Book Title: THE DETAIL
Character: Detective Seth “Hammer” Hamilton
Time of Interview: Chapter One, the day they leave for Colorado to pick up a murder suspect and bring him back to Texas for trial.
Tell us a little about yourself, your family. Are you close?
We’re pretty tight. My family, I mean. I’m thirty-eight, no kids, never married. Did a stint in the Marines. I have two younger sisters and an older brother. Everyone but my brother, a Marshll in Tyler, lives close by. We have the best parents in the world, great role models. I want what they have one day, you know? That happily ever after stuff. And I have a niece and nephew I’m crazy about. A black cat. Well, actually, she’s a kitten. Her name is Lucy. Found her outside my house one day. A neighbor’s bulldog had her cornered against the fence, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. Stole my heart right then and there.
Do you have any enemies?
I’m a cop. I have enemies around every corner.
Do you have a significant other?
Not at the moment. I’m hoping that’s going to change soon.
Where do you live?
Small house in a quiet neighborhood. Nothing fancy, but it works for me, especially since I’m gone a lot. Great kitchen, though.
What’s your most remarkable talent?
Besides being a kick-ass cop, you mean? I’m a great cook. Dad says if you can back it up, it ain’t bragging, so, I’m a great cook. Mom insisted I learn how growing up, and now, well, I love it. It’s great therapy after a long day of chasing bad guys. And I’m a trivia master, too. I drive Jess crazy with those tidbits of knowledge. And yes, I sometimes do it on purpose because she is something when riled. Her face gets all flushed, and her breathing gets heavy. It’s hot.
What do you do for fun?
I love to fish but don’t get to do that very often. And spending time with my parents or my niece and nephew. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I’ve had; after a few minutes with them, all is right with the world again.
Do you want children?
Of course. Kids are great. I’d love to have my own.
What’s the most pressing problem you have right now?
Well, that’s like a three-fold answer. First, Jess, my partner, has applied for a job with the Feds. I have no idea what brought that on because she’s a street cop, not a desk jockey. We’ve been partners for over a year, and she never said anything about wanting a change. I’ve tried talking to her, but she closes up. She’s keeping something from me, something important. I need to know what.
You said it’s three-fold; what’s the second part?
We have this long-ass trip to Denver to pick up Jack Walls and bring him back for trial. He was on Jess’s radar even before we partnered up. He’s a cold-blooded SOB with a thing against women, especially Jess. He’s suspected in at least two murders. We finally got the goods on him for the last one, but the bastard skipped town before we could arrest him. Jess has been beating herself up about it ever since. Maybe that’s what had her so preoccupied lately. I don’t know. Anyway, we leave today to go pick him up. It’s a fourteen-hour drive each way. Weather is always a factor, and the danger factor jumps to the top with Walls in the car. Anything can happen. We’ll have to be on our toes at all times.
And the third part?
(Heavy sigh) Jessica Louise Foster. Jess. My partner. See, the thing is, I’m crazy about her, but I don’t know how she feels about me. I mean, we get along great as partners. She has my back, and I have hers. We think alike. I don’t pull punches, and she never gets bent out of shape over what I say. Out of the blue, she wants to leave. Why? And get this: I’ve caught her looking at me differently more than once lately. She tried to hide it, of course, but I saw it. I mean, I am a detective, you know. It’s like she finally sees me. Not the cop. Not her partner. Me. The man. I was awake most of last night thinking about that. She pushes every male button I possess; it’s time I found a few of her female ones. Who knows? Maybe on this trip.
What’s the biggest challenge to achieving that third part?
Jess. She’s the strongest woman I know. Damn good cop. Fearless. Determined. Dedicated. But I want to see the woman behind the badge. And that’s no easy task. She guards her heart like Ft. Knox. She has some baggage, but don’t we all? Getting her to open up will be difficult. She’s relied on herself alone for a long time. Her mother is emotionally needy and makes Jess feel like the worst daughter in the world. It’s not right how she treats her. I don’t know much about her sister, Tina, and frankly don’t want to. It’s not surprising that Jess is so closed off. But I won’t give up without a fight. I think she cares for me; she’s just afraid of getting hurt. I understand that, and I’m patient. She’s worth the effort. The fact is, she pushes every male button I possess. It’s time I tried a few of her female ones.
How far will a killer go for revenge
Some assignments are deadly…
Detective Jessica Foster is worn out. She’s spent months hunting a crazed killer while juggling a case load that never ends, her unpredictable family and forbidden feelings for her partner, Seth Hamilton. When the suspect she sought is finally captured near Denver, she and Seth must bring him back to Texas for trial. She dreads the long drive because it means close proximity to the man who haunts her dreams and makes her long for things she can never have.
Seth has known for some time that Jess is the one for him. Instinct tells him the feelings are mutual, but she never lets her guard down. Undeterred, he vows to use the prolonged road trip to get beyond those barriers and uncover the truth.
Until a disastrous turn of events changes everything.
Now a ruthless killer bent on revenge targets Jess, and his thirst for vengeance will only be satisfied by her death.
Romance Suspense [Book Express, On Sale: November 15, 2021, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781947946781 / ]
Awarding winning author Dana Wayne is a sixth generation Texan and resides in the Piney Woods with her husband of 39 years (and counting), a Calico cat named Katie, three children and four grandchildren. She routinely speaks to book clubs, writers groups and other organizations, and is a frequent guest on various writing blogs. Her debut novel, Secrets of The Heart, was awarded First Place Contemporary Romance 2017 in the Best Texas Book Contest sponsored by Texas Association of Authors, was a finalist for the 2017 Scéal Award for Contemporary Romance, a Reviewers Top Pick and on the Top 10 Books to Read This Winter from Books & Benches online magazine. Her second novel, Mail Order Groom released in April, 2017, received 5-Star Reviews from Readers Favorite and Books & Benches online magazine and 4.5 Stars with the Golden Heart Symbol from Ind’Dtale Magazine and 4 Stars from Romance Reviews.
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