Title: The Big Payback
Author: Betty Bradford-Byers
Published in March 2007 by Lavender Isis Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
ISBN: 978-0-9789935-6-6
Pepper’s brutally beaten by Edmond, her boyfriend of twelve years. When her friends, Micah and Juanita get the news they rush to the hospital. Pepper, if she survives, will be permanently blind in her left eye and walk with a limp. Edmond has left town and no one knows where he went, but Pepper’s friends will locate him, demanding revenge.
In Acapulco, Mexico, Edmond Waverly Windbrook, III waits for his trainer while basking in the sun. He reflects on his parents’ demise. They traveled when he was younger leaving him at home in the care of servants, then when he was a teenager they decided to retire; wanting to spend more time with him. In four month’s, Edmond’s quiet, controlled life fell into chaos before deciding to tamper with the brakes on his parents’ car. His isolation resumes until attending military academy where he meets Pepper from the neighboring all girls’ school, Deauville Academy. Right now, Edmond is focused on getting a tan and beefing up his scrawny physique; drastically changing his appearance. Assured his new look wins Pepper again.
Together with Juanita and Pepper, Micah works as a clothing designer in her mother’s fashion and design center. All three women met and remained close friends after attending Deauville Academy. Micah has always been the confident, decisive of the trio. Juanita, during her days in the public schools of Atlanta, became acquainted with the less savory side of the city; gangs like The Blazers. She loved the adventure and excitement of living on the edge, which her boyfriend at the time, Boogie led. She gave up Boogie and the gangs when attending Deauville, but Pepper and Micah know about her diverse associations. Juanita is the “brawn” amongst the threesome, knowing how to defend herself physically or with a gun. Pepper possesses beauty as well as brains, charming people with her sense of style and intellect. Micah, Juanita and Pepper together make for passionate strength no one man can endure, not even Edmond. Combined with Micah’s planning sense and Juanita’s connections the two women mean to make him pay for abusing Pepper – up to and including death.
Pepper recovers from her wounds but never presses charges against Edmond. Neither Juanita nor Micah can figure out what makes Pepper protect him. Taking the matter into her own hands, Micah hires Mick Sutherland, an old friend and private investigator to find Edmond. She leaves his office conceding that if Armstead were not in her bed, Mick would likely fill the void. Micah recalls her school crush on Mick but thought she caught his interested. After their meeting where he discloses Edmond’s location, Micah has no doubt about her feelings, especially the sensations of lust. Micah returns to work, seeking Juanita to finalize the plan. She shoots down her friend’s idea of involving Boogie and his gang in getting rid of Edmond. Instead, she prefers the skills of Juanita’s intimate association with a reputed mob man, Johnny Diamond. Johnny has been in Atlanta thirteen years, leaving behind his hometown of St. Louis and his ability to love another woman; catching his long time girlfriend in his best friend’s arms. Then he meets Juanita, admiring her independent nature and feminine strength where for two years their relationship fulfills a sexual need. Over the months, even Johnny surrenders to love, without letting Juanita in on his secret. He agrees to give Juanita her vengeance; she just has to tell him when she wants it done. Micah’s longing for Mick peaks after picking him at the airport they go to his place – spending the night. Armstead guesses to her whereabouts and with whom, giving in to her request to dissolve their relationship. Pepper, on the other hand, wrestles with the idea of telling Juanita and Micah her deepest, darkest secret worrying they will find her revolting, at best.
Back in Acapulco, Edmond’s well-ordered life begins to crumble. After killing a prostitute, his bodyguard Angelo cleans up the mess. However, he aims to earn some extra cash, taking pictures of the scene before him as blackmail. As the plan unfolds, Angelo’s “friends” break into Edmonds cabana demanding one million dollars or the photos go to the police. Unbeknownst to anyone involved the cabana has an extra set of ears. The next morning the police arrive to arrest him for the murder of the prostitute. However, Mick is not confident the Mexico police can hold Edmond without his high power attorney coming to the rescue. His concern becomes reality when another man confesses to the murder, proving Edmond’s innocence. Once in the states, Edmond calls Pepper. Though not thrilled to hear from him, she tells him nothing except about the cosmetic surgery on her damaged face. After they hang up Edmond makes use of the free time to fine-tune his plans. First, his revenge against Angelo comes in the guise of a mob hit. Next, remove her friends from Pepper’s grasp – more murder.
The intrigue soars as The Big Payback resumes. Published by Lavender Isis Press, Ms. Bradford-Byers skillfully creates a story so invigorating and compelling that it demands reading in one sitting. The plot moves rapidly as its leading black cast, who are authentic and lively, make the story more attractive. Juanita, Micah and Pepper are robust women, dedicated to positioning themselves for success in the fashion industry. Their trip to Paris and Milan is romantic but garners them some prosperous seasonal clothing ideas. Their love lives blossom, even for Pepper as she engages in a healing though sensual affair with her bodyguard, Rubin – read the story to find out more about him. These women are not softies either, when making a decision they stand firm and focused - nothing worse then a woman on a mission. As the stakes raise so do their ideas, matching wit-for-wit with Edmond and knowing some shady characters and other talented men helps. Hiring them is not a problem, attesting to their ability to spend money wisely. Johnny Diamond is a paradox, rough and tough when conducting his business but soft and cuddly when in Juanita’s arms. Edmond is a model abuser and murderer; dominated by his compulsive obsessive behavior of organizing even his toys, and then controlling the servants in his command as a young child. As he matures, those behaviors only grow larger too, elevating to abusing and killing animals. Yes, there is sex as Ms. Bradford-Byers, again, masterfully develops the sexual tension, delivering it over many pages. Once each couple comes together, it is hot, electrifying and oh so…sexy. A pleasing story that accurately shows strong decisive, powerful women who retain their femininity, and fall in love. The ending was astounding but this reader looks forward to her next book, The Arcana Connection, which continues from this book.
A dedicated reader,
Pamela Jenewein
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