SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

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IT'S IN HIGHER HANDS NOW...

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EXCERPT from SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Rochelle sat in the waiting area--never her favorite pastime, and even less so knowing the man she loved could live or die. She had progressed from buddies to maybe a relationship to how could she live without Johnny in a very short time. Was she making another mistake about a man? 

The surgeons finally came out looking grim. "We've done all we can. It's in higher hands now." 

So Rochelle's vigil began. Over the next week, she split her time between sitting beside Johnny's hospital bed and hovering close to Ariel. 

Talk among the O'Shea brothers reflected an urgent need to aggressively pursue those perpetuating crimes in Halo. The town had been blown apart, followed by a series of arson fires. In addition, rumors had surfaced about continuing illegal sales of prescriptions. Collin had been shot, Jeremiah framed for arson, and now Johnny had been shot. 

Was Charlie right that the originators of the baby-selling ring were coming back to Halo? That no one would be safe until all those connected with the old Halo Police Department were jailed or dead? Did Bernie know that and was working to that end when he was killed?

(Copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

JOHNNY SPUN OUT OF CONTROL

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EXCERPT from SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Johnny loved riding his brother's big bike. Though not as maneuverable as the smaller dirt bikes, its power more than made up for that. However, true to his boast, Thomas never fell far behind Johnny, showing his expertise from many hours spent riding a motorcycle. 

As they neared the dredge, and the only open area on their route, Thomas made a move to pull ahead of Johnny. Laughing, Johnny gave the bigger bike more gas and kept the lead in a loop around the dredge. 

As he leaned into the corner, something slammed into his chest with the force a steam locomotive. He spun out of control and the bike skidded on its side, leaving Johnny's with the thought, Thomas is going to kill me for wrecking his bike. 

(Copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

WHERE'S ARIEL?

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EXCERPT from SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

"Where's Ariel?" 

A quick look around the ballroom didn't turn up the little girl. 

"We'll find her," Johnny assured Rochelle. Though tears filled her eyes, determination steeled her backbone. Rochelle had been part of many searches, as had most of Halo's citizens. However, a search of the entire house failed to locate Ariel. 

Rochelle tried to keep panic at bay. From the time she was a toddler, Rochelle had played a game with Ariel not to go anywhere with anyone unless they knew the secret code word. 

"While the other teams start searching outside, let's go through the house again," Johnny said. "There are a lot of places in an old house where a little girl could hide." 

Fearing the worst, Rochelle, Johnny, his brother Grady, and Layla Dalton, who lived in the house, started at the ballroom on the third floor and worked downward, calling out Ariel's name as they looked. The pressure in Rochelle's chest grew heavier as they reached the first floor without any luck. 

"I found Ariel's oboe!" Grady called out. 

Johnny, Rochelle and Layla rushed to the pantry, where Grady stood over the little girl's musical instrument. 

"It wasn't there when we searched this floor earlier." 

The group looked at each other. 

"Ariel!" Rochelle's shout held a note of desperate hope. 

A soft thump sounded. 

"Ariel? Where are you, baby?" 

Again, a thump sounded behind the wall. 

"What's behind that wall?" Rochelle asked. 

"A section of one of the other walls lifts out to access the elevator," Grady said. "There could be other secret passages in a house this old." 

Johnny walked to the wall and said in a loud voice. "Ariel, if you can hear me, knock twice on the wall." 

Two loud knocks echoed behind the wall. 

Murmurs of relief spread through the trio. 

"How do we get her out?" 

(Excerpt from Shadow of the Legacy, copyright by Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

WALKING OFF A CLIFF...

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Once a week, the Blue Moon Café was transformed into an intimate French restaurant to showcase Antoine's special recipes. This formal night was very popular with couples in Halo, and was drawing customers from the surrounding county as well. 

"I don't have anything to wear." Rochelle frowned. 

Johnny rolled his eyes. 

"This is serious." 

"My apologies, milady." Johnny bent into a sweeping bow. "Then we must go visit the tailor immediately." 

"You're still making fun of me." 

"I'm teasing you because I didn't think you'd let me buy you a dress any other way." 

Rochelle's breath caught in her throat. "A man doesn't buy a woman a dress unless he's very interested in her." 

"And what if I am? What would you think about that?" 

Rochelle reminded herself to breathe. Watch for signs to embrace your feminine side, her guides had said.

...Rochelle knew she was walking off a cliff, but maybe--just maybe--she could find her wings and learn to fly before she crashed against the jagged rocks at the bottom. 

(Excerpt from Shadow of the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

WE CAN ALL START TO HEAL...

The trip to Boston gave her an entirely different perspective on wealthy men than what she had clung to from the time her birth father abandoned her and her mother.

...David walked slowly around the gift shop, carefully looking at items and occasionally glancing her way with a slight smile. 

Finally, he reached to the back of a shelf. Then he carefully lifted out the African-American doll Rochelle had lovingly tucked away, hoping someday she would buy it for herself. 

"What do you think of this?" David asked as Rochelle rang up the purchase. 

"The doll is beautiful. Exquisitely made." Rochelle paused and a frown flitted across her forehead. "Though it's not exactly my mother's style." 

"It's not for your mother." Then he handed the doll to her. "It's for you." 

An unexpected stillness settled over Rochelle, and something shifted inside her. 

"I'm so sorry," he whispered and turned to leave. 

By recognizing we've all been hurt, we can all start to heal. Rochelle's friend, Beth, had spoken those words about the woman who had attacked her with a knife and nearly killed her and her child. If Beth could forgive an act so heinous, couldn't Rochelle take one step in accepting David's gesture of reconciliation? "Wait!" 

David paused with his hand on the doorknob and turned with a hopeful look on his face. 

"Do you think you might--maybe--would you be able to join us for dinner some time?" 

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A beaming smile emerged, changing his whole tired, world-weary face. "Yes, I think I could." 

Rochelle touched the doll's porcelain face with reverent fingers. "Good. Maybe Tuesday?" 

"I'll be there." 

After he was gone, Rochelle hugged the doll to her heart, a single tear sliding into the shining black hair and glittering like a jewel. 

(Excerpt from Shadow of the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)

KICKING CANCER'S ARSE!

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EXCERPT from SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Rochelle closed her eyes and drew a deep breath, then moved into her warm-up routine. She hadn't had the time to do any kick-boxing for awhile, but already her body hummed in anticipation of the challenge. 

Johnny was not her opponent, but the cancer that had invaded her body. No battle was more important than this one. No prize more vital: her life. 

Her first moves were simple. A few easy punches before she bobbed and danced away, though there was no need for defense as Johnny threw no punches. If only the disease was as yielding. Instead it had snuck up and attacked without warning. Rochelle jabbed with her right hand and followed with a punch from her left. 

Adrenaline pumped through Rochelle's body as the familiar moves flexed and worked her muscles, and brought a smile to her face. Then she lifted first one knee and the other, followed by a series of alternating punches. Right, left, right. 

Rochelle drew a deep breath and blew it out, already feeling winded less than ten minutes into sparring and hating that weakness. 

She pushed herself to throw the momentum of her body into a right cross, then spun around to deliver a one-two kick before bouncing away on the balls of her feet. 

She moved toward Johnny again, throwing another flurry of kicks and punches, feeling the heat in her body and fighting the fatigue slowly creeping over her. 

"Let's take a break." Johnny caught her in a clinch. 

Rochelle shook her head and moved away, throwing another right hook that fell wide of Johnny's head. 

A vision of the damning spots in the x-rays filled her head, and Rochelle delivered another combination of kicks to Johnny's mid-section. In her mind, the lumps dissolved a little more each time she made contact. 

She threw a knee, followed by a side-kick, and another spot disappeared from her mind's eye. Rabbit punches with her right hand eliminated a few more. 

Rochelle kicked and punched until the vision in her head was clear of spots and fatigue was claiming her body, sapping her energy as it spread from her arms, down her torso, and turned her feet to leaden weights. She fell against Johnny in a clinch, and he supported her as her body went limp. Spent and sweaty, Rochelle surrendered to the exhaustion claiming her. 

(Copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

A THREAT FROM THE BIG "C"

EXCERPT from SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Rochelle clicked off her cell phone and stared out the window. From the second floor of Tallie O'Shea's house where Rochelle, her daughter, and her mama were staying since their little house exploded along with most of the rest of Halo, she seemed to sit among the trees surrounding the house with shade. Like a tree house. A bit surreal, like the call she just received. 

...Rochelle closed her eyes against the tears. She didn't want this. Not when her life seemed to be moving smoothly. She had a stable job, a beautiful daughter and the support of her mama. Once she received the insurance money for her house, she could rebuild. Everything would be like it was and they would be fine. 

Is that what you truly want? an inner voice whispered. A yearning for more started an ache in her chest, but she pushed it away. It was enough. 

(Copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

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FOOTBALL GAMES AND DYNAMITE

SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Book 7 of the Halo Legacy Series

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Rochelle shoved the sandwich away. No way she could eat with the guilt churning in her belly. "You're a better mother than I am." 

The downturn of Johnny's mouth stopped Rochelle in mid-rant. "I'm sorry. You don't deserve my frustration heaped on you--no matter how broad your shoulders." 

When he didn't smile, she touched his arm. "Wanna dump on me for awhile? I have broad shoulders too." 

"You have beautiful shoulders. Beautiful everything." Johnny held up a hand before Rochelle could protest. "I know. As your friend, I'm not supposed to notice those things. How about instead of dumping on each other we grab a couple beers and watch a football game? Think Ariel would mind watching sports instead of her princess movie?" 

"If I tell her she can stay up late, I think she'll agree. Does that make me a bad mother?" 

"I think that makes you a creative genius." 

...The entire game proceeded with Johnny and Rochelle cheering on their team or moaning about mistakes, while Ariel watched thoughtfully for a while, then asked a question or two. 

At the end of the game, Rochelle and Johnny exchanged high-fives because their team won, but Ariel quietly said, "I think I'd rather watch a princess movie next time." 

"Fair enough," Rochelle said. "Now off to bed. I'll be up in a few minutes." 

Ariel gave her mama and Johnny hugs and dashed upstairs to get ready for bed. "G'night!" 

"We should do this again." Johnny picked up their empty bottles. 

"The season's over," Rochelle said. 

"I mean, the three of us do something together." 

"That's not like a date, is it?" Wariness settled in a mask over Rochelle's face. 

"Do people usually take their kids on dates?" 

"No. Guess not." Rochelle's shoulders relaxed and an impish smile stole over her face. "You could go to Beth's baby shower with us on Valentine's Day." 

"How about a snow picnic instead? We can take the snowmobiles up by the mines and check for old dynamite before we break out the thermoses of hot chocolate and have a snack." 

"Check for old dynamite?" 

Johnny's shrug was accompanied by a grin. "You didn't want romantic." 

(Excerpt from Shadow of the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.) For more info and excerpts from all the Halo Legacy series, visit www.GenieGabriel.com.

FROM FIGHTING CRIME TO DEALING WITH AN ARIEL REVOLT!

SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Book 7 of the Halo Legacy Series

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Since Johnny had time on his hands, he spent much of it informally working leads on the crimes that had plagued Halo over the past year. The crime spree seemed to start when his sister, Marly, returned to their hometown to search for the birth mother of a stolen baby. Explosions, arson fires and prescription drug selling followed. The latest mystery was the story printed about Bernie supposedly confessing to the murder of a woman. 

Was there a link among all these crimes? Or had criminals discovered Halo as they had found and terrorized a number of other small towns in recent years? 

However, Johnny could only ponder theories about these crimes for a limited time before needing physical activity. So when Rochelle asked him about caring for her daughter when she went out on calls, Johnny immediately agreed to take on the task. 

"Just if my mother isn't available," Rochelle insisted. "I don't want to impose on you." 

Already, Johnny's mind was busy planning activities to do with Ariel. What did first grade girls like to do besides color and play with dolls? Johnny would color or paint, but he refused to have tea parties with dolls. He had enough of that when Marly was a kid--though she quickly discovered activities she found more interesting. 

Like everything he did, Johnny approached caring for Ariel one hundred percent. Twice a week he picked her up from school and took her to private lessons with Luella, the orchestra director, who was teaching her to play the oboe. 

Other days he had math, reading or coloring worksheets printed out and ready to be completed. Johnny was quite pleased Ariel seemed to be ahead of her class in all her subjects at school and felt he could take some credit for that. 

Until the day of the Ariel Revolt. 

(Excerpt from Shadow of the Legacy, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel) For more info and excerpts from all the Halo Legacy series, visit www.GenieGabriel.com

THE GHOST OF MISS STELLA KEEPS WATCH OVER SMALL-TOWN HALO

EXCERPT from SHADOW OF THE LEGACY

Book #7 of the Halo Legacy Series

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The three-story Victorian house had been built by the town’s founder for his adored wife, Constellation, in the eighteen hundreds. A turret framed each corner, connected by ornate white trim along the roofline. A wide porch perfect for sitting wrapped around two sides of this regal lady, and a curtain fluttered in an upstairs window where the ghost of Miss Stella kept watch. 

…Charlie had purchased Waring House for his beloved wife before Layla was born. Unfortunately, she had died giving birth to their only daughter, leaving Charlie and the baby alone in the huge Victorian house they had planned to fill with children. When a teenaged Layla abruptly left town, Charlie moved into a smaller house with his brother, not returning to the beautiful Victorian until Layla came home several months ago. 

…Since most of the town's houses and businesses had been destroyed by dynamite, the mayor had convinced the owner to allow businesses to use part of Waring House until the town could be rebuilt. 

The Blue Moon Café was on the first floor, where Johnny O'Shea was waiting tables while on leave from his job as a police officer.

...To keep boredom at bay since he returned to Halo, he had tagged along with whichever family member was going somewhere to do something. He went with Marly to her private counseling practice and answered phones while she saw clients. However, his mind wasn't really focused on listening to their laments, so he often confused appointments. 

Helping out at Beth's Blue Moon Café went better. He liked the people of Halo and most of them didn't get too upset when he mixed up their order.

(Excerpt from Shadow of the Legacy copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel)

For excerpts from all the Halo Legacy series, visit www.GenieGabriel.com

A MUNDANE DAY AS A COP ON THE STREET

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Hoping the furor would die down quickly, Johnny returned to Portland the next day, looking forward to a mundane day as a cop on the streets breaking up gang fights and chasing down bank robbers. 

…

Once at the police station, his day didn't get better. On traffic patrol, the driver of every vehicle he stopped seemed to have been tuned into the news. 

...His effectiveness was reduced to almost zero except when he pulled over a car filled with smart-mouthed teenagers. "Aren't you the guy whose old man offed a woman?" 

"What if I am?" Johnny scowled as he shoved a speeding ticket at the driver. 

"Just...curious." The driver tucked the ticket in his visor and drove away slowly. Very slowly. 

For excerpts from all Halo Legacy series books, 

visit www.GenieGabriel.com

SOMEONE SHE KNEW COULD BE DYING...

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A CONFESSION OF MURDER SHADOWS A ROOKIE COP

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For excerpts from all the Halo Legacy series, 

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