Free FallDanny Gillman (whispering to you):  Hey.  Yeah.  Over here. (wiping clear steamed up mirror) Hi.  It’s me.  Dan.  (tightens towel around his waist)  And yes, I’m talking to you from the bathroom.  It’s the only place where I know for sure that I’ll be alone over this crazy holiday week.  I’ve started taking *really* long showers.

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room):  Fa leh la leh LAH!  Leh-LAH LAH LAH!

Danny:  Yup.  (continues shaving in the bathroom sink) We’re here visiting Jenn’s parents for the holidays.  All of us.  Ben and Eden and Zanella, too.  At first it was just gonna be Jenn and me, but this is Ben’s first holiday season with all of us, so . . . Here we are.  ALL of us.  And don’t get me wrong.  I get it — I do.  SEAL Team Sixteen could go wheels up any day — any minute.  And Zanella and I are both Stateside this year.  God only knows where we’ll be next year.  (rinses and wipes face with another towel) So I wanted to give Jenn this family time, and I know she’s really loving it . . .

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room, falsetto-ed, a la a boy soprano):  The-uh fir-erst No-oh-ell thee-ee angels did say…!

Danny:  But holy freaking God.  (starts perusing the collection of hair care products crowding the counter top)  We’re all camped out in the playroom, because Jenn’s brothers are home to visit, too.  (Picks one, sniffs it, then squeezes some into his hand, and applies it to his hair)  And at least Jenn and I get the pullout couch, but *damn.*   And again, I’m not saying it hasn’t been fun, but you know how holidays can be.  It’s so flipping *relentless*.

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room, operatic basso profundo):  OHHH, HOHHH-LY NIGHT!  THE STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHIIIIII-NING!

Danny:  (just looking at you in the mirror)

Another voice joins Izzy (in harmony):  FALL!  ON YOUR KNEEEEEEEEES!!!!

Danny (deadpan):  Oh, good.  Uncle Frank is singing now, too.  (leans closer to the mirror, lowers voice)  Look.  The holidays are great, but let’s face it — they’re not without stress.  If you need to take a break, don’t be afraid to lock yourself in the bathroom and do a little meditation.  Or better yet, bring your e-reader.  Take a time-out.  If you want to, you can spend it with SEAL Team Sixteen.  Suz’s latest Troubleshooters short story, FREE FALL, is available for download just in time for the holidays.  It’s a quick read — it’s about 50 pages long — around 12K words.  The perfect length for a mini-escape.  Izzy’s in it, I’m in it, Tony V is in it, so’s his fiancé Adam.  Eden and Jenn are in it — so’s Ben.  You’ll find out a little bit about how he’s adjusting to life in his new high school in San Diego.  And of course the main story focuses on a SEAL HAHO training jump.  Mr. Murphy’s along for the ride, so hijinx ensue.  But Murphy’s no match for Zanella.  As much as I bitch about the guy, I like knowing he’s there.  Because I know he’s always got my six.

Izzy’s voice (loudly singing from the living room):  But doooo youuuu recall! The most famous reindeeeer of all…!  (his voice gets louder as he approaches bathroom door and bangs on it)  Yo, Danbo!  You coming out any time soon?  I gots to whiz!

Dan (pulling on his clothes, calling back):  I’ll be out in a sec!  (looking back at you, whispers)  Or you can always take your e-reader, say you’re going for a walk, and then go sit in the car or maybe hide in the basement or…

Izzy’s voice:  Hurry up, brah!  We’re about to start an epic game of Settlers of Catan!  The Star Trek version!  And I know you want in on that magic!

Dan (whispering):  He’s right.  I do.  But I also know that it’s gonna get loud.

Izzy’s voice (banging — boom, boom, boom):  DANNY!  (as if he’s calling for Stella)  DANNY!!!!

Dan (whispering):  Louder.  I’m sure I’ll be back in here later, in an attempt to recover from all the fun.  (saluting you) Stay alive, whatever you do.  Oh, here’s the blurb for FREE FALL — and links to where you can download it.  Happy and merry and ho ho ho.  (takes deep breath, squares shoulders and opens the bathroom door.)

FREE FALL:  What should be an easy HAHO training jump for SEAL Team Sixteen goes wrong, forcing Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella to do what he does best: Improvise.  At thirty thousand feet.  (About 12,000 words or 50 pages)

Suzanne Brockmann, bestselling author of the pulse-pounding Troubleshooters series, has been hailed by USA Today as a “superstar of romantic suspense.” In this original short story, available exclusively as an eBook, Brockmann returns with some of her most beloved characters from the Troubleshooters world: Izzy Zanella and his friends in U.S. Navy SEAL Team Sixteen.

Kobo link to FREE FALL: http://bit.ly/1wAZc6i

Nook link to FREE FALL: http://bit.ly/1Hfi1x1

Kindle link to FREE FALL: http://amzn.to/1zJpm7I

And Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1AuvdOh

Kindle JP: http://amzn.to/1Cp01zs

Kindle Canada: http://amzn.to/1zRmy8x

(Coming soon:  iBooks and GoogleBooks!)