.jpg) SECRETS I HAVE KEPT Beverly Stowe McClure Copyright © Jan. 2006 All rights reserved. Young Adult Published Soft Cover Published by Wings ePress. ISBN 1-59088-563-5 $10.95 Click here to buy this book. E-Book Published by none specified. ISBN 1-59088-487-6 $6.00 Read an Excerpt One rainy spring night, sixteen-year-old Jennifer Barret's father, Sam, a molecular biologist at Orion Laboratories, is kidnapped. Armed with nothing more than her own courage, a phone number on a candy wrapper, and her loyal Australian cattle dog, Chopin, she begins a desperate attempt to rescue him and to discover the reason for his abduction. In her search, she meets Casey Christopher, a runaway on a quest of his own: to find his father who walked out on Casey and his mother when Casey was a child. He puts his plans on hold to help Jennifer. As they follow a trail of unusual clues, a chilling secret is revealed. Sam Barret and his colleague have discovered a drug that has the potential to make man's wildest dreams come true. Or his worst nightmares. Is there a connection? Review: SECRETS I HAVE KEPT - Beverly Stowe McClure Wings ePress - www.wings-press.com ISBN: 1-59088-487-6 January 2006 Young Adult Mystery Saxet, Texas - Present Day Jennifer Barret has a simple life. She and her father live with their dog Chopin in the countryside. Jennifer's father is a molecular biologist, and hopes to discover some of the world's most life saving vaccines through studying plants. But her simple life has suddenly gotten very complicated, for it seems her father’s work involves much more than simple plants. Jennifer's entire world changes with one car ride. Her father, Sam, comes home and promptly drags Jennifer out of the house and into his pickup. They drive on until they are run off the road and her father is taken against his will. Jennifer flees the scene and runs into a boy named Casey, a runaway in search of his absentee father. Now Jennifer finds herself in a land of confusion. Who took her father? Is he still alive? Is anyone who they say they are? And who should she trust? SECRETS I HAVE KEPT is a good book for anyone, but is particularly suited to younger teens. The plot is well developed, perfectly paced and suspenseful with a sweet romance. While the dialogue is slightly melodramatic at times, the characters are realistic and they mature as the story progresses. As far as mysteries go, SECRETS I HAVE KEPT is a satisfying read and a great choice, especially for preteens. Amanda Roberts Romance Reviews Today Excerpt One Jennifer Barret glanced at the clock on the white wicker table beside her bed for the hundredth time that night. Midnight. She paced, her arms hugged across her chest. “Where are you, Dad?” she whispered. “Why are you so late?” She paused by the phone, lifted the receiver, and dialed her father’s office at Orion Laboratories. The answering machine clicked on. She hung up. Something was wrong. But what? In her mind she played back her father’s phone call earlier. How long ago was it? Six o’clock, she thought. She was on her way out the door to go to the basketball game with her best friend, Iris, when he called. Saxet High was one win away from the state tournament, but her dad told her to stay home until he got there. He had sounded tense, jittery, even frightened. So she obeyed. And that was the last she had heard from him. She tossed a pile of shirts and jeans to one side, flopped down on her bed, and ruffled the ears of the blue-speckled dog curled on the pillows. “Dad’s not at work, Chopin,” she said. “Where do you suppose he is?” The dog opened one eye a hairline crack and yawned. Jen joked to hide the unease growing inside her. “What’s that you say, boy? You think Dad is at Lani’s, doing whatever old people do on a date. Do they kiss?” She wrinkled her nose at the thought. “If Dad is at Lani’s, then why did he order me to stay home, when he hasn’t shown up? Thanks to his phone call, I missed the most important game of the season.” She sighed. “I don’t understand him anymore. Ever since he met Lani he’s acted like a lovesick schoolboy, while here I sit, bored to death. It isn’t fair.” With her emotions switching from worry to anger, she dialed Lani’s house, ready to complain, and got her second recorded message of the evening. She dropped the receiver in its cradle. “I do not talk to machines,” she told Chopin. The dog sat up, his amber eyes alert and on his girl. Soft music rolled from the CD player--Schubert’s La Serenade. Branches of the mulberry tree outside her open window scraped against the roof. The red-and-white curtains rustled in the crisp spring breeze. Jen shivered and hurried to close the window. The glare of headlights coming down Harmony Road caught her eye. “Dad’s home,” she said with relief. “Finally.” The vehicle drew even with the iron gate at the end of the gravel drive, half a mile from the house, but instead of turning in, it stopped and sat there for a minute. Even at that distance she could see it was a car. Her father drove a pickup. The car then sped off, disappearing around a bend in the road. “It wasn’t Dad,” she said, disappointed. “This isn’t like him, Chopin. He always calls when he’s delayed. Or when he’s going to Lani’s.” At that moment, the phone rang, making her jump. She grabbed it. “Dad, what is going on? Do you know what time it is? When are you coming home?” Silence on the other end. “Hello? Dad?” The line went dead. Wrong number? She hung up. The phone rang again. She yanked it to her ear. “Listen, you... you creep. I don’t know who you are, or what game you’re playing, but it’s rude to hang up on a person. Get some manners. Talk to me. Say something.” A deep, masculine voice said, “Jennifer? What’s wrong? You sound upset.” “Oh, Mitch. I thought... Never mind.” She stretched across the bed, her anger fading. “I’m okay. But it’s been a strange night. Did you call me a few minutes ago?” “No. Why?” “Someone did, but they hung up, without a word. It was probably kids playing a joke, choosing numbers out of the phone book, the way we used to, saying ‘Is your refrigerator running? You’d better catch it.’ Remember?” “Yeah,” Mitch said, a hint of worry in his voice. “Are you there alone, Jennifer?” She bit her lip. Great, she thought. Why did I tell him about the call? He’s so protective of me, worse than dad, if that’s possible. Neither of them seem to realize I’m sixteen now, a grown woman perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don’t need Mitch hovering over me. Why didn’t I keep quiet? “I’m not alone,” she snapped, sharper than she intended. “Chopin’s here.” Mitch was quiet, and she instantly regretted the way she had snapped at him. He cared for her, too much. They had been friends and neighbors all their lives. She knew that he wanted to be more than friends, but she wasn’t ready for a serious relationship yet, with Mitch or anyone. Chopin wriggled closer and rooted his nose under her hand, wanting to be petted. She obliged and scratched the dog’s chin. “You still there, Mitch?” she asked. “Yes.” “I’m sorry. I am a little upset, but it’s not your problem. Let’s talk about something more pleasant. How was the basketball game? Did Saxet High’s star senior score lots of points?” “Some. I only play my best game when you’re there. I missed you, Jennifer.” “Yeah, I’m sure you missed me with half the girls in school drooling over your brown eyes and begging to feel your biceps. Oooh! Mitchie, baby,” she teased, “those rippling muscles.” She puckered her lips and made smacking noises into the receiver.Talking to Mitch brought order back to her confusing night and helped her forget about her dad, at least temporarily. He chuckled. “You’re the only girl allowed to touch my biceps or any other part of my anatomy.” “I don’t believe that. Is Iris allowed? Or that cute redhead I saw you with last week?” “Nice try, Jennifer,” he said, suddenly serious, “but you can’t distract me that easily. Is your father home?” Mitch’s persistent questions were beginning to annoy her. “He will be soon.” “I knew it! You are alone! What if that phone call was the burglar who’s been terrorizing the county the past month? Maybe he was checking to see if anybody was home. He hit the Smiths’ house last night and stole some expensive jewelry. What if he breaks into your place?” “The doors are locked, and Chopin--” “Chopin rounds up cattle. He’d run from a burglar. I’ll be over in a few minutes.” “That isn’t necessary,” Jen said. But she was talking to thin air. She slammed down the receiver. Mitch was impossible. This whole situation was a nightmare. She sat up, reached over, and switched off the CD player. The room grew eerily quiet. She rubbed her arms, trying to decide what to do. I could call Sheriff Loban, she thought. What would I say? My dad is missing? Of course he’s more than likely on a date. The sheriff would love that. I’m making a big deal out of nothing. Dad and Lani probably went to the late movie and then to eat and forgot about the time, and me. Chopin slapped a wet doggy-kiss on Jen’s nose. His tail wagged from side to side, like the pendulum on a grandfather clock. “I don’t fool you for a minute, do I, boy?” she said. “And you are absolutely right. So much for being independent. I’m glad Mitch is coming over. I can’t handle this by myself. I need company, and advice. A shoulder to lean on is always nice, especially Mitch’s. We’ll wait for him downstairs.” She rose, tucked her shirt in her jeans, and tugged on her boots. She pulled her long, honey-gold hair into a ponytail and was tying it with a green silk ribbon when the floor outside her door creaked. She swept a quick look across the room. “Dad? Is that you? Mitch?” No one answered. The door murmured quietly, as someone opened it. Tears of relief flooded Jen’s eyes at the sight of her dad’s husky figure. She forced them back. “Thank goodness you’re home,” she said, willing the tremors from her voice. “I called the lab. I called Lani. I was afraid you’d had an accident or something.” Her father pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh, Jennifer. I’ll explain on the way to Lani’s.” |
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