More than 2 words

So, I bought a new snow shovel.  The old one hasn't truly worn out, but it has seen much better days.  And we had about 2 inches of snow over night.  I went out to shovel the back steps this morning and learned this shovel is much louder!  The old one was quiet, you could barely hear the metal blade across the front scraping across the concrete.  The new one?  It's like I'm running it through a power amp!  I had to pause and look around to see if lights started popping on in bedroom windows.  Shit.
I get to work today, and then I'm off for 2.  Ain't that great!
My next little project is coming along just fine. 168 pages of the first draft have been complete.  The guy who's helping edit has gone through the first 140 ( or so).  So since it's Sunday, and the 13th, I thought I'd give you a little tease.  This is from chapter 1.  The working title is:

The Body in the Tower

Buzz.  Buzz.  Buzz.

In Laurel Lakes no one gets up at five in the morning.

Buzz.  Buzz.  Buzz.

So weird.  Dreaming.  Vibrating sounds prying deep into sleep.

Buzz.  Buzz.  Buzz.

A small groan caught in the back of Canada Howard’s throat as she slowly opened her eyes.  What was that most irritating noise?  My phone, she thought.  Her eyes slid to her bedside clock.

Buzz.  Buzz.  Buzz.

“No civilized person calls at this hour of the morning.”  She muttered, as she sat up.

Buzz.  Buzz.  Buzz.

Crossing to her phone she looked down.  Walker was calling her on Skype.  “What is wrong with that girl?”

Buzz.  Buzz.

Canada’s forefinger swiped the phone on.

“Mom!” Walker’s face sobbed, the picture blurring in and out of focus as her phone moved in her hand.  “Henri,” she cried, and began crying uncontrollably.

“What about Henri?”  Sharp pin pricks of panic started stabbing Canada.  “I can’t understand what you’re saying.”  Fear grabbed her heart and began twisting.   “Walker!  Walker!”

“In the tower, in the tower, we were in the tower!”  Walker coughed, choking on a gasp sounding like a broken shriek.  “People started screaming and yelling, running when they heard the shots.  And he was laying there.  So much blood on his body, and I grabbed Henri to pull him away, too late, too late.”  Her voice broke apart again.  Suddenly the picture went black.  Nothing


Now, isn't that so much better than the Idiot Jerk in the White House?