Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #18
Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all 30 stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
- The hunt BEGINS on 3/1 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.
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Thank you for hosting me, Patrick Carr! I really appreciate it! My guest blogger today is romantic suspense author Susan Sleeman. You’ll enjoy this guest blog that includes a deleted scene from her book Kill Shot. Man, I wish I’d come up with this title, and for that matter, this plot! Here’s a brief summary from Kill Shot:
Some fears haunt you forever … until they become reality. When the Department of Defense develops self-steering bullets that are one hundred percent accurate–which can turn even a novice into a lethal sniper–and therapist Olivea Dobbs’ client is killed with one of these bullets, Rick Cannon is called in to find the thief and stop the killings. But when the sniper trains his rifle on Olivia, Rick must recall all the skills he learned as a Marine Scout Sniper to make sure the next bullet fired isn’t a kill shot that takes Olivia out.
A DELETED SCENE FROM KILL SHOT
By Susan Sleeman
I hope you enjoy the following scene where Olivia and Rick visit the FBI crime lab in Quantico that I cut from Kill Shot. It was cut as the story took a different direction, but I thought I would share it so you can learn more about the FBI’s state-of-the-art crime lab. I wish I had a picture of the lab to share, but you can see it at the FBI’s website, here.
Cut Scene From Kill Shot:
Surprisingly, Olivia managed a long nap, and when she climbed down the stairs at Turner Field, she had more energy. The sun was still high in the sky and heat radiated off the tarmac as they hurried to a discrete black sedan awaiting them. She settled into the passenger seat, and Rick soon had them on the road and turning down the driveway for the FBI’s crime lab.
He pulled up front and a security guard stepped toward them.
Rick lowered his window. “I know this is a no parking zone, but they’re expecting me.” He held out his ID.
The guard gave a clipped nod and stepped back. Rick raised his window.
She shook her head. “Just like that you get to leave your car here?”
“Yup. Just like that.” He swiveled to retrieve the boxed weapon and then got out.
She stepped out, too, and looked in awe up at the five-story brick building with many smokestacks on the roof. “This place is huge.”
“Over 500,000 square feet.”
“Seriously? All for forensics to prosecute criminals. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.”
On the way inside, they passed a massive granite stone declaring that the lab was dedicated to crime victims and their families. Inside, Rick didn’t say anything as he led her through security where she surrendered her phone and passed through the metal detector he’d prepared her for. The staff seemed to know and respect him, and with him vouching for her, they relaxed a notch.
They boarded a nearby elevator then headed down a pin-drop quiet hallway. Professional men and women were hurrying about their business with single focus. They turned down another hallway filled with closed doors.
“This seems more like an office building than a lab,” she said.
“That’s because we’re not in the actual lab area. The office and public section is separated from the lab to prevent evidence contamination and keep non-lab personnel from being exposed to hazardous materials and pathogens. Laboratory staff pass through biovestibules that serve as airlocks between the lab and other spaces.”
She had no idea processing forensic evidence was such a major undertaking.
They came to the end of the hall, and Rick stopped at a lobby window labeled for evidence check in. He made quick work of handing the gun to the clerk and signing forms in triplicate for which he was given a pink copy. He pocketed it and turned.
That was it, their leaving? “You weren’t kidding that we wouldn’t be here long.”
About Susan Sleeman
Susan Sleeman is a bestselling and award-winning author of more than 30 inspirational/Christian and clean read romantic suspense books. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. Susan currently lives in Oregon, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a retired church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-laaw, and an adorable grandson.
Here’s the Stop #18 Skinny:
You can order Susan’s book on Amazon, B&N, CBD or at your local bookstore.
Clue to Write Down: the time
Link to Stop #19, the Next Stop on the Loop: Susan Sleeman’s own site!
But wait! My Giveaway!
Before you go, I’m offering three entire sets of my IF I RUN Series, including the new book IF I LIVE (releasing 3/6), to three separate winners. All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter (in the box below or at the top of this page, on my web site banner) or email me that you’re already a subscriber. I’ll choose my winners on March 5. (USA only)