Double Ds Exposed: Sequel to "Eyes from Above"

By Jr. Howard R. Milsted

“Double Ds Exposed”, a murder mystery, is the sequel to Howard Milsted’s popular romantic novel, “Eyes from Above”. In “Double Ds Exposed”, Howard’s death turned out not to be the end of the romantic saga that was his life. After Claire, Howard’s wife of 48 years passed away. Howard met two o

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Lacquer Press & Marketing Inc.
• Release date: Jul 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781948288248

Jr. Howard R. Milsted

Howard R. Milsted, Jr. is a mechanical engineer who owns and operates a successful mechanical contracting business in suburban Philadelphia for over sixty years. He lives in Southern New Jersey with his fourth collie, Maeve. Howard is extremely close to his family and is a man who finds it difficult to be idle. Over the years, he's made many clocks and other intricate projects which have found their way to relatives and friends near and far. Howard initially scoffed at the prospect of becoming an author. When he started writing; however, he found that putting his life into words through two romantic novels: "A Real Love Story" and "Eyes from Above" became a passion that just wouldn't go away...as was his enduring love for his beloved wife, Claire. His love of his collies (he's owned four) led him to pen the richly animated children's book, "Just another Collie". Howard's most recent novel "Double Ds Exposed", completes the circle of his life story. He thinks he's finished writing, but you just never know!

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Copyright © 2019 by Howard R. Milsted, Jr.

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Love always, to my Claire.

A million times I needed her

A million times I’ve cried,

If love alone could have saved her

She never would have died.

In life I loved her dearly,

In death I love her still

In my heart she holds a place,

No one else can ever fill.

It broke my heart to lose her,

But she didn’t go alone

Part of me went with her

The day God took her home.

Special thanks to the real Delilah.

Thanks to the fabulous flight attendant who

helped create the even more fabulous Dawn.

Thanks to all of who encouraged me to write

one more time.

Thanks to Dr. Jeff Mackie for his help and

his encouragement with this novel.

Eglington Cemetery in Clarksboro, New Jersey

is a beautiful peaceful cemetery. It is the oldest

active cemetery in the United States. It was founded in

1776 by John Eglington.

This book is completely different than

any I have written in the past, so I

want to give special thanks to the

people who allowed me to use their

name and reminded me of some of

the incidents that I used in writing this, my

final, final book, but then again, I

said that when I was writing "Eyes

From Above."

Chapter 1

Afew days after Howard had been buried for a month, Dawn (Howard’s closest and latest friend) couldn’t wait any longer. Dawn was five foot-two and had light brown hair with fringes of gray. In her younger days, her hair was more golden. Her figure and legs made her look much younger than her sixty-plus years. Dawn was sixteen years younger than Howard and they had been in a relationship for over seven years.

Dawn was thumbing through a flower catalog, not really paying any attention to what she was looking at. She had a more serious matter on her mind. She almost jumped out of her chair, I have to do something. She decided she would call David (Howard’s oldest son). She found David’s phone number. She started to dial, then hung up. Waited a few minutes, thought about it, made up her mind and then dialed again.

Hello, answered Edwina, picking up the telephone.

Hello Edwina, This is Dawn. How’s your family doing?

We’re getting over Dad’s death. David is doing better, but we’re all confused as to why.

That’s why I am calling. There has been no news and I can’t stand that nothing is being done. Is David there?

No he’s working a twenty four hour shift. Can I help you?

I was hoping we could get together and see what we can do. We can meet at my home. I can come to any one of your homes, or we can meet at a restaurant somewhere... I would like Darin, Terri and your kids there too. We have to do something.

"I agree. Let me check with David, then the others . I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

The following night Edwina called Dawn, informing her they could all get together Sunday afternoon at their house.

After everyone arrived and they were all sitting in the living room. Dawn asked, Has anyone heard anything about your father’s death?

Everyone either said no or shook their head.

David spoke up, I spoke to the detectives the other day and they said they had no clues or motives as to who would want to kill Dad.

A confused Adam blurted out, What do you mean, who killed Pop-Pop? He died of a heart attack. Are you sure?

David turned to Adam. "No, Adam... Pop-Pop was shot at the cemetery. The police told us not to say anything to anyone. They had two plainclothesmen at the funeral, hoping to see if anyone showed up who seemed out of place or said something that would offer a clue. We ’re sorry, honest. We really wanted to tell you and Rebekah.

I can’t believe that you didn’t trust me or Rebekah...

Darin finally spoke out, Adam, it had nothing to do with trust. Don’t you think I wanted to tell you? After all, I work with you every day. I’m sure it was hard on your mother and father, but we had to follow police instructions.

I still think you should have confided in Bekah and me... How and where was he shot? I thought he had a heart attack at the cemetery.

David answered. Believe us, we are sorry. Pop-Pop was putting roses on Mom-Mom’s grave, for her birthday and someone shot him with a rifle. The bullet went through him and then hit the base of the bench, knocking off a corner. That’s where they found the bullet. The police don’t think it was an accident. It was too open an area and no one shoots a gun in the cemetery. After all, you don’t want to wake the dead. David said trying to lighten the tension.

But why? Who would want to kill Pop-Pop? asked Rebekah.

We don’t know. Nobody knows anyone who didn’t like him. Or who would want to kill him. After all, he was eighty-four. He just lived for work and Maeve, added Dawn.

Adam you have to keep this quiet. We’re hoping someone will slip and say something, said David, almost pleading.

That’s why I asked to meet with you all. I don’t feel the police have the time or manpower to figure this out, added Dawn. I would like your permission to try and investigate Howard’s death.

What can you do? asked Darin.

I really don’t know. But I have to try. I’ll get a list of everyone who knew your Dad and talk to them. I don’t have a plan. I am open to suggestions. I can’t sit by and let nothing happen. Look, I’m retired and I have all the time in the world. I loved your father and I can’t just sit here and do nothing. But, I won’t do anything without permission.

I’ll be glad to help. After all, no one was closer to each other than Pop-Pop and me. I’ll do anything you want me to do, Adam answered.

I don’t know what you can do, but anything you want to do is fine with me, joined in Terri.

Everyone agreed that they had to do something and agreed to meet again in two weeks to discuss what they could do. They also agreed not to discuss this incident with anyone other then the immediate family.

Dawn asked, Is it alright if I check with Delilah? I don’t know if she’ll talk to me, but I want to try. She may have different thoughts.

They all agreed for Dawn to proceed as she wanted.

Chapter 2

D elilah, this is Dawn... Howard’s friend. I would like to meet with you.

I know who you are. Why would I want to meet with you? We have nothing in common.

Yes, we do. We have Howard in common.

I’ll give you that, but why should we meet? We can’t do anything for him now.

Please meet with me, there is something about Howard’s death that you don’t know.

He died of a heart attack visiting Claire’s grave. I can’t see why we should meet.

It wasn’t a heart attack. He was murdered. Please!

What did you say? ... Murdered? Well, all right. Howard and I used to go to a Dunkin Donuts in Cherry Hill. I’ll meet you there Saturday morning at ten o’clock. I hope you have a good reason for us to meet.

Believe me, I have a good reason. I’m not anxious to meet with you either, but we have to discuss this matter. See you Saturday.

After she hung up she just sat there, her mind repeating what Dawn had said. It wasn’t a heart attack, he was murdered. She kept saying it over and over again. Murdered? What does she mean?

Her eyes began to water. She took a tissue from the box sitting on her night stand and began to blot her eyes. Her mind drifted. "The tears in my eyes I can wipe away. The ache in my heart will always stay. Howard, I need you, I miss you, and most of all I love you.

Dawn took Kings Highway from Audubon through Haddon Heights and Haddonfield, finally locating the Dunkin Donuts in Cherry Hill. Delilah was already sitting at a small table working on her laptop.

Delilah was very beautiful and sexy. She was five foot-nine with coal black hair that extended down her back. When she looked at you, she tilted her head so that her sexy brown eyes looked up at you. Her breasts were double Ds and she had long, well shaped legs. It’s funny when she first met Howard she kept her legs covered with long, ankle length skirts. After Howard and Delilah became good friends, Howard asked her why she always wore long skirts. She told him that she was told her legs were ugly and she should keep them covered. Howard told her she had beautiful legs and she should wear skirts that were just above the knee.

When she started to wear shorter skirts, men began to compliment her on her legs. Despite all the praise she received and with all of Howard’s encouragement, she still lacked confidence. It took awhile but eventually the shorter skirts became common for her to wear.

Delilah looked up as Dawn approached. Dawn couldn’t believe Delilah was thirty-seven years old. She appeared to be much younger. Her long raven colored hair would reach below her waist but was tied up into a ponytail. Her five foot-nine height suited her well proportioned body perfectly. She was wearing a yellow flowered blouse and a black knee length skirt.

Dawn was wearing a light brown sweater and dark brown caprice slacks. Dawn stood tall from being a flight attendant for many years before she retired. Her slim framed body and the fact that she had very few age lines on her face gave the impression that she also was a much younger woman then she actually was. Both women were very well endowed and both enjoyed what mother nature had given them.

Dawn pulled out the chair across from Delilah and sat down. Dawn set her brown pocketbook on the floor alongside her chair next to her leg.

Delilah gave Dawn a quick lookover through cold brown eyes, You said we had to meet. What do you want?

As I told you on the telephone, Howard didn’t die from a heart attack. He was murdered, said Dawn.

What? How? I hope this isn’t a joke, screamed Delilah, covering her mouth. Tears began to run down her pale cheeks.

Howard was shot with a rifle at the cemetery as he was walking to Claire’s grave. The bullet went through him and hit the base of the Milsted bench. That’s all we know.

Who would want to kill Howard? Why wasn’t I told at the viewing? No-one said a word to me.

We were all instructed not to say a word by the police. They had two plainclothesmen at the viewing watching everyone for clues. Even Adam, Rebekah, and Terri’s boys weren’t informed.

I don’t understand... why would anyone want to kill him? I can’t believe he had any enemies. I was at the cemetery a few days after the burial and I didn’t see any signs. Are they sure it was a murder and not an accident

They’re sure.

When we’re finished here, I’m going down to the cemetery and see if I can find any evidence, insisted Delilah.

If you would like, I’ll follow you down there and show you what I know.

I don’t like it, but I think it is a good idea for you to show me what happened. I wish I had been told long before this. You know, I really did love Howard and I’m sure he loved me too.

I know he loved you, but we also loved each other. Our love was different then the love you two had. We’re lucky to have had Howard in our lives, said Dawn.

Nobody could replace Claire, added Delilah. She was his life. Look, there’s no sense in us both driving to the cemetery. You can ride with me. I’ll bring you back to your car after we’re finished. I won’t leave you stranded at the cemetery."

Good, maybe we can come up with some kind of strategy on the way. Do you want me to drive? inquired Dawn.

No, I’ll feel more comfortable if I drive, Delilah replied.

They both got in Delilah’s Urban Titanium Honda CR-V. Dawn looked down and wondered how Delilah could operate the pedals so easily in those black high heeled shoes and tight skirt. She shifted the transmission gear into drive and the five speed automatic transmission shifted smoothly. The half-hour drive down two ninety-five to the cemetery was mostly in silent except when Dawn said, The next exit number 18A is the one for the cemetery.

I know which exit to take. You can also take exit 18B they both bring you out at the same point.

Sorry. The remaining ride was quiet. Neither woman spoke.

At the cemetery, Dawn showed Delilah where Howard’s body was found and the position he was lying in. She told her about the probable location of the shooter. Then she showed her the damaged foundation of the bench.

The killer must have followed him here. We don’t think the killer was waiting for him. If he knew it was Claire’s birthday he still wouldn’t have known what time Howard would arrive. I should have come with him instead of going home, but I thought he wanted to be alone with her, Dawn said.

I didn’t notice that chunk missing when I was here the last time. I used to come here all the time with Howard. He liked me to come with him, added Delilah with a twinge of sarcasm in her voice.

I came with him a lot too, but that day I wanted him to have peace with her. Is there anything else I can show you.

No, I’ll take you back to your car. I’ll come back in a few days and see if Howard will speak to me.

The ride back to Dawn’s Lexus was just as quiet as the first.

Back at the Dunkin Donuts Dawn told Delilah that the Milsted family was getting together again a week from Sunday at 2:00 PM at David’s and it would be nice if Delilah came. Delilah said she would be there.

Dawn arrived at David’s bungalow and parked across the street. The house had brick steps with a small landing. On each side of the brick steps were flower beds. There wasn’t much growing in the beds except for a few green bushes. The building was covered with tan vinyl siding. The house was situated across the street from the high school football field.

As Dawn got out of her new Lexus Starfire Pearl RX350, she noticed Delilah walking up the sidewalk. Dawn couldn’t help but wonder why Delilah parked down the street with all the open spaces in front of and behind her SUV.

Delilah, who considered herself psychic, while approaching Dawn, yelled out. I always park a few houses from where I’m going. This used to annoy Howard, so whenever I was with him I would park as close to our destination I could. I seem to have drifted back into the old habit.

Oh, OK, whatever floats your boat, answered Dawn, looks like we’re early. I think that’s Terri’s car in the driveway. I don’t see Rebekah’s car.

Dawn rang the doorbell, opened the door and walked in with Delilah following.

When Maeve saw Dawn she slowly got up, stretched her arthritic body and ran over to her. Dawn reached down and started to pet her. Maeve suddenly felt Delilah’s presence. She immediately ran to her and almost jumped up on her. Maeve, feeling her years, couldn’t jump so she settled on rubbing against Delilah’s legs, continuing to circle around her, quietly whimpering to her.

Maeve, stop it! You’re getting hair all over my black slacks, Delilah said as she tried to push Maeve away. Oh, what the Hell. Delilah dropped to the floor, tucking her legs under her and started to rub Maeve’s ears. Maeve, realizing she was still loved, crawled into her lap. Delilah continued to rub her back. Maeve rolled over exposing her belly. Delilah started rubbing her belly, I love you, Maeve. Then she