Exit Joe Marleau

So even though I haven’t blogged in awhile I have been keeping up with my novel. I am just over 10,000 words and will be writing tonight so I hope to get to 12000 words which will keep me on pace which is a pleasant surprise.

The last chapter of my book that I just wrote was upsetting. Joe Marleau succumbed to some unknown illness and died before Marcus in a hospital. It is a suspicious death to say the least and for some reason Joe knew it was coming.
He has given Marcus a book of puzzles and crosswords which will help Marcus eventually get involved in this NHL conspiracy.

But they next couple of weeks for Marcus will be rough as he has lost two pillars in his life and Jack James may be a bad influence.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the hospital scene. I found this very sad both to write and reread. I am growing very attached to my characters.

Joe lay in bed connected to many different apparatus that you clearly needed to be a doctor or something of the equivalent to understand how they all worked.

He didn’t look good. In fact he looked downright rotten. He was so pale he was almost glowing. He looked like he could die at any moment. He had only seen Joe a month ago and he looked like he had aged 10 years. Marcus moved in and tried to say something supportive but couldn’t find the words.

Joe looked up with him with the love and respect only a surrogate father could have. He was clearly very happy to see Marcus. It gave him strength. Before Marcus could say anything, Joe flipped up his palm. He had scribbled with a red pen on his hand or at least Marcus hoped it was a red pen. It read “bugged”.

Marcus was about to ask him what was going on but Joe started the conversation with a voice that sounded very elderly and wheezy. “Look Marcus I am dying. The doctors do not know what I am dying of but I don’t have much time left.” He handed Marcus a notebook. He flipped through quickly. It was a book of homemade Sudoku puzzles and crosswords and word searches.

“This is a book of puzzles Marcus. I know you aren’t great at these things but some of these puzzles should be easy for you.” He winked almost suggestively, it was a little awkward. “I have left some stuff for you in my will that with.” He pointed at the notebook. “You will be able to better evaluated talent on some teams in the Eastern Conference. It’s just notes and such on some players. When I die it will be up to you to continue on my mission.” He paused for a moment and had a sparkle in his eye. “of scouting teams that we may be facing in the Stanley Cup Final. Our team is depending on you Marcus.”

That last speech finally seemed to have pushed Joe over the edge. The strength he had shown when he talking had all but dissipated. He collapsed back in his bed on the edge of consciousness. Marcus grabbed his hand trying to will his strength into Joe without much success. Finally he found his voice though it was choked with emotion. “Joe, Why me?”

“I trust you Marcus and you can trust…” Joe struggled with the last words, he was passing out. “J.J.” he said with his last gasp.

The constant beeping of the machines were now erratic. He looked at a machine he thought was heart rate and noticed it was slowing. “No Joe. Don’t go! Get away from the light.” Tears formed at the side of his eyes. “Joe!”

Unfortunately now I have to write about him having to deal with this. It wont be good for a couple of days for Marcus but I think he will have matured enough to have the strength to bounce back and not regress into how he used to be.