Sherlock and Me: The Case of the Ghost Horse

By SJ Slagle

Lucy James, newly minted PI has an office in downtown Reno. Her location is by a pawn shop and people drawn to the area are diverse indeed. She's hired to find a missing truck driver by a colorful woman and the case takes her into the shadowy world of truck cargo thefts. An experienced truck driver never makes it to his intended destination on his route creating panic for his new fiancé.
The supernatural is involved in the second case with a focus on a myth of the local Native Americans. A beautiful horse belonging to a special needs child is spooked during a thunderstorm one night and disappears on the high desert landscape of Pyramid Lake, an ancient lake filled with secrets and myths.
Lucy is called into both cases and tackles them as she always does--with deductive reasoning like her mentor, Sherlock Holmes. With support from her faithful roommate, Cindy and trusty dog, Baskerville, the mysteries begin to unravel the deeper she travels.
Lucy still works at the local movie theater bringing in needed income until her private investigation business takes off. But her PI license is hanging on the wall and her gut instincts are sharper than ever. She's motivated and willing to do whatever is necessary to find the little boy's horse and her new friend's fiancé.
Irrepressible. Tenacious. Unique. That's Lucy James.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SJ Slagle
• Release date: Sep 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370229314

SJ Slagle

I'm the proud honoree of the 2018 B.R.A.G. Medallion for excellence in historical fiction. My book, London Spies, is the first of a trilogy about a young woman in military intelligence in WWII.I am an unabashed lover of mysteries. Sue Grafton, Sherlock Holmes, Lawrence Block, Walter Mosley, JA Jance and Tony Hillerman are just a few authors who have tantalized my imagination over the years and I reread their work whenever I need stimulation. And instruction. A writer goes to the master to learn that certain turn of phrase, a unique POV or how to kickstart the story reverberating in your head.I grew up in Illinois, moved to Arizona and, after college, toured some of the world including Puerto Rico, Florida and the Virgin Islands. I've traveled throughout my lifetime giving setting and tone new twists as my horizons expanded. My work as a teacher in Language Arts and video production have proven time and again to be superb launching pads for my writing.I write mysteries and historical fiction as SJ Slagle and western romances as Jeanne Harrell. My sister and I started writing children's books long ago and those are published under both our names: Sinda Cheri Floyd. The stories we write are loosely based on our collective experiences during childhood.Enjoy my books and happy reading!

Book preview

The ground shook with the pounding of many hooves. Waves of dust coated the enormous bodies galloping hard in the open landscape. Sounds of a rotating blade sliced through the roar making the animals run faster, harder. White froth flew from their open mouths panting in the dusty air. Beads of sweat barely had time to form before joining the foamy froth in the wind. Nostrils flared again and again trying to fight off the elements before all was lost.

The lead horse shifted suddenly causing the rest of the herd to take a hard right with it. Wild eyes strained to see in the murky Nevada desert. Small rocks pinged constantly off slender legs straining to keep up. Thundering through pinion and sage bushes, the fast-moving animals were gradually herded towards a small stream between two sloping hills. The pale blue contrasted with the shifting browns and greens of the land with the dark, forbidding lake beyond.

Racing down the stream, a brown and white painted horse overtook the chestnut mare, the lead for most of the chase. Cowboys waited patiently on horseback just around the corner and the painted horse was captured first. Struggling with a taut rope around its damp neck, Paint strained this way and that, rearing up to fight the unknown enemy. The mare by his side snorted as desperation set in. More ropes were thrown, more animals captured. Weak from fatigue and boxed in, the wild horses frantically whinnied moving constantly. Experienced hands drew them around to settle their wild ways. Pounding, thundering gave way to short breaths and stamping feet.

With the eventual quiet came acceptance.

With acceptance came resignation.

The herd of fifty wild horses set out for holding pens waiting a few miles away led by cowboys whose patience had finally paid off.

* * *

CHAPTER 1

Up,

Down.

Twist again…

Like we did last summer? I whispered with a smile. Cindy obviously didn’t see the humor in my 50s rock humor.

Would you please pay attention? Your basic self defense skills are rusty, as you know, she whispered back.

I wiped my sweaty forehead with an equally damp sleeve. It must be a hundred degrees in here.

Shh. Cindy bent gracefully and looked like a million bucks in her cute exercise outfit. Her pale green yoga pants and matching bra emphasized a toned body. Sunny hair caught up in a stylish ponytail framed a pretty face intent on the activity at the moment. I sighed as I glanced down. My baggy sweat pants and Big Bang Theory tee shirt did little to emphasize my body parts, toned or otherwise. Maybe that was a good thing. I shrugged bending over in a failed attempt to touch my feet. Catching my reflection in the wall-to-wall mirror, I almost snickered seeing how my red face matched my unruly hair. Why had I let my roommate drag me to a self-defense class? I had a million pressing things to do and…sighing audibly, I attempted to catch up with the others.

The instructor took the class through various warm-up exercises before handing out the safety equipment.

Everyone quiet, please. Tall and lean without an ounce of body fat, the woman looked around with a determined face. Sue will help anyone who needs assistance. Put these on and we’ll start our lesson for today.

An assistant began passing out black helmets with face guards. Cindy slipped on her helmet gracefully as I tugged at mine with both hands. The instructor homed in on me.

Need some help, Lucy?

I tried to shake my head but my hair got caught in the face guard. With gritted teeth, I tried to lift off the helmet pulling a chunk of entangled hair.

Yow!

Sue, help her, please. Turning her attention back to the group, the instructor began. We’re going to review the basic moves we practiced last week before moving on to the next lesson. The assistant untangled my hair and slipped the helmet smoothly over my head before joining the instructor up front.

Let’s start with the assailant coming right at you. Sue advanced towards the instructor and grabbed the front of her shirt. Use the elbow move and knee to the groin. Sue’s head snapped back as the instructor swiped at her with an elbow while a knee came up between Sue’s legs a moment later. She stepped back, looked around encouragingly and nodded. All right, class, your turn. Remember these are natural moves, something that your body could do on reflex.

I advanced, hopefully, with a menacing sneer. Cindy merely arched a finely tapered brow and had me on my knees in no time flat with a right elbow to the face and a swift knee to the groin.

Hey! I panted hard, trying to catch my breath. This is just practice.

Cindy locked fists on her hips and planted her feet solidly apart. No pain, no gain. You’re up, Lucy. Let’s see whatcha got.

The instructor went around to each practicing pair with words of help and encouragement. After watching my moves on Cindy, she shook her head.

No. You’ll never fight off your attacker if you don’t put some muscle into it, Lucy.

…But she’s my friend and I don’t want to hurt her.

Cindy snorted, got right in my face. Quit being a wimp and hit me.

A wimp? With that, my elbow shot up catching Cindy off guard. When she staggered back, I almost got her with a knee.

Better, Lucy, but keep practicing. You never know when you might need this maneuver.

After fifteen minutes, the class moved on to practicing head butts when attacked from the side. When I mildly complained about concussions, my friend rolled her eyes.

See why I dragged you here? You’re out of shape and have forgotten all these defense moves.

All right, Miss Smarty. I turned to the side. Attack me.

Cindy grabbed my arm and I swiped her with an elbow just as our heads made contact. Despite the helmet, pain exploded in my temple. Jerking my head away, a sharp pain in my back caused me to see bright streaks of light. My body weaved before I plopped on the floor writhing uncomfortably.

Ow!

What’s the matter? Cindy crouched down.

I pulled a muscle in my back! I whined. It hurts.

The instructor hurried over, assessed the situation.

You pulled a back muscle? The woman poked a few places in my back. Here? Or here?

Cut it out! I tugged off the helmet with one hand pressed against the sore part of my back.

Should I take her to the ER? Cindy looked at the instructor who nodded once.

Do it.

Twenty minutes later, I was sitting on a metal table in a chilly examination room of the emergency clinic. I reached back a shaky hand to close the flimsy, paper gown. Cindy had left to find a restroom. Glancing around the bleak room, I kept my legs locked in place. I was afraid to move lest the pain started up again.

Another fine mess you’ve gotten me into, Cindy, sweet roommate of mine. Who needs self-defense classes anyway? I’m only a PI. Chaotic thoughts kept me company while machines beeped, people scurried, lights flashed and the smell of antiseptic filled my nose.

What the devil was I doing here?

* * *

CHAPTER 2

My name’s Lucy James and I’m a private investigator licensed in the state of Nevada. It’s taken me quite a few years to get to this stage in my life and I couldn’t be prouder. Another first was that my bank account was flush, thanks to the last case I solved. It was crazy with that silly parrot shrieking about Nazi plunder but it was the push I needed to go down that road. The reward was out of the blue and I nearly declined it, but Cindy talked me into it. I’d gotten the heave-ho from the detective agency I interned with and she said the money would come in handy.

She was right. Cindy’s been my best friend since high school and she’s right about a lot of things.

I still work a few days a week at my old job: assistant manager at the movie theater by the river that snakes its way through downtown Reno. The manager is an old friend so I have a tiny bit of job security. And I guess I need it since I haven’t had another case come along for a few months. I knew when I hung out my PI shingle that I might have lag time between cases but if something didn’t come up soon, I’ll have to go back full-time at the theater.

Not what my father would call a successful career move.

I flinched when the door to the examination room opened suddenly and a clean-shaven young man with a big smile entered the room. His blazing white lab coat, neatly combed blonde hair and pale blue eyes gave him an air of wholesomeness as he sauntered up to where I sat and completely invaded my space.

Miss James?

I nodded, pinpricks of pain in my back sparked when I leaned away from him.

I’m Dr. Martin Stevenson. I understand you’ve pulled a muscle in your back. Is that correct?

When I nodded again, he moved closer still to place his palm on my back. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek.

Does it hurt here?

I shook my head. No. To the right of where your hand is. Closer to the middle of my back.

He touched the right spot, which sent off another spark of pain. That’s the place all right. I’m going to give you a muscle relaxant and an examination. You’ll probably need a chiropractic adjustment.

I blinked at him.

Smiling with attractive white teeth, he continued. Lucky I’m a chiropractor, huh?

I refrained from rolling my eyes but my lips curved anyway.

By the time Cindy returned, Dr. Stevenson had realigned my back and given me a shot to relax affected muscles. I was feeling pretty good.

Now I want to see you again two days from now. Stop at the desk and get one of my cards to call my office for an appointment.

You don’t work here? asked Cindy.

I’m on call at the hospital but I work mainly at my practice. He gave Cindy a cursory glance before focusing on me. You’ll call me?

She’ll call. Cindy glanced shrewdly between the two of us. Stevenson beamed as I focused on the hem of my hospital gown.

Good. That devilish smile threatened to beam me up like Scotty. I’ll see you soon then. You should be fine but I want to do one more follow-up appointment at least. He patted my hand before heading for the door, but turned around one last time. Nice to meet you, Lucy. He never took his eyes off me. …And your friend.

Cindy closed the door quietly. …And your friend? She chuckled. I was definitely playing the part of the best friend in this one-act play.

I blew out a breath and grimaced, gingerly pushing off the table. Don’t give me any crap. I’m wounded.

…With a cute doctor insisting that you see him again.

Yeah, so?

Are you going to?

I stopped. Am I going to what?

Make an appointment to see him again?

He’s a doctor, Cindy. Cut me a break here. Not every encounter with a man is a set-up for a date.

He’s a doctor, phooey… She pushed back hair from my face and leveled a cool stare. He’s interested in you.

So?

"So?" She tapped a finger on her pert chin. Could be tricky what with Eric and all.

I took a few tentative steps and carefully turned my head. I haven’t heard from Eric in a few weeks. He’s helping his dad in the rehab center, remember? When Cindy opened her mouth, I pointed to a chair. Quit nagging and help me get dressed. I don’t want to bend over.

Jeans and tee shirt pulled on, I headed for the door. Get my purse, will you? I flinched turning my neck.

Cindy picked up the purse, swung the strap over her shoulder.