Sam's Secret
by
Kirk Lightbourne
Kirk Lightbourne
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This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
It wasn´t Kirk Lightbourne's time to die, but alone, 1,000 miles out in the Pacific, he came very close. It happened in November of 1995, Lightbourne, age 82, a sailor for 70 years, set out from San Diego, California, single-handing his 27-foot sloop, Cazador, bound for Hawaii and the South Pacific: then under sunny skies - but it would not stay that way.
Seven days into the voyage, following the Great Circle route to Hilo, the weather began to turn mean. Winds of 40-knots swept in; seas built quickly, Lightboune went forward to shorten sail. A rogue wave of great height and force struck the boat, sending Lightbourne overboard. The harness strapped on held him alongside the boat.
In the way that a miracle may happen, an airplane flying off course to avoid the sudden storm flew over Lightbourne's boat and heard the signal of an EPIRB. (Lightbourne must have flicked on the emergency switch of his personal device upon going overboard!) The plane radioed the Coast Guard, giving the Cazador's coordinates (location.) A fishing trawler, located within 10-miles of Lightbourne´s boat was notified and set course to find Lightbourne´s boat.
Lightbourne was found unconscious - wild seas sending him forcibly against the side of his boat. Two crewmen off the fishing trawler got Lightbourne back on board his boat, but were unable to give needed medical attention. USAF Pararescue, a team of four para-medic paratroopers were flown in a C-130 plane to over Lightboune's location - the Cazador was too far out for helicopter rescue. The medics jumped from a height of 2000-feet into raging seas to save Lightbourne's life. And did. Successfully. (On appearances on national and local TV programs. Lightboune praised and thanked the trawler´s crew and paramedics who saved his life.)
Lightbourne is a well-known piano tuner at Valley Theaters (Arizona), a former big-band trumpet player and an avid sailor. He has lived in the Scottsdale area for 33 years and is well known to local sailors and to over 1200 customers whose pianos he serviced. Sam's Secret is his fifth novel.
The professor’s hobby is rebuilding and tuning pianos. He is a widower since the birth of his daughter, Sam. By age 19, Sam has become proficient at her father’s hobby, servicing pianos. Upon her father’s death—an unexpected, sudden fatal heart attack, Sam takes over his limited piano servicing clientele.
Word of the professor’s wonderful formula leaks to the media. The following day, after publication and TV exposure, the hospital’s container of the formula is stolen. Of course drug traffickers are suspect. Media sources attest that the street price of the formula will exceed the going street price of heroin, etc.
Sam’s normal way of life is abruptly changed. She lives in fear of abduction and possibly forced to reveal secrets of the formula, which she hotly denied knowing.
How she escapes capture is the theme of the novel. There develops romance and intrigue and a surprise ending.
This read of intrigue will keep you on the edge!
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