Stagehands Walk

Stagehands Walk: 250k words

Ebook: Amazon, Smashwords

Set against the backdrop of the arcane world behind the scenes in the live entertainment industry, “Stagehands Walk” is an action story about two men and the people they care for as they deal with threats both to their lives and their livelihoods. The book opens as a long-forgotten foe threatens Quentin Xavier O’Donnell and forces him to take on a risky task. The task is interrupted, and O’Donnell finds himself in the middle of a conflict over possession of nuclear secrets. Enlisting the aid of two of his colleagues, he attempts to accomplish his original mission only to discover that his mission is much more complicated than he thought. Determining that the task he was assigned is not appropriate, using his talent and skills learned “back stage,” he delivers those who threatened him to justice at considerable personal risk.

Teddy Premberton joins the story on his final day at work before being asked to resign. Teddy is thrust into the secretive world behind the scenes in the entertainment industry where O’Donnell has worked for most of his career. Teddy and O’Donnell’s paths cross several times until Teddy provides vital information O’Donnell uses to thwart an assassination attempt at a religious rally.

O’Donnell recruits Teddy to work a two-week long spring break event. At spring break, Teddy helps provide evidence assisting in the arrest of a sexual predator and some drug sellers. The arrest of the drug sellers leads to the arrest of a dishonest cop who has been harassing O’Donnell for years.

On the way home from spring break, the two stumble into an illegal smuggling transfer. Accused of murder, and threatened at home, the men split up and flee. Teddy leads the police to intercept another transfer. One of the lead smugglers escapes the trap. Teddy flees again further away this time. The smuggler tracks O’Donnell to his hiding place where O’Donnell traps him and delivers him to the police.

While “hiding in plain sight,” Teddy is recruited by local civic leaders to assist with the management of a festival organized by the city to raise awareness of the city and its emerging industries. Teddy enlists O’Donnell in the endeavor and with the help of Teddy’s daughter, O’Donnell’s granddaughter, the television crew from spring break, and several of O’Donnell’s colleagues, they succeed in rescuing the festival. The story reads quickly and would be suitable for high school students as well as adults. CRT TRIGGER WARNING