Clearwater Skip Trace

By Al Rennie

Bob Morse has made a bad mistake; he asks Joe to sort it out - a woman has gone missing - CHIPs is hired to find her - Billy wants to become a bounty hunter - two fathers want to send Joe on a free trip to Dominica - Valerie gets a job - Mia issues Joe a warning - Joe stumbles onto a crime scene - Frank has a plan to make money - we learn more about Jimmy - it's just another crazy romp in paradise

• Language: English
• Publisher: Al Rennie
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311630728

Al Rennie

I was born and raised in Toronto. I attended Upper Canada College before taking a degree at Queen's University. I have worked as a lifeguard for the Toronto Harbour Police, a youth worker for the Toronto YMCA, and an English teacher in Lakefield. I am married with two great daughters and an extended foster family. My interests include Maple Leaf hockey - this is our year - New England Patriot football and writing.

Book preview

Clearwater Skip Trace

By

Al Rennie

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Al Rennie

All Rights Reserved.

Cover Credit: Rita Toews – probably the most caring, patient and inventive cover creator ever!

Image Credit: Satellite image from Google Local used license of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Formatting Credit: Lucinda K. Campbell – as always, just great.

Dedication

For my wife – Marsha

Always there for me and always keeping my moral compass headed in the right direction.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank the growing number of readers who are enjoying the Clearwater Series and who have sent me their kind and encouraging comments. I have enjoyed meeting a number of those people on Face Book. As well, I have been tickled to read the many very interesting, kind and informative, e-mails sent my way. California Michael is a special regular correspondent who I have enjoyed; he supplied the joke I used in Danger and another one can be found in Killer. He is responsible for introducing me to the music of ‘Trampled by Turtles’. A few of the other regulars include: Debby, Sandra, Ana, Dwight, Molly and her mom, as well as Diane, Warren, Valerie, Angie, Kathy, Pat, Bonnie, Edd, Carol, Cheerie, Dee, Brandy, Donna, RJ, Steve and Merle. Thank you. Elaine, your water colour painting looks Florida fantastic, and Paul the Pelican enjoys a special place on my office wall watching my every move. Thank you all again!

You do not know how encouraging it is for a writer like me to read that his or her work has been read and then re-read and enjoyed. Beyond that, to be told that I had better be writing quickly because of the interest in what is going to happen next to the Clearwater crew is very gratifying. Thank you Joe and Mia fans, whoever and wherever you are. You are making this ride so much fun. Let me assure the readers who have written asking for more Mia and Joe – I am writing as fast as I can bubbas!

NEW NOTE: But not as fast as I was. I slipped into the habit of writing eleven to thirteen hours a day and finally realized the effect it was having and the toll it was taking. I love writing. I enjoy the act of creating an interesting story even if I am the only one to find it interesting. If it ended there, all would be fine. Instead, I got hung up on all the sidebars – ratings, word count, revenue flow, readership growth and marketing my work product. Worrying about whether Kobo was finally going to put the latest title on their shelves was driving me nuts. Finally, I realized that I needed to let go of all that stuff. In today’s writing climate, making good money is the last thing that is going to happen unless you are either incredibly talented or ‘lightning in a bottle’ lucky, preferably both. It would appear that I am neither of those things although I have been very fortunate in many aspects of my life. The stories will continue to appear from time to time as long as I am happy writing them. Thank you all for your support.

My three excellent editors have returned again to make my life miserable but your reading experience better. I’d like to thank my wife, Marsha and daughter, Jane as well as Annmarie Schwanke for their masterful work in editing yet another novel. Their efforts have made the story much better and the content easier for you, the reader, to decipher. The cheque is in the mail!

I’d also like to thank Deputy Chief Ken Jackman (ret.) Peterborough Police Force, for taking time out of his busy life to answer my questions about aspects of being a police officer and working in the legal system. In this episode, the questions were regarding types of charges that might be laid and the early steps of investigative technique. For dramatic purposes and short term memory reasons, there are factual errors in my representation of what we discussed.

Kudos to Chance Faulkner for working so hard with me to make the paperbacks available from Createspace and Amazon (USA only right now) a reality!

Notice to all young adult readers:

As a former teacher – and therefore someone sworn to be concerned about the minds of our young people - I have to warn the under eighteen group that Clearwater Skip Trace, much like the other books in this series, contains a number of bad words, but maybe not as many as a few of the earlier works. And really, what is a bad word? I must also tell you that you will come across some pretty suggestive scenes and some very bad people – but nothing is likely to overly stimulate or disgust you. Sorry about that. In any case, good reading bubba - enjoy.

Best Regards,

Doc

P.S. – If any of you feel a strong need to communicate with me – try

[e-mail] or [e-mail]

If you would like to see pictures of the Clearwater Beach setting, visit my recently revised website courtesy of Chance Faulkner Photography. I have included photos of Cooters, Wings, the Jolley Trolley and a few shots taken from Doc and Mia’s condo in Sand Key. If you really look closely enough, you might even see Doc hanging out at the marina. alrennie.com

NOTE: If you are new to this series, this is not the title for you to start with. From Clearwater Killer forward, there is an assumption that you have met some of the regular characters in your reading of the earlier novels. There is no point in me repeating the same detailed descriptive information on an ongoing basis. If you want an introduction to Joe and Mia, go to Clearwater Journals. That is where the couple first meet. At that time, I did not enjoy the luxury of the editors I have now, so there are typos etc. that I have been too lazy to go back and repair. But it is free. The language is rougher and the humour is less evident. If you want lighter fare, try Clearwater Ambush. In one section of that book, Joe visits an A.I. Clinic. My youngest daughter, age – adult - claims that she wet her pants laughing so hard as she was reading those pages. Embarrassing…you bet! Jeez!

Annie’s Amendment – she’s blonde!

The Clearwater Series in the sequence the titles were written.

Clearwater Journals

Clearwater Diaries

Clearwater Ambush

Clearwater Abduction

Clearwater Heat

Clearwater Kiss Off

Clearwater Showdown

Clearwater Magic

Clearwater Intrigue

Clearwater Danger

Clearwater Predator

Clearwater Extortion

Clearwater Killer

Clearwater Oops!

Clearwater Crazy

Clearwater Undercover

Clearwater Hunter

Clearwater Justice

Clearwater Skip Trace

Note: Clearwater Beach and the area surrounding it is truly my idea of paradise. It is a beautiful place to visit and to live – if you can afford it. The violence depicted in the Clearwater series is just that - fiction – i.e. – it never happened. Go there and find out for yourself. You’ll love the place. Say ‘hi’ to Betsy if you grab a bite to eat at Cooters, and Daisy at Backwaters on Sand Key. That’s some tattoo she has on her left thigh eh? But, whatever else you do, don’t start chatting with Captain Frankie Donner at the marina; you’ll lose hours of your holiday time.

A few Reader Responses to Clearwater Series:

On the advice of critics, I have limited the number of reader responses. The suggestion was that no one reads them anyway. Apologies to those cut.

I have truly enjoyed reading this series, and hope you plan on taking Joe, Mia, Coop and Ida May further. I'm anxiously awaiting another installment. Corrina Wilke - a Doc Holiday fan (I'm your huckleberry lol)

just to let you know I just finished your newest book in the Clearwater series, .... it was great....lol.....best series I ever read.....keep on...... Sandra Orndorff

Al: Just keep them coming! Clearwater is a great series. The Characters are becoming part of the family! …Edd Jenkins

Looking forward to reading the next adventures of Joe and Mia…I read Intrigue and Danger in three days! Keep up the great work Al!!! Angie Day

Hi Al, I just finished Clearwater Extortion, and I loved it. I hope you’re working on the next book, because I can’t wait to see how things go for Jeremy and the boys with all of the new and exciting things happening in their lives. Thank you Al for giving us such fun and interesting characters to read about...

Love the books, can’t put them down and I even find myself slipping into some of the phrases!!! Not sure that will always be a good thing though! Carol

I read the book in one sitting. Great characters, great plot could not put it down. Love the part where he fell in the grave, very funny. I know you are writing another book because we have to find out what was in the safe. I wish I had a Joe in my family lol. Let us know when it's available; I might have to get a Kindle to get it quicker. Waiting patiently… Bonnie Walston

Babe, call the hospital. I’ve gone blind. Everything is so dark… Cracked me up!!! Just finished Oops and again you hit it out of the park-grand salami, best of the best!!! Rock on Rennie!! … Debby Charles

Travis McGee was the old Joe Holiday. You have really done a great job! Just when I thought it was over by reading Killer, you surprised me with another. Great job!!! I’m enjoying this series more than any I’ve read in years. I’m turning as many people as possible to it, and they all seem to be hooked. Please keep writing, and fast. Greg Martin

Just finished Crazy and wanted to let you know, you still got it!! Stay healthy and keep writing. Steve Owle

Hi Al, I just finished Clearwater Undercover and it was fantastic. I have read all of the Clearwater journals and have loved them all, but so far Undercover is my favorite. There were so many surprises, funny and sad moments, and lots of action, too, but most if all it was just a great book. Al, I hope you keep writing these wonderful stories about Joe and his Clearwater buds, because they keep us all so entertained and wanting more. I hope you’re almost finished with your next journal because I am anxiously waiting to see what happens with Samantha, and Doug, and the fallout over the Greeks. Thank you Al for sharing your great stories with us because we look forward to reading them and hope you’ll have lots more to share. Merle

The next endorsement is one that I cherish. It was written by another Canadian writer, RJ Parker.

I read a lot of books in various genres. I really enjoy reading a series of books that have continuous characters. I'm sharing my favorite series of all time with you my friends and fans and hope that you start this and love it as much as I do. I have two more to read which I will do over the next few days. It's the Clearwater series by my friend and fellow Canadian author Mr. Al Rennie. The first book in the series is the Clearwater Journals and it's free. This series is available in all the markets, ie, Amazon, Barnes, Smashwords etc. As an avid reader for 35 years, I'm declaring this series to be my all-time favorite. It simply rocks!! Fast-paced, lovable characters and Al has a great sense of humor. If you're having a bad day, any one of these books will make you laugh. This is Al's website with the books in order.... Let me know if you start these books and what you think.

Blessings, RJ

Chapter 1

Clearwater Skip Trace

Natalie could feel the strange new excitement mounting inside her very being; no, it was more like the exquisite feeling of joy that she had never experienced quite like this before. She had a real and true purpose for her life now. She was a new, happier, more fulfilled woman. She was single and thirty one years old working in a responsible position with an insurance agency, but she now felt as if she had wasted all of that time until only six weeks ago when she had gone to the meeting with her friend, Lisa.

She had listened carefully to the words being spoken and heard about remarkable things ... life changing things. She had not hesitated when the call had been given. She had capitulated completely and pledged herself to what she now believed was the single most important thing in all of this life and what came after it. From that meeting day on, she had slept better, worried less and savoured each day as she had never done before. She believed that even the food that she ate tasted better. She read and learned and realized that she needed to share the joy.

… because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.

The ‘crusade’ would give her the opportunity to bring the same new life to others in need. She felt alive with new direction. No harm could come to her if she remained faithful and obeyed the Word of God.

Do not be afraid for I am with you.

Today, a beautiful Saturday in April, was supposed to have been Natalie’s first ‘crusade’ but the older woman with whom she had been paired, Mrs. Elda Livingston, an experienced veteran of many ‘crusades’ had become ill with the flu. She had told Natalie that it would be better to wait until they could go together next weekend to spread the word. Just enough of the old Natalie remained to believe she could do this all by herself.

She had wakened early and spent an hour quietly reading the book she had been given. That time had been followed by meditation and prayer. She believed, no, she knew that she had to carry the Word to the neighbourhood where she and Mrs. Livingston were to spend much of today. It would be wasteful to do otherwise. She dressed carefully with deliberated purpose. Her under-garments were white cotton and practical. She had thrown out all of the ‘trashy stuff’ she used to wear. What good had been served by it? She smiled at the memory. Natalie opted for a simple white cotton blouse and a light weight grey skirt that extended to three inches below her knees. She would wear her low black heels and carry her handbag and church materials in a large white nylon bag she had purchased at the Crusade Book kiosk in the basement of their meeting hall. She had decided to take a taxi to the edge of the neighbourhood where she would be spreading the word. She had believed Mrs. Livingston when she had said leaving a vehicle on those streets all day might not be safe.

As she stood in the small bathroom of her apartment, Natalie had mixed feelings about whether she should apply a daub of light pink lipstick or abstain completely. As she studied her face in the mirror, she decided that the smallest amount of lipstick would not be considered sinful. In her hand she held the small gold cross with the filigree edging that she would wear around her neck. She studied it momentarily. Before these last six weeks, the thin gold necklace with its small gold cross had only been another of many necklaces that she might choose to wear on any given day. Now, it had a new significance that made it so important that she wore it every