White Lies & Dangerous Secrets: A Collin Carter Mystery

By Kathleen Steed

Private detective Collin Carter is getting desperate for a case to work on. His bills are piling up. Even Joe Feldstein at his favorite deli says his tab is too high. When Collin takes a job with a federal contractor he accidentally gets involved in international espionage.

He is surrounded by white lies and dangerous secrets that lead to the discovery of a dead body in the home of a man Collin is investigating. A second body is found at a construction site nearby. To Collin's horror Lily, Collin's wife, gets kidnapped. He must save her before she is killed also, but which of two opposing groups has her? Can he get to her in time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kathleen Steed
• Release date: Jul 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476121642

Kathleen Steed

I was born on September 12, 1953. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Medical Technology. I worked in various laboratories for twenty-nine years then changed jobs to regulating laboratories. I am a member of the United Methodist Church and was Lay Speaker from 2007 to 2013. I live in Maryland with my husband and a Jack Russell Terrier named Spanky.

Book preview

White Lies

&

Dangerous Secrets:

A Collin Carter Mystery

Kathleen Steed

Copyright 2012

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter One

But Rachel you know I hate these insurance fraud jobs!

Collin, you need work, BRAX needs a private detective. You can take it or leave it, said Rachel Ward, head of the A-1 Detective agency in Rockville, Maryland.

Collin sighed, All right. What was the guy’s name again?

Robert. Robert Housley.

Collin wrote down the name and phone number of the BRAX Construction Company contact. Thanks Miss Ward. If you hear of anything else I could help A-1 out with please don’t hesitate to call. Things haven’t been going so well after the last client you sent me went to jail for murder.

We didn’t have anything to do with that Mister Carter. We had no way of knowing that Doctor Holt was doing those horrible things.

I know you didn’t. I’m sorry and I shouldn’t have said that, said Collin.

I will call if anything comes up. But remember BRAX is a government contractor so you shouldn’t have any problems with them and the money is guaranteed.

Collin sat back in his chair at his office in Rockville and turned the television on to catch the news. He didn’t want to call Robert Housley. He didn’t want to follow BRAX employees faking injuries for insurance money. More than that, he didn’t want to tell Lily he wasn’t working. His desire to please Lily, his wife, and show her that he could actually bring in a decent salary with his detective work won out. Collin hit the mute button on the remote and dialed the phone.

Robert Housley, please.

One moment, said a woman’s voice.

This is Bob Housley.

Hi there. This is Collin Carter. Rachel Ward gave me your number. I’m a private detective.

Ah. The snoop. I need you down here at the office. Can you come today or do I have to wait until tomorrow?

Collin hated this job more each minute. I can be there this afternoon, say about two?

Make it one. Ask for Bob when you get here, nobody calls me Robert.

Bob gave Collin the address and hung up without giving Collin a chance to speak. It was only ten in the morning and Collin could have driven across town right then as he had no other work at the moment but he wanted to sound busy so he’d said two and then agreed to one in the afternoon. Now he had nothing to do until noon or so when he could leave for the BRAX Construction offices. He turned off the television and logged onto his computer.

BRAX Construction had a webpage. It was the normal ‘Aren’t we wonderful’ type page. It did explain that the B in BRAX came from Bradford Thompson, the R from Robert Sydney. Apparently they added the AX just to make the name sound good when it was pronounced. That meant Robert Housley was an underling and went by Bob because Robert Sydney used Robert. Collin also found an old press release announcing the merger of two construction companies previously known individually as Bradford Construction Company and R. Sydney Construction Company. The internet search was so bland Collin almost stopped. Then he noticed an entry for a Bradford Thompson and a court case involving assault. When he expanded the entry, the article explained that Bradford Thompson III, son of the president and CEO of Bradford Construction Company had been acquitted of the vicious assault of an ex-girlfriend when the girlfriend refused to testify and the other witness to the assault disappeared. The witness had been employed by Bradford Construction as a large equipment operator. He failed to show up at the trial and no one had been able to discover any clues to his whereabouts.

The telephone rang. Collin answered, Carter Detective Agency.

Hey. It’s Donnie.

Donnie was a Virginia State policeman and a long time friend.

Donnie. Great to hear from you. Ready for the ballgame tomorrow?

Well, I’m calling to tell you sorry. Glenda wants me to attend a school function with her son.

Oh.

She is worried that I’m not bonding well with Jimmy. Jimmy was eight years old and not happy over his mother’s remarriage.

Okay.

It’s worse than that Collin.

How?

She wants me to take him to some baseball games.

Donnie! Those are OUR tickets. Yours and mine.

I know. But Glenda reminded me that you gave the tickets away to those folks from New Zealand.

They were not from New Zealand. They were from Rarotonga. It’s in the Cook Islands.

Right. But you gave them OUR tickets. Remember?

Donnie. This is turning into one … arghhh… fine! Just tell me when you need them and you can have them. Collin hung up on his friend.

The door to the outer office chimed. Collin had installed some extra security measures recently. He looked up to see Abigail from the deli. She had Collin’s lunch in her hand and an unhappy look on her face. She entered the inner office where Collin was sitting at his desk.

Hi, Mister Carter, She said handing him the lunch sack.

Hello, Abigail. Is everything okay? Collin asked as he took his lunch.

Well … my Dad asked me to make sure I got the money for today’s lunch. He said to remind you that the tab has gotten too high.

Collin opened his wallet and gave her his last ten dollar bill.

Thanks, Mister Carter.

You’re welcome Abigail. Tell your Dad I’ll be paying him soon. I’ve got another job starting today.

Abigail’s face lit up. That’s really good news, Mister Carter. I’ll tell him. Hope it’s a big case!

Collin waited until she was gone before pounding his forehead against his desk in frustration.

Chapter Two

Collin drove up to the BRAX Construction offices located in a very nice building in Rockville about fifteen minutes from Collin’s office. To make allowances for traffic and parking Collin left for the trip at twelve thirty. He parked in the building’s garage and found the elevators. A sign warning that the sixth floor was under construction partially blocked the passage to the elevators. Collin walked around the sign and pushed the button to call the elevator. Once inside he pushed the button for the fourth floor. Next to the button it said, BRAX CONSTRUCTION INC. They obviously owned the entire fourth floor. Collin exited the elevator at exactly one o’clock.

There was a glass wall separating the hallway and elevators from a large reception desk. The wall was etched with the words BRAX CONSTRUCTION and a scene of a large front loader and dump truck in front of a half built structure. Beyond the wall the lighting was soothingly dim and the plush carpeting kept any noise down. There were paintings on display and one behind the reception desk. Collin walked around the glass wall to the entry and approached the receptionist.

I’m Collin Carter. I’m here to see Bob Housley.

The receptionist, a dark haired, attractive woman gave Collin a look up and down. It wasn’t clear from her expression whether she approved or not. It made him wonder if he had dirt on his clothes. He was wearing a suit and tie. Maybe she thought he was selling something.

I’ll get him. Please have a seat.

Collin sat in one of the chairs she indicated across from the desk by a fresh flower arrangement on a low table. As he sat he glanced at his suit. From what he could tell he looked okay. He watched the receptionist as she had a short phone conversation and thought Bob would be able to see him soon. The receptionist, ignoring Collin, was reading a magazine at her desk.

Twenty minutes went by. Collin was perplexed. There he sat watching the receptionist flip pages as she read. No one else came or went. Nothing. Finally he stood up and walked back to the desk.

Is Mister Housley at lunch or something?

She looked up from her magazine.

Did he know you were coming?

I talked to him at ten. He told me to be here at one - today.

What is it about? Maybe I can find someone else to help you.

Just then Bob Housley walked up. He put out his hand to shake Collin’s.

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