Flowers by Rail

By Phillip N Hancock, Sr

Carla Smartly requested Megan’s help as she was about to be arrested for her husbands murder. She of course firmly expresses her not guilty verdict, assuring Megan she had actually thought about it but didn’t do it. The route this takes Megan and JJ involves them with some very dangerous mercenary soldiers who have little to lose.
Megan and JJ also pick up an unusual stalking case. Vicky Garcia is being harassed by some unknown entity, both at work and at home. The chase and discoveries puts Megan’s life in danger in a most unusual life threatening unexpected way.
There will be some references to previous cases handled by M&M Investigations so you might check them out. I hope you enjoy the ride and thanks for checking this work out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phillip N Hancock, Sr
• Release date: Nov 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463388716

Phillip N Hancock, Sr

Air Force Enlisted First Sergeant 25 Years of ServiceHydro System Controller for The Central Valley Project in Sacramento, CA 18 Years ServiceRetired, playing golf, working at our ranch and writing fiction

Book preview

Chapter One

From Gold to Mold

Megan, a striking 35 year old business woman, sat at her desk in her favorite chair. She was dressed professionally, even though it was the weekend. Of course, it didn’t matter her dress, she was always very attractive and would be readily remembered by anyone as all were somewhat enamored by her natural beauty. She looked again at the note she had received and then removed her reading glasses while staring at the phone on the left side of her desk.

It was an early unusual Saturday morning, a beautiful weekend day, Megan was by herself at work. Her being the only one in the office made it even more unusual. She had been prompted to be here, alone, although she had planned to be out on the golf course with Jim Blackstone. She now presumed that Jim was waiting and watching for her late arrival but he hadn’t texted or called, well not yet anyway. She stared at the phone wishing it to ring so she could get on with whatever this was all about.

Megan’s cell phone, in silent mode, vibrated and danced a circle as it moved around on the middle of her desk. She could see by the screen that it was Jim calling. She reached over and hit the red decline icon and the phone went silent then, almost simultaneously, the land line phone ringer went off making her jump in her chair.

Hello, this is Megan, she said into the mouth piece as she brought the receiver to her ear.

Good girl, I’ve been watching and I’m pretty sure you are alone as I requested, the pause was palatable but bitter in Megan’s mouth.

You sound familiar, do I know you?

Oh yeah, we’ve met and I’m sure, since you were always so smart, with just a little thinking on your part, you will realize who this is.

Ok, since I’ll know who this is, what is with the cloak and dagger approach?

Maybe I got a secret that I don’t want to be public knowledge just yet or maybe this is just a test to check and see if you’re still that smart little brat you always were?

Ok, your note about my mom got my attention but its not going to hold it for long so let’s get on with this.

Don’t push me, you do and your mom will pay, I’ll tell all her friends about her loss of control.

Look you have my attention so take advantage of it or I will let you roll the dice and somehow Mom and I will cover your bet and weather whatever storm you create, Megan said a little stronger than she originally intended.

I’m coming in and we’ll do this in person, the phone went silent.

Megan watched her approach on the security monitor they had purchased after they had that break in and computer hacking while investigating their first murder case. Even though the years must have been unkind, it didn’t take a genius or clairvoyant to recognize Carla Smartly from Megan’s grade school days. She had always been skinny but now she looked almost anorexic in appearance. The fact that she was unaccompanied also made her look different to some extent. Carla’s two school clones, Shelia Lang and Betsy Lofton, were not to be seen. In school they were inseparable, if you saw one of them you would have seen all three.

Remember me now? Carla asked as Megan opened the front door and let her old nemeses inside.

I don’t know anyone who could forget you and your, better than thou, attitude, Megan responded as Carla stared daggers at her.

Megan led her down the hallway and into her office. She thought back on what she could remember of Carla after she graduated from high school. If she remembered correctly Carla had married Bob Thorn shortly after her graduation. Megan offered her a chair and then she took her place behind the desk. She let her mind wonder back to that time suddenly remembering some of Carla’s problems.

This Bob Thorn, their school’s super athlete, was a real catch and his future was predicted to be golden. The problem was this young man who was a star in three sports in high school returned from a failed college experience and became a nightly mainstay at the towns three local bars. For that failure and other unknown reasons, Mr. Thorn, became a drunk shortly after his promising glorious high school graduation leaving him with little or no future as an adult. Megan thought this might have taken some of the steam out of Carla’s personality but it seemed it hadn’t. Bob Thorn, from three stars to three bars, not exactly progress and that had to weigh heavily on Carla’s shoulders. The gold had turned to mold as all the medals and trophies he had easily obtained were now probably somewhat tarnished and their significance almost meaningless.

Chapter Two

The Big Picture

My husband, Bob Thorn, is dead, Carla blurted out.

I’m sorry, I didn’t know.

I’m not sorry and that is part of my problem. When the authorities find out he is dead I’m pretty sure I will be arrested for first degree murder.

Wow, ok, why did you kill him and why haven’t the authorities been notified?

Hey, just a minute Sherlock, let’s not go jumping on that band wagon, I didn’t say I killed him, I said I could be arrested for his murder, probably first degree.

Sorry, maybe you better tell me your story and, Megan said as she pointed at her small recording machine that was a permanent fixture on her desk, may I tape this?

Knock yourself out, this will all come out before this is over anyway, Carla said with a wave of her hand prompting Megan to push the recording icon on the recording device.

Is it ok if I smoke?

Not in here, this is a breathing area and I don’t let anyone violate that rule, Megan pointed at the lighter and cigarette that Carla had automatically removed from her purse, so you might as well put those life threatening items back in your bag.

Cheese, what a grouch, Carla said as she reluctantly returned the items to her purse and snapped it closed.

Carla looked out the window avoiding looking at Megan, As you probably already know, I married Bob Thorn just after I graduated high school. Stars in my eyes and a husband who was going to be a star in college and probably go on to be a pro, Carla slowly shook her head, what the hell was I thinking. I knew how much he drank but the other qualities he had made the excessive drinking seem small and insignificant at that time.

Long story short, college was a bust. As Bob matured his body couldn’t handle the drinking and the physical demands the sports required. Again, a long sto..., anyway, he failed to stay in shape. His poor performance caused his grades to go down and his drinking to go up. A tear rolled down Carla’s cheek as she continued, He lasted six months at college and then he was back here with me. He had no job, no skills and we were suddenly living off my meager earnings as a first impressions receptionist at a real estate office. Not exactly the high-end income I had expected.

Bob knew only two things and that was football and drinking. He knew our high school’s football program and he knew what training was required for the team to prosper during the season. He also knew what each player must do, during the off season, to keep their position on that team. Coach Steele was aware that Bob knew all this and, with Bob’s outstanding high school record, maybe he could actually help him coach the kids. He even went to the board and convinced them that Bob would be a real addition to the coaching staff if they would give him an opportunity. Well, I don’t know all he said but the results was a Job doing something that he knew and, believe it or not, he took to that job and, I swear, he was a different person for almost three years.

Our team made it to state and became state champions for the first time ever on that third year. All I can figure was the celebration afterwards reintroduce Bob to the pleasures of drinking and from then on it was a continuing struggle for the coach to keep Bob on the staff. Missed meeting, showing up hung over and so many other small inconsistencies made it impossible for the coach to do his job. Bob hung on for two more years, for a total of five, then he found himself back at home without a job. It didn’t take him long, with his drinking, to empty our bank account and get us evicted from our apartment.

You know the worst part of this whole thing is I lost my two best friends simply because I couldn’t keep up with their wardrobes. A small drop in my appearance and they dropped me like a hot rock, Carla poked herself in the chest several times as she stated, I was the one who gave them any status, I made them who they are today, it was totally my doings. Without my guidance and influence Sheila Lang could never have come close to marring her rich doctor husband and Betsy Lofton would never have turned the head of that lawyer she trapped into a loveless marriage.

Another really bad thing besides the loss of his job, loss of our apartment and loss of my friends, he has now lost all his hair, he is completely bald and looks like an old man, Carla said and again the tears started.

Well bald isn’t so bad, the look can grow on you, Megan said.

There ain’t nothing growing up there and nothing grows in the bedroom if you get my drift.

Yes, I think I understand. I think I have the big picture and background but now I need the current situation. I assume there is something other than your continuing marital problems that would cause you to be the number one suspect in the first degree murder of your husband, he is dead, right?

Oh yeah, now it’s his whole body that’s dead not just his equipment, Carla said as she nodded her head.

Chapter Three

The Whole Ball of Wax

So ok, he’s dead. Can you just tell me how and why is he dead? Megan asked just a little frustrated at Carla not getting to the murder problem.

It’s my Goddamn story and I want to tell it as I need too. I feel it is a kind of therapy, do you have a problem with that?

I guess I don’t have a choice so go ahead with your story, Megan said with a wave of her hand.

We are broke, living in a dump, I have no friends and we are living on the bare minimum of food. My folks have a cabin out by the lake and they reluctantly gave us permission to use it for just a weekend. I knew it was always stocked with food and I hoped they wouldn’t mind if we had a nice meal for a change. After I spent almost an hour on his sobriety test, walking a line and standing and touching the old nose, I let Bob drive because he at least knew the way better than I did. The twist and turns around the lake took longer than I remembered. We got there a little late on Friday evening but the scenery and the drive made me feel like some of our problems had been lifted. Once we were inside, I rummaged through the fridge and started making us a nice meal.

While I slaved over the hot stove Mr. Lover boy had found the liquor cabinet and was quietly getting soused. I thought he was out chopping some firewood for the fire, Carla shook her head back and forth. It was my fault, all my fault. I was so hungry that my mind was on having some good food and a nice dinner for a change that I failed to maintain my surveillance on that drunk.

I had just got things going real good and then he came in the front door carrying two sticks of wood and an empty Captain Morgan rum bottle. He put one foot up on a stool, like the Captain Morgan ads, and he had that bedroom look in his eyes. All of a sudden I went absolutely nuts. I grabbed the largest knife I could find and I headed for that son of a bitch with murder, not bedroom, in my eyes. Carla was up and on her feet as she pounded her right fist into the palm of her other hand in a stabbing motion, He just stood there as I rushed at him with that butcher knife raised ready to stab him to death. He had this silly drunken smile on his face and his arms wide open as I came around the kitchen island toward him.

Jesus, no wonder you will be accused of first degree murder. There is a chance you might get it reduced to temporary insanity if you can convince a judge and jury of your situation, Megan put in.

You do understand that you being a Private Investigator means you investigate things, not just jump to conclusions. So you should just cut the assuming crap and don’t go thinking the worst just because it’s me? Carla said as she held up her hand as a stop sign while she retook her seat, I didn’t do what I wanted to do, I didn’t use that blade to slice up that smirking asshole. I changed my mind and threw down that weapon and grabbed my purse and vacated the primacies before I did something rash. I took the car and left without looking back. I was thinking that I should just let him rot there with no transportation, just him and his access to the booze cabinet. Let him, hopefully, drink himself to death.

So he is still alive but probably drunker than a skunk. How much liquor is up there? Megan asked.

He is dead, D.E.A.D, I told you he is dead.

Alcohol poisoning then?

Nope, slice and dice, Carla said with a sad smile on her lips.

Oh shit, sorry for butting in, you better continue.

I drove down from the lake cabin and stopped into the first bar I came too. I had a few bucks and I needed something to calm me down as I was a mess. Carla ran her fingers through her short hair as she leaned back in her chair. Here I just left this drunk and I’m now at this bar having a straight shot of tequila. The bartender was so understanding as I poured my heart out. This other guy there was listening and he kind of nosed his way in and bought me a couple drinks and I told both about my recent tete-e-tete with my loving husband.

You told them about the knife and everything?

Oh yeah, the whole ball of wax. I laid it all out for public consumption and they ate it up.

I can only imagine, Megan added.

I stretched the drinks out so I wouldn’t be intoxicated. I told them I wanted to be somewhat sober when I went back up and finished the job. What I meant was I was going to go back up and pack my things and finally leave that bum for good, Carla was again shaking her head, I know, I know, my comments could easily be misconstrued leaving those guys with the wrong conclusion. If the cops ever talk to them I am dead meat.

Duh.

Well anyway, I went back up later just after the bar closed. For the last hour at the bar it was just me and the bartender who was doing a money and receipt count while he listened to my continued replay of my life. The bartender was worried about me being so angry and frustrated when I left the bar on my way back but he couldn’t stop me from going. Carla was out of her seat again pacing the floor in front of Megan’s desk. "It seemed to take me forever to get back to the cabin. There are so many side roads with no street signs and I took several of them. I spent a lot of time making U-turns and trying different side roads. Although there are numerous cabins in that area the traffic was almost zero and I only met one vehicle while I searched for that cabin. It was such a relief when I finally recognized the road and then the cabin, but it was a very short relief.

Long story short, I found him, I found him laying there in a pool of his own blood and, predictably present, a spilled bottle of Johnny Walker Scotch, his favorite. His eyes were staring but not seeing and his throat had been sliced wide open with, I’ll bet you can guess with what."

If this was Jeopardy I would say What is a large kitchen butcher knife?" Megan just had to say.

And you would get the money tied to that square, Carla replied.

Carla sat quietly for some time and Megan did not interrupt her as she was sure Carla was trying to put some things together that would make her feel a little better about herself. Who would have expected her to be in this state. Her grade school attitude and manor did not predict or entertain that she would be this far down the status quo. It all had to be so debilitating and Megan didn’t know how Carla could possibly accept her situation as something not in a nightmare

Chapter Four

Pro Bono or No

Megan reached over and touched Carla’s hand, I hate to ask this, but, is there anything else that would give you a motive for you to kill your husband?

Not that I can think of. I told you we were living at the bottom of the food chain and neither one of us had anything of value.

I’m thinking you want me to go up to that cabin and see if there is anything there that might take the blame away from you? Megan asked.

My turn, Duh?

I tell you what I’m going to do now. I am going to call one of my assistance and have him go up to the cabin with me, Megan told Carla.

I’ll go with you, Carla quickly put in.

No you won’t. If I’m going to help you you have to let me do my thing. You going back up there would only compromise things further and almost unequivocally seal the deal on your guilt. I’m also going to report this to the authorities after I’ve completed my inspection of the crime scene.

If you insist? Here take the key in case the door is locked. Hey Megan, do you have too report it, couldn’t we just bury the body and simply forget the whole thing?

You are not serious? I will not become an accomplice to hiding a murder, that kind of thing would ruin my business and land me in jail for some undetermined length of time, Megan shook her head and continued, besides, since you are broke, this would be a pro bono case with no income for my firm so, if I do this, it will be by my rules.

Au contraire mi fille, not pro bono, I can advance you $200 now and the rest after I collect on Bob’s life insurance, Carla said as she nodded her head giving Megan her best smile.

Okay! You remember back a little earlier when I asked you if the police could come up with any other motive that might make them think you killed your husband. You know something like, ‘LIFE INSURANCE’. Megan couldn’t help herself and she did it with the two fingers of each hand, the hated air quotes to amplify the words life insurance.

I just thought of it. Hey would your first thoughts be of life insurance if someone close to you dies?

"You are right, however, I need you to be thinking a little bit clearer if I am going to do this for