Run Robin Run (Sample Chapters)

Prologue

Robin’s plane landed safely at LaGuardia Airport three hours before she was to attend the event that brought her—or should she say her alias, Grace—to New York. Though it was an enjoyable first-class ride, she would have never booked herself on a flight so close to the time of the event. However, with a complimentary trip to see her favorite author speak, she wasn’t going to complain. Karen Dennie wrote action packed novels of suspense, with tough as nails, smart women as the lead character. Today she would speak at a fundraiser for battered women.

Image of Run Robin Run’s book cover.

Exiting the plane with her one carry on, Robin made her way to the pickup area of the airport. The bookstore where she’d won the trip was also providing a ride to the hotel where she would stay and attend the fundraiser. She spotted the driver holding the sign with her latest name and walked over. “Hi, I’m Grace Jakob.” She introduced herself to the stocky driver and as he reached to take her bag said, “I’ve got this.”

“All right, Miss,” he said and pointed towards a white limousine. “The car’s right here. Do you want to put the bag in the trunk or keep it with you?”

“I’ll keep it with me,” she said and followed him to the car.

He opened the door and she climbed in and sat the bag next to her.

“Nice car, but a bit of an overkill for just me.”

He smiled and shrugged before closing her door. He rounded the car and climbed into the driver’s side and raised the privacy glass up. Robin was, in essence, by herself. As they pulled off, the roar of a motorcycle caught her attention.

“Now that is the way I prefer to travel,” she muttered, thinking about her motorcycle back in Texas and missing it a bit.

By the time she arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel and checked in, she had an hour and a half to get ready for the fundraiser, which would kick-off with a mix and mingle session, then dinner before the keynote. Robin wasn’t much for mixing and mingling and had already given herself permission to be fashionably late. She didn’t want to miss it all together in case she got an opportunity to speak with Karen, as well as find out more about the charity. She’d already planned to donate, but wanted to ask the questions that weren’t answered while she was researching the charity on the internet. When it came to her time and money, Robin didn’t play around, and she wanted to know how her money would be used.

In her luxurious hotel room, Robin pulled her no iron, black sequins, midi dress out of her bag and hung it up. She pulled out the black stiletto booties she was planning to wear with it and laid out her undergarments. Grabbing her toiletry bag, she turned to head into the bathroom to shower when something on one of the bed pillows caught her eye. She moved over to exam it and was surprised to find a small box of turtles, one of her favorite candies. Seeing it, for some reason, stirred up a memory that she had been trying to suppress for the last five months.

I’m not going to think about him.

She fought back the bit of regret that tried to rear its ugly head, picked up the box of turtles, and put them in the nightstand drawer.

The time on the clock on the nightstand grabbed her attention, and she pushed back the thought of the man who tried to steal her heart. “I did the right thing,” she muttered, entering the bathroom.

Robin arrived at the mix and mingle thirty minutes late. The dinner portion of the benefit would start in a half hour of her arrival. She knew immediately where Karen was as a large group of fans had her surrounded near a corner of the large vestibule area.

“Well, I won’t be meeting her before dinner.” Robin quickly snatched a flute of champagne off the tray of a passing server.

 “You look like a character right out of one of Karen’s books.” A husky male voice spoke from behind her. Robin turned, hoping she wouldn’t find a creep.

“Do I now? How so?” she asked the elderly, dapper man with kind eyes who’d spoken to her.

He gave her a quick once over. “In particular, you remind me of her character Mia. Tall, slender, but shapely. Sun kissed, honey skin, black hair, with amber eyes. You, my dear, are what I envisioned when I read the description in her book.”

“Mia? I thought I read all her books and I don’t remember a Mia as one of her lead characters.” Robin searched her memory, but came up with nothing.

“You wouldn’t. She’ll be in her next release. I’m one of her beta readers and her biggest fan.” He grinned proudly.

“Based on the crowd around her, I would say you have some stiff competition when it comes to being her biggest fan.” Robin nodded towards the corner of the room.

“Oh, I am without a doubt. My name is Dan, by the way. Should I call you kick-ass Mia?” He held out his hand and smiled.

“Uh, no, kick-ass Grace is more accurate.” Laughing, she switched her drink to her left hand so that she could shake his.

“All right, Grace. I’m about to prove to you that I’m Karen’s biggest fan. Follow me please.” He turned on his heels and headed straight for the crowd surrounding Karen. Robin sat her drink down on the nearest table and followed Dan. She muttered under her breath, “Well, this should be interesting.”

With quite a few excuse me, pardon me, Dan worked his way through the crowd with Robin on his heels. When Karen spotted him, her face lit up, and to Robin’s surprise, she said, “Dad, I was wondering where you’d gone.”

“I went to talk to the lovely Mia doppelgänger here.” He stepped aside so Robin could step forward.

Before Robin could speak, Karen’s eyes widened, and she said with a big smile, “Dad, you are right on this one.” She turned to Robin. “Coincidence, fate, or orchestration; whatever the reason, it’s nice to meet you.” She stared a moment and then as if remembering herself, stuck out her hand and said, “Karen Dennie.”

Robin laughed. “As one of your biggest fans, I know who you are. I’m Grace Jakob.” She firmly shook her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Grace. You wouldn’t be interested in being on the cover of my next book, would you?” She stepped forward. “I’ve been having trouble finding someone, well, that is until now.”

“I’m not a model.” Far from it. Thinking about her latest job working in a bookstore and the kickboxing amateur competitions she now liked to participate in, that kept her bruised in places that wouldn’t look good on film.

“Understood, but that didn’t answer my question.” She waved over a short, willowy blond. “Please get Grace’s information so we can contact her after the banquet. I think she would be perfect for the cover of my next book.” She turned back to Robin. “Carrie is going to get your information and give you mine. I have to step away and get ready for my speech tonight, but I will call you next week for your answer. If you make up your mind before then, please give me a call. Now if you’ll excuse me, we will definitely talk later.” She turned to the crowd and graciously excused herself.

After taking Robin’s information and handing her a business card, Carrie disappeared in the crowd that for some inexplicable reason hadn’t disappeared.

“Believe me now?” Dan smiled at her gleefully.

“You have clearly proven yourself, Dan,” Robin said, laughing.

A young woman stepped up from the crowd. “Can I get a picture with you?”

Dan straightened his tie and said, “Of course, dear.” He obviously was used to the request as the father of a bestselling author.

Robin held out her hand and said, “Do you want me to take it?”

“Actually,” the young lady answered, “I was hoping to get the woman who will be on Karen’s next release cover in the picture too.” She handed her camera to her friend and then stepped between Dan and Robin. Before Robin could react, pictures were being snapped. The next few minutes were a whirlwind as fan after fan stepped forward for a picture with them. When dinner was announced, Robin was relieved.

“Well, that was unexpected,” she told Dan as he escorted her into the banquet hall for dinner.

“Please join me at the head table. Before you say no, I didn’t bring my plus one. My son, who would be a great catch by the way, last minute couldn’t make it.” He held out his arm and smiled.

Shaking her head as she laughed, Robin took hold of his arm and said, “How could I resist?”

She was all smiles after having a great conversation over a decent dinner. It had been a while since she had been able to completely relax and enjoy herself. I’m glad I came. Fifteen minutes later, she’d changed her mind.

Ten minutes before, when Karen had stood and walked to the podium to give her speech, Robin was filled with anticipation. Then she introduced her topic and Robin felt like slipping from the room and disappearing. “I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. I’m excited by my latest book and new character Mia. If you’re interested, I’d like to tell you how she came about and give you a sneak peek into the storyline. Are you all game?”

The crowd broke into shouts of yes and clapping. Robin clapped along with the others, clueless about what came next.

“Mia is based on a woman my brother met a few months back. I call her, The Runner. See, The Runner is an intelligent, free spirit that found herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Now he didn’t give me details, but he did say that when things became difficult, she decided to run. I was fascinated and a storyline immediately came to mind, and while it is definitely not The Runner’s tale, I think it’s a great one. However, I can’t help but think just what is the story behind the runner.”

She looked over at Robin, and Robin felt ill. Did Karen know my story?

Chapter 1

Five months ago….

Things took a drastic turn for Robin when she’d been in Chicago visiting her cousin Esha.

“E, I just can’t do that.” Robin couldn’t believe her normally levelheaded cousin would ask her for such a crazy favor. They were standing in Esha’s spotless kitchen near her cream and brown granite island, drinking the green smoothies she had insisted Robin try.

“Look, I know Sam is hiding something. He canceled on me again tonight. It’s becoming a habit. Not to mention when he does show up, he’s distracted and distant. All I’m asking you to do is go by his house later tonight and see what he is up to. A drive by viewing if you will.” She took a long swallow of her drink, ignoring Robin’s look of disgust. “It wouldn’t take but a few minutes, and if he’s home working like he said, we’re all good. If he is with some other female, then it’s time to cut his tires and my losses.”

Robin gave her a look that said, Really?

Esha gave her a look that answered, Really.

“Why can’t you do this drive by viewing?” Robin asked, not believing for a moment that her cousin was going to immediately cut ties with the man she’d loved like no other for the last two years. She grabbed one of the coasters stacked on the island and sat her glass down, pulled out one of the leather stools, and took a seat.

“Because his neighbors all know me. I’d hate to be spotted.” Esha polished off her green smoothie, walked over to the sink, and rinsed out her glass before setting it in the dishwasher. “Don’t you even think about pouring that out,” she warned.

“You could have at least added a banana, honey, apple or something.” Robin frowned at the green smoothie. “This taste like grass smells, and I’ve never been a big fan of the smell of grass.”

“Stop being a punk and drink up. You’ll need your strength when you turn private eye later tonight,” Esha said, grabbing her work bag off one of the stools next to Robin and heading for the front door.

“The only thing I’m doing tonight is curling up on the couch with a Karen Dennie book.” Robin had been waiting to read the latest novel from her favorite author.

Esha looked back and said, “I’ll see you later tonight. Drink your smoothie. And thanks again for helping me out.”

“I’m not going to do it,” Robin called after her as she headed to the sink to pour out the pure green yuck.

***

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Robin said, driving down Sam’s street at nine that night. Esha had called and invited Robin to join her and some co-workers for drinks and dinner. Since she found Esha’s friends to be ‘special’ the last time she joined them, she turned her down, claiming a headache to avoid any pushback. On a whim, she decided to do a drive by and spy on Sam. She was hoping to find him working and not with a female. She figured that if he wasn’t working at home, like he said he would be, chances were he wouldn’t be home at all.

Robin soon learned that surveillance wasn’t as simple as it appeared on television. She rolled by his house, saw lights on but no cars in the driveway. “He could have parked in the garage,” she muttered, rolling past the house. She parked on the next block within view of his property.

I probably should just head back.

She zipped up her navy hoodie. “This is not a good idea,” she whispered even as she climbed out of the car.

Sam’s house was on the corner lot. Robin pulled the hood over her head and started a slow jog toward Sam’s block. If anyone were to look out their window, they would just see a jogger on the block and not just a hooded figure. The cool, brisk, fall air would explain her wearing the hoodie.

When she reached his house, she looked around to make sure no one was looking and cut down the alley. Without thinking, she opened Sam’s gate and entered his yard. She knew he didn’t have a dog, so she approached his house from the back.

I’ll just peek in and then get out of here.

She walked on the side of the house without a neighbor and stayed low so the bushes that ran beside it hid her from the street. Pulling out her phone, she prepped it to take pictures, in case she needed to catch proof of him creeping. She heard voices and realized that one of the windows had been left open. Robin walked over to it and checked the street to make sure no cars were coming before standing up and peeking in. She lifted her cell phone and prepared to snap a quick photo.

“You don’t want to do this. I promise you, I’ll keep quiet.” Sam stood with his back to her. Two men stood in front of him looking menacing.

“We already heard you’ve been running your mouth. We can’t afford to leave loose ends.”

Robin heard two low pops, and Sam fell to the floor, which gave her a clear view of his attackers’ faces and the badges on their belts. Instinct had her duck down out of sight and cover the scream that threatened to break loose. She sprinted to get away from the house before they came out. When she reached the gate, adrenaline had her do something she didn’t even know she was capable of. She jumped up, grabbed the top of the fence, and vaulted herself over. She rushed back to the car and hopped in. Seconds later, the two men rounded the same corner. Seeing them head toward the car, she laid herself down and hoped they wouldn’t come near the car and see her.

Their footsteps rushed past the car and she heard two car doors slam, an engine start, and a car pull off. She sat up slowly and realized they had been parked two cars in front of her.

What do I do? Her hands shook as she started the car but didn’t turn on the lights. She reached for the phone to call for help and then their badges flashed through her mind. Headlights approaching from the rear had her ducking down again and shutting off the car. The lights turned off, and she slowly sat up and looked in the rearview mirror as the approaching car had turned into Sam’s driveway. A slender man stepped out of the car and walked up the walkway to the front of the house. He rang the bell and waited. He rang it again before knocking.

Robin watched as he walked away from the front door and walked to the side of the house that she’d just left minutes before. Moments later, he rushed from the side of the house with his phone in his hand, dialing.

He must have spotted Sam. Robin started the car and pulled out, only turning on her lights when she turned off the block. Shaking, she rushed back to Esha’s apartment and let herself in with the spare key she’d been given. Luckily, Esha hadn’t made it home. Robin rushed to her room and quickly changed into her pajamas. No one could know she was there that night, at least not until she could figure out how to help capture Sam’s assailants without getting herself killed.

Please let him still be alive.

Robin paced the guest bedroom floor until she heard Esha come home. She cut off her lights and climbed in bed, not ready to face anyone until she pulled herself together.

In the novella, Run Robin Run, Robin witnesses a crime. Until she can figure out a way to bring the culprits to justice she goes on the run. Now she has to trust strangers that may or may not betray her. While trying to keep herself alive, she also attempts to reign in her heart as it opens to the least desirable candidate.

Run Robin Run, e-book available on Amazon.