The Adventures of Will Irving: Automaton Trouble

By Curtis Castro

Will Irving is a mid 20's private investigator and mechanical tinkerer who was gifted an automaton (i.e., robot) by his father, who has since left home after becoming heartbroken over the murder of his wife. Will now lives with his 10-year-old sister, Emily, and their automaton, Max. Having taken over the family P.I. business, along with his father's old partner, Hank, Will becomes inadvertently involved in a kidnapping case which pits him against a notorious mob boss, a mysterious automaton and its shadowy owner, and ultimately, an even greater menace. With the help of friends and family, Will and Max risk everything to protect the ones they love and solve the case.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483570389

Book preview

Curt

Chapter 1

You’ve gotta be kidding me! said the man.

Like I said, Mac, she ain’t working, replied a little old man who was mopping the hallway floor. And when the lift ain’t working, there’s naught else to do but use our God-given…

Whatever, pops, interrupted the man as he turned and made his way toward the stairwell. I hate the damn stairs.

It was easy to guess why the man was upset. It was a particularly hot summer afternoon, and he was already sweating quite profusely. The man was tall – huge actually – and thick. Not the lazy, fat boy kind of thick though, but rather the kind of thick that often finds itself on the giving end of cracked ribs, broken noses, and dislocated jaws. He wore a dark, pin-striped suit that looked like it wanted to burst and a dark, small-rimmed fedora that might pop off at a moment’s notice. The guy looked the part of a brute, and he certainly wore it well.

The man eventually reached the third floor, huffing and puffing, and turned to walk down the narrow hallway until he arrived at a door that had Irving & Marsden Investigative Services printed on its frosted glass pane. Without so much as a knock, the man opened the door and entered the office.

Be right there! called a voice from an adjacent room after the dark-suited man had slammed the door shut.

The man stood near the door and took in the office. It was a tidy room with a spotless desk – probably the receptionist’s – facing the door, two sage-colored upholstered armchairs against the wall to the man’s left, a full bookshelf on the right, and a few filing cabinets behind the desk. A ceiling fan was slowly whirring overhead.

Sorry about that. I’m the only one… said a young man as he entered the room. Oh, great…what do you want?

How’s the detective business, Irving? replied the man. Thriving from the looks of it.

Quit the chit chat, Julius, and just tell me what you want, shot back the young man as he moved to stand behind the desk.

Take it easy, Will. No need to be rude, Julius chided.

How may I help you leave then? That better? Will Irving said with a smirk.

Always with the attitude. That’s your problem, Irving. That’s why I can’t stand you, Julius said, scowling.

The feeling’s mutual, Will stated.

Whatever. Just take a look at this, Julius said as he threw a photograph onto the desk.

What’s that? Will asked, feigning interest.

Just look at it, will ya? Julius insisted, clearly becoming aggravated.

Will took the photo and gave it a look. It was a black and white portrait of a beautiful young woman.

Who’s the dame? asked Will.

So you’ve never seen her before? questioned Julius.

Nope. Who is she? replied Will.

She hasn’t been in here recently? Julius pressed.

How many times are you going to ask? No…and no to any other version of that question you’re thinking of asking, Will responded.

Well, if you do see her, you be sure to let us know right away, Julius stated.

Yeah, I’ll be sure to do that, Will said sarcastically as he tossed the photo back onto the desk. And you be sure to let Moe Salley know that I don’t work with creeps.

Suddenly, Julius shot toward the desk, reached across, and grabbed Will by the neck with his enormous right hand. He swung Will over the desk and then flung him forcefully into the bookshelf. Several books tumbled out of the bookshelf and onto Will’s head. Will sat with his back against the bookshelf, dazed from the blow.

You’re no tough guy, Irving. In fact, you ain’t no shamus either. Small time…lousy…just like your old man, Julius derided.

Will shook the stars from his head.

You can move pretty fast when you want to, big guy, Will said as he touched a place on his head where blood was beginning to drip down. I’ll give you that. But you got one thing wrong.

Oh yeah? What’s that? Julius asked.

I’m nothing like my father, Will stated firmly. Are we done here?

If you see the girl? prompted Julius.

Nuts to that, Will said dismissively.

Julius began to take a step toward Will when the door suddenly burst open, and a young girl ran in.

Will! Will! Guess what? the girl shouted excitedly.

Hey, Emily, Will said weakly.

Emily quickly took in her surroundings, looking first at Will and then quickly toward Julius before finally settling her attention back on Will.

Will, what happened? You’re bleeding! Emily said, her demeanor quickly changing from excitement to concern.

Emily hurried over and knelt beside Will.

I’m ok, Em. Just had a little scuffle with the bookshelf is all, Will said as comically as he could.

I’ve got my eye on you, Irving, Julius said with an air of disgust. You got lucky this time.

Julius made his way to the open door, stepped out into the hallway, and left.

Chapter 2

What was that guy talking about, Will? Emily anxiously asked as she gently swabbed the cut on Will’s head. Who is he?

Just some guy looking for someone, Will answered nonchalantly as he moved to sit up in the armchair into which Emily had helped him. Thanks, Em. I think I’m ok now.

Well, you might not be bleeding anymore, but I’m not sure you’re ok just yet. I may be only 10 years old, but I’m not dumb, Will, Emily chided. That guy seemed like a big meanie to me. He’s trouble, isn’t he?

Nothing I can’t handle, sis. And nothing you need to worry about, Will stated.

Promise? Emily asked with a pensive expression.

Promise, Will lovingly reassured as he pulled his little sister into a warm embrace.

After a few moments, Emily pulled back from her brother and wiped a tear from her eye with the back of her hand.

What’s the matter, Em? Will asked compassionately.

I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I don’t want to lose you too, Emily responded quietly.

You won’t lose me, Emmy, Will said as he reached out to hold Emily’s hand.

You don’t know that for sure. Mom and dad said the same thing, Emily said sadly and then hesitated. I miss them, Will.

Me too, Will said.

Emily let go of Will’s hand and walked over to the wall where a framed picture of two men was hanging. The caption Walter Irving & Henry Marsden was embossed on a small golden plate on the bottom of the frame.

Do you think dad is ever coming back? Emily wondered aloud.

I don’t know, Em. It’s been nearly two years since he left. Something tells me he isn’t coming back, Will reflected.

Maybe, Emily said with a tinge of hope. In two months, it’ll be three years since mom died.

Yeah. Anything special you want to do this year? Will asked.

I have a few ideas, but I haven’t decided yet, Emily replied.

Emily turned away from the picture on the wall, walked over behind the desk, threw away the swab she had used to tend to Will, and then began to walk back over to where her brother sat. As Emily rounded the corner of the desk, she suddenly stopped and picked something up from the desk.

Hey, I know this woman! Emily said excitedly as she looked at the picture that she held in her hand. Where did you get this picture, Will? She’s the reason I came here in the first place. I had forgotten all about it.

Julius brought it, Will replied. How do you know her?

This was the person that big meanie was looking for? No wonder she was running, Emily said, her expression suddenly becoming serious.

What are you talking about, Em? Will asked, his curiosity somewhat roused.

I saw this woman earlier today. She was in a hurry, and it seemed like she was running or hiding from someone, Emily related. She ran past me and knocked me down…didn’t even say sorry or look at me. When I got up to brush myself off, I noticed that she had dropped this.

As Emily walked over to where Will sat, she put her hand into her pocket, pulled out a small brooch, and then held it out for Will to take. Will took the brooch and examined it briefly before giving it back to Emily.

Well, it looks like you got a pretty little brooch out of the deal, huh? Will chuckled.

What do you mean? I’m not gonna keep it. We gotta find her and give it back! Emily stated emphatically.

Good luck with that, Will said apathetically.

You mean you’re not gonna help? And you call yourself a private investigator! Emily derided.

She’s not a client, Em. So she’s not my problem. Besides…she’s probably just trouble, Will stated.

She’s not trouble, Will. She’s in trouble! If that big meanie gets her… Emily pleaded.

No, Emily, Will persisted.

Then you’re just a big meanie, too, Emily scolded. At least say you’ll think about it? Come on, Will. Besides, she’s cute!

Alright…I’ll think about it, Will conceded. But now I think it’s time for us to head home.

Will stood up and held his hand out to Emily. Emily looked grudgingly at her brother for a brief moment, and then she slowly broke into a cute smile and took his hand. Will led his sister out of the office and then turned to lock the door behind them.

Wanna stop at Millie’s for dinner? Will asked as they walked down the hallway.

Sure! Can I get a shake? Emily asked.

Will smiled and shook his sister’s hand vigorously, and she began to giggle.

Chapter 3

He ain’t gonna talk. I can see it in his eyes, said a young well-dressed, well-groomed man of medium stature.

Oh, he’ll talk alright, said another wiry man as he sent a swift punch into the gut of a third unlucky older fellow who was sitting, tied to a chair, in the middle of the dimly-lit room.

The bound man winced and let out a grunt.

Shut up, the both of you, ordered a voice as an older, well-dressed man walked out of the shadow of one corner of the room. That’s enough, Jasper.

But I only gave him one punch, Jasper disappointedly protested.

Arthur…Victor and Jasper here…they’re young…got a lot of energy. They can do this all night. Me? I’m getting too old for this. If I don’t get 10 hours of sleep each night, I don’t function the next day. And my watch tells me it’s getting late, the older man stated, tapping his watch. Do us both a favor, and just tell me where the plans are.

You should listen to your son, Salley, replied Arthur. Do us both a favor, and save your breath.

Moe Salley nodded to Jasper, and a right hook connected squarely with Arthur’s jaw. Arthur groaned.

The plans, Arthur, Moe requested again.

This is ridiculous. Just beat him until he decides to talk. Don’t talk to him until you decide to beat him, Victor said sarcastically.

The kid has a point. That’s the future right there, Arthur, Moe said, pointing at Victor and wagging his finger. Dangerously efficient. So what’s it going to be?

Arthur remained silent and looked