The Research Station

What is beneath the Red Dust

Deep within the earth, two hundred metres under the surface, a tiny black bacteria sat nestled into a sandstone nook. Its nook was cool, dark and eons old. No one had seen the nook, or the bacteria in this lifetime. Or the lifetime before.

It had been so long since someone had seen the bacteria that it had been forgotten. Completely forgotten by man and humanity. Completely forgotten by the people who had vowed to make sure it did not get forgotten. Completely forgotten by the people who absolutely should remember it. How it had been forgotten was not important. Maybe someone who had been meant to pass the knowledge down to their children had died unexpectedly. Maybe a whole race of people had died unexpectedly. Or been murdered.

So the bacteria sat there, in silence, not dying but not exactly living either.

Existing.

And no one knew it was there.

Poppy Geordanis figured taking a job at a remote research station as the head chef would be a dream come true. Partly for the experience, and partly to escape the constant questions from her family about when she is going to marry – as a woman of thirty, it’s a solid option. Or is it?

Twenty floors under the earth, a life or death battle has begun in a secret research station. Poppy is caught in the middle, but she doesn’t know it yet. As well as cooking dinner for fifty staff, she must use all her wits to survive when a well-trained, gun toting force invades. With the help of her best friend Amber, scientist Gary and head of security Jonah, Poppy attempts to protect her friends and colleagues from the mercenaries. That’s a tough ask when you're 5 foot 3, as graceful as an elephant and scared shitless of guns. Poppy also has a growing suspicion that resident heartthrob- chemist Nick- is not who he says he is, but Nick suggests maybe it is in fact Jonah who is a double operative. Unsure who to believe, Poppy knows she must act to prevent the force from killing those she cares about. But is the station's research the bigger risk to her and her friends?

Katherine Franks is an author from the Sunshine Coast, Kabi Kabi Country, Queensland. She writes thriller, mystery, and romantic suspense novels.

Katherine has taught at University, been a Governess on remote cattle stations, written policy for the government, designed health policy and worked in social work. She has a Masters degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Social Science.

Based on her experience working in the outback and living by the bush, Katherine’s novels feature rugged Australian landscapes and characters.

Check out Katherines other books: Beneath the Red Dust is an action thriller set in the Outback of Australia, and The First Wave is a thriller set on the Coast of Queensland. Devil Tree Road is a romantic suspense starring a new start, a handsome national parks worker and possible murder.

You can read more Katherine Franks at katherinefranks.com or check out Katherine Franks on socials.