Multiple Threats

By Shirley J. Miller

Multiple Threats is the story of multiple cases solved by Boston twin sisters Kari and Jade Madison. A pair of fraternal twins who are as different as day and night, they come together as the best of friends and probably the only team capable of solving so many cases so quickly because of both their differences and their eerily like thoughts. Both sisters served as former DEA undercover agents for a period of ten years before they opened their own Madison Detective Agency in Boston. The story begins while they are trying to vacation in Hawaii over the holidays and get talked into helping their Boston Police friends solve one of their cases that has made its way to the Islands. Having solved the Hawaii case rather quickly, they get called back to Boston early to handle three different cases that popped up in Boston over the Christmas Holidays. They leave Hawaii early and head back to Boston to solve a multitude of cases – and in doing so, uncover an ugly dark secret that would forever surprise them about their beloved Boston Police friends. Throughout it all, they learn a bitter lesson about blind trust.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shirley J. Miller
• Release date: Mar 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463892077

Shirley J. Miller

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~About Shirley J MillerAs a child, aptitude tests always suggested that Shirley Miller should go into writing. In actuality, she spent her career years in advertising and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, where most of her writing revolved around describing product attributes and persuading sales.She always dreamed of writing fiction books but never had the time. Upon early retirement, she decided to follow her dreams. You will love her simple and direct style while maintaining the mystique and action among characters from start to finish.Her work is mostly fiction, so be sure you check out The Chicago Series and the Maxine Hart Series. Ring of Deception is a book Shirley and her sister Betty dreamed up - while hiking, no less - follow-ups being considered.Shirley has also written how-to books on some of her favorite hobbies. Be sure to check out Beginning Golf for Ladies, Golf Tips Up & Over - For Intermediate Players, Freelance Writing, Owning a Silky Terrier which resulted from her love for the breed. Having owned eight Silky Terriers over her lifetime, she even hired a special dog trainer to come to her home twice a week to teach her how to train the dogs.Though she never wrote about it, she wants to Thank You for reading her books and following her writing adventures. Without you, none of this would be possible, So Thank You very much. And keep on reading. Find some of her other books on Amazon or Smashwords by checking the links below.Any reviews will certainly be appreciated. It always helps to understand more of what readers want to see, so she can speak more directly to you. To follow Shirley Miller, and be the first to learn of new releases, please check the ‘Follow Me’ Button on Amazon. For a full list of all her current works, check out these links:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LastFlightOut1

Book preview

Prologue

The Thanksgiving Holiday had been a blur. Kari and Jade Madison were frantically trying to wrap up the case they were handling before the Christmas Holiday. Born as fraternal twins, you wouldn’t even know the sisters were born on the same day. Kari, the oldest by just three minutes, was blond, short, and grew up with an independent and somewhat sassy attitude. Jade, had dark hair, was two inches taller with longer legs and had a much sexier nose and lips. She, too, was independent but much more cautious. Kari grew up as a shopaholic, buying whatever she wanted - whenever she wanted it. While Jade had the financial head in the family and was much more prudent with her earnings.

They couldn’t be any more different physically, yet they shared a close sisterly bond. The totally different personal traits made for the perfect private detective team and a bond that would never be broken. Everyone thought of them as best friends, and they were. The only thing that they themselves seemed to have in common was the habit of coming up with the same thought at the same time. It sometimes seemed bazar, even to them. But there was no doubt both their differences and their like thoughts helped them solve more than the normal amount of crimes.

Madison Investigations had only been active for two years with both sisters having served the prior ten years as DEA Agents for the city of Boston. After a particularly dangerous year and minimal pay to show for it, Kari and Jade decided to strike out on their own and opened Madison Investigations Agency. Both women kept their contacts current with the Boston Police and the DEA Agency they had served. They both knew those contacts would come in handy at some point in time. And now was that time.

Jade was sitting at her desk chatting with Andy Pines – her last partner with the DEA. Kari was on the other line with Ben Stark, one of Boston’s best police detectives. They sat staring out the windows at the busy streets of Boston as they talked. Kari and Jade had inherited a small Tudor style home when their grandmother had passed. The home was on busy Beacon Street with sights that overlooked the Charles River and downtown Boston. The old red brick building was in a small residential neighborhood that had been around for centuries. Even as the new office buildings began to spring up around it, her grandparents and a few other families had refused to leave their homes. So, the neighborhood was now a mix of old Tudor style family homes surrounded by older style two-story red brick office buildings.

With all wood floors, the two-bedroom Beacon Street home stood two stories high. It had a bank on one side and a few scattered office buildings across the street. The old brick Tudor style home fit right in visually with the ever-expanding neighborhood. Upon their inheritance, Kari and Jade decided to turn it into their new detective agency. There were two large bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen on the first floor. The second floor was one big game room that the sisters made into their ‘command central’ with various computers and other surveillance equipment installed. The two down-stairs bedrooms made perfect offices for each of them and the large living room served as their client waiting room.

The kitchen was bare except for the expensive Breville Orache Touch Expresso Machine Kari had purchased for over $2000 and the Breville One-Touch Tea Maker and Kettle that Jade had set up for just $250. You’re always overspending, Jade complained to Kari. Couldn’t you have gone with a cheaper expresso machine?

Hey, I love my coffee just right. And you’ll see. It will be a good investment. Our clients will enjoy it as well. You’re the only tea drinker I even know! Kari defended her purchase.

And true to form, Kari was drinking a strong cappuccino as she chatted with Boston police officer Ben Stark, while Jade was sipping on a cup of Earl Grey tea as she talked to Andy Pines from the DEA. Both were trying to get additional information on a missing person’s case they were close to solving.

We’ve got the location of your missing Senator, they reported. But he’s surrounded by big guns. We could use the help of a SWAT team if you can spare one, Kari asked Ben. Jade was providing Andy with the same information and was now sharing the name and headquarters of the local drug gang that had kidnapped the Senator. Jade was hoping that while Ben’s SWAT team rescued the Senator, Andy’s DEA team could raid the drug location. That way they could kill two birds with one stone.

Hey, didn’t you guys make big bucks for locating this guy? Ben asked Kari.

We did our job! We found him! Now it’s the police department’s job to arrest the kidnappers, Kari teased him. And we’re giving you a bonus. Jade is on the other line with Andy. He’s going to raid the drug gang at the same time. So, you’ll both be heroes for making the collars, Kari announced. We’re handing them to you on a silver platter. You two may even make lieutenants!

Yeah right. Okay, I’ll set it up and let you know when we’re about to make a move on them, Ben responded. "And I guess a ‘thanks’ is in order."

We aim to please, Kari laughed before she hung up.

Jade hung up at about the same time. I asked Andy to coordinate with Ben so we can take the whole group down at once. Otherwise, a few of them are bound to escape.

Just then their assistant, Karen poked her head into the office. Hey congratulations on solving the case just in time for the holidays. I was just wondering, with Christmas on Thursday this year, do you mind if I take the whole week off for vacation? Karen asked nicely.

No problem, both Kari and Jade said at once.

Just check the office line for messages and keep your cell phone on, Jade advised.

We expect it will be pretty quiet around here during the Christmas Holiday. We just may take off somewhere ourselves, Kari reported.

Where? Karen asked surprised that the two sisters would even consider taking any time off at all. They always seem to be so engulfed in their work.

Who knows, Jade answered her. Depends how we feel on Christmas morning, she laughed.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter 1

It was Christmas Day. And the sisters had a plan. Well, it wasn’t really a plan at all. It was a spur of the moment urge. They wanted to see Hawaii. Have you ever tried to make airline reservations for the same day you were traveling? Well Christmas Day is probably the only time you can get away with it. The Boston airport was empty when Kari and Jade Madison decided to do Christmas in Hawaii. That’s probably why they got such great first-class seats at such a low price.

As they entered the terminal they looked around and for the first time ever, they saw a practically empty airport lobby. No lines at any of the ticket counters! All the restaurants were closed and there was not even a souvenir shop to be found – open that is. They walked up to the deserted American Airlines ticket counter and pushed the temporary bell that had been set out on the counter. There were so very few people working that day - they assumed that’s why the staff had put the bell on the unmanned countertop.

The bell sounded like a loud siren when they pushed the little blue button. That tiny little bell made a loud echoing sound that seemed to bounce off every wall in the empty terminal. Finally, an attendant appeared and asked if she could help. They thought she must have figured it was some kind of emergency. Why else would anyone be in an empty terminal on Christmas Day?

We need to get to Hawaii, Kari told the attendant. Today, Jade added.

Okay then, the attendant responded somewhat amused. Is there any particular part of Hawaii?

Maui, the sisters both said at once.

Well then. We have a non-stop flight that leaves in just over two hours. Any luggage to check?

Both girls set their small roll-on bags onto the scale at once. Whoa there. I need you to put them on separately so I can properly match the right bags to your ticket numbers.

Okay, we can do that. They both looked around. In their heads they were thinking with the airport this empty, the chances of their bags getting lost were probably pretty remote. Nevertheless, Kari shifted her bag back onto the floor in front of the counter and calmly waited while the ticket agent processed Jade’s luggage.

Do you have a hotel reservation, or do you need help with that? the attendant politely asked them. That was another clear sign of how slow business was, as airline ticket agents were not usually able to help with any other travel bits.

Oh, we’re flying blind here. Can you book us into the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua? And we’ll need a car, Jade responded.

The sisters proceeded to give the ticket agent their timetable and waited patiently while the agent continued to process their hotel reservation request.

Five minutes later, the agent got back to them. You two certainly are spontaneous! Here are your tickets and your hotel confirmation. When you land, go directly to the Hertz counter and your car will be waiting. Here’s the Hertz confirmation number. Your flight leaves soon – so run on down to Gate 18. Enjoy your flight and thank you both for choosing American Airlines. Oh! And Merry Christmas.

"Bah humbug, Kari thought quietly out loud. But Jade shushed her and replied, And Happy Holidays to you too," as she smiled back at the ticket agent.

Having thanked the ticket agent, the sisters rushed off to wait in the security line. But like the rest of the Boston airport, they seemed to be the only ones traveling that day. They were the only ones in the security check-in line, and they breezed right through. Then they walked quickly to reach Gate 18.

That must have been the fastest check-in ever done on American Airlines, Kari commented. And we were lucky that agent could handle the car rental and hotel reservations as well, Jade added. "Nothing