Georgia's Secret: The Romy Files, #3

By Shelly Small

Romy and the team find themselves

going back to Jesup, to try and figure out

the cryptic message from Chase.

Kelner stays behind to finish up the

last case and find out who's

behind the strange things going

on in his life.

While in Jesup, Romy gets these

visions, unsure of their meaning

until Mike gets a phone call.

As they head back, they realize

that Kelner's been taken. Now

it's all hands-on deck to find him.

Will Romy figure out the clues as to

who has Kelner before he ends up dead?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelly Small
• Release date: Oct 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393359074

Book preview

Georgia’s Secret

shelly small

Contents

Georgia’s Secret

Author’s Note

Volume 1

Part I

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Volume 2

Part 2

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Books By Shelly Small

Georgia’s Secret

The Romy Files Book 3

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Shelly Small

Copyright 2020 by Shelly Small

(Part 1 Georgia Misfits Copyright 2019 by Shelly Small)

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All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form, by any means without written consent from Shelly Small.

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This novel is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased is coincidental. The characters, names, plots, or incidents within are the product of the author’s imagination. References to actual events or locations are included to give the fiction a sense of reality.

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Cover Design: Covers by Kay

Formatted by: Black Paw Formatting

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ISBN: 9798550725122

Vellum flower icon Created with Vellum

For those who helped me see that I can do this!

Author’s Note

In case you haven’t read Georgia Misfits, I have included it in the beginning with a few minor changes. I look forward to hearing from you about this book.

Part One

Kelner’s Beginnings

Chapter One

David Kelner didn’t know what having an easy life meant. His father was a liar and cheat who wound up in prison using those traits on the wrong people. His mother wasn’t any better. She had a drug problem and would leave him alone for days while she was on a bender.

One day his grammaw came for a visit and found him alone, hungry and sick. She took him to the emergency room to get checked out.

David, where is your mother? she asked him on the way to the hospital.

I don’t know Grammaw. She hasn’t been home in a few days. She must be getting her meds to feel better but she didn’t come home like she promised she would, he said tears in his eyes.

Does she do this a lot?

Yes ma’am.

It’s okay David, I’m here now. Grammaw will fix this.

There were issues at the hospital about seeing him, but once his grammaw talked to a few people, everything changed. He went back right away and saw a doctor who was trying to figure out what was wrong with him.

When all the tests came back, he had pneumonia and a trace of drugs in his system. They admitted him so they could get him better, plus make sure that there were no adverse side effects from the drugs.

His grammaw was livid. While he stayed in the hospital, she went and got temporary custody of him until she could talk to a lawyer to make it permanent. She couldn’t believe that he was living like this, or that her own daughter could do this to her child.

During his stay in the hospital, his grammaw never left him alone for long. He’d never had someone with him constantly and he was enjoying her company. Being left alone all the time made him afraid of things. He didn’t sleep well, and there was never enough food in the house. Sometimes his mother would bring people over and he would hide. Not all of them were nice.

Grammaw did momma know you were coming for a visit? he asked one evening while they were watching cartoons.

No sweetie, I just had a feeling that you needed me. Why don’t you try and get some rest now? Hopefully soon you’ll be out of here and then I’ll take you to live with me. Would you like that, David?

Oh, yes ma’am. I would like that a lot. I love you, Grammaw, saying the last between yawns.

A commotion in the hallway had Grammaw getting up from her chair. Hearing voices getting louder she moved to the door.

Close your eyes and rest. I’m going to see what’s going on. I’ll be right back.

Okay.

She opened the door and slipped out. When the door was opened, he thought he heard his mother’s voice saying, I want to see my son. You have no right to keep me from him.

Kelner slipped out of bed and opened the door just to peek out into the hallway. He saw his grammaw talking to someone but the nurse blocked his view.

You can’t see him. He’s sleeping now. Besides, where have you been? David’s been here for almost a week and no one knew where you were. How did you know he was here? Grammaw started to raise her voice.

When I went home and he wasn’t there, I asked around. Someone remembered seeing you stop by, you both left and he didn’t look well. I figured you took him to the hospital and here we are. I am his mother and he needs me.

No, he doesn’t need a junkie for a mother. You no longer have a say about what happens. I do. Now, I believe the police want to speak with you.

Ms. Kelner please come with us, the police officer said as he joined the crowd at the nurse’s station.

No, I want to see my son to make sure he’s okay.

Kelner walked out of the room oblivious to anyone.

Momma, I’m okay. I’m going to live with Grammaw now. You don’t have to worry about me anymore, he said.

You Bitch! You can’t have my son. His mother went after his grammaw but the officers got to her first.

David, please go back into the room, I’ll be right there, sweetie.

Okay Grammaw. I love you, Momma.

I will always love you, David, don’t forget that!

A few days later, he was released from the hospital and on his way with his grammaw to her house in a town outside of New Orleans. It wasn’t much better than where he was living with his mother. It was a two-bedroom cottage.

His mother was arrested that night for child abandonment, neglect of a minor, and child endangerment along with a few other charges. She was officially charged, found guilty and ended up in prison.

While Kelner was in the hospital, his grammaw had gotten the second bedroom ready for him. There was a bed, dresser, some toys, along with a bookshelf filled with books. In a corner was a small table with crayons coloring books and a couple of puzzles, He didn’t know what to look at first. The closet was filled with new clothes.

Wow, thank you, Grammaw. I don’t need all these things.

Yes, you do sugar. We didn’t get anything from your old place. Plus, you will need things to do while you’re here, until school starts up. Here is your bathroom. I expect you to keep it clean, if I have company over this is also the one, they will use.

Yes, ma’am.

I wasn’t sure what books you would like but I got some that I thought you’d enjoy. You do know how to read and write, don’t you?

Yes, ma’am I do. Those are some of my favorite books, Grammaw. How’d you know?

Grammaw has her ways. Don’t lie to me ever because I’ll know. When I have people over, you stay in your room and never talk about what you might hear. Do you understand me?

Yes, ma’am.

At first, he didn’t know what to expect living with his grammaw, but after a few days it was like he was meant to be there. She helped him learn the area that would now be his home. Enrolled him in school that starts in a few weeks.

One night while he was in bed reading, there was a knock at the door. Unsure what was going on, he slipped out of bed and quietly went down the hallway until he could hear.

Please you have to help me. I don’t know what else to do.

Come in, have a seat and I’ll do what I can.

Thank you.

There was a strange woman asking for his grammaw’s help.

David go back to bed and don’t come back out now ya hear!

Yes, ma’am.

How did she know I was there? Returning to his room, he pondered the question the rest of the night, unable to finish reading before he had to turn off the lights and go to sleep.

He meant to ask her in the morning but she surprised him with a trip into New Orleans and he forgot all about asking her. She had a few errands she needed to do and decided to make it a fun day for the both of them. The only stores that carried the items she needed were in the French Quarter.

While shopping for the items she needed, they also did some window shopping. It was fun looking at the interesting things the shops offered. Once all the