Danger in Detroit: The Leland Stories, #1

By Leona Griesbach and Philip Griesbach

The Leland family is in Detroit with their grandpa for a family conference! Will Mark finally experience an adventure? Where did Grandpa and the boys go? Will the bad guys be caught? Why are all of these things happening? Join the Lelands as they are chased through the dark alleys of Detroit, take part in an exciting donut delivery, and more, while trusting God through it all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Griesbach Press
• Release date: Apr 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201597238

Book preview

Danger in Detroit

Leona and Philip Griesbach

Cover Art by Patsy Priebe

Cover Design by Leona and Philip Griesbach

All rights reserved.

Interior formatting by Leona and Philip Griesbach

Interior Illustrations by Patsy Priebe

All rights reserved.

All Scripture from the King James Bible.

Copyright © 2020 Leona and Philip Griesbach

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, except for a brief quotation for review purposes only, without prior written authorization from the authors.

Print ISBN: 9798632224703

(Ebook ISBN is different than the print ISBN.)

Dedication

This book is dedicated to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Without Him, we wouldn’t exist (Col. 1:17), and neither would our book! All the glory goes to Him.

Contents

Prologue

A tall young man dressed in black clothing got out of a large van in front of a bank, leaving the driver inside. 

Hang on, Neil, the driver said, and handed him an object. If you’re in trouble, slap someone on the face with this. I dunno what it is, but that’s what O’Connor said to do with it. 

Neil glanced at the object curiously and put it in his pocket. He then walked up to the bank as the van pulled away.

Neil strode in the bank’s main door and made his way to the front desk. He pulled a gun from his holster and pointed it at the teller. Tell your manager to come into the lobby. No funny business.

She looked slightly shocked. O-okay? Then she called, Mr. Rawlings! Someone needs you! 

The manager walked into the lobby and stopped when he saw the thief with the gun. Then, having presumably remembered what he had been told to do in case of robbery, he walked up to Neil and said, What can I do for you?

I need ten thousand dollars, Neil said. If you provide it quickly and without trying anything sneaky, no one will be hurt. Now, turn around.

The manager obligingly turned his back to him, and the thief zip-tied his hands, while still being aware of the teller’s moves. Now, tell the security guards not to call the cops, Neil told the manager, who obeyed promptly.

With that done, Neil commanded the teller to gather the money. She went from one cash register to another, collecting large bills. Another teller, who had been watching from a distance, hesitantly began to help. As soon as they handed the full amount to Neil, he had them turn around and bound their hands as well. 

Then Neil exited the building, glad that it had been easy. He began to run once he had successfully made it through the doors. However, he knew that he hadn’t escaped yet!

Neil suddenly heard a low growl. Looking up, he saw a large dog running towards him, pulling the owner, a police officer, on the other end of the leash. Neil hastily retrieved a long object from his pocket as he saw the officer do the same. The officer fired his gun, only to look at it in dismay—a misfire! As Neil now drew near, he slapped the officer on the face with the object in his hand, which was not a gun. It was the item the driver had given him! He then turned and fled toward a large van, which was pulling into the parking lot. 

The officer opened his mouth, as if to shout, but nothing emerged from his lips! The dog uttered a loud volley of barks, causing the officer to drop the leash. The dog raced after Neil, who was now entering the vehicle. He quickly closed the door and the van raced off into the night.

Chapter 1

Sarah Leland skipped down the hall, dragging a suitcase behind her. Her older brother, Mark, stuck his head out of his bedroom door and, seeing this, said, How are you doing that? I didn’t know it was possible to skip while pulling a suitcase!

Sarah laughed. With God all things are possible! I guess you learned something new today.

I guess so! It must be all of your pent-up energy and excitement for the trip. How’s packing going?

I helped Rose pack her stuff, and now I’m going to work on mine. Are you almost packed?

He grimaced. No, I got distracted and was looking through my journal that I always bring on trips. We always have a fun time on trips, but we never have a real adventure. It’s too bad! Anyway, I guess I got side-tracked. I should get back to work!

Hmm, I guess I never thought about not having adventures, Sarah said. God has the best plan, though; He’ll give us an ‘adventure’ if it would glorify Him. She paused. Grandpa is supposed to be here in about an hour, so we should hurry up with packing. Isn’t it amazing that he’s going with us to Detroit? He’s never gone anywhere with us before!

Yeah, maybe he’s getting a change of heart or something, and that’s why he wants to take us to the orchestra and zoo. I can’t wait to see Uncle Albert, too! Maybe this will be a good chance to witness to Grandpa, and maybe he’ll go to the church meetings with us. Either way, I hope we’ll actually have an adventure this time.

Sarah nodded. Well, we’ll be praying for Grandpa. I’m going to start packing now, and you need to keep working, too!

Hopefully I don’t get distracted again! Mark said with a grin. 

Sarah skipped toward her bedroom and swung open the door. Then she stepped back. Sorry, Emily! I didn’t know you were right there.

Sarah’s younger sister, Emily, sat down and rubbed her elbow, which had been hit by the door. That’s okay! She smiled. Maybe you should slow down!

Okay, I will. Are you done packing?

Almost! Do you need me to do something? Emily replied.

If you have a chance, Mom needs some help making dinner soon. She got a call from Grandpa that he’ll be here in about an hour.

Emily leaped up. Oh, okay, I’ll hurry! She quickly grabbed one last pile of clothes from her bottom bunk and stuffed it into the suitcase she was sharing with Rose. Then she ran out the door, and Sarah could hear her race down the stairs.

In an hour, Sarah’s suitcase was packed, and Dad was in the garage with her. He was putting both of the girls’ suitcases into the back of their shuttle bus, which was the family vehicle. We’ll have to pack the instruments tomorrow after church, but that shouldn’t take too long, Dad said. I think we’ll be able to fit Grandpa’s luggage in here too, although I hope he didn’t bring too much!

They heard a car pull up in the driveway and the engine turn off. Grandpa must be here! Sarah said. I’ll go tell everyone.

She ran through the door connecting the garage to the house and pounded up a small set of stairs to the kitchen. There, she bumped into her other older brother, Josiah. Whoa, slow down! What’s the big hurry? he asked, half-jokingly.

Grandpa Sheldon just got here! she said breathlessly.

Josiah’s eyes widened. Oh! I’ll go greet him!

Sarah continued into the living room, where no one was to be found. She gave up looking and yelled, Mom! Grandpa’s here!

Mom appeared from upstairs and Sarah’s six-year-old brother, Silas, followed.