Deception Revisited, A Jake Stone Thriller (Book 19)

By T.L. Peters

Jake's eyes begin to wander, as Snowflake seems more interested in her son-in-law than she does in preserving family harmony. Through it all the Stone clan must confront an imminent threat to its very existence.

"Plenty of action and loads of fun in this one."

"This book sent me scurrying back to Books One and Five. It all hung together though, I think."

"Keep 'em coming, T.L."

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.L. Peters
• Release date: Aug 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301829361

T.L. Peters

"There's no question that Peters is a master wordsmith." Gerry B's Book Reviews About the author: T.L. Peters is an ex-lawyer who enjoys playing the violin and giving his dog long walks in the woods. In between, he writes novels.

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Deception Revisited, A Jake Stone Thriller (Book 19)

By T.L. Peters

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013, T. L. Peters

License Notes

This e book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

To read more about the author and his other books, go to http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tlpeters.

CHAPTER ONE

It appeared to mark a sea change in their relationship. Jake was becoming the aggressor, while his vigorous wife Snowflake seemed to be taking more of a back seat role in family affairs. Perhaps, however, such a bold claim is a bit of an overstatement. Jake was, to be sure, taking the lead, but not in relation to anything in which Snowflake was involved, not directly anyway . He was simply going his own way, to some extent at least, and Snowflake seemed to be letting him.

The operative word is seemed, since never, at least not during this initial phase of the proceedings, did the two protagonists engage in a direct or indirect conversation with respect to Jake's new found independence. No mention was made of it, in fact, not between Jake and Snowflake anyway. Others noted this disturbing role reversal, of course, such as Fierce and her ever present and alert mate Dirk, but aside from hushed conversations among themselves they did not raise the matter with the principals, at least not in any explicit way.

What prompted this burst of self-sufficiency and perhaps even egoism in the long placid and some would say long suffering Jake Stone was not clear, not even to Jake. He had simply awoken one morning a week or so after the family had returned home following their long vacation along the Outer Banks and decided that he was more of a man than he had ever supposed and immediately resolved to demonstrate this poignant fact to the world, or if not to the world at least to the small and rather arcane social microcosm around him, namely the Stone family.

At first Jake wasn't quite sure how to go about making such a clean break with his demure past. He tried, for instance, going to the gym and working out harder than he ever had before. But all he managed to accomplish was to strain his left foot when he got a bit too rambunctious on the tread mill. He next tried showing off his pugilistic skills, but was cut down rather handily in the boxing ring by one of the twin female behemoths, Lorraine in this case, who had helped them defeat the big woman and her mob of demons in Philadelphia. Lorraine and her ebullient sister Margie had chosen to stay on for some indeterminate time with the Stones at their backwoods compound for the purported reason of honing their already considerable martial arts skills.

Jake thus quickly found himself in a predicament. He wanted to be independent from his ferocious and accomplished wife, but he was at a loss as to how to show to others this new and rather lusty streak in his character. He could have challenged Snowflake directly on some point, real or imagined, but such a bold move would have invited retaliation, most probably of a physical nature, which Jake for obvious reasons wished to avoid at all costs. So it was that in order to ruminate over his perplexing situation in a peaceful and calm setting, Jake had gone down to the lake in the valley beneath their home with his loyal pooch Samson, who had been the real hero of their Philadelphia adventure and who as usual was busy sniffing diligently at every patch of weeds and exposed twig.

Jake had just reclined by the cool waters when one of the twins, Margie in this case, happened to stroll by. Jake knew it was Margie, because Margie, unlike her sister Lorraine, had just dyed her long, flowing hair a brilliant green, so brilliant that the hue of her thick locks in the morning sunlight resembled the flashing green of Snowflake's eyes. Portions of Margie's anatomy, most notably her strident hips and broad back, also caught Jake's eye. Ashamed of himself for his lusty urges, he quickly looked away however.

Margie knew that Jake was intrigued by her vibrant beauty and had been trying to coddle up to him ever since joining the Stone clan in North Carolina. None of her efforts had worked so far, and so she decided to try a different tack. She sat down beside him and stretched out her long powerful legs. She was wearing a gray mesh bra and tight nylon shorts, and her voluptuous curves seemed, at least in Jake's stunned and bewildered eyes, to pulsate with a continuous muscular savagery, even when she seemed to be sitting perfectly still.

Margie eyed Jake somberly, which made him even more nervous, but not so nervous that he was moved to get up and leave.

You've been no fun lately, she remarked in a flat dry tone, much at odds with the lively voice with which she normally addressed Jake.

Jake blinked demurely before daring to take a peek at her overflowing breasts.

No fun?

No fun, she repeated blandly.

Jake peered down at his tattered sneakers, wondering if he should upgrade his wardrobe in light of his new friendship with Maigie.

Am I supposed to be fun? he bleated lamely.

Margie raised her shoulders imperiously.

Sure you are. You're a fun guy, Jake. But I've been watching you. You've been cowed into a bleak submission.

Cowed? Jake mouthed hesitantly.

Margie edged closer, the point of her whitish shoulders nearly touching his sagging chin.

Of course, by your wife, I mean. Oh, I'm sure Snowflake is a wonderful person and that you two love each other very much. I'm not quibbling about that. But she certainly exerts a suffocating presence over you. I mean, she pretty much flattens you out.

Flattens me out? Jake asked with a befuddled squint.

Not just physically, Margie went on briskly. I know she can take you. It's no shame for a man to be physically inferior to a woman like Snowflake, or to any woman in fact, and Margie bumped into Jake's shoulders with hers, knocking him backwards a few inches. That's not my point, she continued amiably enough. It's her spiritual and psychological dominance over you that I'm talking about. Frankly, I think she should let up a little. You're a fine man, after all, Jake, a good looking and very smart guy. You deserve a little space. You deserve to be your own man.

This last bit of wisdom was exactly what Jake wanted to hear, and he turned toward his new friend with renewed interest.

You know, it's funny, but lately I've been thinking pretty much the same thing myself.

Of course you have, Margie interjected. How could you not, an accomplished fellow like you?

I used to be a lawyer, you know, Jake blathered, and a pretty good one at that if I don't say so myself.

I'm not surprised, she said.

But I wouldn't want to go back to practicing law, Jake added quickly. It's far too confining.

Much too confining for a man like yourself with such broad interests, Margie agreed. What would you like to do then?

It was a question Jake had not considered to any real degree for decades. His often volatile association with Snowflake had taken up all his time and energy for so long now that he really had had nothing left for anything else, or so he liked to tell himself. But it was a question he now instantly concluded that was long overdue.

Jake commenced to ponder, staring blankly into the thick, green foliage around him, every cracked twig and fallen leaf of which little Samson was still busily exploring. Margie let him alone for a few moments, but when it appeared that Jake's mental energy was beginning to stall she decided to offer her own suggestions.

You know, I've been thinking myself lately.

Jake glanced over at her, his dark eyes pierced with a seldom seen intensity.

About what? About me?

Of course about you, but also about starting a little venture of my own.

With your sister, you mean?

Not necessarily. Lorraine is so cautious, you know. Despite our physical similarity, we're very much different.

I've noticed that, Jake said, not sure at first if he really had noticed any real difference in their personalities, Jake being such an obtuse fellow generally, but quickly convincing himself that he had and that the differences were vast.

Lorraine is the type of person who goes along to get along, Margie continued glibly. You can see it in the way she behaves around your wife, always kissing up and trying to be the good little girl. It sickens me at times, to tell you the truth. I'm much more out going. I'm the risk taker. I mean, if you're not willing to take some risks, what's the point of being alive?

Exactly, Jake said, finding his somewhat smarmy chest suddenly bumping into her far more vibrant and firmer one. Sometimes you have to take risks. I used to take risks all on my own all the time, but I guess I've gotten out of the habit. I mean, I take risks, but only when I'm with Snowflake.

You don't need Snowflake, Margie replied indignantly, grasping him by the wrist. You're your own man.

Jake nodded excitedly.

I am my own man, or at least I used to be.

And you can be so again.

Jake regarded her with a mix of admiration and gratitude as she began to stroke his forearm with the tips of her meaty fingers.

You're right, he said. But how do I do it?

Margie, her shoulders and arms bristling now with sinewy fury, was at no loss for a ready answer.

You need to go into business for yourself, start a new venture, be an entrepreneur. That's the quickest way.

Jake's eyes began to sparkle and shine.

I used to be an entrepreneur. You might find it hard to believe, but Snowflake and I were once the drug kingpins of Mexico and Bolivia. We had everyone in Latin America at our service and disposal.

And I bet you were the real brains of the operation, Margie said, egging him on.

Jake bowed his head with false humility.

Well, I did pull Snowflake's chestnuts out of the fire on more than one occasion, if I do say so myself.

I bet you did more than that, Margie said, leaning in some more, tightening her grip on Jake's suddenly quivering arm. I bet you were the real driver of the business. You were just too modest to admit it, even to yourself, and you can be a leader again, this time all on your own and without the need for any show of modesty toward your wife. You don't need Snowflake anymore. You have me. I have all the muscle you need, if things turn rough that is, and Margie paused in her declamation to flex her left bicep, which quickly assumed mountainous proportions. And I won't be bullying you either. I know my place. You're the man. You're the boss. I'll be there to learn and to serve.

Jake eyed the big woman incredulously.

I've not known many women with your, and he hesitated while again surveying the broad sweep of her hips and back, with your unique physicality who chose to take a back seat sort of role to any man, at least not willingly.

I'm not like those other women, Margie responded crisply. I know my limitations. I need someone with your brains and savvy and business sense. I can never do it on my own. I'm smart but not smart enough. You're the guy.

I'm the guy, Jake repeated limply, almost in a whisper.

Just then, perhaps as a warning, Samson began to bark loudly from somewhere in the nearby bushes, but Jake, buoyed by Margie's heady suggestions, ignored his loyal friend and instead fixed Margie with a steady and admiring gaze.

You spoke of a business venture. Do you have one in mind?

Margie frowned and looked away.

I'm reluctant to admit what I've been mulling over. I'm afraid you'll think I'm foolish.

I won't think you're foolish, Jake said, resting his hand on her firm shoulder.

You'll laugh at me, Margie said, feigning a blush.

I'll never laugh at you, Jake protested, rubbing his hand along the nape of her neck.

She suddenly straightened. Her movement was so violent and sudden that Jake's hand slid off her back. For a moment, perhaps owing to his experiences with Snowflake when she was aroused, he feared that Margie was about to beat him up, but when she made no more threatening moves he relaxed.

I do have an idea, although I'm sure it's a silly one.

I bet it's brilliant, Jake replied heartily. Tell me about it. I want to hear.

Really?

Really.

She lowered her head shyly.

Cigarettes, she almost whispered.

Cigarettes? Jake repeated.

It's a great business, she added, raising her head so that her green locks tumbled restlessly over her massive shoulders. "A lot of people still smoke, but the prices are way too high with all