Albatross
A Kendra Spark Novel
Kendra
Spark Series
Book
Three
S.
Peters-Davis
Genre: Supernatural, Paranormal,
Suspense-Romance
Publisher: BWL Publishing, Inc.
Date of Publication: June 1, 2019
ISBN-10: 0228608910
ISBN-13: 978-0228608912
ASIN: B07S29TF9V
Number of pages: 210
Word Count: 60,200
Cover Artist: Michelle Lee
Tagline: A cold-case
investigation ends in facing the ultimate psychopaths, a highly-accredited
police director gone crime lord and a beautiful malevolent “albatross of a
spirit.”
Book Description:
Kendra Spark, Derek Knight, and
“ghosty” Jenna Powers, members of an FBI special task force, investigate a
cold-case and end up facing the ultimate psychopaths, a highly-accredited
police director gone crime lord and a beautiful malevolent “albatross of a
spirit.” Both want Kendra for her unique abilities but might settle for Jenna
instead.
Derek stops at nothing to keep
Kendra and Jenna safe, but what if the worst-case scenario happens, an
unstoppable villain and villainess of the dark plane that picks the earth plane
as their stomping ground?
Excerpt Kendra’s point of view – 1,221
word count
The scent of
vanilla stirred the air within the bathroom. “Sparky, why aren’t you in the big
house with Derek?” Jenna, in all her ghosty-glory, got my attention using her
pet name for me, an annihilation of my last name. She leaned against the
doorjamb of Derek’s small cottage version of his home and silently tapped her
toe.
“We needed some
thought-provoking space apart.” I turned from the mirror and faced Jenna. “So,
did you honestly believe that I saw ghosts before you became one? I mean
truly.”
“Well, I called
you a few weeks ago when Dad’s life lay in peril from a psycho killer targeting
FBI agents.” Jenna tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. “Is this about Derek?”
“He continues to
struggle with what he saw at the Voodoo Re-resurrection Ritual. I mean, he
watched it, actually saw Buster, and Grandma Ellie with all of the Guardian
Angels, and the soul-lights belonging to the trafficked teens.” A deep
agonizing sigh rolled off my tongue. “You never saw any of the ghosts I did,
and yet you called me for your dad. You had to trust in my ability, right?”
“Listen, Sparky,
honestly, I called because none of the agents could get a handle on the
situation fast enough for me. My concern for Dad had driven me to make the
call. At that point, I wanted to grab at anything, including your ability, even
if I didn’t fully believe or understand it.” Jenna stepped closer, her gray and
fluorescent green running ensemble flattered her slim frame. “I’d wrap my arm
around your shoulder if I could. I still feel like I owe you an apology for so
many things, not believing in your ghost-vision is but one.”
“Well, you put
on a good front for me, because in college, I never doubted your belief in me.”
Jenna chuckled.
“I thought most of what you told me related to your fiction. You were always
such a good story-teller with your wild-wacky imagination. Most of the time, I
figured you set me up for a shock-factor effect.”
A light rap on
the front door announced Derek, but he didn’t enter like usual. Jenna shimmered
out of sight as I strode to the door and opened it. My lips parted as I sucked
in air. Clara Jones, my literary agent…here? “How did you get this address?”
“From your
writer friend, Sharon. I got her information from the last manuscript she sent
to me because you were here.” She peered over my shoulder, glancing around the
inside of the cottage. “Wow, now this is one hell of a writing retreat.” She
pushed past me and stood in the center of the room, gaze darting everywhere
until it settled on me. “Tell me you’ve started the first book in the series. Knixton
House is getting anxious for the media and cover art information, and since I
was in D.C., I thought I might pick it up personally.” She forced a smile. “I’m
beginning to think you’re dodging my calls and text messages.”
Another light
rap on the door, I swung around to Derek. His smile warmed me, but his arched
brow and nod toward Clara indicated his concern.
“Come in and
meet my Literary Agent, Clara Jones. Clara, FBI Special Agent, Derek Knight.”
“We just met.
Mr. Knight told me how to get back here.” And still, Clara moved toward him
with the speed of a booster rocket. Her hand extended and grabbed Derek’s
before he offered it. She studied Derek’s face, her gaze traveled over him,
from head to toe, until his face blazed red.
He pulled his
hand from Clara’s. “Nice to meet you, again. Kendra has mentioned you.”
Clara turned to
me. “Only mentioned?”
“We’ve been
rather busy solving FBI cases.”
With a poof of
vanilla, Jenna reappeared next to Clara. “Wow, she’s a looker. And damnation,
her eyes keep creeping back to Derek.” Jenna chuckled. “You’ll have to muzzle
her or wrap a blindfold around her head.”
I chuckled out
loud. Of course, at the worst inappropriate timing.
“I hate to cut
your visit short, Ms. Jones, but Kendra’s presence is requested at a meeting
downtown D.C., and we are running behind schedule.” Derek pressed his lips
together, tension swept along his jaw and temple.
“Wait a minute,
buster. This woman already has a job.” She poked a finger in Derek’s chest. “In
fact, she’s obligated to complete that job in record-breaking time to meet the
commitment of her book contract.” Clara’s green eyes widened as she glared at
Derek.
“I think bolts
of lightning are flying from her eyeballs and striking Derek, right in the
heart, where her fingernail is buried.” Jenna grinned. “What do you think?”
I forced an
exasperated breath and stepped closer to the duo. “Derek, I need some time to
talk with Clara. Can you go to the meeting without me? You can record it or
just pass on anything I should know.”
Derek grabbed my
elbow and directed me toward the door. “She’ll be only a moment,” he said as
the door slammed behind us. We kept walking away from the cottage and around
the side of Derek’s log home. He stopped and whirled me toward him. “Why is she
here? When she knocked on my door this morning and requested you, I thought she
might be a relative.”
“I have a signed
contract to a new publishing house, and Clara’s nervous about the upcoming
deadlines. With everything going on, I haven’t told her about my decision to
stay here for a while. I’m not sure how to break my contract.” Plus, the fact
that I didn’t look forward to a face-off with Clara. I’d neglected this major
obstacle. “She has no clue about my ability, or why the FBI would use me. It’s
going to take some time to explain.”
“I’m sure the
FBI has some kind of legal documentation we can present to Clara that will
supersede your contracts.” He tilted my face upward and pulled me closer. His
lips touched mine, stealing my breath. His throaty moan electrified the beat of
my heart, and I melted against his body.
Then vanilla
fluffed the air, but I ignored it.
“Sparky, wrap it
up. Little Miss Nasty-Pants is on her way.” Jenna’s face appeared over Derek’s
shoulder. She winked and then vanished.
I broke away
from Derek’s embrace. His stormy-blues smoldered.
Clara flounced
around the corner and ran into Derek’s shoulder. He stood solid as she
stumbled, but then she righted herself, eyeing him and then me. “I’m not
getting a good vibe with what’s happening here, Kendra. We need to talk. In
private.” She glowered at Derek.
“Get this
straightened out.” Derek’s gaze met mine, and then he moved away from Clara.
“I’ll let Director Powers know you’ve been detained. I’m sure there’s something
he can pull out of his hat to help secure your position with the FBI.”
“What’s he
talking about?” Clara’s face flushed to a bright red, almost matching her hair.
“You got time
for a coffee, maybe two? This might take a while to explain.” I nodded to Derek
as he walked away, and then slipped my arm through Clara’s. “Let’s go back to
the cottage. It comes with the best little screened-in porch, very private and
serene.”
S. Peters-Davis writes
multi-genre stories, but loves penning a good page-turning suspense-thriller,
especially when it’s a ghost story and a romance. When she’s not writing,
editing, or reading, she’s hiking, RV’ing, fishing, playing with grandchildren,
or enjoying time with her favorite muse (her husband) in Southwest Michigan.
As DK Davis, she also writes YA
and NA paranormal, supernatural novels that involve diverse and mature subject
matter.
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