The Dusty Adler Murder Mystery: Gideon Detective Series, #4

By Sidney St. James

A novelette of 95 pages by Sidney St. James.

A murder case from the late 1930s takes the entire area south of Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico the peoples' attention as a veteran police officer of more than thirty years from Dallas, and a well-known socialite from Fort Worth are murdered on the same night. In both cases, the murder was brutal and not just a killing with a bullet or two. It almost will remind you the day Bonnie and Clyde met their fate.

The jurisdiction of the case brings in the Chief of Police in Dallas, Quintin Randle and the Fort Worth Police Department's Chief Sammy Rogers on a case that has both the offices' detectives hot on the case.

The investigation got exciting and crossed the boundaries where dignitaries from all over the country were arriving near Plano to watch the landing of a Superfortress B29. The case becomes somewhat sticky with the two detectives stepping on each others' toes, but no matter, they learned to get along and attempt to solve this terrible murder.

But do they solve it completely? Murder Will Out!

Hitler's name disappeared on the front page for days. His presence was replaced by the murdered socialite, Sonja Bridges Adler and the thirty-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, Lamar Hampton.

A novelette by Sidney St. James. Book 4 in the Gideon Detective Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BeeBop Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393377856

Sidney St. James

Sidney St. James is an extraordinary author who has made his mark in the world of science fiction suspense. With a creative mind that knows no bounds, St. James weaves captivating tales that transport readers to thrilling and otherworldly realms. His unique ability to blend the elements of science fiction with heart-pounding suspense has garnered him a dedicated following of readers eager to embark on their next exhilarating adventure. Born with an insatiable curiosity and a love for all things speculative, St. James found his calling in the realm of science fiction. From a young age, he was drawn to the limitless possibilities and unexplored frontiers of the genre. Influenced by literary greats and inspired by the wonders of the cosmos, St. James embarked on a writing journey that would push the boundaries of imagination and captivate readers with their visionary tales. St. James' science fiction novels are a testament to their boundless creativity and meticulous attention to detail. With each page, readers are transported to intricate and fully realized worlds, where technological advancements, extraterrestrial encounters, and moral dilemmas abound. His skillful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as they navigate through a maze of suspense, intrigue, and thought-provoking concepts. In addition to his literary accomplishments, St. James is an avid pickleball player. This dynamic sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, serves as a source of balance and inspiration for St. James. The strategic gameplay and the camaraderie of the pickleball community provide a welcome respite from the boundless realms of science fiction that occupies his mind. As St. James continues to push the boundaries of the science fiction suspense genre, his unique blend of imagination, suspense, and pickleball prowess sets him apart as a true force to be reckoned with. With each new novel, readers eagerly anticipate the next thrilling journey that St. James will take them on, whether it's unraveling the mysteries of distant galaxies or engaging in a high-stakes match on the pickleball court. Sidney St. James is a true visionary and an author whose stories and pickleball skills will leave readers and opponents alike in awe.

Book preview

the case of

THE DUSTY ADLER

MURDER MYSTERY

Murder Will Out

...a whodunit mystery novelette

by

Sidney St. James

A North Texas Whodunit Murder Mystery

Published by BeeBop Publishing Group

Georgetown, Texas

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, come from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible in the public domain.

All song lyrics reflected in this novel were written before 1923, not copyrighted and are part of the public domain.

All characters are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any relationship with anyone, living or deceased, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2019 by Sidney St. James

Gideon Detective Series

Book 4

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical. This includes photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Sidney St. James, except where permitted by law.

The jacket format and design of this novel are protected trade dresses and trademarks of Sidney St. James and the BeeBop Publishing Group.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Published Simultaneously in Canada

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1 0

FIRST EDITION: JANUARY 2018

PAPERBACK

ISBN-13:  978-1983532740

ISBN-10: 1983532746

Dedication

This novelette is dedicated to those good ole high school years and the girls who have remained a friend for a lifetime; Loueva, Judy, Frances, and Linda.

In everyone’s life, there are always special friends like these whose words and memories will remain in our heart and soul for a lifetime.

Chapter One - High-Speed Chase

When patrolman Lamar Hampton, a veteran of the Dallas Police Department for over twenty-years out of the east side police station in Dallas failed to report in after his shift ended at six o'clock in the evening on April twenty-fourth, 1939, very few of his fellow officers thought very little about it. His home was less than two miles from where his shift wrapped up. He probably went on to the house.

The rain bored down mercilessly upon the east side of the big city, pounding on the rooftops and turning the asphalt streets into a warren of slick pavement and muddy waters. Located near the officer’s home was the Guardhouse, an old wooden tavern, not more than a stone’s throw away. The warm light from its windows and the trailing smoke from its chimney serve as beacons of refuge and days like this offer comfort to those caught out in the storm.

Two hours passed. Motorcycle cop, Earl Jackson, only two hours into his shift, looked at his watch when he put in a call to the East Side station. It was eight o’clock in the evening. He made an inquiry into the two speeders he chased down on Washington Avenue and confiscated their car. He called Jackson and asked since he was getting off his shift if he would escort the two men to headquarters.

After a brief conversation among themselves, the officers on duty at the station house assumed that Hampton made some arrangement with the speeders to show up before the judge the next day and let them off on their own cognizance.

It was not uncommon for Jackson to work late on shifts, so there was no alarm sounded from his home place. However, around nine o’clock, Linda Hampton, Lamar’s wife, called into the station to find out why Lamar had not arrived home for his supper as he does every evening.

After the call, words were held between the officers at the station about the mysterious disappearance of Hampton. This was the first time something dawned on the men that something serious had happened to their fellow officer.

The possibilities of his not showing up at the station or his home for supper led to speculation among the men. It was soon apparent that Lamar had been kidnapped or even perhaps killed, by the men he was conveying to the East Side station.

Immediately an alarm was sent to Police Headquarters across the river in the downtown area of Dallas. From there, all eight of the precinct stations were notified of the strange disappearance of Lamar Hampton, known throughout the Dallas Police as one of the most recognized officers over his twenty years of service. The news flashed to the police of the neighboring sister city of Fort Worth. A search that covered both cities was in full operation.

Patrolman Jackson came into the station to give a detailed report of the incident. One by one, the clues came together.

Several detectives awaited Captain Tommy Tyler’s arrival at the station so the clues could be pieced together from the beginning of Hampton’s disappearance until the present.

Captain opened the questioning in the squad room. Earl, tell us from the beginning what you know about the whereabouts of Lamar.

I had a rookie working with me out on the east side near Commerce Street and Walnut Avenue around four o’clock in the afternoon. Every couple of weeks, we set up a speed trap there to trying and get the motorists to slow down. Explained Jackson.

Okay. What happened? The Captain was anxious for answers.

Two men in a long stretch 1937 Alfa Romeo Berlinetta was hightailing it from the west. They were traveling at a tremendous rate of speed, and no doubt caught our attention. We flagged them down, and they stopped. I must admit that car had money written all over it. It had-.

The Captain interrupted Earl. Never mind that, Earl. What did you do then?

The rookie and I couldn’t leave the speed trap. We needed to wait for the next speeders behind this one. I can’t tell you what it was, but there was something uncomfortable about the two men. They looked anxious in their behavior. It was as though they were racing to get away. We couldn’t figure out what we were going to do, but obviously, our lights must have caught Earl Jackson’s attention. He pulled up from his beat and parked in a nearby spot in a parking lot nearby.

All right, Jackson. I am not sure how Lamar came into all of this.

Since we thought something suspicious after Lamar asked if he could help, we solicited his assistance in our arrest. He offered to go to the station to allow us to continue catching speeders in our speed trap. He got into the speeders car and accompanied them to what we thought was our station house.

Did the speeders cooperate? What did they tell you when you escorted them to the station?

They protested our doing so. The speeders said they had already been arrested in Fort Worth and had paid their last fifty dollars cash bail for their release. They didn’t have any further bail money.

We didn’t listen to them, and Lamar spoke up and said he would gladly escort them back to the station and put them up overnight and see the judge the next day.

"When did you see