This week's featured novel is The Baslicato, Time After Time. Of my 39 books published so far, this one is my family's favorite. Italy, Ohio, race cars, and an abundance of craziness. I guess you could say that's a good fit.
The story in a nutshell is something like this:
Richard, a tall, quiet British actor has a severe head injury. When he awakens, he discovers he is now a wild, crazy, Italian race car driver called the Baslicato, somebody's trying to kill him, he has a big race to prepare for, and his wife hates him. AND Richard's new doctor is none other than Richard's wife, Nicole, who does not know her beloved husband is trapped inside this short, crazy little guy with a big nose.
Here is an excerpt:
Chapter One
A Doctor in the House
The headlines read Heir to Allessandro Auto Fortune Kidnapped Here in Vistaverde. It went on to report that Jason Allessandro Maxwell, affectionately known as ‘The Baslicato’, the creative automotive design engineer and driving force behind the new Italian sports car, the ‘Licato,’ was overtaken by force and shoved into the back of a white van on Tuesday evening by two foreign-speaking men here in Vistaverde, Utah, as reported by eye witnesses at the scene near the cornerFairfax Ave on State Street. He was on his way back from speed trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
A ransom demand has been delivered to his father, British billionaire Thaddeus Maxwell, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous. Details of the demand have not been released to the general public.
Police Chief Thomas Whitecliff of the Vistaverde Police Department has not been informed of any activity. Chief Whitecliff assured the citizens that the streets of Vistaverde are safe and this event is an isolated incident involving the internationally-known celebrity racecar driver. Chief Whitecliff stated that although the Allessandro-Maxwell family has not asked for local police assistance or intervention at this time, he and his department are willing to help in any way possible to track down and apprehend the kidnappers and bring Jason Maxwell back home safely to his family.
In a phone interview, Mr. Thaddeus Maxwell said he would be handling this matter himself, the safety of his only son being of paramount importance.
The Italian press reports, “Excitement is high as the ‘Licato’, as the new Italian racing dream machine is known, the newest high performance Italian sports car, makes its debut in two months. Jason Maxwell is supposed to introduce the dream machine at the Grand Prix Ferrari Race Track in San Marino, Italy, in April, where the Baslicato himself will be driving it in the race, and is the favorite a win.”
Dr. MacEgan walked into the conference room and approached Thad Maxwell.
“Thad, it’s good to see you again,” said Garrett. “I wish it were under better circumstances.“ The two men shook hands warmly. “We appreciate all your support for us here at West Memorial Hospital. I want you to know that Jason is our number one priority, and no one other than the most necessary staff will know his true identity. I can guarantee no one from the press will get anywhere near him. Everyone is on high alert and my staff can be trusted. I only hire those people I know I can trust one hundred percent. I hear he has no memory of the event. You know we’ll do everything we can to help him recover completely.” Dr. Garrett MacEgan was the Chief of Staff of Vistaverde’s West Memorial Hospital.
“I need your top doctor on this, exclusively, until Jason is completely recovered. Money is no object. I can be very appreciative, Garrett, as you know. My boy means everything to me. Everything.”
“Our top neurologist is Brook Wilson. She’s internationally known. She’s fantastic, and very caring. She gets outstanding results. I’ll put her on Jason’s case.
“Exclusively?”
“Yes, Thad, exclusively.”
Garrett went to find Dr. Wilson.
“Brook, would you look in on Thad Maxwell’s wild, crazy, daredevil kid? Thad has done so much for us. I really can’t refuse him my best doctor, now can I? And I know how much you love to patch up the soldiers of the world and send them right back into battle.”
“Of course, Garrett,” she laughed. “I never turn down a head injury. I just love a man with brain fog. Let me at him! Let me do what I can. I was done with my rounds anyway, so I’ll take a look at him now.”
“Here is his file,” said Garrett.
“Meet you in your office as soon as I’m done,” she said. “Think swaying palm trees, sweetie. Oh, did I tell you about the little red bikini I bought for our trip? Hmm?”
“Oh, you’re evil. Hurry up. I can barely contain myself."
Brook walked down the hall to her new patient’s room. Okay, just this one more patient, and then she’d be off on that well-deserved, long overdue, one-month long vacation, thought Dr. Brook Nicole Wilson, humming and thinking of sunshine, turquoise blue water, and that slight island breeze, steel-drum music, palm trees, and a soft, sandy beach. She looked at the file in her hand and put her hand on the doorknob of Private Room 517.
Nicole! Nicole! I need you!
The little hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She got the shivers and a flutter in her stomach. Damn, she hoped she wasn’t coming down with something right before her long-awaited vacation. She’d been planning it for over a year now. She looked at the file, stamped Privacy, Mr. John Johnson. Written on the inside flap was ‘Jason Maxwell, head injury, amnesia, internationally known Italian race car driver, kidnap victim, son of Thaddeus Maxwell.’
“Dr. Wilson,” said Dr. Joe Mathews, “I thought you were done.”
“I was, but Dr. MacEgan asked me to look in on Mr. Johnson here.”
“Do you want me to take him, so you can start your vacation right now?”
“Oh, that’s a very tempting offer, but no, thanks, Dr. Mathews. I’m familiar with his type of head injury. It’ll only take a few minutes. Then we’ll be off for one long awaited vacation.”
“And where are West Memorial’s Dynamic Duo Doctor Pair going?”
“Bermuda,” laughed Brook. “Dynamic Duo. Batman? Oh, no, Joe, he thinks of himself more along the line of Superman than Batman.”
“No, Brook, you’re being far too kind. He thinks of himself as the Almighty Brain God. But we love him and do whatever the Great One wishes.”
“Well, ‘the Brain God’ reserved a room with no phones, no machines, no monitors, no pagers, no electronics of any kind. Garrett even asked for a room with no television or radio and he’s bringing his wind-up clock. Joe, I can’t wait. We’re both so exhausted. Maybe this vacation is what he needs to bring him back down to earth and be happy to just be a human being again. He puts himself under such huge pressure. He never rests. And we both know what a fantastic job he does day in and day out, and he has never lost a patient. I’ll do all I can to help him to relax and feel merely mortal again.”
“You need this vacation as much as he does, so relax and have some fun. Do you remember what that is?”
“Fun? No. All I want is beach and sand and warm water, and Garrett, of course, and one of those drinks with the little umbrella in it. Maybe two. Okay, three.”
“Have a great trip, Brook. You two deserve it. Come home with a whole collection of those little umbrellas, okay? I’ll do my best to keep the place running while you two are gone.”