The Ruby

Deadly, dangerous and definitely devoid of any real emotional ties Kelly Rocquette does not think about anyone else but herself. Throughout the novel she appears to be loyal to one suitor shifting gears as it suits her and not hesitating to double cross of blindside anyone that stands in her way. A secret agent hired to take out anyone our government needs eliminated we meet her when her mission is to find the link to a weapon and the man who created it in order to prevent our world from imploding. Secret agents and spies are nothing new to novels or movies but Rocquette proves to present a persona of her own as we get to know her and her handler Jake better. Falling for many men and using them as her pawns throughout the novel you begin to wonder what choices she is willing to make, whether she will sacrifice her own happiness or does she seemly want the latest man that she meets not caring about feelings or loyalties. Love him and leave him you might say to suit her needs in more than one way.

Her boss titled The Major has one goal in mind and that is for her to take down wealthy and connected William Werner whose parents and grandmother have strong ties to Hitler and the Third Reich. Eva Werner his grandmother reflects back to her time during WWII, the way she created Evil Toy and her hopes that William would be the next Fuhrer and rule Germany. Hearing her thoughts and those she threatened if they did not adhere to her wishes really brings to light the evilness of this woman and her grandson is not far from that too. Kelly manages to ingratiate herself in his life and for some reason he falls for her head on from the moment he meets her. Wanting to use him as her own pawn she accepts his marriage proposal after meeting with Eva who gave him the heads up sign.

Agent Jake “Junkman” Riley of the Task Force, which is part of an elite government agency falls for her too and it told he must or risk consequences enlist Rocquette to take on the mission to take out William. Her demeanor at times is cold and the electricity between them might be hot but with her it gets turned off when she meets the next man of interest. Working with Jake for her own personal purposes he mistakenly falls for her trying to stop this man and hide her identity but when she meets Susan and Nick and they are briefing her along with Jake the fact that they called her Lela does not mean they do not realize who she really is.

Living with William she uses her feminine wiles to learn more about his operation and when he decides to have someone killed she dares to question why but will he realize she is just using him? Why didn’t she end it and complete her mission? Throughout the novel she has many opportunities to take out her mark but for some reason she leaves William after marrying, his men want to bring her back and William dares them not to harm her. He is definitely under her spell but for how long?

Kelly is forced to work with Jake and in doing so he introduces her to his family and within his mind he reminds readers that he his introducing his family to a dangerous killer. Rocquette seemed over whelmed when meeting them and although they were polite you can feel a touch of ice in his mother’s voice. The ring on her finger from William led them to believe she and Jake were engaged and no one thought to correct them. Thinking in his mind how she seduced Werner and the elaborate scheme that was created for revenge the reader wonders just where if anywhere her allegiance falls as Jake might realize that she was behind the attempt that was made on his life. Alex who is part of his team left him in the bar and where did he go? He needs answers but how was he going to get them? Realizing his choices were limited Jake takes on a dangerous ally named Gaff who tells him to fight for her but at what cost?
Waking up from a nightmare Jake’s mother introduces her to Dr. Harden who gave her something to calm her down telling her that Jake is dead although his mother whispers in her ear that is not so as we hear the Major talking to Rocquette and requesting a transport be sent for her as darkness envelopes her room and her would. The hate within her is felt within the entire novel and centered on many people as you wonder if she has the ability of capability to really care about anyone except herself and her wants. Jake reconnected with Alex and one other agent and hoped to get a handle on where Rocquette was but the calls went unanswered and his anger did not abate.

Going and confronting William he promises her that Jake is not dead but why is she so drawn to him and why did she bother to return? Meet Rock Room who was part of her escort on the vehicle that would take her to meet someone named Antonio who is a noted assassin and who captures her heart at least for a moment. From the start she can’t seem to resist him and both Antonio and William want to own her. Learning Rock Room is really Antonio and his partner Hoax and you can figure out the meaning are there to take care of Kelly in order to help her escape William yet she seems drawn to too many men at once and you wonder which one if any will either win her heart or serve her purposes. The author puts these thoughts in the reader’s mind and the reader begins to wonder why Kelly has not taken out anyone that’s in her way and if she really is a deadly assassin why not do her job and move on to the next?

The scenes go back and forth as we revisit Werner who is wants to know where Kelly is and was something wrong with her. Chester Winslow was to be his contact and help to find her but when on the aircraft he meets Jake and they develop a different plan of their own. Finding her did not mean that she would allow him to take her into his arms and being with Antonio leads readers to believe that she has her own ulterior motives. But, forced to face reality and the fact that The Major ordered her to return to William’s house would she pay any consequences for her actions or will he take her back with open arms? Drugging him to get what she wanted and then handcuffing him in a boat and swimming away what is her real mindset and what does she hope to gain in the long run? Will she forgive Jake? Will she return to Antonio or will something happen that will send her in a direction that might bring her down? Jake is taken into custody, placed in a cell because the Major questions his actions and judgment and then we meet Susan again who requests that Lela/aka Kelly Rockquette meet with the Major and no excuses allowed. William receives a letter from someone who claims to be his father and the ramifications and the truths are startling, frightening but what he does with the letter makes the reader question whether he is proud of that Otto Hoffman did and wrote or did it fuel his temper even more? Alone with Antonio who named his boat The Rocket II after her but where will she wind up at the end and what will be her final fate?

A chance encounter or is it a chance encounter meeting someone named Guillaume changes it all and she is once again called to go on another mission but just who is this mysterious man? Is she going to finally meet her match? What is the new mission and will this man become a part of her life? The author leaves us wondering if there is more to come and if Rockquette, Jake, William, Antonio and the Major have not finished their quests and will they meet up again? Will she finally complete her mission involving William? Will she be lured into another man’s lair? On author Kathleen Opiela knows the truth behind each deception. Each character is ruthless, untrustworthy and dangerous no matter whose side he/she is on. Who wins? Who loses and who will try to take out THE RUBY?

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine