Blood Herring Teaser

PROLOGUE (LILY)

I spread the photos across the floor in my room, tossing the blurry ones to the side in a messy heap. Each photo was there to tell a story. Really that's all investigation was, storytelling. Most of my clients already had the story memorized when they hired me. They just wanted confirmation. This client though, they'd hired me certain of a particular narrative, a tale older than me. I was about to deliver a real plot twist.
Being paid to make people look foolish by the fool themselves was often the best part of my job. This moron had been certain his daughter had been sneaking out to do something nefarious. I grinned at the last black and white still. The pretty little thing stood center stage wearing a sparkling number I wouldn't be caught truly dead in, but it looked great on her, “Not a bad set of pipes either.”
The photo showed the young girl belting into the microphone, trying to kick-start her aspirations. She hadn't wanted to say anything to her father because she was simply embarrassed, thinking it was a pipe dream. I found myself hoping she made it. A knock on my bedroom door startled me from my thoughts, “Come on in.”
My roommate, Alex, stuck his dirty blonde head in. He surveyed my floor with a glance, “Why do you even keep a desk if you're just going to use the floor anyway.”
I smiled over my shoulder, “Well I have to keep my pen cup somewhere I won't trip on it."
Alex rolled his dark eyes, “Yeah, okay Lucky Charms.”
“Is a box a crummy marshmallows really your only reference to Irish culture?” I teased, used to my roommate mocking my faded accent.
“Anyway,” Alex drolled, “dinner is ready.”
“Maria didn't make anything spicy, did she?” Our live-in help had a nasty habit of overdoing cayenne pepper in her curry, “Just the thought of that last batch makes my mouth burn.”
Alex shook his head, “Just a sandwich for Maria tonight. You know she'll never let you live that down.”
A grin stole my lips, “Yeah, Yeah. Big, bad, and I still can't handle a little heat.”
I flapped the hand not holding photos in the imitation of talking to make it clear how serious I took Maria's thoughts on the subject. I placed the remaining photos on the aforementioned desk, right next to my namaste the fuck away pen holder. As we headed downstairs, Alex and I fell in line, “So, how's the latest client?"
“A complete cabbage. He thought his daughter was into drugs or something, she's just trying to be a singer.”
“Aren't they all?” Alex said this with dry humor.
“I'd listen to this chick any day over that Voice shit Darren likes," this I said as I pulled my messy blonde hair into a high ponytail.
Alex teetered his head back and forth in thought before replying as we descended the last step, “So what are you going to tell the dad?”
“He wanted to know where his daughter was going. I'll give him the address, assure him it's safe, and tell him to go see for himself,” We rounded the corner into the kitchen.
“Why not just tell him?”
“Tell who what?” This muffled reply came from Maria as she poked her head out from the fridge, a triangle of PB&J hanging from her mouth as she spoke. Her black hair was rolled neatly against her head, beads hanging from the ends of the braids. The colors of the beads contrasted with her mahogany skin.
Alex sat down at the bar island in the center of the room, “Lily has a nervous-Nelly human father with the wrong idea about his kid.”
The celebrity magazine next to Alex lowered to show Darren's brown hair and eyes, "How so?”
I grinned at Darren, “You'd like it, she's working as a lounge singer trying to get her natural talents noticed.”
Darren's dark eyebrows rose in interest, “So why not tell daddy dearest?”
“Because his daughter deserves to see the look of genuine joy when he first realizes he's way off the mark.”
Maria plopped onto the third stool while I took the fourth one next to her. She looked over in interest, “Won't your client demand answers? It's not like you can use your Superman-esque strength on him, so he doesn't know to avoid pissing you off.”
I lifted a shoulder in my indifference, “Nope, but he only asked for where not what. It's in our contract. Besides, his down payment was enough to cover the expenses alone on this one, so I'm not sweating it.”
Darren yawned and stretched, his magazine flopping in one hand, “We let us know how the big reveal goes later. Come on, I gotta get to bed soon.”
That last part was aimed at Alex as Darren brought his arms back down and offered one wrist to him. Simultaneously Maria finished her PB&J, licking the excess goo off her fingers before bending her neck to me. I pivoted my seat to the best angle and slowly bit down.

Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read the prologue of Blood Herring. This book is about to enter many stages of editing and I am seeking feedback from readers like you. If you are interested in becoming a beta reader or critique partner for this novel and/or series, please answer the survey below and email me your responses at [e-mail]. If you have questions about my process for either of these opportunities, please include those in your message.

I look forward to speaking with you!

-Alison Howell

Survey:
1) What genres do you enjoy reading the most? (IE Horror, Romance, or Science-Fiction)

2) Are you comfortable submitting honest feedback to others?

3) How fast do you usually finish a novel? (IE In one a day, every two months?)

4) Do you have regular access to your email? (At least weekly.)

5) Do you have a Skype account? (This is so we can talk at least one time before we begin.)

6) Are you interested in beta reading or being a critique partner?

7) Why are you interested in either?