The Legacy of Death: An Alexander Steele Investigation

By Lawrence Johnson Sr.

On a hot, muggy night in Philly a couple was brutally murdered on an isolated rooftop. According to rumors the couple had stashed a small fortune in gold that was never recovered. 20 years later after new clues and another body surfaces Alexander Steele is hired to solve this cold case.
Follow the clues along with Philly's top private investigator Alex Steele in Legacy of Death by mystery writer Larry J.

Legacy of Death is the 3rd short story in the Alexander Steele Death Series following Alexander Steele and the Death Dealer and Alexander Steele and the Ring of Death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lawrence Johnson Sr.
• Release date: Apr 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476267111

Lawrence Johnson Sr.

is author of the controversial Mayan prophecy novel Escape 2 Earth 2012 and the sequel Return 2 Earth. His newest release Inside the Spiral Galaxy is a collection of short stories spun off from the Escape 2 Earth series. Two of the five stories in this collection are Murder on the Eros Star and Terror on Telderan, the prequel to Escape 2 Earth. Other works by Mr. Johnson include A Matter of Time and the paranormal adventure "Dimensions in Time," a short story of two lost brothers who travel through a time portal and find themselves in a struggle to survive. In addition Mr. Johnson's first mystery novel Blackout will be released in 2011.

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Alexander Steele and the Legacy of Death

By Lawrence Johnson Sr.

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The Legacy of Death

Copyright © 2011 by Lawrence Johnson Sr.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

If Walls Could Talk

The last few drops of an early morning spring shower bounced off the battered, yellow, hard hats of the construction workers as they entered the old two-story, boarded -up building next to club Inner Sanctum on Germantown Avenue. It had been nearly twenty years since the double-murder that spawned dozens of rumors and never ending gossip about what happened inside that night. Some say the murders of the Mt. Airy barber shop owner and his South Philly girlfriend was the result of a love triangle gone bad; while others whispered strange tales of mysticism and witchcraft.

With no witness or clues and with no one brave enough to buy the place with the leaking roof and creaking floors the dilapidated building had held on to it secrets - until now.

Despite the recession business at club Inner Sanctum was good; in fact it was so good that retired detective Alexander Steele decided to expand his club by gutting and renovating the dilapidated barber shop next door. His longtime girlfriend Shakia was a licensed interior designer. She, along with Steele designed the interior of the Inner Sanctum a few years ago, so bringing her in on the new project was a no-brainer.

After a full week of demolition Steele had grown accustomed to the constant banging and hammering next door. It was just after nine am; Steele had started on his second cup of hot coffee. He was about to read the sports page in the morning paper when he realized the workers next door had stopped. After glancing at his watch he called his manager back to his private booth.

Hey Sugar Bear, Sugar Bear! Alex called to the front of the club.

Moments later a husky dark skinned man came lumbering down the aisle with a blue and white stripped towel draped over his shoulder. Steele’s club manager and childhood friend was not in his normal jovial mood. His tooth had been brothering him for a couple of days and he was on the grouchy side. Sugar Bear held two silver round objects the size of fifty cent pieces up against his left jaw.

Yeah boss, what’s up? The club manager grimaced as he talked.

Steele tapped the face of his silver Panerai Luminor watch, apparently not much, he answered. There’s no noise, no banging coming from next door, Steele used his thumb to point in the direction of the barber shop. It’s been quiet for about a half hour. Do me a favor Sugar Bear; go see what those guys are up to. I ain’t paying them to sit on their asses all day.

Steele tilted his head to get a better look at silver