Security Force of Two by Tena Stetler

This week, I’m pleased to introduce you to Security Force of Two by Tena Stetler. It is the first book in her Mountain Town Mystery series.

 

 

Background on the Mountain Town Mystery series

A few years ago, I attended a writing conference.  I had lunch with an individual from a publishing house.  She was a hoot and talked about her father who was the chief of police for a small town. Growing up in that small town she knew everybody’s business more than most, being the chief’s daughter. Nothing really bad ever happened in her town.

Our conversation got me to thinking, which is always a dangerous thing.  LOL What if the police chief of thirty-five years retired? What if his replacement succumbed to an untimely death in that tiny town that never saw much crime, let alone a violent murder?  What if the retired police chief’s daughter left the CIA for a quiet life only to become mixed up in the investigation? The what-ifs went on and on. I made notes and stored them on my computer.

As it turned out, when I arrived home from the conference, an email awaited me. The book, my debut novel, A Demon’s Witch, I was pitching at that conference was contracted by another house, The Wild Rose Press, which has since published eighteen of my books and counting. In my excitement, the file was completely forgotten.

Years later, I came across the file and reviewed it. Security Force of Two was born. I keep thinking, someday I should drop the individual an email and let her know our conversation inspired my new release.  Then again, maybe not.

Meet the cast of Security Force of Two

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.

Candle Bearclaw, a gifted computer analyst/programmer with talents she’s buried when recruited out of college by the CIA. After fifteen years, she abruptly resigns her position with the agency. She returns to her sleepy hometown only to discover her childhood crush has also returned and a violent crime has been committed.

Due to their covert operations experience, Candle and Miacoh are thrown together to assist Homeland Security, FBI, and her father, former chief of police, with a murder investigation. As they search for the perpetrators, will their secrets be revealed as the investigation takes an unusual twist that could blow the case wide open.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bMN2X5

An Excerpt from Security Force of Two

Candle Bearclaw stood in front of Carl’s large mahogany desk, laid the unsealed white envelope face up on the polished desktop, and slid it toward her boss.

“What’s this?” Carl eyed the offending envelope.

“It’s what we talked about last week, my resignation.” She swung her briefcase onto the leather chair beside her. Pulling out a laptop computer, a manila file folder, and a memory stick, she set them on the corner of her boss’ desk.

“It’s all here, including the passwords necessary to access the sensitive files, my work on the assignment, including my contacts, and it’s a good stopping point for me. Someone else should be able to pick up exactly where I left off, seamlessly. I am requesting a no contact status by you and the agency.”

She pulled out a .380 semi-automatic tucked into the waistband of her slacks, ejected the magazine, and racked the slide open. Gingerly setting the gun on the desk beside the other items, she sighed.

He looked across the desk at her, observing her actions. “I understand your position, but that may not be possible. How deep were you?”

Hands flat on the desktop, she leaned over and glared at him. “Deep enough to understand the assignment goes against every fiber of my being. You knew that when you assigned it to me, and yet, you did it anyway, knowing it would be my final act as an operative.”

She stood and raised her arms in a surrender motion. “For God’s sakes, Carl, I’m a computer analyst turned hacker under your fine tutelage. I can’t do it anymore.”

Carl leaned back in his chair. “A replacement will be difficult to find, if not impossible,” he said flatly. “You’re the best.”

“You should have thought about that before you forced me to take this assignment,” she insisted, pacing around the room.

He raked his fingers through his thick salt-and-pepper hair, rubbing at the back of his neck the minute she walked through the door. “Thought you’d come around. You always have.”

She shook her head, feeling a little sorry for the predicament she’d put him in, though it was of his own making. “Not this time. I’m through. And I’m taking you up on the promise you made when I agreed to become an independent contractor with the agency.” She gave a half laugh. “That didn’t last long, did it?”

“That was a long time ago before you were officially with the agency. I’m not sure you can just walk now. The director needs to sign off on this.” He leaned forward with his elbows on the desk, fingers tented in front of him, and gave her a hard stare.

“I guess that’s your problem. Unless, of course, you want me to have a little chat with the President.” She shrugged, then returned his stare, refusing to look away. “Come on, Carl, cut the bullshit. I know you don’t want me to go, but we both know I’m not cut out for what this assignment could turn into. I’m a computer geek, not a deep-cover operative.”

Finally looking away, he sighed, reached for the envelope, and pulled out three pieces of neatly folded paper. The first was her handwritten resignation, signed and notarized. The second had one word typed on the entire page, a password to unlock her agency computer, giving access to the top-secret files stored there. “Only one password?” He raised a bushy brow in question.

“Yes, the rest you can get from my handler, Mark, along with anything you don’t understand on the third page regarding my assignment.” She turned on her heel and started for the door.

He stood and walked around the desk. “Candle. Are you sure about this?”

She paused and turned halfway around. “Positive.”

The determined look on her face said it all. He sighed. “Ok, I’ll set up your exit interview in one hour. That’ll give me time to get HR briefed and up here.”

“Thanks, Carl. I appreciate it.” She pulled a single piece of paper out of her briefcase and laid it in front of him. “I need you to sign off on this, acknowledging receipt of my computer, weapon, phone, and files.”

He pulled the paper toward him, scribbled his name at the bottom, then pushed the document back to her. “You know this is going to tarnish my reputation,” he said gruffly, a small smile crossing his lips. “I just allowed one of our best geeks to cut her ties to the agency.”

“No, it won’t.” One corner of her mouth turned up in a partial smile. “I’m not cut out for this. I want to live a normal life without looking over my shoulder.” She picked up her briefcase, continued toward the door, turned, and paused. “I’ll be back in an hour, and thanks.”

Carl solemnly nodded his head, bringing his eyes up to meet hers. “I wish you’d reconsider.”

She shook her head slowly. “Not a chance.” She grasped the polished silver handle and yanked open the door. Walking through, she closed it quietly. Leaning her back against the door, she felt like a dead weight had just been lifted from her shoulders and let out a sigh of relief.

The squeal of Carl’s chair wheels caught her attention. In her mind’s eye, she saw him shoved back in his chair, rubbing his eyes as he did when stressed. Inheriting her mother’s talent had saved her ass many times. However, she’d never be as good as her mother.

Pekabo Bearclaw had a way of knowing things before they happened and seeing things ordinary people shouldn’t. The receiver tumbled onto the desk with a thud as he reached for it. She heard beeps as he punched in two numbers and then drummed his fingers while he waited for an answer. A late summer rain began to patter against the office windows.

“Director, I’ve set up an exit interview for Candle Bearclaw first thing this morning. I need to arrange for an HR representative to be in my office in an hour. She turned in her letter of resignation, the agency’s laptop, and her service weapon.” There was a pause in the conversation, then Carl snarled, “I know you thought it was a bad fit, but…Well, it doesn’t matter now.”

Another pause.

“I need a replacement ASAP. I can bring them up to speed and hopefully save the operation before anyone senses anything is amiss. Candle gave me her field notes, investigation information, and all contacts,” Carl said, then added to the empty office, “Good luck, Candle. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

Lips curved in a half-smile, she quietly pushed off the door. Her footsteps left imprints, but made no sound, on the plush navy-blue carpet as she made her way down the long hall and reached the security doors. She punched in her code and walked out the doors into the darkness. I have an hour to kill before dawn.

The early morning rain had turned to mist cool and refreshing against her face. She glanced at the darkening clouds and pulled out an umbrella as she strolled across the manicured lawn, then sat on a bench to wait. Another hour or two at the most, and she’d be free from the agency. She blew out a breath. Freedom, a long-awaited reward, and the open road were calling to her.

****

The roll-up door to the storage unit creaked when Candle pushed it up the final inches. She took a set of keys and an electronic device from her briefcase. Holding the device about waist high, she walked around the covered vehicle and then slid under the car. A quiet ping sounded, and she wriggled out from under the vehicle. Old habits die hard.

She shrugged her shoulders. Better safe than sorry. She pocketed the device, uncovered the copper and black sports car, pushed a button, and the driver’s door swung up, like a wing, rather than out, so secret agentish. She liked that. The vehicle was a bonus for a challenging eighteen-month undercover assignment well done.

She shivered, laughing at herself, shoved her duffel bag behind the front seat, covered it with a towel kept folded on the floor, then climbed into the car and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life. Raw power. A tremor of excitement danced up her spine. Awesome sound. Reaching under the passenger seat, she pulled out her laptop, several peripherals, a tablet, and a cell phone, all bundled together. Leaning back against the seat, she rubbed her eyes and yawned. She’d spent the entire week planning her exit from the agency, making sure her bank accounts and documents were in order, leaving little time for sleep. Anticipation rippled through her as she contemplated the next chapter in her life.

Meet the Fascinating Tena Stetler

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award-winning paranormal romance/mystery with an over-active imagination.  She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot, and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.

Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, and mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

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