Ground Zero

D.Outhouse

Description

Cait O’Mailey is a young, fresh-out-of-the-academy small-town girl who moves to the Metropolis of Arbrick, PA with expectations of making a difference. What she finds are criminals that don’t stop at threats, a chauvinistic captain seemingly determined to hold her back, a rugged partner with a one-track mind, and all the wrong kinds of adventures; brought together purely for your enjoyment.

Sujets

• Thrillers
• Suspenso
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 28 juillet 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798823011730
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

DEDICATION
For Lori, Tara, and Helen.
 
Well I don’t know how we did it girls, but we’ve made it thus far.
We still have most of our original parts; we aren’t missing any limbs at least.
We’ve been brought to our knees more than a few times-
But we keep grabbing life by the balls, climbing back to our feet, and saying:
“Look here bitch; you have forgotten who you’re dealing with… Let me remind you.”
So Ladies, this one’s dedicated to us.
Cheers.
A pinch of soul with a whole lot of sass.
A sprinkle of naughty and just enough class.
The strength of a warrior and a ‘go-to-hell’ glare.
A past that’s not perfect because life isn’t fair.
A sailor’s mouth with a heart full of love,
 
that’s what a BADASS is made of.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Yes; this is a prequel…
But there is a reason I chose to release this story mid-series.
This short telling is intended to be enjoyed after having already established the aged version of these characters. It’s full of easter eggs, laughs, and realizations that would be lost should you decide to read this novella before actually beginning the O’Mailey Files.
I’m not tellin’ you what to do;
I’m just lettin’ you know you’ll get way more out of it if you take a pause to go by the numbers…
Oh, well, okay yeah technically ‘zero’ DOES come before all the rest on the numerical scale-
But here is the order I (aka: the AUTHOR, ergo I know a little something of what I’m talking about) recommend:
First Light of Day
Twice the Fool
Third Time’s the C harm
Ground Zero
The 4 th (available December 2024; fingers crossed)
 
Additional available no vels:
HomeF ront
Citizens of small-town Folbee, Nebraska find themselves under the thumb of mega-entrepreneur Richard Kilroy; a man of money who appeared one day and seemed to have Folbee in his pocket the next. Among the unhappy residents are single mother Chelsie Davenport and her six year old daughter Rosie, the remnants of the McCormick family, and Dirk Korner’s fresh widow. Then one day, miracle of miracles: the McKormick’s eldest and sole remaining son makes an unexpected return from his 14 year Army tenure. The McKormick’s house is slowly falling apart while Chelsie fights off the unwanted attentions of Sherriff Brock Carter and Widow Korner becomes more and more suspicious that her husband was not attacked by wild wolves. Chris McKormick is aghast to find his home in such decay, intrigued by the beautiful Chelsie Davenport, and determined to restore Folbee to it’s former glory.
But will the fight be worth the cost, and who will pay the gravedigger?
… And coming soon to a bookstore near you:
Peric ulum
Fate Worse Than D eath
Comedy of Er rors
Round Five (the 5 th installment in the O’Mailey Files)
GROUND ZERO
[A WEE PREQUEL TO THE O’M AILEY F ILES ]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D.OUTHOUSE
 
 
 
 
 

 
AuthorHouse™
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www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
 
 
© 2023 D.Outhouse. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse  07/27/2023
 
ISBN: 979-8-8230-1174-7 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-8230-1173-0 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023913032
 
 
 
 
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
CONTENTS
Dedication
A note from the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
CHAPTER 1
A very young, very excited Cait O’Mailey held back a sigh of exasperation. Her eagerness to get on the road was hardly contained as she stood with her mother near the garage door. They watched Liam check every bolt and cord that made the little Honda’s age-worn engine. Liam had already gone over the vehicle with a fine toothed comb. Twice. Then he’d taken the vehicle to Mason’s Garage last Wednesday just to make certain he hadn’t missed anything. Now here he was on the day of departure with elbows sunk deep into the mechanics of the machine that was about to carry his wee turtle across the country.
She wasn’t so much a ‘wee turtle’ anymore – but she WAS his only daughter. “Ah dinnae lik’ th’ soonds o’ her.” He finally said, straightening from his hunch. He turned to Cait, “We shoo-”
“Da…” Cait crossed arms over her chest and shifted anxiously. “If I don’t leave right now I won’t have time to settle in. The car is fine. Better than fine.”
Liam grunted an “Aye.” He was a bear of a Scot: Six and a quarter feet of once-upon-a-time heavyweight boxer. He was big-boned, strong-willed, and had a glower that could cause a Doberman to turn tail and run. Thirty years of marriage to an Irish besom and twenty of raising another had gone a long way in domesticating Liam. A long way – but no Scot was truly tamed. Liam stood frowning down at the Accord with a repugnance typically reserved for Brits and the Boston Bruins.
Cait was afraid that if he kept up the stare the car might collapse under the weight of it. She turned to her mother, “Ma please?”
“Aye Liam. Ye let Cait gang; cannae ye see howfur eager she be tae git herself murdurred?” This last bit Aide O’Mailey added with a frown at her daughter.
Cait rolled her eyes heavenward; Oysh.
The sun was high. The sky was clear and bright. And the air was warm and still. The O’Maileys lived in a friendly neighborhood where the yards were unfenced and scattered toys lay about every other dwelling. Each house was a two-story with three beds, two baths, kitchen, and dining room. The people in this suburbia worked hard to have an attic, a basement, and a one-car garage. Everyone knew everyone by first name. The grasses were trimmed and the sidewalks were clean - and all this was accomplished without the supervision of any HOA.
Morgan Fuller poked his head out of his front door and yelled across the street: “Car problems Kate?”
“No sir; it’s my father this time!”
Morgan bellowed a laugh and addressed Liam: “It’s time Scotty! She’ll be late if you don’t let her get going!” Morgan waved to the fiery carrot-top whom he’d known since birth and fare-welled, “Good luck to you Katie-girl!”
“Thank you Mr. Fuller!” Morgan’s front door closed and Cait turned to her mother, “I won’t get killed; I’m going to make you proud. Like da does.”
Aide cupped her gel’s face and drew Cait near to place a kiss on her forehead. “Ye awready hae dearie; time ‘n’ time agin- sae really thir’s na need fur this ‘ere trek cross-country intae th’ wilds…” Aide gazed into Cait’s excited green eyes trying to see past the 5 year old with bright orange pigtails. Aide knew her daughter was now a full grown woman but for the life of her, Aide only saw that wee child perched on her bike with training wheels removed begging Aide to let her go: ‘Ah kin do it ma; promise!’. Aide blinked back tears. Rather than falling apart, she turned to her husband and shot him a glare of her own: “ Git awa’ fae that motor ye buffoon afore ye break it wi’ yer meanness. Hurry up ‘n’ wish ye puss weel afore she leaves!”
Liam growled (whether at the vehicle or his wife, none could tell) but reluctantly did as told. He enveloped Cait in a bear hug squeezing tight as if he could somehow shrink her back down to toddler-size. “May th’ sun be at yer back Turtle;” He mumbled into her hair, “‘n’ th’ win tae yer face.”
Cait whimpered into his chest something about breathing.
He released her and opened the car door beckoning her to enter if she must. “Ye caw fae ilka stoap. ‘N’ ye let us kin whin ye reach th’ city. ‘N’ ah wantae hear a’ aboot yer first day too sae-”
“Liam.” Sighed Aide. “She’s laete.”
“Goodbye ma. Da.” Cait pecked them each on the cheek and quickly slipped behind the wheel.
“ Caw .” Liam emphasized before shutting the door, “ Dinnae forgoat noo. Ah’ll come keekin’ if ye forgoat; here me Puss?”
“Seat belt.” Aide reminded even though Cait was already reaching for it.
Cait turned the engine over, waved to her parents, and backed out of the driveway wearing a face-splitting smile. She had a long drive ahead: Folbee, Nebraska to Arbrick, PN. Plenty of time for her to get over the surge of mixed emotions.
Aide’s chest heaved as she watched the faded-tan Accord disappear around the bend. Even long seconds later she still didn’t budge. She felt Liam’s hand at the small of her back and it brought comfort.
“Aide.”
She placed a palm over her mouth to still her quivering chin. “Mah hert is breaking luv.” She whispered, “‘N’ it hurts sae…” She added in a trembling voice.
“Aye hen. Aye.” Liam wrapped his arms around her.
As was true Irish fashion Aide shrugged out of his attempt to sooth. She pointed a frail finger under his mustache-hidden nostril, “This is yer fault, ye ninny. Ye ne’er shuild hae supported this cockamamie notion o’ hers. Ye aye made her hawp she cuid fly… that’s howfur she broke her arm in th’ first-”
“Aff tae bring that up agin urr ye?”
“ YEA ah’m gonna bring it up agin!”
“Howfur wis ah tae kin