Baptism of Fire

By Laura E Simms

It's 2004, 8 months after the Hunters drama filled first wedding and baby Charlie is about to be Christened. Catholic not that that matters. The major event is about to be overshadowed when secrets and their revelations from the past, rear their ugly head.

Isn't that always the way? How can DI Joseph Hunter complain when he is partly to blame?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura E Simms
• Release date: Oct 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301056842

Laura E Simms

Laura Simms 1987-BooksEnd GameThe Legend of the Talking SwordTaken for a MugHorses For CoursesMillionaire's PlaypenGemini BloodThe Irony of de ja vuI have wanted to be an author since I was 6. So this is a dream realised for me.The last year has been very productive with lots more writing to come hopefully.But I will let you be the judge of what you read, so all that remains to be said isHappy reading

Book preview

Baptism Of Fire

Laura E Simms

Baptism of Fire

Laura E Simms

Copyright © Laura Elizabeth Simms 2013

Smashwords Edition

Also by this author

DS Steven Potter Cases

End Game

Taken For A Mug

Horses For Courses

Millionaire Playpen

Gemini Blood

The Irony of de ja vu

DI Ivor Gunn Mysteries

The Zodiac Conspiracy

Cold Hard Truth

Trip Down Memory Lane

Puppets On A String

DI Joseph Hunter Saga

Altar Ego

Stand alone Novels

Legend of the Talking Sword

For Eddie.

I wish I’d known you better, but for whatever reason that couldn’t be the case. It makes the memories I do have of you even more precious.

The hole you have left in our lives will never be able to be described or filled. Though I hope eventually with time there will be healing.

Two years on and it still feels like yesterday. I try not to think of things with bitterness, but it is difficult at times. I hope now you are at peace.

Your ever loving niece

Prologue

A Baptism of Fire is defined as a difficult situation encountered by a group of people or an individual goes through, it will either end in success or failure. Examples of this would be new managing directors brought in to aid failing companies, perhaps resulting in hostile takeovers.

A baptism of fire either weakens or strengths those involved. The concept is mentioned in the Bible. Acts 2:3-4 and Matthew 3:11

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

Matthew 3:11 King James Bible

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:3-4

Some say the world will end in fire, 

Some say in ice. 

From what I've tasted of desire 

I hold with those who favour fire. 

But if it had to perish twice, 

I think I know enough of hate 

To say that for destruction ice 

Is also great 

And would suffice

Robert Frost 1920

Chapter One

The devil makes work for idle hands is how she should have retorted, but she hadn’t had the chance had she realistically.

Instead the mantra It’s your entire fault pounded in Arianna Piper’s head, as her feet hit tarmac. It was as if her thoughts were in sync with her feet. Pound, pound, pound. Her lungs were in agony. Normally she ran just the two miles, but on this Sunday morning in mid March she had doubled it.

There were a lot of things bothering Arianna this morning. Not least of which was Hamish. How had things gone so wrong between them? He’d said she was a workaholic, but she didn’t think this was true. She had high standards and didn’t like to leave a job incomplete.

She was the manager for Christ’s sake. If she didn’t set an example for those in more junior positions, who would? She regularly put in 14 hour weeks, but she was paid to do so. OK so her pay grade didn’t often reflect how much work she’d actually done, but still.

She had taken on a new member of staff this week. Darren Hunter was just under 16 years old. He was recently married and already had a 4 month old child, but he was industrious. He completed tasks when he was asked, unlike several people she could name.

Darren wasn’t difficult on the eye and if he wasn’t married with responsibilities she definitely would consider him. She stopped that thought dead. She was twice his age and he was married and he did have responsibilities. She was quite envious of his young wife, who had snared