Philomene Doucette is a made-to-order assassin, and death never looked so good. Orphaned and brainwashed from the age of six, by Beau Dupree, a C.I.A spook, she is a beautiful, empty killing machine, fractured from systematic abuse. Philomene is given her most important assignment yet: executing Haruto Mori, the leader of a deadly Japanese clan. To conceal her identity, Philomene is smuggled into Japan under the guise of being a sex worker and is presented as a gift for Haruto. Philomene’s mission to kill Haruto becomes an inner battle as she struggles between her conditioning, the affection she feels for Haruto and her increasing desire for Tadakai, her CIA handler.
When Haruto is unexpectedly murdered by another assassin, Philomene uses her deadly training to find answers. She learns of a shocking government plot for mass murder at an upcoming Yakuza Summit—where Tadakai will be in attendance.
Philomene rescues Tadakai, and together they find a haven in a remote, abandoned farmhouse. As they forge a deeper connection, the two make a life-changing decision to leave this dangerous lifestyle behind to create a new life together...but their past misdeeds will not be absolved without exacting bloody sacrifices.
Currently performing in the Broadway National Tour of The Book of Mormon, Monica has worked with such notables as Jesse Norman, Diahann Carroll and Freda Payne. She covered Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's' Cinderella and sang opposite Jon Secada as the Narrator in the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Her other credits include; Broadway: Finian's Rainbow, Abby's Song, and Ragtime. Off-Broadway: Little Ham. National Tours: Disney's The Lion King, Annie 30th Anniversary; City Center Encores! productions: On The Town, Pipe Dream, Fanny, Anyone Can Whistle, Purlie, Finian's Rainbow and Applause. When she is not onstage, you can find her in a quick change booth--writing, playing video games with her daughter or perched on a stool, having a cocktail
Locate. Acquire. Terminate. Simple, right? No, not if you're a made-to-order assassin, struggling with your programming. Orphaned and Brainwashed from the age of 6, Philomene Doucette is a beautiful, empty killing machine--or was. Now aged 22, Philomene has 7 sanctioned kills under her belt but focusing on her 8th is proving difficult with the reintroduction of something she hasn't experienced in a long time--empathy.
Book Excerpt
Beautiful Carnage
Chapter 9
Through the Looking Glass
The women were brought to a warehouse where they were stripped and hosed down. Afterward, like slaves on an auction block, they were inspected, then divided up according to their apparent worth: Stripper. Prostitute. Hostess.
Those of them who had weathered the journey under the influence of drugs were, by that juncture, no longer. The struggle had become very real and non-compliance was met with a few strategically placed hits--nothing above the neck, but a couple of punches to the gut usually got the point across. What the women had experienced on the ship paled in comparison to what was now happening.
The scared faces of the naked women compelled Philomene to search for her young friend. She had thought much about their conversation. Under different circumstances, they could have easily been one and the same. She turned and locked eyes with a pale-faced Stacey. Her attempt at courage struck a chord in Philomene. She sent her a nod of encouragement before turning front to zero in on a young man walking toward them.
A man of some power, by the way the others yielded to him. Tadakai had told her that his shatei gashira, regional boss, would guarantee her intended placement. Their eyes met briefly, and she noted a subtle sign of acknowledgment before his gaze settled onto the other women.
Stacey had no such guarantee. She was forcibly separated from the hostesses and placed with the women designated for prostitution. The young girl looked to Philomene for help. Philomene shook her head, cautioning her not to resist, but Stacey’s courage had reached its limit. Stacey made a run for the door.
She didn’t get far.
Philomene steeled herself not to react as they beat Stacey into submission. She receded within, muting her screams, and reminded herself that the girl was peripheral. She did not factor into the mission.
So why do you care?
Philomene’s immoral twin shimmered into view of her mind-sight, her fearsome beauty adorned with luminous butterflies.
“Why are you here?” Philomene cried, desperate to rid herself of her tormenter. “It is not time.” She remained rooted in place, privy to the fact that only she could see the apparition before her.
Ahh, Fifi. Haven’t you figured it out yet?
The resplendent winged creatures, born of pain, took flight, circling her darker self.
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