Perfect Payback, page 17
She smiled and turned back toward her apartment, her shuffled steps small and labored.
I felt a tug to my heart. Our first meeting with Hans shouldn’t end this way.
Laura’s face echoed my feelings.
We went back to the elevator and pushed the button to the first floor. We didn’t talk as we exited the building and started back to the hotel.
Laura touched my arm as we passed a biergarten. “Let’s have a drink and read what’s in the envelope.”
We sat at an outdoor table. I opened the envelope and pulled out the cream-colored paper.
The bold penmanship was almost as legible as the journal entries sixty-two years ago. “You do the honors.” I handed the note to Laura.
She leaned close to me. “Jim, it was such a joy to meet you and Laura,” she read softly. “Over sixty years have passed since I met your father Patrick at the Olympics. He impressed me with his strong physical features and confident demeanor. Even as a young boy, he was imposing. Seeing you reminds me of him. I look forward to meeting your sons. I am sure the Pepperman genes are present in each of them.”
I laughed.
Laura smiled and continued reading. “Heidi, the joy of my life, wishes she could have met you. You would like her. She never meets a stranger and loves being with family. I want you to know I did meet up with your Grandfather Wilhelm after the Olympics. He was a good, proud American fighting for his country. A true patriot. Have a safe trip home. Hans.”
She pushed the note toward me, and I leaned back in my chair.
I wished I could’ve asked Hans when he met up with Grandfather. Was it before the war started in 1939? Or was it after? And how many times did they meet? Straightening in my chair, I angled toward Laura. “When we get home, I’m going to research the life of Grandfather Wilhelm and find out everything about him.”
Laura brushed her hand across her face. A pesky fly wouldn’t leave her alone. “That sounds interesting. But why?”
“In the note”—I jabbed my finger at the piece of paper—“it says Hans and Grandfather met up after the Olympics. Hans never said he gave up German secrets, but he never said he didn’t. So… had he and Grandfather both been spies?”
Laura exhaled and shook her head. “There may be a reason Hans didn’t tell you about their relationship.”
“But the note reeks with suspicion.”
“I don’t know why he didn’t tell us,” Laura said. “That’s his business. Maybe he was sparing us details that would throw an entirely different light on himself and your grandfather. In time, Hans may tell you the whole story, but now he’s not willing. Just let it go.” She reassured me with a smile.
I folded the note, put it in my pocket, and kissed Laura on the cheek. “Let’s go home.”
About the Author
Bill, a native of the Texas Panhandle, is writing a mystery series based on characters from his contemporary fiction work, Pepperman’s Promise, the prequel to The Pepperman Mystery Series. Perplexity is Book One of the mystery series, Panic Point Book Two, and Perfect Payback is Book Three.
Read more about Bill at https://billbriscoe.com
Other books by this author:
Pepperman’s Promise
Perplexity
Panic Point
A Word from the Author
Thank you for reading Perfect Payback.
If you liked it, you may want to read the other books in The Pepperman Mystery Series.
The prequel is Pepperman’s Promise. It’s a work of contemporary fiction, not a mystery, but it lays the groundwork for the characters in the series. The protagonist in each mystery will be someone you meet in the prequel. This book follows a young Jim Pepperman through his twentieth high school reunion.
Book One of the mystery series is Perplexity. Jim is the protagonist and faces a mistake from his past that threatens to derail the future.
Book Two is Panic Point. After Earl’s bride vanishes in the Smoky Mountains on their honeymoon, the former Navy SEAL willingly puts his life on the line to find her.
Tap the link below to get these books from various retailers:
https://billbriscoe.com/books
The best thing about writing is hearing from my readers and establishing relationships. Click here to send me a message. (https://billbriscoe.com/contact)
You can get an eBook for free when you join my newsletter. I share information on what I’m working on, new books, and special deals— eepurl.com/caxw3b.
CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE
https://billbriscoe.com
billbriscoe@billbriscoe.com
www.facebook.com/billdbriscoe
https://twitter.com/BillDBriscoe
http://billbriscoe.blogspot.com/
If you enjoyed Perfect Payback, help others enjoy it too by recommending it or leaving a review. It doesn’t have to be long. Thanks in advance for your time.
THE BILL BRISCOE NEWSLETTER
Sign up for my newsletter to receive up-to-date information on books, new releases, and events.
https://billbriscoe.com
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people who helped bring this book to reality:
Editor: Lori Freeland
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde, Fiona Jayde Media
Formatting: Tamara Cribley, The Deliberate Page
Website and Computer Support: Tana Young
Proofreading Team: Sue Park, PhD, Brenda Brownlee, Carolyn Rhea
Bill Briscoe, Perfect Payback
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I felt a tug to my heart. Our first meeting with Hans shouldn’t end this way.
Laura’s face echoed my feelings.
We went back to the elevator and pushed the button to the first floor. We didn’t talk as we exited the building and started back to the hotel.
Laura touched my arm as we passed a biergarten. “Let’s have a drink and read what’s in the envelope.”
We sat at an outdoor table. I opened the envelope and pulled out the cream-colored paper.
The bold penmanship was almost as legible as the journal entries sixty-two years ago. “You do the honors.” I handed the note to Laura.
She leaned close to me. “Jim, it was such a joy to meet you and Laura,” she read softly. “Over sixty years have passed since I met your father Patrick at the Olympics. He impressed me with his strong physical features and confident demeanor. Even as a young boy, he was imposing. Seeing you reminds me of him. I look forward to meeting your sons. I am sure the Pepperman genes are present in each of them.”
I laughed.
Laura smiled and continued reading. “Heidi, the joy of my life, wishes she could have met you. You would like her. She never meets a stranger and loves being with family. I want you to know I did meet up with your Grandfather Wilhelm after the Olympics. He was a good, proud American fighting for his country. A true patriot. Have a safe trip home. Hans.”
She pushed the note toward me, and I leaned back in my chair.
I wished I could’ve asked Hans when he met up with Grandfather. Was it before the war started in 1939? Or was it after? And how many times did they meet? Straightening in my chair, I angled toward Laura. “When we get home, I’m going to research the life of Grandfather Wilhelm and find out everything about him.”
Laura brushed her hand across her face. A pesky fly wouldn’t leave her alone. “That sounds interesting. But why?”
“In the note”—I jabbed my finger at the piece of paper—“it says Hans and Grandfather met up after the Olympics. Hans never said he gave up German secrets, but he never said he didn’t. So… had he and Grandfather both been spies?”
Laura exhaled and shook her head. “There may be a reason Hans didn’t tell you about their relationship.”
“But the note reeks with suspicion.”
“I don’t know why he didn’t tell us,” Laura said. “That’s his business. Maybe he was sparing us details that would throw an entirely different light on himself and your grandfather. In time, Hans may tell you the whole story, but now he’s not willing. Just let it go.” She reassured me with a smile.
I folded the note, put it in my pocket, and kissed Laura on the cheek. “Let’s go home.”
About the Author
Bill, a native of the Texas Panhandle, is writing a mystery series based on characters from his contemporary fiction work, Pepperman’s Promise, the prequel to The Pepperman Mystery Series. Perplexity is Book One of the mystery series, Panic Point Book Two, and Perfect Payback is Book Three.
Read more about Bill at https://billbriscoe.com
Other books by this author:
Pepperman’s Promise
Perplexity
Panic Point
A Word from the Author
Thank you for reading Perfect Payback.
If you liked it, you may want to read the other books in The Pepperman Mystery Series.
The prequel is Pepperman’s Promise. It’s a work of contemporary fiction, not a mystery, but it lays the groundwork for the characters in the series. The protagonist in each mystery will be someone you meet in the prequel. This book follows a young Jim Pepperman through his twentieth high school reunion.
Book One of the mystery series is Perplexity. Jim is the protagonist and faces a mistake from his past that threatens to derail the future.
Book Two is Panic Point. After Earl’s bride vanishes in the Smoky Mountains on their honeymoon, the former Navy SEAL willingly puts his life on the line to find her.
Tap the link below to get these books from various retailers:
https://billbriscoe.com/books
The best thing about writing is hearing from my readers and establishing relationships. Click here to send me a message. (https://billbriscoe.com/contact)
You can get an eBook for free when you join my newsletter. I share information on what I’m working on, new books, and special deals— eepurl.com/caxw3b.
CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE
https://billbriscoe.com
billbriscoe@billbriscoe.com
www.facebook.com/billdbriscoe
https://twitter.com/BillDBriscoe
http://billbriscoe.blogspot.com/
If you enjoyed Perfect Payback, help others enjoy it too by recommending it or leaving a review. It doesn’t have to be long. Thanks in advance for your time.
THE BILL BRISCOE NEWSLETTER
Sign up for my newsletter to receive up-to-date information on books, new releases, and events.
https://billbriscoe.com
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people who helped bring this book to reality:
Editor: Lori Freeland
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde, Fiona Jayde Media
Formatting: Tamara Cribley, The Deliberate Page
Website and Computer Support: Tana Young
Proofreading Team: Sue Park, PhD, Brenda Brownlee, Carolyn Rhea
Bill Briscoe, Perfect Payback
