Three Weeks in Darkest Amnesia -- Rafe Velez Mystery 9: Rafe Velez Mysteries, #9

By AB Stonebridge

A man awakens with no memory of the past. Can Rafe solve the mystery of who he is -- and where that bag full of cash came from?

Rafe Velez is a fictional character, based on a real person alive today. One thing you can be sure of: you will never, ever guess who he actually is!

As a private investigator, Rafe dealt with decades of crime, divorce, death and depravity – and barely broke even. Pushing 50, he had a few extra pounds around the middle, a sprinkling of gray hair and a cynical view of life, relieved only by a deadpan sense of humor. All of that changed one day, thanks to a windfall he didn't expect.

Enter the world of the Rafe Velez Mysteries: intrigue, suspense, mystery, crime and a cast of characters taken from real life (and changed just enough to protect their identities – at least, until the statute of limitations expires). Enter into the mind of a man whose life is an open book – that should be suppressed!

Meet his friends, frenemies and frequent locations for his adventures:

• Detectives Toole and Williams, Robbery/Homicide's finest – said nobody, never.
• Harpo, a stray dog that wandered into his life and has a great sense of humor.
• Jean Smalls, the first woman in a long time who threatens to take his bachelor card.
• Keith Verdi, electrical contractor, who has other talents – and secrets.
• Momo Argento, the semi-retired Don of a crime family, who keeps a hand in the game.
• The Greasy Spoon restaurant, a real tribute to truth in advertising.
• The Shiny Penny, your soon-to-be-favorite dive bar.

...and a motley crew of clients and suspects. Expect surprises: not every client is on the right side of the law and not every suspect is guilty.

You won't always know what's going on in the minds of the supporting characters. You will always know exactly what Rafe is thinking – unless he's not thinking at all!

Discover The Rafe Velez Mysteries. No, really, go ahead! PG Rated -- no four letter words or explicit sex, but if you read between the lines...

• Language: English
• Publisher: AB Stonebridge
• Release date: Sep 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502270214

AB Stonebridge

You may have already read work by the author AB Stonebridge. As a ghostwriter for many different clients, his work has been seen all over the world. Writing a mixture of fiction, non-fiction and 'True Fiction' (also known as invented history), his work adorns many reports, stories, Web pages and more. Now, after repeated entreaties, pleas, threats and some mockery from fellow authors, AB Stonebridge is creating popular fiction for the Kindle Store. In it you'll discover a breadth and depth of experience that only an exciting life (that did not end abruptly in premature death) can bring you! AB Stonebridge has seen and done things in his life that most people shy away from. You are cordially invited to guess which plot elements are drawn from real life and which come from a rich imagination. In addition, he has met and befriended people from all over the world. Many of them appear in his works. The names have been changed to protect the guilty. If you like suspense, mystery, noir touches, cynical humor and surprise, you'll love his work. There will be characters you love, characters you love to hate and a wide-ranging view of life, in a world not unlike our own, that will draw you into its twists and turns. Take all the time you need, in the next thirty seconds, and decide to delve into the works and world of AB Stonebridge. The more you read, the more you'll find yourself entranced by the stories, personalities and just plain good fun packed into every work. AB Stonebridge is not a legend, myth or giant - yet. It's up to you, the reader, to discover the works of AB Stonebridge, share them with friends and family and decide for yourself. Without your support, he is nothing. With your support, more and more of his works will become available, for your delectation. https://www.facebook.com/abstonebridge/app_191387770912394

Book preview

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Our story begins at a dingy, nondescript motel that was tucked away from the main highway. In one of the rooms, a man scribbled on a page of motel stationery, 'Day 21. Still don't remember my name. My head doesn't hurt as much today. Got to get some help. Where did the tote bag full of cash come from?'

The nameless man closed the notebook, sprawled on the bed and turned on the TV with the remote control. It was the middle of the local evening news program.

It was three years ago today that Rafe Velez, a private detective and his friend, Detective Toole of the local police made a bit of a splash – three quarters of a million dollars-worth of splash! The two friends had purchased lottery tickets on the same day from a local store. Velez won $250,000. Toole won $500,000. I think you have as much chance of that happening as being struck by lightning and attacked by a shark in a shopping mall on the same day, right Marty?

Pushing the mute button, the nameless man noted the private detective's name, then grabbed a phone book. Moments later, he was calling that detective.

Hi, uh, I saw something on the news about you. I need you to help me find a missing person. Who? Me. I don't remember anything before about three weeks ago. Oh, and I have a bag full of money, too, so paying you won't be a problem. No, no idea where the money came from. Where are you located? OK, I'll take a taxi to get there. Good, see you soon.

——-===(*)===——-

Honey, are you decent? asked Rafe.

Always! And I'm dressed, too.

Company's coming. Got a case of amnesia. Uh, what were we talking about?

Laughter came from the bedroom down the hall. Rafe, sitting at his desk, smiled too. His wife, Jean, poked her head into the doorway.

So, who's got amnesia?

That's the thing. My new client-to-be doesn't know his own name. He's been out of it for about three weeks. Oh, and he has a bag full of cash. Very mysterious and I get paid, too.

Jean's expression turned to a frown. Could it be drug money? she asked. Some of Rafe's recent work ended up connected to heroin smuggling, with violent conclusions to those cases.

No way to know, until I see what's what.

The doorbell rang. Harpo, the family dog, trotted to the front door and gave a honking 'woof'. Rafe shooed the dog away and opened the door. Outside stood a nondescript man, toting a large gym bag. A taxi was pulling away from the curb.

Hi. C'mon in. My office is upstairs. Rafe ushered the man to his office, carefully perusing him and