”

  Renee winked at John.

  “What was that?” asked Gina.

  “Oh, nothing. I’m an open book.”

  Renee went to the dining room and took a seat. Gina and her husband followed. The table spoke of summer with fresh cut flowers in the center and food fit for a picnic.

  “Did you keep up with the news while you were gone?”

  “We were too busy sailing around the world,” Gina said.

  “That must have been some trip. I missed you.”

  Gina looked at Renee sheepishly. “Has he been on trial yet?”

  “Not yet, but he’s still in jail.” Renee picked up the wine on the table.

  John stood up. “Allow me.”

  She gave him the wine and the cork screw. As soon as the cork was popped, they clapped. John poured the drinks. They raised their glasses.

  “To us,” Renee said.

  “Oh, that friend of yours stopped by; at least he said he was a friend. Pretty creepy guy. He said his name was Ethan and he worked with you at the prison.

  Gina grimaced. “He’s no friend. I was his research assistant. He said he was going to help those men who were wrongly accused to get out. He freed no one.”

  “That little league coach got out, and because of his false arrest, they cleaned house up in the Northwest Precinct. His lawyer was great. I plan to look him up if I ever need one.”

  “I was wondering about him,” Gina said. “He was in the group that Ethan was supposed to be helping.”

  “Well, the man got married,” Renee said.

  “Really,” said Gina. “Anyone we know?”

  Renee shook her head. “But, she looked like she wears the pants in that marriage.”

  They all laughed.

  Gina said, “I forgot your gift.”

  “I’ll get it for you, sweetie,” John said.

  “No, I’ll go. I want you to get to know my mother.”

  “Alright. You wear the pants.”

  More laughter. Gina hopped up and ran off to the car.

  Renee listened for the slam of the screen door. When she heard it, she looked at John.

  He shook his head. “Don’t.” he said. “I see it in your eyes.”

  “But, I have to. If it wasn’t for you, I would still be stuck in that marriage to a man who never loved me.”

  “We helped each other,” John said.

  Renee bit back tears. “But, if you hadn’t given his gun to that gang and set up all those recordings, he would have gotten away with everything.”

  “It was just dumb luck that you caught me that day rummaging through the house.”

  “I say it was my lucky day. Gina thought I had left with Gerald, but I decided to stay home and nurse my headache.”

  “Please don’t tell Gina or anyone else about our secret. Remember, I was undercover, but, I broke some laws.”

  “I know,” Renee said. “I will never be able to repay you.”

  “You have. I am the husband of a lovely woman.”

  “When I think back to that day, I think how things could have all gone differently had Gina not been out of it.”

  John chuckled. “Yeah, it gave me time to explain to the woman pointing a gun at my face why I was in her house crawling under her husband’s desk.”

  Renee lifted her wine glass. “To our partnership.”

  John lifted his. “May we never be found out.” He tapped his glass against Renee’s.

  “What are you two toasting,” Gina asked with a wide smile.

  “Oh, just dumb luck,” Renee said.

  About the Author

  Brigitta Moon is a native Marylander born April 5th. She has been an avid reader of a variety of genres since high school. After high school she went on to a Baltimore Community College where she studied nursing. She then continued her studies in nursing and business at The College of Notre Dame of Maryland where she obtained her BSN. Working many hours on the night shift presented many opportunities for delving into a drama, a thriller or a saga. Now with a cup of tea or maybe even a wine cooler she finds curling up with a good book is a relaxing way to spend a cold winter evening, a brisk spring day or even a warm summer morning. Reading is a source of entertainment for her; a way to get away from a drab or stressful day. Reading presents a way for her to indulge herself in a story that ma
y take her to another land or a funny or thrilling situation or even a romance she has secretly coveted.

  The reasons she writes is to entertain and sweep readers off to a romance, drama or saga typed on the pages between the covers of a book when they need it most. She says television isn't always entertaining, especially late at night when reruns are playing for the 100th time. That's how her writing career began. Tired of the show on the tube which she had seen for the umpteenth time, she decided to put pen to paper and write her own version of a story. This was the beginning of her writing adventure.

  Get to know Brigitta Moon: An author interview by Mercedes Fox

  1. What is the general theme and tone of your novels?

  I would say the general theme of my earlier novels was romance with a little darkness tossed in. The young lady has fallen for a man who she has to put in some overtime to hold on to. The novels follow the young woman’s trials and tribulations with the exception of A Secret Love. This particular novel is a short one and gives Chris and Derek equal spotlights. Lately I have indulged in novels with some dark themes. These particular novels are a little harder to write; staying in the frame of mind of a character with some a dark side is not easy.

  2. Why should people buy your novels?

  Happy endings. Putting down a novel and feeling warm and fuzzy. This statement refers to my novels written before 2016. My newest novel, Ashes Of Old Lovers is a little dark.

  3. How would you describe your novels in just two words?

  Jaw dropping

  4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

  Dirty Dancing

  5. Was being a novel writer something you've always dreamed of doing?

  No. It’s something that happened over time.

  6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel? Have you read a novel more than once?

  I have read a couple of Michael Connelly’s more than once, but I don’t usually give a book a second read. I guess I would have to say Flowers in the Attic has to be an all-time favorite. I say this because I read it when I was in high school and I still remember it. The book left an everlasting impression.

  7. What motivates you to write?

  I am motivated by improvement in my storytelling skill and the desire to grow readership.

  8. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

  Aside from writing I am passionate about vacationing. And I don’t mean a vacation where you have to spend tons of money. Just a break from working where you can take out time to enjoy the earth; watch the sunset, the phases of the moon, listen to an angry storm, the rolling of the ocean, traffic on the freeway, the songs of birds, hoot of an owl, chatter on the beach, the quiet of the night, smell the rain, the spring blossoms and the summer air. A vacation where you can enjoy you, be alone with your thoughts and feelings and your wants and needs. Vacation is a reset. You start over refreshed and ready to reach for the stars.

  Side Notes

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  Email: brigittamoon@yahoo.com

  Website: www.BrigittaMoonBooks.com

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