Hello. I’m Detective Ellie Saunders with the Burkesboro Police Department. I’m documenting this experience in case anything happens. I have no idea what could happen other than maybe gauging out an eye, but it never hurts to leave a trail.

Today I’m going to attempt to wear make-up. Not just chap stick, but the whole kit-and-kabodle. I stopped trying when I made the police force. Every special occasion in my youth and young adulthood had been marred by my feeble attempts. The prom – I looked like a ghost. Graduation from college – I looked as if someone plunked an orange down on top of a lily white neck. I never could get it right.

After I graduated from the police academy, I thought why bother? I was insecure enough. The last thing I needed to worry about was whether my make-up looked okay. Then I made Detective. I’m the only female in the Criminal Investigations Department, and, at twenty-nine, the youngest to boot. I wanted to be respected by my fellow detectives, not thought of as the hot chick. Not that I’m like Jennifer Lopez or anything, but I’m, like, not coyote ugly either.

But then along came…Jesse. Talk about eye candy! Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to catch his attention or anything because the guy’s a total jerk. He keeps inserting himself in my life, and my cases, at the worst times. I figured I’d be prepared next time Mr. Jesse Alvarez decides to take over one of my cases. Two can play at the “so good looking you’re a distraction” game.

So here goes. The magazine says to first, apply moisturizer. Done. Added another layer for good measure. Next, concealer. Okay, that’s that yellow stuff in a lipstick tube. Dab a little under the eyes. Got it. Next, foundation. Oh…this makes me nervous. That lady at the cosmetics counter assured me natural beige was the right color for me. We’ll see. Dab a little on this little wedge sponge thingy and here we go. Hmm. It’s hard to tell with the lighting in my tiny little bathroom. I mean, really…it’s a bare bulb in a pull-chain socket dangling from the ceiling. Blow dry at your own risk. Back to the foundation…honestly, not too bad. I think. Ellie, stop obsessing. Move on. Next is the eyelash curler. The most important tool in the make-up bag. At least that’s what the magazine says. It looks like a miniature medieval torture device. Wonder if you could use it to pull out fingernails? I mean, not that I’d ever use it for that. Moving on now. How the h-e-double-l are you supposed to use this thing? Which way are you supposed to hold it? Ouch. Ouch! OUCH! Got the eyelid. Deep breath. Other eye’s turn. Well. Glad that’s over. Now prime the lids then apply shadow. I’ll go for that smoky look. A little eyeliner followed by a couple layers of mascara. A little blush on the cheeks, a little shiny lip gloss, and…there you have it. Wow. I am a hot chick.

You can read more about Ellie in The Rising, published by Pelican Book Group.

Meet the author
Lynn Chandler-Willis has worked in the corporate world (hated it!), the television news business (fun job) and the newspaper industry (not a fan of the word “apparently” and phrase “according to”). She keeps coming back to fiction because she likes making stuff up and you just can’t do that in the newspaper or television news business.

She was born, raised, and continues to live in the heart of North Carolina within walking distance to her kids and their spouses and her nine grandchildren. She shares her home, and heart, with Sam the cocker spaniel.

She is the author of the best-selling true crime book, Unholy Covenant. The Rising is her debut novel.

Visit Lynn at her website or on Facebook

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.