The Stark Reality

By Melody Martin

A story about a private Detecvive as she goes about solving cases in North Texas. she encountes some very rough characters along the way, and finds love in the course of her investigations amongst termoil and danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Martin
• Release date: Jan 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386162209

Melody Martin

I spent 3 years in the Navy. Today I spend My time writing or Painting. I am a very Independent woman Living in Kansas. This is just another stop in my journey through life. I was born in New York in 1941. So, I was alive when they bombed Pearl Harb I grew up on a small farm In Ulster County. The war years were tough but I never went hungry

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Stark Reality

CHAPTER ONE | A new case

Chapter Two | The stake out

Chapter three | On with the new case

Chapter four | A date with Jim

Chapter Five | A day off with Jim

Chapter Six | Ambushed

Chapter Seven | Shooter is caught

Chapter Eight | The case of the Cheating Wife

Chapter Nine | Another kind of a Cheater

Chapter Ten | A Peeping Tom

Chapter Eleven | The College Caper

Chapter Twelve | The Wedding

Chapter Thirteen | Who Is He Really

Chapter Fourteen | The Outcome of it All

About the Publisher

Forward;

Melody is a Private detective just outside of Dallas. This story is about her adventures and cases. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. The year is 1997.

CHAPTER ONE

A new case

IT WAS A COOL DAY IN November when I got a call, a woman wanted to meet me after she got off work. I told her I normally close at 4:00 PM but I would wait for her. I gave her the address and directions to get to my office. She said it would not be later than 4:30 then she hung up. I had some book work to close up so I decided to get on with that and just wait for her. I made a pot of coffee to keep my head straight I had been working a case that kept me up late for the last week. The end result of the case was simple her husband was not cheating on her he took on a part-time job so he could get her something special for Christmas. I like cases with happy endings and this one was great. It did rather spoil the surprise but the happy couple kissed and it all ended happily. I get lots of cases of woman looking for cheating husbands. It’s challenging sometimes but it keeps the money flowing in the door. It was 4:00 and I poured myself a final cup of coffee. There was one more cup left incase my visitor would like some. The phone rang I answered it with the Melody’s detective agency. It was a friend Mike who I work with occasionally, he wanted to meet up after I get out of work. I told him I have a late customer coming in soon but I should be out of here by 5:30 if that was good with him. He said he would meet me then. I was just hanging up when the lady I spoke with on the phone walked in. I stood up and shook her hand, Good evening, I am Melody. She said I am Julie, I asked her to sit. Would you like a cup of coffee I have a little left? She declined but asked if I had some water. I keep bottled water in the small fridge in the office. I got one for her and set it on the desk. She opened it and drank a swallow or two. She looked nervous and I asked what can I do for you Julie? She said in a trembling voice, I am worried about my sister, she is always showing bruises and aches and pains. She says she is just accident prone and always is falling. The other day when I saw her she had marks around her neck she said she walked into the clothes line outside. I said well has she always been clumsy? She said no, she used to be a cheerleader very athletic I am just beginning to doubt her excuses on how she is getting hurt. She is married to a cop. I said well my normal fee is 150 dollars a day, if you will give me her name and address I assume she is married. Julie said Oh wow; I don’t know how I will afford that. I was taken back a bit but I asked how much you can afford to get the answers you’re seeking. She said she had five-hundred in a Christmas account. I said okay, I will see what I can find out what I can and I will not charge you more than the five-hundred, if that’s good with you. She smiled and said agreed. She wrote down her sister’s name her husband’s name and the address where they live and where they work. She gave me her name and address also. Then she picked up the bottle of water thanked me and left. It was near 5:30 I finished cleaning up the office and locked up. When I got outside Mike was waiting. I smiled and jumped in his car, what are you up too today Mike? He laughed well I figured I would run over here to see if you wanted to go to bed with me yet. I laughed you have asked that a hundred times and the answer is always no. He giggled yes but I keep asking you sexy thing you. No really Mike what did you need. He said well I am almost to the point of wrapping up a case but I can’t be in two places at once. Mike you know I am ready to help anytime as long as there are no conflicts. Well I need to stake out two places at once at a woman’s house and a bar at the edge of town. I have pictures of the guy I am following and the lady I suspect he is meeting. I need photos of the two of them together. You will need your camera and a long lens, infer-red film as usual. And maybe a backup of high speed black and white in a second camera. If you get a good photo of them together going into her house there’s two hundred in it for you. Okay Mike when? He laughed tonight? I am like well I better fix myself more coffee I can tell it will be a long night again. He said well that’s the way the ducks Quack. I said okay, I will go back in and get my camera gear ready. I will call you tomorrow and tell you what I have. He smiled, okay Melody you rock, I can always count on you. I got out of his car and went back to my office got the cameras loaded and all set to go.

Chapter Two

The stake out

I STOPPED BY A DELI and got two sandwiches and filled my jug of coffee and headed out to Carrollton I parked near the address and looked over the possibilities of getting pictures of anyone entering the house. If I park here I am sure to be noticed and that would not be good. I noticed a house just up the street that was for sale and empty. I drove back down the street and wrote down the realtor’s number. I parked and dialed the number I got the lady just as she was closing up. I asked if I could park in front of her listing to watch a place down the street and I explained I was a private detective and I was on a case. She laughed and said yes make sure no one breaks in there tonight too and she laughed. I drove back and parked it was dark by now and I settled in and opened one of the sandwiches. I poured out some coffee and settled in. Nibbling on the sandwich and sipping the hot coffee. I am not fond of stakeouts but it’s part of the job description. It was getting near 11:00 pm and a car came down the street past me. I ducked down a little as it past. My windows are heavy tinted it’s hard to see inside anyway. The car stopped at the house I was watching I picked up the camera and a man got out and went to the other side of the car and opened the door. A young blonde got out and they kissed then they walked to the door. He opened it and they went in. I was snapping picture after picture. The lights came on in the house and then the light I assumed was the bed room came on. I could not see inside but I could make out shadows of a couple embracing each other. The camera still clicking away then the light went out. I poured myself more coffee and sipped at it. I was having a hard time staying awake even the coffee was not helping it was near 2am when I saw lights come back on and then the two of them came back out and got into the car and drove off. I got pictures of them leaving. I poured out the rest of my coffee and I was putting up the camera equipment when the car came back this time it was only the guy. I snapped a few pictures and put the camera down. The man began walking up towards my car. I fired the engine and drove away. There is nothing like being caught to raise your hackles. I have been there before I always keep Betsey by my side. A 9mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic always ready. Mike will get a kick out of this tomorrow. I drove home and hit the shower. It felt like it’s been a week since my last one but I know I showered this morning before I went in to the office. The hot water hitting my sore muscles felt good. Sitting in a car for hours will put a hurting on you. I toweled dry and got out the blow dryer to dry my golden locks. I stepped in front of the mirror for a second to look, I am 32 years old and I still look fine. I pulled a night gown down and slid into my bed. I it the button to set the alarm and slipped off into dream land. The alarm went off at 6am like usual I guess 3 hours sleep is better than none at all. I put on a robe and went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. The doorbell rang and I thought it was Mike. I walked to the door and there was a cop standing there. Sir I asked what can I do for you. He asked, what where you doing on raintree drive last night. I said I was working. Working at what may I ask he spit out as if it were a nasty word. I said well the real estate woman can fill you in on that or you can accept my answer. He said I will take yours. Well I started after running it through my mind; she asked if I could keep an eye on it because someone tried to break in the other night. Why is that your job he asked? Well you see I am a licensed private detective. I told her I would hang out there until 2am and that’s just what I did. Then I asked him, I see you’re a Carrollton officer, what are you doing in Lewisville? He seemed stumped for words then asked may I see your license. I said sure come on in I will get it. I went to the other room and pulled the license and badge from my purse and handed it to him. He looked it over and handed it back. Then he said I live just down the block from there you can tell her I will keep an eye on it from now on. We don’t need any gumshoes hanging out in the neighborhood. He got up and left he was not even is a squad. I recognized the car as he left then I laughed to myself. Yep he was the one with the babe in the car last night. I went back to the kitchen by now my coffee was cold. I heated it in the microwave and sipped a little when the doorbell rang again. Dang will I ever get some coffee in this morning. It was Mike and I beckoned him in. Want some coffee Mike? He nodded and I got a cup and poured some out for him. He sat at the table and I sat on the other side. He said well how did it go last night? I broke out laughing well it did not exactly end last night. I had a visitor this morning, why did you not tell me the bastard was a cop. Mike’s turn to laugh now, well it was not funny I had to dodge around his questions this morning and Yes I got pictures last night. I have not processed them yet. After I get some hot coffee in me I will run them. He nodded okay; can I get in the dark room with you? Maybe I can get you hot in the dark. Mike when will you ever give up. We finished the coffee and I went in and stripped the film magazines of the film in the dark and dropped them into the processing containers. Then flipped on the lights, the infer-red was on my right the high speed Black and white on the left. I ran the developer, the fixer and the wash through them then opened them up. I hung them to dry in the drying line. Let’s have another cup of coffee while they dry then we can examine them in the enlarger. He opened the door and we went