Nina's Time

A late-night phone call jolts Nina Kelly awake, delivering the news that Helen Rodriguez -- Nina's Aunt Helen, the woman who raised her -- has been murdered. The funeral that follows brings out Santa Fe's best, and it brings Detective Ray Sanchez who informs Nina that Eddie Collins, her ex-husband, is wanted for questioning regarding the murder. But Eddie is nowhere to be found. It takes her back to two years ago when she was the one who went missing after the murder of an executive in Eddie's company, and Eddie was the only one who believed in her. Ironically, that situation is now reversed.

In another twist, after Eddie is found and arrested, Nina becomes romantically involved with Detective Ray Sanchez. Meanwhile, trying to get out from under the debt she inherited from Helen, Nina revives a failed land development scheme of Helen's, bringing her into dubious dealings with two of the former partners. This starts a chain of events, leading to a surprise ending that she will never forget.

Stephen Hazlett was born and came of age in New Jersey. He served for three years in the Army Medical Corps, including a year in Vietnam, after which he began a long career as a computer professional in California's Silicon Valley.

He currently lives in New Mexico's Land of Enchantment.