More of this novel, now.

It was a misty morning with steam pouring out of the manholes and rising slowly around the city as usual. The locals seldom noticed the thin clouds while the tourists were fascinated by it.

“Hey marge what the heck is this fog all about?” one midwesterner could be heard saying as they left the lobby of some hotel to find a waiting cab.

“I haven’t a clue dear, ask the cabby or doorman when you have a chance. It is odd, isn’t it?”

Leaves were starting to fall as the light breeze turned into a gusty wind.

We were very lucky with the weather yesterday Chad.”

“Yes my love, it couldn’t have been a nicer day. It was a wonderful ceremony and I was the happiest man on earth. I still am thanks to you.”

“I feel the same dear. This is just the beginning of a wonderful “life adventure,” Suzan added.

The New York City Prosecutors office had recently been notified in the past few months about a possible pump and dump scheme involving a few pharmaceutical companies the Williams firm had just made available to the public.

The brokerage house was Whole World Securities. It was owned by Chad Williams father. Most of the family worked there and owned shares in the company. Chad’s father had not only taken his family business public, but worked on many economic projects for both upstanding clients and those of potentially illegal behavior. That part of the business paid well, though the risks were greater.

Several men and women from the prosecutors office were now looking over the books of Chad’s parents company and stock holdings and his as well.

Suzan knew none of this.

Chad or his family seemed happily unaware of the complaints against them or the investigation. The investigation had just started a few months ago and had been gaining steam for sometime. The investigation was on going and many were looking over the early results. Charges were close to being filed.

The prosecutors were now concerned about anyone in Chad’s family or their employees leaving the country and were on the verge of alerting Interpol.

Across town, Joe gathered up his suitcase and backpack.

Joe pulled on his backpack and picked up his one suitcase. He walked across the room, through the front door and turned around. He looked over his soon to be empty apartment. His apartment was fairly clean and organized for a bachelor. He hated coming home to a messy apartment.

He locked the front door and walked down the squeaky wooden stairs and stopped at the managers door. His neighbor Martha, was going to be watching his place while he was in Africa.

She was glad to see him still going on the trip after what Suzan had done to him.

“No need to wallow in misery Joe. Get back out there and live. Women are all over the place just waiting to meet a guy like you,” she had said over a can of beer in Joe’s apartment, more than once, since Suzan had left him.

Joe had thanked her for the pep talk last night as he handed her his key.

He had called her weeks ago as he had heard of the wedding of Chad and Suzan. He was feeling a little low and needed someone to talk to. They talked often when he felt down in the dumps.

One of his and Suzan’s former mutual friends had called and told Joe all about the magnificent wedding set in a lush, rolling landscape surrounded by ancient trees and a mansion to boot.

“Did she do that just to hurt him,” he wondered.

She didn’t mention the drones.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Eighteen coming soon.

I just did a podcast interview on “Life with Joey Calvo.” He’s in Philadelphia.

It’s on Youtube and most platforms. He talks with many people about different things.

Stop by if you have some time on your hands.

You might find it interesting.