Silicon Gulch, Chapter 2

Jeff finds himself in Silicon Valley where he is asked to investigate claims by a gregarious Frenchman that his neural network electronic technology actually works. He meets up again with the enchanting Nancy, the FBI agent he had worked with in Atlantawhere they fell in love while he was still married, and again in Washington DCwhere fortune kept them apart. A surprise meeting with Kathyputs romance back into Jeff’s life as he finds himself hounded by financially-desperate Europeans so determined to push their questionable technology―men so desperate that they will stop at nothing, even Jeff’s murder. The excitement will make the reader gasp, tragedy will make the reader cry, romance will make the reader sigh.

Chapter 2 of Silicon Gulch ... Nancy calls Jeff!

Monday, 6:24 PM: Premonition

Jeff thinks that he will never see Nancy or Kathy again...but then Nancy calls him!

 

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Thanks for taking time, and enjoy!
- Chris Lamela

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Author contact: chris@chrislamela.com, 707-566-8790 PST

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Monday, 6:24 PM: Premonition

     Jeff left the bar heading to the elevators glancing at his watch, only five thirty. Maybe he could take a shower then get a little nap or something. The elevator doors opened, an old man grasping his walker tottered out with a hunched-over woman. Jeff reached in to keep the door from closing on this slow-moving parade, stepping in once the coast was clear.

     An older Chinese man and woman walked onto the elevator followed by a middle-aged man in a suit who stood in front of the button panel. He turned to Jeff, "Floor?" Jeff responded with his floor number, the man punched the number on the panel.

     The Chinese man leaned forward toward the man, "Flo den."

     The man gave a mocking laugh, "What? If you'd spit the rice out of your mouth maybe I could understand you."

     Jeff turned to him, "Come on, cut it out. He said floor ten." Shaking his head, "Give us a break will you?" Jeff turned to the couple with an apologetic grin motioning to the man with a fierce growling face sticking his tongue out at him as the man looked away, the couple laughing nervously.

     The elevator started to move without the man pushing the tenth floor button, Jeff leaned over shoving the man aside to push the button passing a scathing face toward him.

     A moment later he was sitting on his bed shaking his head at what had just happened in the elevator. It was so unbelievably rare here in 1997 to see such a show of racism that he felt baffled but a little proud how he did not just let it pass.

     Scratching his head he laid down looking out at the May sunshine still bright outside, rolled over to call for a wake-up call at six-thirty. That would give him enough time to get a quick shower before heading downstairs for the dinner.

     He laid down closing his eyes trying to sleep but his mind was swirling for no reason at all, pretty sure that he would not get a quick wink before dinner. He had been driving all day and he was determined to get some rest so he lay there anyway.

     His cell phone rang, he sat upright. Shaking his head, the phone rang again. He glanced at the clock that said six twenty-one as he reached for the phone.

     He held the receiver to his ear, "Hello?" he yawned.

     "Hi," it was his wife Donna.

     "Hi, is everything okay?"

     "Sure, the kids are over at mom's and it was kind of quiet in the house, so I thought I'd like to hear your voice."

     "Nice, I've been thinking about you," Jeff replied knowing he hadn't.

     "So how's your trip so far, how was your road trip? I can't believe you rented a car to make that long drive."

     "Hey, you know me, always like a long drive. A road warrior. I'm going to fly back though, it's one thing to drive eight hundred miles down, but not back again. But, yeah, the drive was nice. Stopped in Ashland on Saturday night. Got to watch As You Like It. Very nice."

     He heard her little laugh, "Yeah, I guess it's nice to get a break from Shakespeare drama, huh?"

     He smiled to himself, "I don't know, I really liked The Tempest when we were there last. But the weather was nice, it's definitely better in the summer instead of when it's cold, the outdoor theater is much nicer on a warm May evening." He chuckled, "The rest of the drive was fine, you know I think we need a new saying, something like 'Highway Five leads to everywhere' or something like that."

     She laughed, "And you call yourself a marketing guy?" she laughed again. "How about 'You will take a right on Highway Five to heaven, head south to hell' or something like that!"

     He laughed, "Okay, maybe you're the real marketer here."

     She laughed, "Yeah." Long pause. "Well, hey, I know you probably have things to do."

     "Yeah, just some boring dinner. I drove six hours coming down from Ashland today, so I hope it's an early night."

     "Okay. Take care of yourself. The kids will be home tomorrow night, give them a call."

     "I will."

     "Okay then…I just wanted to…I just wanted to say hi. Take care of yourself Jeff."

     "I will. Thanks for calling."

     "Okay." He knew not to hang up yet. "And Jeff?"

     "Yes?"

     "I love you."

     "I know, and I love you." He knew he should say something about the letters, "And Donna?"

     "Yes?" the anxious reply came.

     "I'm really sorry about the letters. That you found them. But like I said, it's not what you were thinking."

     "I know, we already talked about it. Listen, I've got to go." The line disconnected abruptly.

     He flopped on his back shouting out loud, "Those damned letters! Why does it always have to be those damned letters!" he slapped his cell phone down on the nightstand. Laughing, "And what's with it's not what you were thinking? What other way is there to think!"

     Yes. Those damned letters. Two letters filled with incriminating words about two women each being naked with him, how the women loved him. Atlanta and Washington DC.

     Somehow he had met Nancy in Atlanta. Oh yeah, right. That tiny little coincidence of looking like the fricking twin brother of that crooked congressman! They had one incredible night at the Hilton in Norcross, sex so many times he lost count. They exchanged I Love You that night. He left somehow thinking that they would meet again. Neither he or Nancy made any effort to do so. That always baffled him. She had said that night that they were in the Jeff and Nancy bubble, maybe she was right. The bubble must have popped. He shrugged that they will probably never see each other again, never have the chance to lay naked together, he knew they would never see each other again.

     Then he met Kathy in Washington DC. Didn't want anything to do with each other the first time. The second time they met their magnetism was startling. The first time they found themselves naked together―only to be busted in on by Nancy? Then the poisoned beer? Yeah, nothing like a woman trying to murder a man to put a damper on a relationship! And why he needed so desperately to see her just hours after all that. He has never been able to figure out his frantic need to see her again. But it was worth it for that wonderful hour together, intense love making experiencing the sweep that she does with her hips on top of him. How they said the L word telling each other they meant it. He found himself sighing at the possibilities he had seen in her eyes. In her body. In her heart. But after all that she was banned from ever contacting him again.

     Kathy.

     Ah yes. Kathy.

     Just the thought of her name always made his chest warm.

     But it didn't matter. He sighed knowing he would never see Kathy again either.

     His wife Donna had found the letter from Nancy talking about Atlanta, demanded he move out. He did. Then when she came to Washington DC eighteen months later to surprise him, to try to make up so they could get back together, then seeing Nancy's letter on the nightstand the very second they were about to have sex. Then his wife being kidnapped by the Iranians. Wow, that was a week.

     When he got back she invited him to move back. Two weeks of wonderful make-up sex.

     Of course that short good period had to end in the most likely way.

     She saw his sport coat looked a little road-worn so she sent it to the dry cleaners. Of course the dry cleaner found Nancy's infamous love letter which was folded together with the love letter from Kathy, both letters full of naked and love. And of course a conscientious dry cleaner will take whatever they find in the pockets, pin the items to the coat in a clear plastic bag. Two love letters. Ugh, it made Jeff tired to think of his being kicked out again with the words from his wife in his ears like it was an hour ago, "What is it with you? Every time I want to make up with you a love letter talking about a woman being naked with you and being in love with you shows up!"

     Yep, that is one excellent dry cleaning service, huh?

     And now all he has to remember either of them by was their letters.

     Yes. Those damned letters.

     He sighed that he would never see Nancy or Kathy again. Especially Kathy.

     Rolling out of bed he headed to the bathroom to pee, washed his hands, coming back into the room his cell phone rang again. He glanced at it certain it was Donna again, not sure he had the strength.

     But there was something about a ringing phone that he could never resist, so he stepped over picking it up pushing the TALK button without looking at the caller-ID certain it was his wife calling back like she does to apologize when she has been short with him on the phone, "Hello again," expecting to hear his wife's reply.

     "Hi."

     Jeff sat bolt upright at this voice.

     "Nancy?" Jeff feeling warm air swirling around his head.

     "Nancy? Is that you? Nancy?" his heart bounced around his chest like a tennis ball bounding off each rib before it settled in his throat, sitting on the bed feeling balance tipping.

     "Yes, it's me. How are you?"

     "I'm…well I'm…where are you?"

     "I'm coming to your hotel."

     "My hotel? The Merdian? Where are you?"

     "I'm across the freeway at the Embassy Suites."

     "What are you doing here? How did you know I'm here? How did you know?" He knew she could trace him in a second through his credit card just like they had done in Atlanta and Washington DC on his last adventures with her.

     "That's a lot of questions there mister Jeff. Listen I'm calling because you are going to that dinner tonight, Neurotek, right?"

     "Yeah," wondering how she knew, "some kind of reception dinner put on by Neurotek. I was invited by a congresswoman, her office contacted me, said I should attend. I don't have anywhere else to go tonight so I said yes."

     I said I don't have anywhere else to go when I've got Nancy across the freeway from me?????

     "Good, because I will be at the dinner, too."

     The tennis ball suddenly transformed into a basketball bouncing around inside Jeff's chest!

     "That means I'll see you? Will we have time to talk? Oh god, Nancy I miss you!"

     "I miss you. But no, not tonight. We need to play it straight. Like you've never met me before."

     "Nancy, what's going on?" Jeff suddenly realizing, "You're on a case, aren't you?"

     "I can't talk about it right now, no time." There was a long pause, he heard her breathing into the phone. "Jeff?"

     "Yes, I'm here."

     "Are you up to this?"

     The basketball instantly turned into a bowling ball that just landed with a thud between his thighs!

     Quick! What am I supposed to be up to?

     "Up to what?"

     "Another case. How you manage to find yourself in the middle of my cases I will never know. Never."

     "Does it mean that I get to get shot at, kidnapped, poisoned, blown up, and shot at again?"

     "Probably."

     "And you promise that we won't end this trip talking through a door?" Jeff remembering DC when twice they sat with a door between them like two love-sick teen-agers.

     "I'll try, but I can't promise."

     "Okay then, I'm in."

     "Good. Remember that you don't know me. See you there."

     He went to push the disconnect button on his phone hearing her voice again, putting the phone back to his ear, "And Jeff?"

     "Yes, babe." I said babe!

     There was a pause, "Thank you."

     "Thank me?"

     "Yes, thank you. You just said everything I needed to hear. See you tonight."

     He clicked disconnect, flopped back on the bed. I called her babe!

     How was it that only a minute before that phone rang he decided he would never hear from Nancy again?

     Looking to the ceiling with a sigh he had the strange premonition that this week was about to turn crazy.

     Crazy.

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NOW READ THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF
SILICON GULCH!
 

http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-3.html

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Silicon Gulch, Chapter 3

Jeff finds himself in Silicon Valley where he is asked to investigate claims by a gregarious Frenchman that his neural network electronic technology actually works. He meets up again with the enchanting Nancy, the FBI agent he had worked with in Atlantawhere they fell in love while he was still married, and again in Washington DCwhere fortune kept them apart. A surprise meeting with Kathyputs romance back into Jeff’s life as he finds himself hounded by financially-desperate Europeans so determined to push their questionable technology―men so desperate that they will stop at nothing, even Jeff’s murder. The excitement will make the reader gasp, tragedy will make the reader cry, romance will make the reader sigh.

 

Chapter 3 of Silicon Gulch ... Kathy appears!

Monday, 7:06 PM: Get a Room!
Jeff decides he is definitely not going to the singles mixer in the hotel, but then he shows up an hour early to the dinner. With an hour to kill he goes to the singles mixer anyway...and he meets Kathy!
  

If you enjoy this, please take time to LIKE this on Facebook!

  

Thanks for taking time, and enjoy!
- Chris Lamela

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Author contact: chris@chrislamela.com, 707-566-8790 PST

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Monday, 7:06 PM: Get a Room!

     Jeff glanced at his watch, knew he would have just enough time to get a shower to get downstairs, so he stripped quickly walking to the shower. He decided to shave again so that his face would be silky smooth for Nancy.

     Twenty minutes later he walked to the elevator, a minute later was in the lobby looking for the restaurant, walking up to the greeter. Jeff craned to look into the restaurant seeing that there was obviously no big dinner going on. He turned to the greeter asking. She said she didn't know anything about a big dinner but to check with the front desk.

     Thanking her, he turned walking toward the front desk passing a large sign board that made him stop, SINGLES MIXER the sign declared from 6 to 10, Monday May 12, 1997 – California Ballroom. Jeff smiled looking down at his watch which said the bewitching hour had arrived, smiling to himself remembering the singles mixer that ended up getting him into so much trouble in Washington DC last year.

     Yeah, maybe not.

     Nope, no mixer for me tonight!

     He laughed to himself walking to the front desk clerk who directed him to Parlor Three for the dinner. He followed pointing fingers from behind the hotel clerk's desk across the lobby to the entryway for all meeting rooms.

     He walked into the meeting room area. There was another sign for the singles mixer, a long table along the wall on the left. He noticed Parlor Three directly across from the table, going up to the door which was closed. A sign on the door announced the dinner he was expecting. Pulling the door open he expected to see people sitting in the room, but instead there were staff still laying table cloths.

     "Excuse me, there's a dinner here tonight?"

     "Yes sir, hosted by Neurotek."

     "Yeah, I guess that sounds right."

     "It doesn't start until eight o'clock."

     "Really?"

     "Yes sir, it is in some kind of European fashion of starting later."

     "So that's in an hour?" Jeff looked at his watch, "Huh, okay, guess I'll come back then," turning back through the door.

     In a second he was back in front of the registration table for the singles mixer with a small crowd of anxiously relaxing singles passing money across the table getting the backs of their hands stamped.

     "Okay," Jeff said to himself, "why not?" stepping forward, handing over twenty dollars, receiving five drink tickets, proffering up his hand for the stamp.

     Continuing around the corner Jeff saw the same mix of nervously cool bodies standing by a door with music bouncing into the hallway. Turning right into the room Jeff saw the bar along the left wall. Holding his drink tickets he walked up to order a Cuba Libre, handing over a ticket, turning around to see clutches of people standing anxiously relaxed, a few couples making epileptic movements to the music on a small dance floor.

     He walked away from the bar, stood near a group of people, a couple women looking over to him with inviting glances so he decided what the hell walking up to them. The circle opened up helping him feel actually welcomed. Realizing he forgot to put a name tag on him, he glanced at his hand stamp showing it, introducing himself as "Trigger" which the stamp said for some unexplainable reason, the group laughed.

     The woman to his right turned to him, "Hi, I'm Shirley. You live here?"

     "No, actually, I'm from out of town. Seattle. Here for the week."

     "Out of town, huh?" He expected her to be dismissive but she cocked an eye looking him up and down, glancing at his bare ring finger, "Is this a one-shot deal or do you get here regularly?"

     "I've been coming down here a lot lately. Stay at this hotel when I'm down."

     "Really," she smiled, Jeff hearing only one word in his head: SCORE!

     Suddenly hands reached around Jeff's head clasping over his eyes. He jumped in surprise, almost spilling his drink, calming when he realized it must be Nancy.

     He heard a female's voice whisper in his ear, "This is a voice from your past. Guess who?"

     Jeff laughed, "Frosty the Snowman? Roger Rabbit? Wait, I know, Idi Amin!"

     A tickled laugh came from behind him, the hands continued clasping his face, "I'll give you a hint, Washington DC."

     "Oh, why didn't you say so? Newt Gingrich?"

     "You're not playing fair! Would Newt Gingrich get naked in your hotel room? Have you naked in mine?"

     Naked in my hotel room? Nancy didn't get naked in my hotel room in Washington DC! Naked in hers?

     Naked in my hotel room, naked in hers?

     Oh my god it's her! spinning around shocked eyes trying to focus on the apparition before him.

     "Kathy?"

     "Surprised?"

     "Surprised! Yeah, that's a word for it. What are you doing here?"

     "I live here! I told you I live in Santa Clara, don't you remember?"

     Jeff's head spun like some little toy you wind up so its head spins round and round and round―he'd never seen such a toy but if one existed that would be him right now!

     "But…"

     "But what silly, didn't you read my note?"

     "Note?" suddenly he remembered her note, the one that said next time we lay naked together, words that were so endearing to his wife when she found the note pinned to his dry cleaning. "Oh, yeah, your note."

     "Come on, let's go out into the hall, it's too noisy in here," she tugged at Jeff's sleeve. He turned to the woman who had been making eyes at him with a shrug noticing her shoot evil eyes to Kathy.

     A few seconds later they were in the hallway, she pointed to a bench seat. They walked toward it sitting down.

     "So are you surprised to see me?"

     He took a long drink of his Cuba Libre, "Yeah, you can say that again."

     "Actually, I was never supposed to make contact with you. Did covering your eyes count as contact?"

     He laughed sipping his drink, "Yeah, well I doubt there's any FBI lurking around here keeping score." They both laughed. "But really, I never thought I'd see you again."

     "You mean you never wanted to see me again."

     "I didn't say that, did I?"

     "No you didn't." She leaned her head on his shoulder, he felt a funny twinge in his chest that surprised him.

     But then it didn't.

     She looked down at his glass, "You know, I could use another drink, do you promise not to go anywhere?" He nodded, she got up disappearing back into the room.

     He sat there wondering if she got up deliberately so he could leave without shame. That seemed like a good idea actually, glancing at his watch seeing that he still has forty-five minutes before the dinner.

     No, he would stay. No idea why, mind you, he thought, maybe he would just be giving her a second shot at poisoning him. He remembered how she knocked the poisoned beer bottle from his hand, how she had broken down admitting that she that she had been paid fifty thousand dollars to put the two little white tablets into his beer. She had lost her nerve. No, she never really had the nerve. She was just extremely pissed off about how Nancy had barged in on them that Sunday night, how he and Nancy had stood there laughing while she lay naked in the bed next to them. "Yeah," he laughed out loud, "I'd be pretty pissed off, too."

     Then his need to go to see her that very night, only hours after that. What was that? And that wonderful hour they got to spend together with armed men outside the door. All the times he thinks about her. Still. She is the reason why he has started to question is sanity lately. He saw her, what, over a year ago, and they only spent that single hour together alone. There was something about her, though, something that was really special. In a weird way he didn't mind being kicked out by Donna after finding Kathy's letter.

     He laughed that less than an hour ago he told himself he would never see her, and yet somehow he knew he would see her again. He just knew.

     Now here she was.

     Maybe she went back into the mixer to ditch him he thought watching the door. Couldn't blame her, really. Soon she came back out holding two glasses with a pleased expression, a warm inviting smile.

     "You waited!" she smiled handing him his drink, "here, it's a double. Like that night on the phone, do your remember?" He smiled remembering how he had assembled a double Cuba Libre out of his mini-bar while they teased each other on the phone that night.

     Jesus, that crazy week.

     "Yeah, I remember," they tinked their glasses in a toast.

     "So what are you doing down here?"

     "Business, here for the week."

     "The week, wow, you could get yourself into a lot of trouble in a week," toasting him again.

     "Yeah, but you know, it's a little weird seeing you again after what happened in DC."

     She gave a guilty-looking downcast of her eyes. "You know, I think a lot about all that. All the time. I don't know what came over me." She looked back up to him, "But you know that I wouldn't hurt you, I couldn't hurt you."

     He laughed, "I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about the hour."

     She looked back to him with misty eyes, "Oh, right. Yes. The hour. Our hour. Yes, that was pretty special."

     He looked into her eyes, their deep brown, so deep in color that he could barely see into them. Chocolate with that bright green ring around them. He was captivated by her dark eyes and their halo of green. He was only every attracted to women with light colored eyes. His wife had sparkly blue eyes; he used to call them her crystalline eyes. Nancy had those brilliant golden eyes with the tiny black flecks swimming in the golden surrounds. Kathy's were dark eyes that at first seemed almost opaque. But there was a deep brilliance to them, light reflecting so crisply, he could see his reflection in her eyes like tiny mirrors looking back to him. And she had smile lines that encircled each side of her mouth. Jeff was a fool for elegantly-placed smile lines around a wide smile. Parenthesis around her lips, holding an unspoken message, two soft lines encapsulating a secret whisper. She had a perfect mouth.

     "There is something about you mister Jeff…I mean something really special. I would never hurt you." She laughed poking his shoulder, "And I would take an hour with you anytime."

     "Even with two armed men at the door?" She laughed. "Yeah, but I know." He set his drink down reaching for hers setting it down, turning to her taking both of her hands in his, looking into her deep dark eyes. "Kathy, I have thought a lot about what happened back there. And honestly, I never expected to see you again." He smiled, turned away, back to her again.

     "What?" she said playfully.

     "It's too strange, you're going to think I'm a freak if I tell you."

     "What?" she flopped his hands gently, "what? Tell me!"

     "I never…I mean…I mean I never expected to see you again for the rest of my life. But I have thought about you so much that it has been kind of driving me crazy."

     He shook his head reaching for his glass sipping it, "No, I'm crazy for thinking about you so much! Especially because I thought I would never see you again."

     "That's sweet, I think about you every day. So I guess you could call me crazy too. The difference between you and me, though, is that I knew we would meet again."

     Looking to the ceiling, back to her, "I even practiced what I would say to you when I did see you again. Or when I didn't."

     "No, that's not strange." She laughed softly with a demur smile, "I've been thinking exactly the same," she smiled, "or maybe I didn't…I think…but now I'm confused!" They laughed.

     "Okay, then, you go first," he smiled, "what would you say to me when you never saw me again for the rest of your life?"

     She laughed, "Okay, when I never saw you again…" she laughed again, "I would tell you that I was so hurt when that woman barged in on us because…well…now you're going to think I'm a freak!" He shook his head, encouraging her to continue, "That night at the bar, then on the phone, my god mister Jeff, all I could think was this is him! That you were the man I have been looking for my whole life! And then when you came to my room after what I did, came back to me in the middle of the night like you did, all I have been able to think is that you are the most special man on earth."

      He laughed out loud, "Do you go around poisoning all the men you find after looking for him your whole life who is the most special man on earth?"

      She punched him in the arm hard, "Ouch! Okay, fair enough, or rather unfair enough."

      "Okay, your turn. What were you going to say to me?" she demanded smiling.

      He let her hand down to pick up his drink, taking a long gulp, put his drink down again reaching for her hand. "Let me see. When I didn't see you for the rest of my life I was going to tell you that my life back then was really complicated. You know how you had to sign the non-disclosure, that you would never talk about what happened in DC?" She nodded. "Well I think I need one of those for my whole life!"

      They both laughed together as she waggled his hands.

      "No seriously, my life was sooooo complicated, that week was so insane. I couldn't describe that week even if they did allow me to." He shook his head, "But more, my marriage was wrecked and she was confused about wanting me back or not, I had met another woman―"

     "The one who barged in on us, huh."

     "Yeah, how did you know?"

     She gave a wry knowing smile, "Jeff, in case you didn't notice, I am a woman. Anyway…"

     Note to self…Kathy is also a woman!

     "Yes, the woman who busted in on us. She and I have tried and tried to have a relationship―I shouldn't be telling you this, should I?"

     "We've earned this. Yes, you can tell me. We're just friends, right?"

     He looked to her nodding, "Yes, we are. Anyway, there was a lot of magnetism. Like us."

     Her face brightened, "Magnetism? Like us?"

     Oh no, Jeff thought, the US word!

     He looked down at his hands holding hers, smiling, "You're right. Yes, like us."

     "Listen, I know you are staying at the hotel, but I have a townhouse across the freeway, about two miles from here. I'd really like it if you would let me cook you dinner. Let's see where this can go, what do you think?"

     "Dinner!" Jeff looked down at his watch, five minutes after eight. "Oh jesus, Kathy, I would love that, but I'm supposed to be at a dinner right now." She flashed a disappointed smile. "But here," he pulled out his pen rustling around his pockets looking for a piece of paper, looking up at her holding her cell phone.

     "Give me your cell phone number."

     He told her the digits one-by-one while she poked them into her phone, a second later his cell phone rang from his coat pocket. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone answering it, "Jeff's love connection!"

     She laughed, "There, now you have my phone number and I have yours." He repeated back her same words, they both laughed at the funny echo effect from the delay of the phone as they both clicked buttons to disconnect.

     "So how is your schedule tomorrow night, care for some home-cooked food?"

     He paused a quick second to reflect that if he got to be with Nancy tonight, then why not with Kathy tomorrow night?

     "Yeah sure, as long as arsenic is not on the menu!"

     She punched his arm again, "Ouch, the same spot, you're going to leave a bruise!"

     They started to stand, she reached to him kissing him on the lips, "Listen mister Jeff, you are going to leave my townhouse black and blue tomorrow night, so get used to it! And it will take longer than an hour."

     Impulsively he reached to her pulling her to him, they embraced in a long passionate kiss pulling away only when somebody walked by with a joking voice.

     "Hey you two," laughing.
     "Get a room!"

  

---------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW READ THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF
SILICON GULCH!
 

http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-4.html

If you enjoy this, please take time to LIKE this on Facebook!

Silicon Gulch, Chapter 4

Jeff finds himself in Silicon Valley where he is asked to investigate claims by a gregarious Frenchman that his neural network electronic technology actually works. He meets up again with the enchanting Nancy, the FBI agent he had worked with in Atlantawhere they fell in love while he was still married, and again in Washington DCwhere fortune kept them apart. A surprise meeting with Kathyputs romance back into Jeff’s life as he finds himself hounded by financially-desperate Europeans so determined to push their questionable technology―men so desperate that they will stop at nothing, even Jeff’s murder. The excitement will make the reader gasp, tragedy will make the reader cry, romance will make the reader sigh.

CHAPTER 4 of Silicon Gulch ... The Frenchman announces a total lie!

Monday, 8:05 PM: Dinner Surprise!
Jeff goes to the dinner where he meets the congresswoman who puts the make on him! He meets Paula who is sending signals. But the surprise of the evening is when the Frenchman announces he has a deal with Jeff's company!

If you enjoy this, please take time to LIKE this on Facebook!

 

 

Thanks for taking time, and enjoy!
- Chris Lamela

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Author contact: chris@chrislamela.com, 707-566-8790 PST

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, 8:05 PM: Dinner Surprise!

     They turned starting to walk down the hallway toward the singles mixer registration table with Parlor Three directly facing the table. Jeff glanced back at the entry to the California Ballroom, "You're not going back into the mixer?"

     She leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked, "Who needs that? I already have a date!" They both laughed walking on, her head on his shoulder. He was amazed at how easy it felt to be with her. What was it that was so different compared to Nancy? To Donna even? Shrugging it off they walked along, turning to each other at the door that Jeff needed to enter.

     They hugged, kissing quickly once more, conscious of the faces behind the registration table watching them.

     "Okay then, let's talk in the morning. I have no idea what my schedule is tomorrow, but I have a car so if you get my message box just give me directions and a time."

     "Let's do seven, okay? That will give me time to get home to make something. Will seven work? That's about as late as I can cook for Hannah. She goes to bed at nine-thirty."

     Jeff remembered their sharing stories of his children, Nicole and Scott, and her telling him about Hannah who was about the same age as his kids.

     "Like I said, I have no idea what my day's going to be like, so seven is probably as good a time as any."

     She smiled, they gave a quick peck once more, he turned to the door opening it, giving a quick glance, she turned toward the hotel lobby giving him a little pinky wave.

     Jeff stepped into the mid-sized parlor room he had been in this afternoon with the droll presenter, walking into the room now with a small square of tables laid in white table cloths decorated with silverware and glasses. There was a long row of tables for a buffet along the left wall, hotel staff in uniforms busy bringing out trays of food, fussing over the details of the final decorations.

     "Jeff!" he heard a voice. Turning around he saw the Frenchman walking up to him with a man and a woman trailing in his wake.

     Jeff glanced around the room seeing a few familiar faces, but mostly strangers. He saw Nancy standing in the far corner, she turned noticing him, started walking toward them. Jeff turned to Gerard. "Yes, Gerard, good to see you," shaking hands.

     Gerard stood to the side, motioned toward the two that had followed him, "Jeff, this is Paula Johnson, she works for General Avatonics," she held out her hand, they shook, her hand cold to his touch.

     "Oh, cold hand!" Jeff teased.

     "That means a warm heart, right?" she gave him a quick flash with a raised eyebrow of intrigue that didn't go unnoticed.

     "And Samuel Johnson," the man also extended his hand.

     Jeff looked back and forth between the two, "Both Johnson, related?"

     Paula's cool response spoke beyond her simple word, "Formerly."

     "Oh…" Jeff responded, a chilled silence suddenly enveloped the little circle.

     "Jeff, right?" a familiar voice came to his ears, Nancy courteously pushing through Paula and Samuel, "my name is Nancy Wyse. I have heard so much about you and your company." She scanned the three other faces, "I would like to get a minute with you when you can, maybe when the dinner is over? Can you try to find me?" He nodded shaking her hand, overwhelmed at her soft touch pretending to make a firm handshake.

     "Yes, for sure, Nancy Wyse? Did I get your name right? Do you have a card?"

     She smiled, instantly producing a card, "Listen, I'll let you get back to your conversation," pulling her hand back, "make sure to come see me afterward," turning to Gerard, "sorry to interrupt," turning briskly walking away.

     The Frenchman flashed a lecherous smile to Jeff, "Ah, yes, she is quite a woman, eh?" Jeff was looking at the card, "She is a consultant that the congresswoman recommended. She is acting as a liaison to the DOD for us. She is very critical if we are to get our next contract."

    "Why are you guys working directly with the DOD? Why aren't you working with a prime, like Raytheon or Westinghouse? They would probably be really interested in what you guys are doing. I could make introductions."

     "Why deal with the horse's ass when I can to straight to the horse's mouth?" the Frenchman burst into an almost over-acted laugh. Jeff couldn't figure out the tone of the laugh.

     "Yes, then!" the Frenchman declared gaining his composure, turning with a sweeping motion of his left hand, "there are so many people who want to meet you, so many that you will want to meet! Come along," he reached toward Jeff with a tug on his elbow, "I will make introductions."

     They walked along the tables together toward a small group of people standing talking. Jeff glanced back, Paula was following them, Samuel had turned back talking with someone else.

     Gerard pointed to the little clique of people standing around a woman, a man at her side who seemed to be playing something like a defender in a football line up. You know, the quarter back draws back, this guy rushes in as defender.

     Gerard pushed through the little group around the woman in a mild demandingly intrusive way, "Congresswoman Lindon! There is somebody I would like you to meet!"

     The conversation around the woman suddenly stopped, all eyes turned to Gerard, the defensive lineman stepping forward, "Excuse me?" The congresswoman glanced at the man with a nod turning to Gerard tolerantly.

     Enthusiastically waving to Jeff, Gerard announced, "This is the gentleman I told you about with Versatronics! The company that makes the electronics and avionics for the General Avatonics unmanned aircraft. Their UAV planes."

     The congresswoman glanced around the little circle of faces in mild apology for the interruption with a special glance at her lineman, reaching her hand toward Jeff, "Yes, I have heard about your company, about you, my name is Woldsey Lindon."

     Jeff took her hand, "Yes, I have heard about you, my name is Jeff―"

     "Like I said, I know who you are," smiling graciously at Jeff. He looked down, she still had his hand gently clasped in hers as she continued, "I have heard a lot about you. I understand that you are quite the ladies' man." He looked at her confused wondering how on earth she could know anything of the sorts about him, she smiled again with a slow nod, "Yes, just rumors of course."

     He was speechless, not knowing how to reply, sudden lightness hitting him, "Well, I promise you that whatever rumors you hear are blatantly true."

     She laughed still holding his hand, "I prefer to think they are absolutely true," giving his hand a squeeze, finally letting go.

     Ding ding ding ding! A bell rang, everyone turned toward the man whose upright posture and pursed lips matched his chef's hat with his big apron, his deep French accent declaring, "Dinner is served!"

     People began to migrate toward the long row of silver trays along the side wall, the congresswoman pulling Jeff aside, he turned to her, "So Jeff, how long are you here?"

     "This whole week."

     "The whole week, that's lots of time to get into all sorts of trouble." Jeff's brow wrinkled at hearing the same words he had just heard from Kathy.

     Change the subject!!!

     "So how would you like to be addressed?"

     "People naturally call me congresswoman," she winked at him, "but we will be doing a lot of work together I am pretty sure. My friends call me Lin."

     "Lin?"

     "Yes, spell it L-I-N, from my last name. It's been my nickname since I was in grade school." She leaned in toward him, "I never liked my first name anyway, everyone always gets it wrong, it sounds like I wear itchy clothes all the time."

     He didn't quite get her little joke laughing anyway. He suddenly got it, wool, laughing again glancing at her appreciative smile.

     "But I want you to call me Lin." She winked leaning to him whispering, "Call me Lin when you call me to breakfast, okay?"

     His eyes bugged out at this unabashedly overt come-on.

     Jesus, he thought, not another week of this!

     Already he had collected Nancy, Kathy. And now a congresswoman? She smiled knowingly at his expression touching the small of his back, massaging through is coat, "Come on, let's eat. I'm starved but this damned Frenchman always insists on having dinners so late."

     Jeff turned to her smiling, they walked to stand at the opened serving trays, "Yeah, I've worked in France, it takes a little getting used to, their meal schedule."

     "He wanted to have this at ten! I told him that nobody would show up, or at least that nobody would eat because they would have already eaten. I don't know what it is about this guy, but he keeps insisting that we adapt to the French culture here. I mean, the French dinner time?"

     Jeff told her about his little run in with him earlier about French fifteen minutes, they both laughed, "See?" she laughed. "Watch this guy, he really likes playing by his own rules," he nodded at the warning.

     They came to the front of the line, he glanced at the tables seeing little name tags at each place, noticing Paula setting one down on the other side of the room. He turned to pick up a plate.

     "I really wanted you to sit by me for dinner, but he arranged us in some order. So let's make a point to get some time to talk. I need some expertise on this whole thing." She reached into her pocket pulling out a gold business card case embossed with the congressional logo, opened it handing him a card. "Call me in the morning and let's find some time to talk."

     He took her card reading it, nodded, sliding it into his inside coat pocket, pulling one of his cards out to give to her. "Is this your cell phone number?" she asked holding the card in front of her face. He nodded. "So I could, say, call you at midnight on it?"

     Jeff looked around worried that others were listening, but the line had already moved ahead, nobody near them. "Yeah, I guess, but why would you call me at midnight?" while getting absolutely clear language why such a call would occur.

     "Oh, you never know," she said nonchalantly," reaching her hand to rub his back again, "it can get pretty lonely at that hour, right? Midnight is the loneliest time for us singles."

     He nodded nervously turning to the food, "Oh, look at this food!" diligently addressing the silver trays in front of him.

     Soon his plate was piled with what looked like very tasty food. This had to be very expensive he thought looking at the platters that included caviar, faux gras, and other very French food. His mouth watered at the smells, realizing that this French meal schedule was definitely not to his liking because he was starved.

     With a full plate in hand, Jeff walked around the table looking for his name, finally seeing it he smiled at the two on each side sitting down.

     Paula turned to him, "Well that was lucky, I get to sit by you!" He smiled at her remembering seeing her fiddling with the place placards. Yeah, lucky he thought hearing a definite tone of her elation from this luck.

     Jeff smiled at her, unwrapping his silverware, putting the napkin in his lap. "Yeah, lucky, I guess, so Paula tell me about you, who are you with?"

     She fumbled to put her fork down, reaching for her purse on the floor produced a card handing it to Jeff. "I'm with General Avatonics."

     "Oh, that's right, that's what Gerard said. I'm good friends with Frank Pacfil. I get down there all the time so why haven't we met?"

     "I'm VP of strategic projects." He looked down at the card, that was the title printed under her name, he nodded. "I mostly hang around DC and god knows where else, responsible more for the business development side. I did all the deals that your deliveries are for."

     "Oh, yes, good job…" he smiled at her sliding her card into his inside coat pocket next to the congresswoman's, he pulled out one of his handing it to her.

     "So you and your―what is he―your husband? Samuel?"

     "You mean former husband."

     "I'm sorry, divorced?"

     She had just put food into her mouth motioning to give her a second as she chewed, "I wish divorced. No. Not yet."

     "So…"

     "No he's not with General Avatonics. He's DOD. I don't know why he's here. We already have a consultant," motioning to Nancy sitting exactly opposite him across the room. Anyway, we met on a project a few years ago and well, I just woke up one day married to him."

     Jeff laughed, "Just woke up?"

     Her expression turned serious, "Jeff, are you married, have you ever been divorced?"

     "Yes, I'm married―well at least sort of married―and yes, I've had two divorces. But I don't ever remember waking up married!" He laughed again.

     Her expression lightened, a smile crept onto her face, "I guess you're right, saying it like that makes it sound like I caught marriage like you catch a cold, huh?" She laughed again leaning her head on his shoulder.

     He wanted to pull back at her overly-familiar gestures toward him, felt a tiny spasm of uncomfortable, but there was something about her that made him play along.

     He turned to her for a quick examination. She looked to be early forties, maybe, but he wasn't very good at women's ages, dark hair with a gray streak over her left forehead swept back over her head, her hair in a loose pony tail. She wasn't particularly attractive, but he was taken by her wide-open expression. Her eyes were an intriguing dark gray color with a depth that wanted to speak to him in words that he couldn't quite hear in the quick flashes that he was seeing. There was something here, but Jeff couldn't understand all the unspoken language flowing toward him from that anxious face.

     Nervously Jeff turned to the man sitting to his right, "So hi, my name is Jeff," he glanced back to Paula to see her attention back on her food. The man was the congresswoman's lineman Jeff had noticed earlier.

     "Steve Richoff, nice to meet you. You're with Versatec, right? I've heard a lot of good things about your systems. I've heard a lot of good things about you!"

     "Really?" Jeff managed with his mouth full of food.

     "Yes, I heard how you displaced the Israelis from the General Avatonics plane. Man, that was impressive. That's like…I don't know…almost industry lore."

     Jeff's pleased smile told how he liked the word lore. "Yes, that was quite a feat. I've given a couple talks on that whole deal. Nothing special really, just good old-fashioned strategic business development. No magic."

    "Strategic whatever, all I know is that it was nice to see someone knock that damned smug smile off those bastards. Israeli Aircraft Industries is a formidable competitor." He leaned in to Jeff, "IAI is formidable but only because word has it that the playing field is not level with those bastards, they play by different rules. We can't do payola, right? I mean that's like prison time if we do. But those bastards―"

     "Listen, Steve, right?" Steve nodded, "Listen Steve, I've been around this industry for almost eight years and believe me, there is plenty of payola on our side."

     Steve had just taken a bite of food, his full mouth prevented him speaking, his expression saying tell me more!

     "Sorry, can't talk about it," Jeff made a motion with his right hand zipping his lips. "Trust me, though, we are not all that squeaky clean."

     Jeff desperately wanted to change the subject, "So Steve, are you from here?"

     Picking up his napkin, he pushed his empty plate back, laughed, "Yeah, I tell people I was born and raised in Silicon Valley before it was Silicon Valley!"

     "Really?"

    "Yeah, this building was on hay fields, across the freeway was―I don't remember, either apricot orchards or plums―anyway some kind of orchard. I used to pick buckets of fruit during the summer."

     "Really?"

     "Yeah," Steve laughed, "fifteen cents a bucket. It was the hardest work I ever did in my life."

     "So Silicon Valley."

     "Yeah, began when Intel started up in the early seventies, they're only about two miles from here, AMD in Sunnyvale after that. Then a jillion semiconductor companies. Not counting the software companies and other tech. And now all the Internet startups." He laughed, "With some of the goofiest names! What's that one, goggle? No, Google! I mean what kind of name is that for a company. They won't last!" he laughed a mocking tone.

     "So, silicon valley," Jeff repeated.

     "Actually, I prefer Silicon Gulch. Or just the Gulch for short."

     The man to Steve's right was listening in, interjected looking around Steve to Jeff, Steve sat back abruptly at the interruption, "I prefer Silicon Pit actually." The two turned to this conversational interloper, "Or just The Pit," with a bitter smack.

    "Whoa, why the sour tone?"

    "I've been in the industry my whole life," the sour face continued, "this is a great place to work, but a lousy place to live."

     "So go somewhere else!" Jeff thought that was a simple answer.

     "That's where The Pit comes in. If you are in tech you are trapped here. There is nowhere in the world that you can go. No place comes near to this place for jobs. Certainly not for pay!"

     Suddenly Jeff remembered the man's face from the elevator, "Say, aren't you the prick in the elevator that was so goddam mean to that Chinese couple?"

     "You're not from here, are you?" the man leaned intently toward Jeff, Steve leaning further back not to be caught in the middle of this.

     "No I'm not. I'm from Seattle."

     "Then you don't know what you're talking about, do you? You don't know how those bastards have taken over the valley. Have you been to Cupertino?" Jeff shook his head not knowing what a Cupertino is. "You can't read half the signs because they are all in Chinese or some damned thing. And the Indians have just about taken over Santa Clara, and don't even get me started about Fremont! You hardly see a white face there!"

     "Dude, the world is changing. Every place is changing."

     "Yeah, but I grew up here, and it's a bunch of crap that I can't feel comfortable in the place I grew up."

     "Okay," Jeff thought to himself, "eject!" quickly pulling back out of sight from this angry face, Jeff turning quickly to Steve who glanced at the man to his right, leaning cautiously forward turning to Jeff, "Are you with the congresswoman?"

     "Yes, I am the congresswoman's chief aid, hold on," glancing quickly back to the man on his right with a scowl he reached into his pocket pulling out the same gold business card case embossed with the congressional logo that he had seen in the congresswoman's hands and in so many other congressional hands in DC last year. "Here," he pointed to a telephone number on the bottom, "That is my cell telephone number, only way to reach me this week."

     Jeff took a bite, Steve turned back to him, "I understand that you are key player in this weapons system."

     "Our products don't go boom, we prefer to call them surveillance systems."

     Jeff took another bite, chewed slowly hoping to get time to pass.

     "So how long have you been the aid of the congresswoman?"

     "Since she was elected eight years ago."

     "That's a long time. I mean you don't look that old."

     "She plucked me out of the election staff. Made my whole career." He glanced at the woman at the head of the tables, Jeff could see an adoring gaze. "She is amazing."

     "So you said to call you this week. Why would I want to reach you this week?"

     Steve gave a big wry smile, "You just got here today?" Jeff nodded. "Trust me, you will want to call me this week."

     "What's going on?"

     "Very complicated."

     Suddenly there was a loud tinkling, a spoon on a wine glass, "Ladies and gentleman, if I may," the room was filled with a thick French accent, all faces turning to the man standing next to the congresswoman who was looking up at Gerard. "Thank you for coming to this―" he looked down at the congresswoman with a smile, "to this early dinner," there were a few chuckles around the tables.

     "We are pleased to have such a worthy collection of guests, and it is my hope that by getting to know each other better on a personal level so that we can make our good business together better." Jeff laughed at the slightly twisted English coming from this pompous form. "We have a number of special guests here tonight, but most of all I am pleased to make an announcement."

     Jeff thought that it would be refreshing to actually hear anything substantial from these guys. He watched the form to his left, Jeff noticing a quick glance from Paula as she turned to smile at him. He smiled at her gesture turning his attention back to the Frenchman.

     "Yes, tonight I am pleased to announce an agreement consummated just only this evening," pointing to Jeff, all eyes following the gesture toward him, "with Versatec to conduct integration and testing of our adaptive neural network technology with the advanced Versatec avionics systems." Jeff's eyes bugged out, he heard a soft murmur of surprised delight emerge from the room, "And we also have an agreement that General Avatonics will do an integration of our systems onto their UAV aircraft." Reaching for his wine glass, the Frenchman held it up, "Here's a toast to new partnerships, and to the success of Neurotek in the future!" a general accolade rose into the air.

     Jeff was stunned. He looked at the congresswoman's questioning smile, her glass barely raised, Paula turning to him with an astonished expression.

     Nancy sat slack-jawed directly across the tables staring at Jeff with a what the hell! expression. He motioned with his head toward the Frenchman shrugging, she shook her head slowly in confusion.

     "Yes on that note," Gerard turned to the congresswoman who wiped her mouth setting her napkin down, standing. Gerard sat down with an odd flourish which Jeff was beginning to see was the essence of his personal style. Pomp, flourish, ceremony.

     What an odd lying duck!

     "Thank you Gerard, always a pleasure to hear new developments for Neurotek." She looked around the room. "As you all know, at least most of you, my office is very interested in anything that will promote the valley's economic growth and well-being. We are excited that we are seeing a new cycle of growth with the new Internet technologies, though there are certainly a few disappointments in some of the high tech companies."

     Steve leaned whispering to Jeff, "She means Apple, I'm pretty sure. We've been scrambling around trying to figure out how to keep those guys in business." Jeff glanced at him, "I mean the PC won, right?"

     The congresswoman continued, "It was very good to hear about the new partnerships with Versatec," waving toward Jeff, "and General Avatonics," waving at Paula.

     Paula's baffled face turned to Jeff. Jeff shrugged.

     "So yes, a toast!" Glasses were raised, but the congresswoman didn't complete the toast, sitting down with a perfunctory frown.

     Jeff looked at her expression suddenly realizing that this room was filled with intrigue that he had somehow managed to get swept up into.

    What the hell is going on?

    He saw Nancy rise saying goodbye to the people around her, leaning to pick up her purse she walked around the tables.

     Jeff felt his chest flush, this is it, we get to go to my room!

     She came up behind Jeff turning to Paula, "Paula you won't mind if I steal him from you, will you?"

     Paula flashed a good-sport smile, "As long as you bring him back to me!" Paula laughed, Jeff giving Nancy a worried look.

     "Remember, I said that I wanted to talk to you, I am short on time, can we do that now?" Nancy asked leaning to him.

     "Sure!"

     Jeff tried to stand up but Paula put her hand on his left shoulder pulling him back down, "You are coming back, right? I mean we have so much to talk about. And don't forget we have that meeting tomorrow at ten. But come back here, okay?"

     He smiled reaching up to his shoulder, gently pulling her hand down, "Yes, though not tonight, I've had a long day."

     "So I'll see you in the morning, ten right?"

     "Sure, meeting in the lobby. Right. Okay, see you then." He had actually forgotten about the meeting, but smiled to her standing, following Nancy out of the room, nobody seeming to notice their exit.

     They walked out the door, the singles mixer reception tables were bare. Jeff looked at his watch saying six minutes after ten.

     They walked into the lobby when she turned sharply to Jeff, "What the hell was that?"

     "What?"

     "A deal with Neurotek?"

     "Nancy, there is no deal with Neurotek! I don't know what the hell he's talking about. I'll bet if you ask that Paula woman she'll tell you she has no idea either!"

     "But he had to get that from somewhere!"

     "Look, I had drinks with him―"

     She glanced around quickly, "Not here, let's go to my room." She pulled out a card scribbling a room number on the back. "The Embassy Suites are just across the freeway, go left out of the parking lot, left on Great America and over the freeway, take the first right and bend around, you can't miss the hotel."

     Without another word she turned, disappeared through the front door. He felt around in his pants pocket to find his car keys, patted his wallet in his left inside coat pocket sprinting for the door.

     A minute later he was crossing the freeway, could see the Embassy Suites sign above the Pepper Mill sign, felt his heart racing.

    He laughed to himself that he had been scolded and told to get a room when he was kissing Kathy in the hallway of the hotel.

     But who needs to get a room?

     Yippee, he thought.
     I get Nancy's room!

  

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NOW READ THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF
SILICON GULCH!

http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-5.html

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