Deadly Escape to Freedom

By Shirley J. Miller

In January author Maxine Hart receives a call asking her to meet with Seth Goldstein, a Hollywood Producer in Los Angeles. Seth thinks that because Maxine is a famous author, she can get into North Korea being allowed to interview President Kim. While keeping Kim occupied, CIA Agent Riley, traveling as her research assistant, is tasked to help the sisters escape prison and flee to South Korea. It’s deceit and deception to the rescue.

Seth’s had always thought his father died fighting in Korea. Having lost his American wife before the war ended, and not knowing he had a son, the American Vet married a girl from North Korea and chose to stay there with her after the war ended. He later fathered two daughters who were only 2 and 3 years old when both their parents were killed. The girls were brought up in a Korean group home until they were 12 years old and then put to work in North Korean government owned stores.

At the young age of 16, they learned their father was an American and they try to cross into South Korea to discover more. They were caught trying to cross the border and were immediately sent to Chungsan Concentration Camp to live out the rest of their lives. It was 20 years later before Seth even learned of their existence and that they were still alive. He asks Maxine and her CIA friend Riley to help get his sisters out of prison and away from North Korea.
With a little help, and a lot of luck, they are able to organize an escape which required a long multi-day hike against 9-degree temperatures and Siberian winds and cold. After a long agonizing journey through thick forests and icy mountains, they defy the odds and escape to South Korea and then finally into America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shirley J. Miller
• Release date: Aug 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781370622122

Shirley J. Miller

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~About Shirley J MillerAs a child, aptitude tests always suggested that Shirley Miller should go into writing. In actuality, she spent her career years in advertising and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, where most of her writing revolved around describing product attributes and persuading sales.She always dreamed of writing fiction books but never had the time. Upon early retirement, she decided to follow her dreams. You will love her simple and direct style while maintaining the mystique and action among characters from start to finish.Her work is mostly fiction, so be sure you check out The Chicago Series and the Maxine Hart Series. Ring of Deception is a book Shirley and her sister Betty dreamed up - while hiking, no less - follow-ups being considered.Shirley has also written how-to books on some of her favorite hobbies. Be sure to check out Beginning Golf for Ladies, Golf Tips Up & Over - For Intermediate Players, Freelance Writing, Owning a Silky Terrier which resulted from her love for the breed. Having owned eight Silky Terriers over her lifetime, she even hired a special dog trainer to come to her home twice a week to teach her how to train the dogs.Though she never wrote about it, she wants to Thank You for reading her books and following her writing adventures. Without you, none of this would be possible, So Thank You very much. And keep on reading. Find some of her other books on Amazon or Smashwords by checking the links below.Any reviews will certainly be appreciated. It always helps to understand more of what readers want to see, so she can speak more directly to you. To follow Shirley Miller, and be the first to learn of new releases, please check the ‘Follow Me’ Button on Amazon. For a full list of all her current works, check out these links:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LastFlightOut1

Book preview

Chapter 1

Summers were just too darn short, and winters were way to long in Chicago. At least that’s what Author Maxine Hart was thinking as she stared out her kitchen window and drank her first cup of coffee for the day. Having lived here many years and having taken several business trips to Los Angeles in the winter, she always swore she would move there – one day. But ‘one day’ never seemed to come.

It was just after the New Year Holiday and even with the fireplace running Maxine could still feel the chill even though she was dressed in heavy winter corduroy jeans and wearing a blue long sleeve turtle-neck sweater with a matching vest. She loved living in the north part of the city and so close to Lake Michigan. But even her usual beautiful view of the lake was depressing when all she saw was the frozen ice that covered the expanse of the lake.

Max had a meeting with her publisher this morning and was dreading getting all bundled up in her winter coat, scarf, hat, gloves and boots. She just had to walk 2 blocks from her Superior Street brownstone to Michigan Avenue to hail a cab. But in this weather, that 2 blocks was grueling.

The wind blew right through her as she reached busy Michigan Avenue and hailed a cab. It was so cold that her eyes teared from the wind and froze on her cheeks before she could wipe them away.

38 E. Wacker, please, she said to the driver. Normally, it would be a nice walk, but not in January.

Sure thing, the driver replied. Cold enough for you today?

Too cold, Maxine replied. I love this city, but I hate the winters here. Too cold and too long for my taste.

Got to agree with you there, the driver laughed. Only a few miles later, We’re here. Watch your step. It’s pretty icy out there today.

Thanks. Have a good day, Maxine smiled as she paid the driver.

Bob Olson’s publishing office was on the 5th floor. He had only a small suite of offices as he was now an independent publisher who handled only about 6 writers. Maxine had been with him through the years when he worked for a much larger major publishing firm. But when he got older, he took off on his own handling only a few preferred clients. Maxine took her business with him as she had always trusted Bob’s instincts and she preferred the coziness of the smaller firm.

Good morning, Bob, Max greeted him as she entered.

Maxine. Always good to see your smiling face, Bob gave her a big hug as he said hello.

So, what’s up for today? Maxine asked. I was surprised to get your call.

Well for one thing, I wanted to congratulate you on your last book. It’s selling like hot cakes.

You didn’t call me down here just to tell me that, Maxine grinned at him.

No. I did not. Bob continued. I know you’re in the middle of writing your next book. So, you may not have time for this request. I know you don’t like to do ghostwriting. But I’ve got a client who’ll pay big bucks to have someone like you write his story.

You’re right. I don’t like to do much ghostwriting. But since you know that already and you called me anyway, you must have something big in mind. Maxine coaxed him on.

I do. Bob continued. I have a movie producer friend who has quite a story to tell. He just got back from filming a war story in South Korea and ran into some interesting experiences along the way. He’d like to get them into a book. You would have to go to Beverly Hills to work with him and knowing how you hate the Chicago winters, I thought you might like to spend a few months in California to work with him. He’s willing to pay $150,000 for the book, plus expenses.

Wow. He must be planning to sell a lot of copies. Maxine countered.

He doesn’t really know much about book sales, but he seems pretty certain it would make a good movie.

Then why doesn’t he just have a screen writer do a script for him? It would be a lot cheaper. Maxine asked politely.

He strongly feels this is a story that must be told. And in the more ways, the better. At least meet with him and hear what he has to say. You can always turn him down. But I don’t think you will once you talk to him. And what better place to be in January than California? Even if you don’t decide to work with him, you’ll get to enjoy a nice winter vacation. Bob was pushing strongly.

Okay. Anything to get out of Chicago in January. What’s his name and how much can you tell me about him? Maxine asked.

His name is Seth Goldstein. Here’s his card with studio name and contact number. Can I tell him you’ll meet with him?

By all means, Bob. Looks like I have nothing to lose and will gain a few leisurely days in the sun whatever happens. Once you’ve made the introduction, let me know, and I’ll give him a call to set up a meeting.

Thanks, Maxine. I really think you’re going to want to work with him. And you’d be helping out a lot of innocent people. But I’ll let him give you all the details. Bob finished his pitch and then invited her out to lunch.

I appreciate the offer but I can’t do lunch today. I’ve got a lot of projects to finish. Rain check?

Of course, Bob said as he walked her to the door.

Maxine went back to her condo to finish the things she was working on. She thought she might as well do a little research into this movie producer while she was at it. She never liked walking into a meeting blindly.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter 2

By midweek, Maxine had pages of research on Seth Goldstein. He was originally from Iowa, Seth had moved to Los Angeles when he was 21 years old. He had the typical dream of becoming an actor like lots of young people who flocked to California back then. While he did indeed find work in his chosen career, he never made a big name for himself and never became an A-list actor. But he did have constant roles throughout his career and unlike many, he was able to do well financially in the business.

Like many actors, as he grew older he reached out to Directing and his movies began to become better known in the world of Hollywood. From Directing, he moved on to Producing and later became the head of one of the smaller Hollywood Film Companies. As he got older, he seemed to mix in with all the right people and became a quite well-know Hollywood Producer. He later formed Golden Pictures and his popularity as a producer continued to gain notability.

Now 49 years old, Seth was a distinguished gentleman with salt and pepper hair cropped to frame his face and it was just long enough to be considered chic.