My week in the NaNoWriMo trenches… how has it been. Crazy wordy, the characters are behaving themselves slightly better than they did the last time I worked on this particular story. I’m thinking I may tweak from the old as well, we’ll see how it goes in the end.

November 2-8

Jack has reunited with Angela, Shay’s older sister, and realizes that his assignment to track down Winston James may coincide with finally getting Shay from her evil aunt’s control. He gets Shay to run some errands then high-tail it to Rampart, where an awkward meeting between the two sisters ensues. Meanwhile, Jeremy McClane is stalking the lot of them, waiting for word from Serena McClane (the evil aunt) on when to pounce.

And stuff.

Jack’s been more than cooperative, but Shay – for some inexplicable reason – has gone from smart-mouth tough girl to wimpy, sulky, scared and downright unlike-able. We’ll see how this week goes, maybe it’s a phase that can avoid the red pen!

(PS – she’s snapped out of it, and is now hiding from her evil aunt in a New Bedlam Inn bathroom, with her older sister and Jack.)

Word count as of the midnight, Nov. 8th: 20,473

Excerpt:

After a meal at Denny’s, they found a place to rent a trailer for Shay’s Shadow, and loaded it up. Jack didn’t want to take any chances now, and for once she didn’t argue with him. In fact, he found her rather subdued and thoughtful for once.

Both of them were, for that matter. Angela had barely eaten and now stared out the window at the passing scenery like she’d never seen anything like it before. He could see her in the rear view, slumped against the back seat. Shay slumped in an almost identical position in the passenger seat.

He chuckled.

Both turned their gazes on him, drying up the mirth he’d momentarily indulged in. “Sorry. It’s just, the two of you were sitting exactly the same. It’s just weird, because you didn’t grow up together. So similar, despite everything.”

Shay sighed, and turned back to the window. Jack looked into the mirror, and while Angela was still glaring at him, he could see the tears welling in her eyes. He hoped his own eyes conveyed his apologies, before turning back to the road.

The road stretched out for miles ahead of them, no towns to break the monotony, just fields, farms and trees. By dusk, they’d be at New Bedlam; Jack had already called ahead to book their rooms at the New Bedlam Inn. Despite his best efforts, both women refused to look for something more permanent, at least until Serena and the McClane goons were off their backs. He’d also made a call to Healy, who’d promised to try and meet them there.

He’d never asked for back up before. Jack had never needed it before. This time, something told him he should get as many of the troops behind him as possible. He’d said as much to Healy, and he knew his old friend would do what he could.

There had still been no response to his attempts to commune with Anubis. Jack had snubbed the call for so many years, he was feeling that this was, perhaps, the god’s way of returning the favour. Karma.

By mutual agreement, they skipped stopping at midday, instead choosing to snack on fruit and junk food picked up before they’d left Chicago. The only downside was the lack of coffee, and Jack was certainly feeling the need. Even stopping long enough to stretch his legs would be a welcome respite; they’d been on the road, off and on, for days. He made the decision when he spotted a crossroads ahead, a truck stop to one side. “We’re stopping, ladies. I gotta move around a bit, and this is probably the best place between here and New Bedlam, maybe the last place, for you two to relieve yourselves.”

“The side of the road has been fine.” Shay spoke curtly. The tension level in the car rose a great deal with the prospect of stopping, even for twenty minutes, giving Jeremy time to catch up.

“Shay, I don’t think he’s anywhere near us. Angel, the man refuses to drive for more than a half hour at a time. You two need to stop worrying, at least for a few hours. I figure Jeremy’s flown to Chicago, and will probably take the Cessna to New Bedlam. IF they’ve figured that much out yet. We could be anywhere. We’ll use cash up here, and they’ll never be able to trace it.”

Jack had made them ditch their cell phones in Chicago, leaving them in a hotel room rented for a week, charging. If nothing else, they could be somewhere in Chicago for days.

Angel nodded, leaning forward to put her hand on Shay’s shoulder. For once, the younger woman didn’t shrug off physical contact, which surprised Jack. It’d taken him years to gain that trust from her. Good for Angel.

Pulling into the parking lot, Jack wasted no time in getting out, stretching and zeroing in on the freshest coffee they had. The girls took their time, wandering first to the bathrooms, then into the restaurant. Shay ordered chilli fries and a coke before she’d even sat down, Angel asked for a menu. He glanced around at the nearly-empty tables, and relaxed a little more.

“I didn’t even know this place existed. I usually come into New Bedlam from the other side.”