“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” Sin said, picking up her new creds.
“Something like that,” Frank smiled.
“When does this arrangement go into effect?”
“Six months from today.”
Sin arched one eyebrow.
“I granted you a six month personal leave so you could go north with Charlie.”
At the end of a very good meal, Sin hugged Frank. From the way his body tightened up, she could tell he wasn’t expecting it. “I guess we’re even,” she said.
“Even for what?”
“For firing my ass seven years ago.”
“Well…since we’re even,” Frank said as they walked outside, “how about a new moniker?”
“You’re not going to call me Barracuda, are you?” Sin said as she swung her leg over the saddle of her Harley.
Frank laughed. “No, there was—and still is—only one Barracuda. I was thinking ‘La Perla Ángel de la Justicia.’ ”
Sin pulled her thick, black hair back in a ponytail and kick-started her hog. “Pearl Angel of Justice. Not bad.”
“Answer my calls, Sin.”
“See you in six months, Frank.”
Squeezing her front brake lever, Sin gunned the throttle and spun her back wheel before releasing her brake and tearing down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Frank walked back up the block toward his office. I don’t know what I’m going to do with her, he thought. Hearing a familiar noise in the breeze, he looked up at the American flag waving over the White House and took a deep breath. But I’m damn glad I have her.
About the Author
Mark Adduci, writing as J. M. LeDuc, is a native Bostonian, who transplanted to South Florida in 1985. He shares his love and life with his wife, Sherri and his daughter, Chelsea.
Blessed to have had a mother who loved the written word, her passion was passed on to him. It is in her maiden name he writes.
J.M. LeDuc’s first novel, “Cursed Blessing,” won a Royal Palm Literary Award in 2008 as an unpublished manuscript in the thriller category and was published in 2010. The rest of the Trilogy of the Chosen: “Cursed Presence” and “Cursed Days” followed in 2012, as well as a novella, “Phantom Squad”—a prequel to the trilogy. “Cornerstone,” the continuation of the Phantom Squad series was published in 2013 to critical acclaim.
“Sin” was the first book in the Sinclair O’Malley series.
J.M. is a proud member of the prestigious International Thriller Writers (ITW) as well as the Florida Writers Association (FWA) and loves to interact with his fans. He can be reached at [email protected] and on Facebook on his author page.
To all the women who protect and serve. To those in uniform and to those who remain faceless in order to protect us from harm, my deepest thanks.
To my wife, Sherri, my steadfast love.
Acknowledgments
To those I contacted in Washington who have asked to stay nameless, I thank you for your help and for what you do, day in and day out.
To my beta-readers: Lollie M, Heather B, Jeff R, Marsha G, Tammy S, Steven L, Jake M, Paula S, Mike A, Todd M, and Stella G, I thank you for your comments and constructive criticism. You have helped make PAINTED BEAUTY a better book.
To KD Ritchie and Story Wrappers, thank you for the amazing artwork on this and all the covers in the Sinclair O’Malley series.
I need to acknowledge William Blake for his works, Songs of Innocence, and Songs of Experience. The poems within these bodies of work became my silent muse while writing PAINTED BEAUTY, and the impetus to drive the story in its ultimate direction.
Finally, to my readers, thank you for your patience and your support.
