The Armstrong Assignment (A Janet Markham Bennett Cozy Thriller Book 1) by Diana Xarissa (books for 10th graders TXT) 📕

“I hope you have a wonderful time in St. Croix,” Janet told her.

“Thank you, and thank you for everything that you did for Daddy. According to the policeman I spoke to, Tony might have killed Daddy if you hadn’t been there,” Lucy said.

Janet shrugged. “I was just in the wrong place at the right time,” she said. “I’m glad everyone is going to be okay.”

“And Tony and Theodore are going to prison for a long time,” Lucy said with satisfaction. “I shall choose my next boyfriend much more carefully.”

Dixie laughed. “I wish I could believe that.”

Lucy shrugged. “I can try.”

All three women laughed, and then Janet continued on her way out of the building. It had been an interesting interlude, but she was more than happy to be heading back to the other hotel and to her interrupted honeymoon.

After she’d unpacked, she dug out the itinerary that Edward had sent her and read through what she’d missed.

“No regrets,” she said as she crossed off the missed days. Tomorrow she and Edward were supposed to be having lunch at the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. She wasn’t sure if she was looking forward to it or not.

Edward arrived a few hours later, while Janet was taking a nap. He woke her with a kiss.

“I’m starving,” he said some time later. “Let’s get room service and just stay in bed until morning. We can get a bottle of champagne to toast the new year at midnight, if we’re still awake.”

“That’s a perfect plan,” she sighed happily.

“But tomorrow we start the new year by enjoying Paris,” he added as he reached for the telephone.

Over a week later, after yet another day spent seeing the sights, enjoying Paris, and falling even more in love, Janet and Edward walked back into their hotel room to change for dinner. Mr. Jones and Christopher were sitting on the couch.

“This is a surprise,” Edward said coolly.

Mr. Jones nodded. “I’ve been busy, but before you head to Venice, I wanted to thank you both for your good work on the Armstrong assignment. Mr. Armstrong is grateful, as are the police in Paris, London, New York, and Texas.”

Edward shrugged. “Just doing my former job,” he said, putting heavy emphasis on the word “former.”

“Yes, of course. But that isn’t the case for Mrs. Bennett. Your actions were both smart and brave,” he told Janet.

“Edward insisted that I learn some self-defense,” Janet told him. “I don’t think he was expecting me to need it in a hostage situation, but I did my best to remember everything that he’d taught me.”

“Yes, well, thank you again, both of you,” Mr. Jones said as he got to his feet.

“I’m retired,” Edward said softly.

Mr. Jones nodded. “Of course you are,” he said as he reached for the doorknob. Just before he opened the door, he turned back and looked at Janet. “I did wonder,” he said slowly, “whether you both might be available for, well, certain special assignments. Edward, you know we still need you, but your lovely wife, well, she seems to have talents of her own. I would never send you into anything dangerous, but now and again, if I have a small something that needs investigating, maybe I could ring you and see if you’re both available.”

Edward looked at Janet. “Nothing dangerous,” he said firmly.

“Of course not,” Mr. Jones agreed.

“And we’re a team,” Edward told him. “Janet goes where I go, or I don’t go.”

“It’s all highly irregular, of course,” Mr. Jones said. “It’s entirely possible that we won’t need you at all.”

He pulled the door open and left the room. Christopher got up and followed more slowly. As he walked past Janet, he stopped and pulled her into a hug.

“Welcome to the family,” he whispered in her ear. “We’ll be in touch, probably soon.”

He was gone before Janet could reply.

The Blake Assignment

Release date: June 18, 2021

Click here to pre-order.

Getting a man from London to Edinburgh doesn’t sound as if it’s going to be a very difficult assignment for Janet and Edward Bennett, not even if the man is somewhat particular about how he gets from one place to another. They are surprised and not happy when the man in question invites his new girlfriend to come along on the journey.

As the assignment gets both more convoluted and increasingly dangerous, Janet starts to wonder if anyone can be trusted. Edward doesn’t wonder. He simply stops sharing their plans with everyone until he can make some plans of his own.

Can Janet and Edward get Maxwell Blake and his laptop to Edinburgh safely? Is his girlfriend, Cressida, working for the enemy or is she truly just crazy in love with Maxwell? And who is the mysterious American stranger who seems to be following them wherever they go?

A sneak peek at The Blake Assignment

A Janet Markham Bennett Cozy Thriller

Release date: June 18, 2021

Click here to pre-order.

Please excuse any typos or minor errors. I have not yet completed final edits on this title.

Chapter One

“We’re going to have a visitor later today,” Edward Bennett told his wife, Janet, over breakfast one morning in late January.

“Are we? Anyone I know?” Janet asked.

Edward winked at her. “Wouldn’t you rather wait and be surprised?”

Janet thought for a minute. While she was thinking, her sister, Joan, interrupted.

“Do Michael and I need to be out of the house while your visitor is here?” she asked.

“Janet and I will need to speak with him privately, but I’m certain we can find a place to do that without you and Michael having to leave,” Edward replied.

“We may be across the road, anyway,” Joan told him. “We’ve a great deal to get done over there.”

Edward nodded. “But you are making progress, I believe.”

Joan shrugged.