Testify: A Lupa Schwartz Novella

By J. David Core

A legal loophole may free a killer, unless a motive can be established in the execution-style murder of a local councilman.

Lupa Schwartz usually unmasks killers, but what-to-do when the killer, already unmasked, has an ace-in-the-hole to use at trial? The DA thought he had an airtight case against George Bond, a local farmer who stood to lose millions due to a fracking ban; but that motive, and therefore that case seems to be slipping away. Shot and left for dead, Councilman Ed Soigne banned fracking around Bugler Slew, so he had plenty of political enemies, but would any wish him dead? Now it's up to Schwartz to prove to the judge that the case against Bond holds water; but the PI seems unwilling to play by the court's rules.

Part legal thriller, part murder mystery, Testify is the first stand-alone novella-length story ever released in the Lupa Schwartz universe. If you enjoyed My Cousin Vinny and Runaway Jury, you'll love this exciting genre-bender.

Buy Testify to experience an unexpected take on justice today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. David Core
• Release date: May 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463176719

J. David Core

With a profound interest in religion, liberal politics and humor, Dave began writing in High School and has not given up on it since. His first professional writing jobs came while attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh when he was hired to create political cartoons for The Pitt News and to write humor pieces for Smile Magazine. Dave has worked in the newspaper industry as a photographer, in the online publishing industry as a weekly contributor to Streetmail.com, and was a contributing writer to the Buzz On series of informational books and his story, The Bet in Red Dust, was published at the Western online anthology, Elbow Creek.Dave’s science fiction novel, Synthetic Blood and Mixed Emotions, is available from its publisher, writewordsinc.com.Dave currently resides in his childhood home in Toronto, OH with his beautiful girlfriend and his teenage daughter. He enjoys participating in local community events and visiting with his two adult children and his grandson.

Book preview

Testify

By J. David Core

Published by J. David Core at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 and 2019 by J. David Core

ISBN: 9780463176719

Cover illustration by the author

Other titles in this series:

Extreme Unction

Common Sense

Fair Play

Shared Disbelief

Five Secrets

Download the series NOW!

Info on all of these titles available at my website!

Coming Soon:

Hard Boiled

This novella is dedicated to my wonderful family and friends for all of their patience and help. I particularly want to thank my beautiful girlfriend, Cheryl, for always patiently dealing with my late nights at the PC.

Contents

Copyright info

Chapter One

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Notice

Author Bio

Chapter One

I’m thinking of getting a Saxophone tattooed on my shoulder for Trevor’s birthday, Mia said. She and Trevor had been off-and-on for a year, and Trevor’s birthday was a month in the future.

Where did you get that idea? I asked as I sipped on my bourbon and water.

Lupa hired that Dremel artist to stylize his GT, she said referring to the lord of our manor, Lupa Schwartz. Mia worked with him in his basement garage. Well, it was more a subterranean classic car collection nearly an acre in area; but it was under his house, and it was accessed by a door in his hallway; so technically it was his basement. I liked his style, so I asked him to design something for me.

No, that’s not what I meant, I said. I mean where did you get the idea for a saxophone? Trevor plays clarinet. He played it beautifully too. He and several of his fellow police detectives and one of their wives were in a band called the Blues Whailers.

That’s true, Beverly said. Bev was Schwartz’s housekeeper/gardener/cook. She was the final member of our household. The three of us ladies lived and worked with the in-some-ways generous egomaniac detective-for-hire in his Squirrel Hill Victorian. Beverly seemed as if she had more to say, but instead she pulled at her Mai Tai which she had been nursing for close to half an hour.

Clarinets are not aesthetically interesting visually, Mia said. Saxophones have that interesting arch and that bell shaped opening.

That’s true, Beverly said, and she took another pull on her tropical potable.

Mia paused to stare at Beverly, waiting to see if she had anything more valuable to offer. Beverly simply raised her glass, and took another sip. I suppose I could always get a G-clef, she said. Those are pretty.

Beverly finished her swallow, and Mia and I said in unison with her, That’s true.

What’s true? Trevor asked as he stepped out onto the covered back porch with Schwartz and Schwartz’s most recent female companion, Taimi Shossling, close behind.

It’s true that the G is the most aesthetically pleasing of the clefs, Beverly said raising her glass in toast of the G-clef’s loftier splendor.

I don’t know, Trevor challenged. The C-clef has a sort of rigid charm. It doesn’t flow like the G but it is more symmetrical. Why are we talking about clefs?

I’m thinking about starting a charm bracelet, I interjected in an effort to present a credible counter story.

You don’t wear jewelry, Ms Hoskin, and you’re not a musician, Schwartz insisted.

I didn’t say it was for me, I like music, and who asked you? Why are you guys here so early? Schwartz and Taimi had left earlier for their regular Friday night date, and Trevor had begged off his date with Mia due to a problem with a case he’d been investigating. All three of them should have been away for several hours yet.

Schwartz sighed. I came home because Taimi received a call on her cell phone from John Dachnewel saying that I was needed concerning an investigation and that I should return home. I knew there was a reason I don’t carry one of those things. As to Detective Johns, I have no idea why he’s here, but I assume it has to do with the same case.

It does, Trevor said as he plopped himself heavily onto the veranda next to Mia who began absently playing with his collapsed blonde pompadour. Mr. Dachnewel should be arriving shortly; we can discuss it when he arrives.

Fine, Schwartz said. In the meantime I believe I’ll enjoy a beer. May I get you something, my dear? He was addressing Taimi, but Beverly had an empty glass so she responded.

Yes, please. I’d like another Mai Tai.

***

Dachnewel did, in fact, arrive shortly. We’d moved from the porch to the kitchen by this time, as the evening springtime air had begun to chill as a result of the rain we’d had over the preceding few days. We’d gathered around the breakfast counter on the central island as Dachnewel and Trevor filled us all in on the situation.

Trevor, it turns out, had been involved in the arrest of a West Virginia farmer who was accused of having stalked his local councilman who had come