The Shoe novel 1 (unedited, sorry)

The first book was going to be called "The Shoe in the Road" so I just call this series "the shoe". the first would be "The Sweeper" spy thriller written by this lady and The Shoe series is her "real life" adventures and the last is me as Searean Moon writing stories, writing advice and calling it "The Companion guide". It is not edited yet but I hope it is good enough to enjoy!

Chapter 1

I did not expect to be running for my life when I went grocery shopping that afternoon. I had published my first book "The Sweeping Maid" and it had been out for 3 weeks now, not a number one seller but selling 100 each week and that was enough for me since it was my first book. I barely pay attention to things around me, I am usually in my own little world, creating stories or worlds to turn into video games or novels. So did not notice I was being followed at all.

A nice lady began to talk to me as we headed out of the store. She followed me to my car and talked and talked as I loaded everything into my trunk. As I closed my trunk she made a weird face and then slumped to the ground. The guy standing behind her holding a knife. I knew that kind well, my mother had left me hers and it was affectionately known as The Sweeper.

Not that I have lightening reflexes, I think he got distracted by the honk of a horn from someone wanting my spot. I made a mad dash back to the store, while my legs are strong I am more of a biker then a runner, and got enough steps ahead of him I was sure I would make it. 3 kids on bikes cut me off as they raced to the bike rack. I didnt stop to think of how rude this was, I grabbed ones bike and hopped on and rode for dear life.

I love to bike, it is a sense of freedom I dont get from a car. I pedaled my heart out trying to get some good distance from him. Luckily I was turning a corner when I heard a shot ring out, hitting the corner wall of the building as I turned it. I am not a spy and dont think like one. My plan was to circle the building and race to my car. He would be at the opposite side of the building when i drove away, it seemed genius to me.

It was lucky a cop had been about to shop at Costcos and got the guy for firing a gun in public. I was putting the bike from where I had taken it when I was grabbed from behind, without thinking I flipped them over my shoulder so they landed on their back. It was a cop. The boys had called to report their bike stolen and the boy was the son of a cop so they arrived fast.

I explained I had been running from the crazy guy and pointed at the guy with the gun being ushered into the back seat of the new Indigenous Police vehicles.

The cop didnt seem to care what I was saying or why, all he cared about was I had upset his precious son. He smirked as he told the cop to put me in with the guy who had tried to kill me and he would meet me at the station. You would hope that some things would improve but cops will be cops I guess. Mess with their kid and...

The guy with the gun kept staring at me and suddenly I heard in my mind him whispering

"Why do the Maids come?"

"We are the Sweepers"

I thought back. He seemed to sigh in relief and apologized for the misunderstanding. Somehow he handed me an envelope, passed through our thoughts not handed to me. I was released at the station and put it out of my mind as it was almost time to get my daughters from school. I called my friend who had picked up my car and got to the school in time to get the girls.

The rest of the day passed by as normal and it was not until I was trying to sleep later that the envelope appeared in my mind again. I was very surprised when it opened and a sort of video describing my next cleaning job was shown. It said to meet at some address not too far from where I lived for further details. It was definitely strange and almost like a command. That made me really mad as I do not accept being commanded by anyone, let alone some weirdo with a gun!

But that is how this all started, so innocently going to the store and recalling the words from a story my mother had told me once. You see, I was desperate to find a way to stay home for the girls but also bring in my own income.