Winning Numbers, Deadly Numbers: Jack Warden Detective, #1

By Clark Graham

A twisted tale of murder in a small town, when a couple wins a lottery jackpot and others are trying to get their hands on the ticket. It's friend against friend and relatives against each other in this all out dash to get the winning numbers, and live long enough to cash it in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clark Graham
• Release date: May 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386450672

Clark Graham

I started writing at a very young age, and was greatly encouraged by my teachers at school. One of my English teachers used to wade through the stack of papers that students would submit for writing assignments. She would find mine, and always read it first. That had a huge effect on me. Now I am supported by family and friends who read my writings and leave me feedback. I don't seem to stick to a particular genre, but write the stories that I would want to read. I hope you enjoy my efforts.

Book preview

To Brent and Ann and all the others who loved reading my stories.

Jack Warden Detective Series

Book 1

Winning Numbers Deadly Numbers

Book 2

In a Sea of Troubles

Book 3

Murder on a Honeymoon

Book 4

On Deadly Seas

Prologue

The morning sun made a slight red glow as it rose over the town of Colfax Washington. The sleepy little town was at a road junction between Highway 29, the Walla Walla highway, and State Route 195. Colfax was part of the Palouse, an area of rolling hills and farmland. Roosters could be heard in the distance as the locals started another day.

Fred Warden eased himself out of bed and onto the floor. He waited for the pain to subside in his leg before standing up. It was a war trophy, he would joke with his friends, a badly smashed leg he had gotten defending Khe Sanh while he was a marine in the Vietnam War. He had also earned the Navy Cross because of it, and a slight limp. The war hero was a natural to take over the as the Chief of Police when he got back home. The old chief had retired. When his son, Jack, showed interest at becoming a police officer he had put him on the force. Later he had made him his assistant, hoping someday that Jack would take over the position so he could retire. He was still waiting for Jack to step up. Jack just wasn’t ready yet. 

He showered and dressed then woke his wife and the two of them would make breakfast together. This is how they had started their day together for the last forty years. They had dreams of traveling before they both got too old. Fred kept a lot of travel brochures in his desk at work. When his son would show some initiative, he would get them out. When his son did something wrong, he would sigh, and put them back.

This is how life was for the old Police Chief. Except for fighting with the old sheriff, Phil Johnson, from the county, life was quiet.

After breakfast Fred walked to the five blocks to work. It made his leg feel good to get the muscles warm. He did this every day, except during the winter time, and then he drove. He went up the stairs to the Police Station and into his office. Susan Charles would have his mail all opened and setting on his desk to be read. All the emails that had been sent his way were also sitting there, printed out for him, because he just hated computers.

Jack Warden always got to the office a little later than most. He was in the shadow of his war hero father and had wanted to strike out on his own, but the job paid well and he didn’t have to do a lot to get it.  Bill Fredrick did all of the detective work, and his father did all of the Chief duties so he just skated along most days. Once in a while Bill would throw a bone his way in the form of a case, but most of the time Bill would then have to step in and help. Jack always knew how he was doing by the travel brochures on his father’s desk. If the brochures were sitting there, he was doing well; if the brochures were back in the drawer, he was not doing well. Lately he had not seen any brochures. Most of Jack’s time was spent as a referee between his father and the sheriff. They were two alpha males who couldn’t stand each other.

Jack had stayed single, much to the disappointment of his father and mother. Every once in a while he would find a steady girlfriend but it didn’t last long. They would see his lack of ambition and were put off by it. Jack walked into the office, said hello to Susan and then sat down at his desk to check his email. It was just another day in the life of the Assistant Police Chief in this quiet small town.

Chapter 1

The 1951 Nash Statesman rolled out of the Harrison’s driveway like it did every Saturday night at this time. Since Bud Harrison had retired, his wife and he had gotten into a routine. Shopping on Monday, visit their daughter on Tuesday evening, Wednesday was Bingo night and they always bought a lottery ticket on Thursday when they picked up extra milk for the weekend.  Bud would work on the old Nash on Friday while Emily took care of the housework.  Then come Saturday night they would check their lotto tickets on their way out to dinner.  They seldom varied from this routine and tonight was no exception.

The old Nash was running real well as Bud had located some parts that he had been trying to find for years.  It was almost in showroom condition except for a few rust spots under the hood, but that was next Friday’s project. The black exterior had been shined to near perfection and it had won a couple of car shows in the area. He had another show in a few weeks but he had other things on his mind. Tonight he had planned a nice dinner out with his bride of 47 years. 

As the car pulled up to the OK Convenience Store in downtown Colfax, Emily got out with the tickets.  Usually they only bought one a week, but this week they had gotten two because they were feeling especially lucky. Wendy Sue was behind