Friday, December 8, 2017

Advent Calendar Day 8: Missing Scene – The Monet Murders

This is not a coda. Instead, it's a missing scene from The Monet Murders (Book 2 in the Art of Murder series)


**Spoiler alert: this scene takes place after the dramatic events at Camden Castle—and before Jason gets back to Los Angeles.


“Where the hell did you learn to swim like that?” Sam asked. His voice sounded a little thick, a little indistinct. He was slightly stoned from the painkillers, and Jason smiled to himself. It wasn’t often he had Sam at any kind of disadvantage.

“I used to be a lifeguard. Remember?”

“I remember. That wasn’t…that was…” Sam tailed off, wincing. He cautiously touched the neat white bandage on his forehead.

It was about eight in the evening. They were in bed in a motel in Watertown, which sounded more promising than it was. No. Not true. After the afternoon they’d had, having a few quiet minutes with Sam safe and mostly unhurt, was all Jason could ask for—and more than he’d expected. After a cursory examination, Sam had, against medical advice—no surprise there--checked himself out of the hospital. Places to go and bad guys to catch. Although, and this had been a surprise, he had not fought too hard when Jason insisted he not head straight to Cape Vincent to join in the interrogation of Eric Greenleaf.

“Can I get you anything?” Jason asked. Sam looked pale, and lines of pain were etched around his eyes and mouth. All things considered, he looked great. A lot better than he would have had Greenleaf managed to blow his head off.

“Nah,” Sam muttered. “You being here is exactly what I need.”

Okay. That was definitely the pain meds talking. Jason smothered a grin.


Sam, must have heard something in his silence though, because he cocked a bloodshot eye and then put his hand on Jason’s shoulder, drawing him down. Jason settled his head on Sam’s bare chest, closing his eyes and listening to slow, heavy thump of Sam’s heart.

Thank God. Thank God. What if I’d been too slow? What if I hadn’t been able to find him? Thank God.

He said, “I had asthma when I was a kid. The doctors recommended swimming as a way to strengthen my lungs and just, I don’t know, build me up. So from that day on, my parents had me in the water and involved in every possible aquatic activity known to man or fish.” He shrugged. “And I outgrew it. The asthma, I mean. I love the water.”

“Activities known to man or fish, huh?” Sam dipped his head and kissed Jason’s eyebrow.

That was probably a miss, but Jason would take it. He would take every gesture Sam had to offer.
They were silent for a time. Jason thought Sam had probably drifted off again, but Sam said suddenly, “Did I even remember to thank you?”

“For what?”

Sam laughed and Jason realized he’d been close to dozing himself. He chuckled drowsily. “Oh that? You’re welcome. My pleasure.”

He did not say any time. He was afraid that there might be other times. In his heart, he knew there would be. 

39 comments:

  1. Yay always love hearing more from Jason & Sam! Funny coincidence though as I had just finished re-reading Monet Murders!

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  2. Yay always love hearing more from Jason & Sam! Funny coincidence though as I had just finished re-reading Monet Murders!

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  3. I love their story. Thanks so much

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  4. Awww! So good. Jason and Sam are so beautiful together. <3

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  5. Aww....what a lovely good morning. What a sweet scene. Since i’m I’m not a writer, I always wonder why some scenes stay while others go. Since the books are always excellent I figure you know what you’re doing, lol, but still, I wonder.

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    1. :-D Well, this is only "missing" in that I had a feeling readers would have liked more of this kind of thing. I only wrote it last week.

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    2. What a nice idea! Hope it’s a precedent for other loved books.😃

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  6. Love this scene!!! Especially the "He would take every gesture Sam had to offer" because that's so...so...exactly right *sigh* And still chuckling over "every possible aquatic activity known to man or fish" :-) :-) :-)
    Thank you, dear Josh!

    KC

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  7. Just lovely, Josh. Thank you so much for sharing. You should consider a book of left-out scenes from all your stories. What a treat that would be. Thanks again.

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  8. Awww. Maybe not a coda, but it sure feels like one. Thank you for not letting this scene to go missing for good. It's quite precious to witness Sam slightly stoned. :-D Now THAT I call a spot on Christmas present! :-D :-D :-D

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  9. Wheee, do so adore your December tradition, especially the missing scenes/codas (okay, I love getting any new writing from you ^__-) and this one was no exception. So sweet, Sam all doped up and out of it, too cute ^^. Oh boys XD

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  10. Thank you! What a sweet, intimate view of Sam and Jason.

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  11. Huzzah and hurrah! 😄 Love this missing scene!

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  12. Thank you for this wonderful bridge scene! These two really need more intimate, nonsexual time together, and this brief interlude provides that. Love it!

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  13. This is wonderful. I love tender scenes like this because they’re more about their hearts and souls and speak louder than most sex scenes ever could. They’re like grace notes on a musical score. Hopefully you’re able to include more of these in future books - if you’re not battling deadlines!

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  14. Beautiful scene showcasing the closeness Sam has finally let his guard down to demonstrate. Well, yeah, drugs helped, but still! The emotions are shooting forth from my computer screen straight to my heart. Thanks for this. I do ♥ these two.

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  15. Ahh... I had wondered the same about how you make the decision to edit certain scenes. I loved this one...happy to hear that it was not originally on the “cutting room floor.” Thanks, Josh.

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  16. Sam is such a tough guy. I love to see him being gentle with Jason.

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  17. I just love this couple ! Thank you for that!!

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  18. Nice surprise in the Advent Calendar! I hope this series will continue because I love these characters!!!

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    1. Absolutely! Next book is out at the end of February.

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  19. Actually, one of the worst things you can do for an asthmatic child is to take him to a swimming pool. Chlorine mixed with pee produces Trichloramine, that has been demonstrated to have a correlation with asthma. (See the video below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S32y9aYEzzo)

    Now, after the nerdgasm, I will go back to my mum's bsement ;D

    P.S. the missing scene was great.

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    1. Yeah, I don't think Jason would have been using a public swimming pool. :-D

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  20. I miss these two. I think I have to re-read their books over Christmas.... ;)

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  21. What a lovely gift! I love this series, thank you so much for sharing this scene 😘😘

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  22. No, nope, neil, non, not reading this as I’ve not read the Monet Murders yet. I’ve got to have something to look forward to in the new year.

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    1. Wait till March and you can read the first three books.

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  23. I always welcome more Sam & Jason. Slightly-drugged Sam is adorable too. These little intimate moments just warm the heart. <3

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  24. Jason & Sam missing scene!! They're both good & sweet being together. Thanks for sharing this, JL

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  25. Loved the missing scene- I'm one of those readers who would like more intimate scenes....Have you ever considered re-visiting Adrien and Jake and telling the story from Jake's POV. I would love to know his thoughts as he fell in love with Adrien (against his will).

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  26. Just re-read this lovely little scene again... and I still hold my breath when remined of that fall from the cliff. So glad everything went well and everyone got saved. Also, good to know they had some alone time afterwarts. I just love Sam and Jason. :-)

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  27. Sam & Jason. *happy sigh* I felt like my heart stopped beating for a moment there. Unconscious Sam is something I won't want to read about again but their life being in danger is the nature of their job, that had made the story more real. Can't wait for The Magician Murders! <3

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  28. I can't wait!!! [But I will!!!!] Thanks for this scene! These two are down right cute together in this scene! Thanks again!

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  29. Thank you so much for this! Sam and Jason are my very favorite of all your marvelous characters and I'm dying waiting for the next one!!

    I love all your books, especially your FBI books, but something about Sam and Jason just feels so grounded and real. They're both such solid strong characters. Seeing tender scenes like this is such a treat!

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  30. An after-published 'missing' scene, what a great idea! Lovely and thank you, Josh!

    Savanna

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  31. I wish there was more scenes like this in your book too. We love the mystery but also want the MC's to just interact with each other, being themself without chasing one clue or another. Wish you would include more scenes like this in your book so that we could understand how they are working, what they feel for each other etc.

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