Ask Mallory Petersen

[Stephen Brayton]

Darren here. You know, I’m Mallory Petersen’s secretary and office manager. I’ve hacked into Mr. Brayton’s blog this week because I want to promote my boss’ latest adventure, Beta.

Often times she’s told me I am much more than a secretary and I do accomplish a lot for both her investigator practice and her taekwondo school. I make sure the bills are paid on time and I book her motel accommodations whenever she travels to tournaments or business seminars.
However, she’s the heroine in my life. I’m amazed how she can be a success at so much. It’s not easy running a full time private investigator’s business and instructing four nights per week at her martial arts studio. I know she has a loyal and well-trained staff of instructors under her in case her investigations preclude her from attending her classes.

Take the case in Beta. She was constantly on the go searching for Cindy McGee. When she discovered the connections with a child pornography ring, Miss Petersen put everything she had into the case. Sure, she may have crossed the line a few times to obtain information, and she risked damaging her reputation as an honorable taekwondo instructor, but I don’t blame her for her actions. She did her job to the best of her ability.

Anyway, I learn so much from Miss Petersen (yes, she keeps telling me to call her Mallory) and I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to learn more about her, too. If you have any questions you’d like to ask my boss, please leave them in the comments section or email them to [e-mail]. (This email is the author’s, but don’t worry. I’ve also hacked into his email account and any questions for Miss Petersen will be transferred instantly to my account so Mr. Brayton won’t even see them and be confused.)

My problem will be to convince Miss Petersen to answer them. See, at first, she wasn’t totally accepting that I gave the facts of the McGee case to Mr. Brayton to put into book form. She’s come around and has done a few interviews on one of our Des Moines radio stations. I don’t know how she’ll react when I present her with a bunch of questions because she doesn’t know I’m soliciting them.

You may ask just about any question. From her favorite color (if that is what you really would like to know) to how her relationship with Lawrence Cameron is going. Mr. Cameron, as you may know, is a member of the Special Case Squad in the Quad Cities whom Miss Petersen paired with for a day searching for Cindy.

I know I’m probably going to get a few smart-alecks asking crude and disrespectful questions, but rest assured, I will weed out those. However, from reading Beta, you will know Miss Petersen does seem to attract the oddities in her cases, so don’t be afraid to be a little outlandish with your questions.

So, again, write your questions in the comment box or send them to Mr.
Brayton’s email. I’ll be hacking into this blog again to post the questions and answers in next week’s blog. Depending on the number of questions received I may extend it for a second week. Of course, you’ll be wanting to read Beta, so be sure to click on one of the two book cover images in this blog to be taken to a purchase site. Kindle and Nook owners can check Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well.

Oh, and I’ll give you an incentive. Everyone who participates is entered into the drawing to win a free copy of the next book, Alpha, tentatively scheduled for a 2012 release. I’ll be picking the winner based on either the quality of the question or picking a winner at random.

Thanks for your participation and let’s have some fun.