An Excerpt from The Tomorrow Paradox (Book Two in The Adventures of Mackenzie Mortimer):
The sleek silver sedan pulled up to the curb outside the
Mortimer Enterprises building. Mackenzie Mortimer stepped out of the car and
straightened his jacket. He leaned inside and addressed the woman in the
passenger seat. “Drive around the block a few times. I’ll phone you if it’s
safe inside, and you can park in the garage and join me. Otherwise, drive
straight home.”
“Mac,” she replied, sliding into the driver’s seat.
“No, Marlene, you can’t come with me, and yes, I’ll be
careful.”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say.”
Mackenzie arched his eyebrows. “That’s what you always tell
me.”
Marlene grinned. “So, you have been listening all these
years, after all.”
“Then what—?”
“I was reminding you to kiss your wife before you go off on
another adventure.”
Chagrined, the middle-aged man leaned into the car and
kissed her. He stepped back, shut the car door, and watched his wife drive off.
Mackenzie entered the lobby, surprised not to see any police in the building.
He tensed, expecting the worst. His stress activated the TSR nanites within his
body, and they quickly devised bionic improvements to his optic nerve.
Mackenzie’s irises flashed as they scanned the lobby with his infrared vision
for any traces of heat signatures. Seeing none, he walked toward the elevator.
As he passed the front desk, the concierge robot greeted
him. “Welcome back, Mr. Mortimer. I hope you had a pleasant trip.”
“Are there any police officers on the premises?”
“Negative, Mr. Mortimer. Would you like me to request some
from the Serenity Valley Police Department?”
“No. Thank you, anyway.” Mackenzie sighed. Artificial
intelligence still had a long way to go. He phoned Marlene. “There’s no sign of
any police presence in the building. I’m heading upstairs to see Dad and Alex.
Go ahead and park in the garage but don’t come up until I know what’s going on.
The police might yet be on their way.” He entered the elevator and ascended to
the penthouse.
Time is running out… fortunately, Mackenzie Mortimer has a few more minutes than anyone else!
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