Storm: The Signe Series, #3

By Sharyl Bales

March 21, 1976 
Family and friends are gathered at Buckingham to celebrate Signe Carlson's 51st Birthday. Mick McKenna's gift to Signe is a month long cruise on their yacht, The Enickma. Where they would cruise is up to Signe and little did either of them suspect the deadly threats from both man and Nature they would undergo during their vacation. 
From their home in Scottsdale, AZ to cruising the South Pacific attractions of Micronesia to a boardroom in Austin, TX, Signe and her family as well as Mick and his associates must work against time once the schemes of the man they call The Puppet Master are discovered and before he has a chance to turn his plans into catastrophic events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: PTP Book Division
• Release date: Apr 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781987433791

Sharyl Bales

Ms. Bales was born in Jamestown NY (home town of Lucille Ball) but grew up in Scottsdale AZ. She has written five novels in the mixed genre—Signe Series:  Mystery, Suspense, Humor, Romance.  The Heroine is a first generation Swedish-American,  a Pulitzer Prize winner and former OSS agent during WWII.  The series deals with Signe's relationship with her daughters and an old friend from her OSS days.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Scottsdale AZ - Sunday, March 21, 1976

Signe Carlson’s magnificent home on the southern face of Camelback Mountain that she whimsically referred to as Buckingham was ablaze with lights. It was Signe’s 51st birthday and her daughters had insisted on throwing her a party. Signe had insisted right back that it be only a small one; just family and a few close friends.

After talking to Mick McKenna to whom Signe referred as ‘my husband in all but name’, Lia, Brittany and Jenna had no choice, but to agree as Mick had flatly refused to weigh in on the subject. His actual words were ‘not in this lifetime which, if I did, might be a great deal shorter than I like to anticipate’.

Jared Amory and Zack Taylor, Mick’s two second-in-command operatives from McKenna International, were invited to the party as were Ken Adams and Harvey Cramer, both employed as senior pilots by Signe’s holding company, but still definitely in the special friend’s category.

Long-time friends General Gerry Graves and his wife Betsy were currently exploring the buffet table as were several of Lia’s friends who had been invited to the party.

The only real surprise for Signe was that Luis Díaz had flown in from Nicaragua for the event. According to Jenna, Luis had business in the states and would have stopped by to see everyone anyway.

Neither his mother, Maria, nor his Tio Tomas had been able to get away, but they had sent a beautiful gold necklace and matching bracelet to—as Tomas had written—remind her of ‘The Managua Affair’. Signe was very grateful for their generosity, but she never felt right about accepting costly presents even from such wealthy friends as Maria and Tomas.

The accompanying note, however, had made her laugh and then she realized that Tomas had orchestrated the gift at what was likely a small expense on his part. For this reason, she knew she would treasure the jewelry as the memento Tomas had suggested.

Tomas assured her the gold itself had come as the result of a ‘donation’ from the ‘charming’ Colonel Ortiz. Charming was the sarcastic appellation given to the egotistical Colonel by Mick who had been his prisoner for several days until he was rescued by Signe, Luis’ mother Maria and Jenna in what was now known amongst Mick’s operatives as ‘The Managua Affair’.

The only person who was not present was Lia’s husband, Justin Cooke. His death in a tragic car accident last year had left not only Lia, but the entire family, devastated. Lia was now a single mom raising her active three-and-a-half year old daughter, Alexandra.

Signe had persuaded Lia to move back into Buckingham, hired a nanny and did her best to help her daughter work through her grief. Lia had an entire floor of the western wing that was far too much room, but which gave her the privacy her mother felt she deserved. At Signe’s suggestion, Lia had re-designed the area to combine one of the sitting rooms with one of the bedrooms and this provided enough space for a large living room and a small, but adequate, private dining room for Lia to entertain her friends or even if she just wished to be alone with her daughter.

Getting Lia involved in re-designing and re-decorating the living space to suit her own taste had at least given her something to do while she mourned and then learned to cope with the loss of her husband. Signe had been racking her brain for some project that might be of interest to Lia, but so far, she had not come up with anything that appealed to her oldest daughter.

Lia continued to take care of many of her mother’s business affairs and any major household decisions when her mother was away, but that was really about it. Signe felt that it was time her daughter began to put her life back together; perhaps, even to think about re-marrying. She was only thirty-years-old. Ever the optimist, Signe had finally decided that there was plenty of time and she was not at all inclined to rush Lia into anything. With or without anyone’s help, she knew that Lia would eventually figure out what she wanted to do.

The brightest event in the past few years had been the birth of Signe’s second granddaughter, Kelsey Baez. Brittany and Rafe were the proud parents of a blond-haired, blue-eyed cherub who was now two-and-a-half and almost exactly a year younger than Alexandra. The color of Kelsey’s hair and eyes would have been a mystery since neither parent had such physical characteristics except that several of Rafe’s nieces and nephews also had this particular coloring.

Both grandchildren had attended the early hours of the party, but—after charming everyone including their grandmother—they had finally been given to Alexandra’s nanny, Bridget, as it was getting too far past their bedtimes.

Other than the birth of Kelsey and the death of Justin, the family had had a fairly quiet four years. The last major incident had been ‘The Managua Affair’ in 1972 when Mick had been taken hostage and Signe had gone into the mountains of Nicaragua to get him back.

The party was being held in one of the large, second floor reception rooms and had access through two sets of French Doors to a wide veranda that ran almost half the length along the southern wall of the house.

Signe had been wandering around enjoying the company of her guests for what seemed like hours. Now, she headed for the patio where a silvery moon added its glow to the soft lights of the extensive grounds. It was peaceful and she felt she deserved a little break. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and she didn’t really think she’d be missed for just a few minutes.

Leaning over the wide ledge of the balcony, she looked down at the lights of the valley floor that spread panoramically below. The view from Buckingham took in nearly the entire east, west and south of the Valley of the Sun as it was called. She could see planes landing at Sky Harbor Airport to the south and the lights of the tall buildings in downtown as well as those in uptown Phoenix. Scottsdale to the east was also well-lit.

Hey gorgeous, said a soft voice behind her. Is this a party of one?

Signe turned with a smile. Mick was walking toward her with two glasses of champagne. Not at all! she replied as she accepted the flute he held out to her. Thank you!

Taking a breather? he asked.

Yes. It’s been a little hectic tonight. I didn’t think anyone would miss me for a few minutes.

I did, he said, with a cocky grin.

Signe laughed. That Celtic charm of yours doesn’t work on me anymore, she replied sassily.

Really? he asked with feigned surprise. I thought it never had. You’ve been lying to me all these years, darlin’. Shame on you!

Eat dirt, she grinned back at him. While she was raising her daughters, she had tried very hard not to swear in front of them and now there were her granddaughters to consider as well. Signe had long ago developed several phrases to replace the less appropriate portions of her vocabulary that she had picked up during the war, but ‘eat dirt’ was, for some reason, the one she used most often. She had no idea where she’d heard the phrase the first time, but she had claimed it as her own.

Mick just chuckled. You really look spectacular tonight, my love, he said changing the subject.

Since the day Mick had told her she looked exceptionally good in white because it set off her dark brown hair so well, she had taken to wearing the color more often. Of course, she still wore mostly the shades of dark green she preferred. Her dress for the party was made of soft, light-weight oyster-colored wool. The bodice was slightly décolleté and, as usual, the long sleeves were pushed up to her elbows. The full skirt fell in perfect folds to below her knees and the matching belt cinched in her still small waist.

For color, she had added her emerald necklace, bracelet and earrings and, on her left hand, she wore the gift Mick had given her for her fiftieth birthday last year. Somehow, he had managed to match the stones in her necklace and had presented her with a gorgeous ring which she now wore all the time. It felt right. Although they had been together for almost six years, neither of them felt the need to make it legal. Signe’s daughters didn’t care so she had decided to damn the rules of society and just enjoy Mick’s company. In all ways, they were equal partners in their relationship. What else mattered?

During his peripatetic life, Mick had never settled into any particular place. He had lived wherever his work took him so it had been natural for him to move into Signe’s home when they joined their lives. He still travelled, but he had settled into Buckingham as neatly as a well-aimed pebble into a pond.

Thank you, sir, she said in reply to the compliment. You don’t look so shabby yourself. Mick’s dark blue eyes and black hair looked the same as always. A few more lines on his always tanned face perhaps, but, to Signe, they just added the character of living a full life. At fifty-three-years-old, he was still a very handsome man. She gave him a leering once over from head to toe and back again.

Mick burst out laughing. Do that again and neither of us will be seen at the party for at least an hour. Maybe two.]

Signe just grinned at him and reached for the box of cigarettes on a nearby table.

Mick lit her cigarette and, after she had exhaled the thin stream of smoke, he held up his glass in salute before clinking it with hers. How you stay so youthful looking is a complete mystery to me, he said. Did Tesia give you a potion or something? He was referring to a witch they had met in Nicaragua.

Good genes and clean living, responded Signe as she ignored his sarcastic comment about Tesia.

"I’ll buy the ‘good jeans’ part, he parodied. But, speaking of clean living, I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to give you for your birthday, Sig. I swear you have everything you need and more than enough of what you don’t."

Mick, I’ve told you it’s crazy to try to buy presents for me. You’re absolutely right. Now that I have you, I have everything I will ever need. Besides, she said with another lascivious smile, you give me a gift every day we’re together. Sometimes, more than one.

Yeah, well, I’m saving that gift for when everyone goes home, he grinned knowing exactly to what she was referring. To get back to the original subject, however, I was wondering if you could wrap up any of your business commitments so that we can take off the month of May or say thirty days give or take around that time.

May? What have you got in mind, Mick?

"I’ve cleared my decks so to speak and I hoped that we could spend a month together on The Enickma. To whatever ports-of-call you wish, my lady," he finished with a sweeping bow.

An entire month? asked Signe with a delighted gasp of surprise. You’ve cleared an entire month?

Yep. All leaves at McKenna International except mine are cancelled, he grinned. Jared, Zack and Jenna can take care of anything that comes up. McKenna International was wholly owned by Mick and specialized in protecting the rich and famous. It had grown out of Mick’s work in the OSS during WWII and then several years spent with the CIA shortly after it was formed. Fed up with the politics of government after a few years, Mick had opened his own private company in 1955 and it had made him very wealthy.

Oh, Mick, sighed Signe, "that sounds wonderful. We’ve never managed anything close to a whole month together before. Of course, I’ll clear my decks as well so we can be on the deck of The Enickma together, she laughed. Then, she put her arms around his neck and looked gratefully into his eyes. Thank you! What a wonderfully thoughtful gift."

Mick kissed her softly. I thought it could be kind of a pseudo-second honeymoon, he smiled. All you have to decide is which part of the world you’d like to float around in.

We’ll decide together, my love, replied Signe. Planning the cruise will be half the fun.

For some years, Signe had owned a large yacht named The Buckingham II as a jest upon the nickname of her landward home. From the day she had first seen the house that she ultimately purchased, she had always called it Buckingham because her initial comment was that it was as big as Buckingham Palace. It wasn’t, of course, but at the time it had seemed so to Signe and the name had stuck.

The Buckingham II had sixteen staterooms and was nearly the size of a small cruise ship. The permanent staff kept the yacht in perfect readiness and, in addition to business functions, it was also available to any or all of the family whenever they wished to use it. Since it was moored near LA, Britt and Rafe often used it to entertain their friends and business associates. Brittany was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and her husband, Rafael (Rafe) Baez, was an equally successful movie producer. They both loved to entertain and had many opportunities to do so.

The large ship was not, however, conducive to short, intimate cruises. As a solution to this problem, Signe and Mick had splurged and, together, they bought another smaller yacht. They had christened it The Enickma, which was Signe’s tongue-in-cheek combination of ‘enigma’ and ‘Mick’ and it had played exactly right with Mick’s sense of humor and, although he had wanted to name the ship after her, he gave in gracefully.

The Enickma only had one double suite which was used by Mick and Signe and three smaller suites on a lower deck. An experienced captain and four full time crew members kept the ship in trim, but when Signe and Mick were onboard, Captain Gunderson hired additional crew from the roster to help out. To Signe and Mick, The Enickma was heaven. It allowed them to escape from their normal, busy lives that were filled with clients, publishers and Signe’s various business enterprises. At least for a little while.

Geez, can’t you guys save that stuff for later, laughed Jenna as she came out onto the patio accompanied by Jared. We can’t leave you two alone for a minute.

Mick turned and looked at her. Can’t blame a guy for wanting a few minutes of privacy with his girl, he said.

I take it Mick finally gave you your birthday present, she said with a roguish smile. What’d ya think, Mom? Pretty cool, huh?

Signe just stared at her beautiful youngest daughter. Her grammar was atrocious and Signe had almost given up trying to correct it. She knew her daughter could speak well if she chose. Yes, Jenna. Its way cool, she replied using one of her daughter’s favorite expressions. She looked up at Mick. I take it you’ve discussed this with the family.

Thought I’d run the idea by them to see if they thought you might actually agree, he replied nonchalantly. Actually, he had begged them for suggestions, but none of them had been able to come up with anything special. Finally, he had thought of the cruise.

Yeah, said Jenna, and we thought it was so great that we had Luis bring some of Tesia’s tea with him from Nicaragua just in case we had to Shanghai you.

You might not have mixed metaphors, Jenna, Signe said, with a grin, but you’ve certainly mixed countries! Several of them had experienced Tesia’s herbal brew during their adventure in Nicaragua and they all knew it was a very potent sleeping tonic.

She looked appraisingly at her daughter. At about 5’5", Jenna was the shortest of the Carlson women, but what she lacked in height she more than made up in sheer bravado. Jenna had an ‘in your face’ personality if ever there was one and Signe loved her for it. Well, at least, most of the time. She had dark brown hair and the most unusual eyes that were a lighter blue around the pupil then shaded to darker blue up to the edge of the iris where they were banded with an even darker ring of blue. They were definitely wolf’s eyes, thought her mother.

Jared Amory had been Jenna’s significant other ever since ‘The Managua Affair’ although they kept their relationship as guarded as possible since Jared was technically her boss in Mick’s absence. They were both professionals and they somehow managed to separate their work lives from their private lives. Of course, everyone knew, but no one cared. In fact, everyone in Mick’s organization was delighted. It had taken Jared several years to get a commitment from the woman he had loved from the moment he set eyes on her.

With a sigh and a last melting look at Mick, Signe suggested it was time they returned to their guests.

CHAPTER 2

First Jared and then Signe and Mick followed Jenna back into the room that had been set-up for the evening’s festivities. A number of café-sized tables surrounded by comfortable chairs had been set up around the room as well as a small bandstand and a dance floor. Larger tables at one end of the room served as the buffet and two waiters circled the room taking drink orders.

Several couples, including Rafe and Brittany, were dancing. It delighted Signe that Lia was dancing with Zack Taylor. They had enjoyed a short flirtation before Lia married Justin and she wondered if maybe Zack was just the tonic Lia needed to begin picking up the pieces of her life. Even if Zack wasn’t the right man for her, he might be able to bridge the gap before she met someone else.

Carstairs, Signe’s long-time employee, was in his element. He and his wife, Ellen, who was the housekeeper, had worked for Signe since the day she bought Buckingham. They loved parties and had been busy for weeks directing the staff to make sure that the already spotless house was perfect.

The band started to play one of Signe’s favorite songs and Mick held out a hand in invitation. She gave him a smile and they slipped among the couples on the floor. Unchained Melody had always moved her and she thought it was the most romantic song she had ever heard. She snuggled up against Mick and lost herself in both the music and in him. When the song ended, Mick stepped back and gave her a courtly bow as applause broke out around the room. Signe’s cheeks reddened when she realized that everyone else had left the floor to her and Mick and that she hadn’t even noticed. Being a good sport, she dropped an elegant curtsy to the crowd and Mick led her from the floor.

Well, that was embarrassing, she muttered as they left the floor and headed toward the long head table where her daughters were apparently catching their breath.

Mick just chuckled. He thought it had been pretty funny.

Whose idea was that? asked Signe with a lift of her eyebrow

Why do you think it was anyone’s idea, Mother? Lia said, grinning. It might have just been spontaneous.

But it wasn’t, replied her mother archly. Was that in place of the usual good luck spanks on one’s birthday?

Nope, Jenna said, with a smirk. We saved that for later.

Don’t even think about it, her mother warned. Then she gave her most brilliant smile to all of them. Other than that last little debacle, girls, the evening has been perfectly wonderful. You did a great job getting everything ready and I really do appreciate it.

We enjoyed it, Mom, replied Brittany. It’s not often that we can do something for you. You’re usually the one planning everything. We’re really glad you’re having such a good time.

So, Lia chimed in, we understand that Mick gave you his present. Are you excited?

Yes, smiled her mother, I’m very excited. It will be fun planning where to go and it will be like heaven to have no responsibilities for an entire month.

You won’t need to worry about anything except having a great time, Mom.

I’m sure we’ll try our best, laughed Signe.

The band struck up another tune, but Signe opted to sit this one out and the younger couples headed back to the dance floor. With Mick at her side, Signe sank down into one of the empty chairs at the table where General Gerry Graves and his wife Betsy were sipping their drinks, nibbling on food from the constantly replenished buffet and watching the activities.

That was quite a performance, Signe, laughed Betsy. Did you even realize that you and Mick were alone on the floor?

No, admitted Signe with another blush. Not until the song was over.

Well, you two looked wonderful together, Betsy said. It was so romantic watching you so wrapped up in each other.

Thanks, smiled Signe. Now, can we talk about something a little less embarrassing?

Of course, said Gerry Graves. Tell us about this cruise we hear you and Mick are taking. When do you plan to go?

Signe looked at Mick to respond.

We’re taking the entire month of May or thereabouts, he said, but I wanted Sig to pick the itinerary. I don’t have a clue what part of the globe she might have in mind.

May’s a good month, replied Gerry. Toward the beginning of hurricane season, but not too close. You should have good weather unless she decides to explore one of the Polar Regions, he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

I’m guessing she isn’t going to decide on Antarctica or the North Pole, laughed Mick. She’s more of a warm water kind of gal.

Well, the possibilities are pretty large, said Betsy. I’ve always wanted to take a cruise of the Greek Isles, but it’s on hold until Gerry retires next year.

I didn’t know you were retiring, Gerry, said Signe in surprise. Then, she gave him a wink. I guess I’d better lay in supplies before you leave office. At the start of ‘The Managua Affair’, she had borrowed assault rifles, pistols, holsters and fatigues from the general. Quietly, of course, and she had very discreetly returned them in perfect condition. No one would ever know of the breech in protocol not to mention security.

I’m guessing you already have, said the general with a stern look.

I picked up a few things at the surplus store, she shrugged. "She didn’t look the least bit repentant. If there was a next time, she would be ready.

Mick just shook his head. The woman is incorrigible, he said, but he couldn’t help looking at her fondly. Signe had been one of the best OSS agents he had ever known. She had learned quickly and she was just as calm, cool and collected as any of the men on the team when they ran an operation. If images of her activities during the war hadn’t been emblazoned on his mind for so many years, he would never have been able to believe that the beautiful, elegant woman at his side had spent so much time setting dynamite and throwing hand grenades at their designated targets.

They had both been with SO or Special Operations and their job had been to identify and take out enemy positions. They were, in fact, their own band of guerillas and Mick had been the commander of the team. He had seen her crawl on her belly through unimaginable mud, her rifle strapped to her back and her movements all but invisible. She never complained. Well, except about not being allowed to drive the jeep and about Mick’s coffee. Other than that, she had been a true soldier in every sense of the word.

He had loved her for years, but it hadn’t been until ‘The Hollywood Affair’ in 1970 when she had called him to help her daughter, Brittany, who was being stalked by a madman, that they had finally told each other their feelings. Except for their work, they hadn’t been apart since and Mick hoped with all his heart that they never would be again.

She was all and more than he had ever dreamed and their lives had actually come together at just the right time for both of them. Things might not have worked out so well at any earlier time; especially since his job took him to all parts of the world and often for months on a single job. He would have hated leaving her alone even though he knew she would have coped brilliantly, but it just wouldn’t have felt right.

Incorrigible is certainly one word to describe Signe, said Gerry. Since it’s her birthday, I won’t mention the other words that come to mind. This time, he softened his words with a smile.

Oh leave her alone, you two, demanded Betsy. "She’s perfect just the way she is. None of us would want

Reviews for Storm

[the7ken7petersen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the earliest pieces of journalism to survive and a blueprint for any aspiring reporter.To really appreciate this book, one needs to try to relocate oneself into an early eighteenth century mindset. The Sun (newspaper) was not even a shudder upon the horizon, journalism was only slowly emerging from its pamphlet stage and the in depth coverage of a topic was a new concept. Add to this that the UK had just been hit by a storm, the ferocity of which, had never been experienced within recorded memory, and for which nothing had truly prepared the people. From this perspective, Defoe's book is an awe inspiring work. He not only records the events from many perspectives, not simply its effect upon the ruling classes, as we might expect now, but also from the man in the street (sometimes literally, if his house had been torn up). Defoe also encouraged people from around the country to send him their account of the storm and, rather than regurgitating these tales as his own, he includes them, verbatim, allowing the reader to decide upon the veracity thereof (Would that twenty-first century reportage were so honest!).

[thewasp_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In 1703, Britain was hit by the worst recorded storm in history. It also caused widespread damage to France and Holland. The southern part of Britain suffered most with much damaged to building - Defoe claiming that the problem with churches was their steeples, many toppling in the storm. Thousands of trees were uprooted or snapped off and may orchards and farms destroyed. the loss of life was greatest among sailors, with thousands being drowned and many hundreds of ships and smaller vessels lost. or destroyed.Daniel Defoe placed an advertisement seeking personal experiences of the storm and this book is mainly a collection of those replies. Several letters confirmed the storm was accompanied by an earthquake.