Follow You Down

by Bradley, Michael;

  A horn beeped behind her, making her jump. She glanced over her shoulder. Patrick sat in his Lexus, looking down at his lap, probably checking his phone. When she turned her gaze back to the opposite shore, the figure and its cap had vanished.

  With her head bowed and her hands buried deep in her pockets, she turned from the lake and walked toward the waiting car. She slid into the passenger seat and pulled the door closed.

  Patrick asked, “What was that all about?”

  “Just laying a ghost to rest.”

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Diane, for her love and support, and for “tolerating” this little habit called writing. Her patience and understanding of my need for “space” while I write is appreciated. I couldn’t ask for a better partner on life’s journey.

  Thanks also to my editor, Cherrita Lee, without whom this book would be full of every grammatical error known to man. Her ability to add the polish to my work is indispensable. As always, it was a pleasure to work with her.

  I’d like to extend my gratitude to the members of my critique group: Sara Badaracco, Michael Clarke, Karin Wandersee, Joan Hill, Ellie Searl, Christine Schulden, the “narrow”-minded Paul Popiel. Their criticism, both good and bad, was invaluable, particularly through some significant revisions.

  Thanks also to Blenda Morris, Maggie Collier, Laura Fiorentino, Bill Bochow, and Sonja Bochow for being early readers of a “far from ready for primetime” version of this story. The value of their feedback was inestimable, and critical to the further development of this book.

  I’m grateful to Grant Blackwood for his guidance and advice during and after ThrillerFest. He was instrumental in solidifying several key decisions related to the direction of the book.

  And finally, thanks to Dayna Anderson and everyone at Amberjack Publishing for being willing to invest in me and my book. It is always gratifying to work with such a great group of people.

  About the Author

  Born and raised in southern New Jersey, Michael Bradley is an author and software consultant. He has presented at IT conferences in the United States and in Europe, and his frequent travels have connected him with a variety of people in the US and abroad. When he isn’t on the road, working, or writing, Michael hits the waterways in his kayak, paddling creeks, streams, and rivers throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.

  Before working in information technology, Michael spent eight years in radio broadcasting. He worked for stations in New Jersey and West Virginia, including the Marconi Award winning WVAQ in Morgantown. He has been up and down the dial, working as an on-air personality, promotions director, and even program director. His time in radio has provided him with a wealth of fond, enduring, and sometimes scandalous memories that he hopes to one day commit to paper.

  Michael lives in Delaware with his wife and their three furry four-legged “kids.”