The world thinks he had a heart attack.

The Eight Sentences:

She touched a remote switch and heavy drapes concealed the windows and muted the sound of the thunderstorm, “I’m going to the States for a meeting with Julian Thibaut.”

“You’ve spent a noteworthy amount of time with him since Brian’s death.”

She ignored the suggestion and took the conversation in another direction, “You mean, since Brian’s murder.”

“The world thinks he had a heart attack,” answered Byrd.

“We know different -- and I know who pulled the trigger and who put up the money.”

Byrd was staggered by the revelation. He hesitated for a moment, looked at the floor, took a deep breath and changed the subject, “Do you think Thibaut will have an interest in a sizeable portion of our stock?”

Star made eye contact, smiled, and replied, “Probably, but before I find out, I’m having an old friend for dinner.”

The Setup:

     Star Braun plans a trip to the States. It's just the tip of the ice berg and the first in a series of dominoes about to fall. She's discussing it with a business associate and friend.

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The eyes have it.

The Eight Sentences: 

Claudia did not answer right away.

Star continued to watch the crown molding where the wall met the ceiling, “I’m going to sit up now and take my feet off the ottoman.”

As before, Claudia did not respond while Star did as she had said.

Their eyes met again.

Claudia watched her left-handed guest's eye movement to see how they responded to a question, “What can I do for you?”

Star’s eyes moved up and to her right in a subconscious and uncontrollable response — visual remembrance — she was about to tell the truth, “I need your help.”

Claudia’s shoulders dropped but she kept a firm grip on her tactical knife, “In what way?”

The Back Story:  

 Claudia's guest is a character from each of my first two books, Star Braun.

Star is left handed so Claudia applies what she learned from the NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) accessing cues to determine if it is a lie or not.

Knowing and being able to apply this information was an important part of Claudia's studies to earn a masters degree in group dynamics at LSU. Group dynamics was the subject of this blog: "What the assassin already knows."

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Manhattan Skyline

The Eight Sentences:

The Manhattan skyline glowed like bullion thanks to the sun’s rays just before dusk. Claudia Barry appreciated the spectacle from her table in the Vu Lounge of the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City. She held her martini glass up so she could observe the Freedom Tower through her drink. She liked the distorted view. It gave her ideas for a watercolor painting she planned to complete while in the northeast.

She turned to a fresh sheet of paper in her leather portfolio and wrote with her antique fountain pen.

She moved the pen with a deliberate pace. The painter’s hand moved the premium writing instrument with an assassin’s precision.

Claudia's view of the Freedom Tower from Jersey City.
Image credit: Etier Photography/Royal Flamingo Works, LLC

The Back Story:

     Readers first met Claudia Barry in The Tourist Killer. As that book ended, she had decided to take a year off from work. The sequel, A Year Without Killing, tells what she did during that twelve month sabbatical. She did not leave her weapons at home.

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