The Gumshoe Misfits

By Bonnie Lea

Ah, there is another person looking at me as though I am off my rocker. Just because I have started dictating into a hands-free tape player to keep records and perhaps help me solve a case I am working on and to have memoirs for my later years, people have a tendency to think that I am talking to myself. Perhaps, in a way, I am. These new gadgets, they have no tape or CD and are marvelous. I have an earpiece that looks like the hands-free phone headset that I talk into. The tape player, which is no bigger than a candy bar, stays in my pocket. At the end of the day, I can download onto my stick on my computer until I have a chance to type them onto paper. So let them look on. I will smile and keep on talking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543421354

Bonnie Lea

Bonnie Lea a very young lady of 58 years was born in Illinois and transplant to MS. She spent some time in TN where she met her husband. Upon his death she returned to MS where she took up writing to help pass the time. She now resides on a small estate in MS where she continues to write.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Bonnie Lea.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017907180

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5434-2137-8

                Softcover      978-1-5434-2136-1

                eBook         978-1-5434-2135-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 05/08/2017

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Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Chapter 2 Kelly

Chapter 3 Suspect

Chapter 4 Meeting Maximer

Chapter 5 Missing? Or Foul Play?

Chapter 6 Get the Job Done

Chapter 7 Doc and Getting Handy on Board

Chapter 8 No to the Contract and the Ending of a Week

Chapter 9 Blessings

Chapter 10 Gifts

Chapter 11 Case File One

Chapter 12 JD Comes Home

Chapter 13 Case File Three

Chapter 14 Rocky Questions

Chapter 15 Doc’s Discovery

Chapter 16 Accusations

Chapter 17 Accident?

Chapter 18 No Longer Suspects

Chapter 19 All Will be Revealed

Chapter 20 The Gumshoe Misfits

Chapter 1

Getting Started

Ah, there is another person looking at me as though I am off my rocker. Just because I have started dictating into a hands-free tape player to keep records and perhaps help me to solve a case I am working on and to have memoirs for my later years, people have a tendency to think that I am talking to myself. Perhaps, in a way, I am. These new gadgets they have now without a tape or cd are marvelous. I have an ear piece that looks like the hands-free phone headset that I talk into. The tape player, which is no bigger than a candy bar, stays in my pocket. At the end of the day, I can download onto my stick on my computer until I have a chance to type them onto paper. So let them look on. I will smile and keep on talking.

I ‘ve been told that my looks are not too half bad. I stand at six feet two inches with a medium build, dark hair, and steel-blue eyes. My mother keeps telling me that the only thing wrong with me is that I do not have a wife and family yet. It’s not that I have not had interest. It’s just that every time I find a woman, I introduce her to a friend or cousin, and she ends up marrying them; therefore, I am still single. Well, back to why I am using a tape player.

This all started twelve months ago, when I put in for early retirement from the police force and decided to become a private detective. The police commander, Will York, would not accept my resignation form. He told me to take a long sabbatical. With everything going on in my life, he did not want me to make an unwise decision. He told me to take my time. Evidently, I had enough comp time in to last for almost four years. The commander, being like a father to me since my real father died, said that I could not collect the four years but I could take a sabbatical and do some consultations from time to time. He went on further to tell me that it would be foolish to give up a full twenty-year pension over a possible whim when I just as easily could take a sabbatical and still be paid. He also said that I might want to come back, and this way, I would not lose my rank. I am glad that I took his advice. Until now, things have been slow in the investigation business.

But today is Wednesday and the first day to see about employees for my agency. After a long stakeout last night at JaCobb Hardware, I know that I need help. Once I have everyone properly trained, I will be able to spend more time on my personal case. Well, here I am again at the employment office. I’ve already asked God to point me in the right direction. Now it’s time to have a little fun with Mrs. Jackie Johnson.

Jer walked into the employment agency, the one and only in New Alvane. The agency was one gigantic room with chairs and tables. The agency was owned and operated by Jackie Johnson. She was seated at a large mahogany desk at the end of the room.

Jer removed his hat and greeted Jackie, Good morning, Mrs. Johnson, and how is everyone doing at the unemployment office today?

The slender redheaded woman about thirty-three years of age looked up, startled, shaking her head, and proclaimed, Mr. Lucus, how many times do I need to explain to you that this is an employment office, not an unemployment office?

With a mischievous smile, Jer said, Well, Mrs. Johnson, I think we need to take a hand count. Jer turned to everyone in the room and asked, Hello, everyone. My name is J.T. Lucus, and I would like to know how many here today are employed? Five hands raised up tentatively. Now, how many are unemployed? All the rest in the room raised their hands, coming to approximately fifteen. Jer smiled and said, Fifteen to five for unemployment. Jer bowed toward Jackie with a sweeping arm motions and said, Mrs. Johnson, I rest my case. The room erupted into laughter.

Ms. Johnson, still just shaking her head, asked, Mr. Lucus, did you bring me a printout for the type of personnel that you will be requiring, along with any special experience requirements?

Jer, still chuckling, said, I most certainly did. And I will be able to start interviewing tomorrow at any time. If you have any additional questions that I might need to answer, this file contains my phone number. Please leave a message, and I will be in touch with you. Do you have any questions before I leave now, Mrs. Johnson?

Jackie shook her head. No, we will get started on this list right away. Do have a nice day, Mr. Lucus.

Jer raised his hand, smiled, and said, May all have a wonderful day. With a swift gait, he left the employment agency.

Now I can get back to talking to myself. It really seems that I can bring the best out of people. I’ve always had a way of making people laugh, and as hard as times are now, the more laugher the better. Life has a way changing people too. Just a year ago, I was chief of detectives here in New Alvane. The idea of becoming a cop seemed so simple when I was young. My father was a police officer, as was my grandfather, and I knew that I too wanted to be one. I went to the police academy and graduated in the top three percent of the class. I joined the same police precinct that my grandfather had retired from and the same one my father worked in.

Life could not have been any better. Five years later, I had the privilege of getting on the detectives unit. For the next ten years, it was wonderful working with my father, J. Terence Lucus, who had become chief of detectives. We uncovered one of the biggest narcotics trafficking schemes that brought down not only a little over one million dollars in drugs but a few thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds as well. At first, we thought we had hit the payload in diamonds, but it turned out to be mostly glass. We caught many of the runners with some of their major dealer bosses. There were downsides to this though. My father was killed in the line of duty one week before he was to be promoted to commander, and the head of the drug organization was never found.

After this, I poured myself into my work. It was a long time before my mother, grandparents, and friends convinced me that I was not responsible for my father’s death. By this time, I had moved up the ladder to chief of detectives, but still, something about that night has bugged me. My father’s murder still has not been solved, and what about Jim Kelly’s involvement? Some pieces of the puzzle are missing, and I can’t seem to see everything clearly. I keep looking at all the evidence and going over everything that transpired that day. This is why I keep a journal of any and all things said or recorded about that day and some events that have followed.

Oh, Mr. Lucus?

Jer turned to see Mrs. Johnson coming out the door. Mr. Lucus, if you have time, there is someone that called here today that you might be interested in interviewing. We do not usually act this quickly without doing a thorough background check; however, there is something about this man that you will want to check out for yourself. His name is R.J. Maximer.

Jer stopped in his tracks and turned slowly around. Not the Robert J. Maximer that shut down the entire satellite broadcasting system in this state and five others around it?

Jackie looked Jer straight in the eyes, shook her head, and quietly said, Yes, the same.

Mrs. Johnson, please have Mr. Maximer meet me at my office tomorrow at two p.m. If this time does not work for him, please give him my contact number. And thank you.

Mrs. Johnson replied, I will be more than happy to. She turned and went back into the agency.

This might prove to be a very interesting meeting. R.J. Maximer definitely would be an integral part to building the private detective team I am wanting, but first I need to find out why he came here looking for a job when he could land a job just about anywhere he wanted to go. There is not a computer around that this fellow cannot operate or any program that he cannot master if he hasn’t already.

Very interesting, very interesting indeed. Wow, I really need to slow my thinking process down. First, before laying claim to something grand and wonderful, I need to see what Mr. Maximer wants. Also, I do not need to let him be privy to all my information before I know for sure he can be trusted. I made that mistake once, and I feel that mistake cost me very dearly.

Who would ever think their own old partner would be dirty? I certainly didn’t, and I still don’t. We went to the academy together and were pretty much inseparable. That is, until I was asked to join the detectives. After that, we still did a lot together on common days off and weekends.

Then, that night of the raid, there James Kelly was, running out the back door, and my father dead on the floor. Jim was never found guilty of any crimes, but he was not exonerated completely by his police comrades for either of the events that occurred that night; therefore, he was never fully trusted. In other words, he was blackballed.

This went on for a year and a half. Jim and his family continued coming to the house for cookouts, but Jim was not the same, and he would not tell me any more about that night. He just said his life was a mess, that he would not let his best friend be blackballed, and that one day, the light would shine on the truth of badge NA6363 and all would be revealed.

One year ago, at a cookout at Jim’s, I again asked about suspicions he had about Dad. He told me, and I quote, As you know, they are pinning it on a drug informant by the name of Willie Smitt. You know I think he was only a pawn. I have had all I can take of the department. I am putting in for early retirement. I’ll have more free time and can do more digging around. Let’s not talk anymore but enjoy the cookout.

The next day, I told Capt. Rick Molby that Jim did not feel Willie was my father’s murderer. Rick said that Jim was being paranoid and he should be happy because it would bring some closure to his problems. Rick also said that if I felt the same way, I was looking for a red herring where none existed. Then Rick said, and I quote, An APB was put out on Willie, and he will be brought to justice. I never could understand Rick Molby. His dislike for me really became apparent after I beat him out for the chief’s job. Up to that point, we got along pretty well. Rick is ten years older than me. My father treated him as an older son and never had any complaints about Rick’s work ethics. Rick could be likable, but for some reason, he and I, especially as of late, just did not mix well together. You would think he would be happy being the chief.

Three weeks after my conversation with Rick, Jim was killed in a car wreck. The police found drugs in the car, but the autopsy showed nothing. Even though the official police report showed losing control of the vehicle as the cause of the accident, Jim was raked across the coals for something that he would not be around to defend against. Rumor spread that he’d been a bad apple that had come to a spoiled, fruitless end. I tried to find some closure, but there was none to be found. That is when I decided to leave the department and start my own detective agency.

Well, it seems as if I am getting ahead of myself again. Jiminy Crickets, look at the time. I’ll just have enough time to pick up my clothes from the cleaners and grab a bite and get things arranged at the office before Tom, the handyman carpenter, arrives.

Here I am at Wracks Family Cleaners. Mr. Solomon Wracks is a wonderful gentleman who went into business years ago with his father. Today, the establishment is run by him, his wife, June, and his five children, Solomon III (Trey), David, Mary, and the twins, Timothy and Naomi. They also have Wracks Restaurant next door – in my opinion, the best eating place around. They do pick up and deliveries, but I enjoy talking with Sol and June anytime I can, so I usually pick up my dry cleaning.

I remember coming here with my grandfather to pick up his dress uniforms. They would talk about the old days and how times have changed. June would take me into the restaurant and give me something delicious to eat.

Jer opened the door to Wracks Family Cleaners, and a big gong went off, loud enough to hear over in the restaurant. There were clothes hanging all over the place. Jer walked straight up to the counter.

He watched a white-haired oriental man, who might have been five feet tall, come in from the restaurant and said, Hello, Mr. Wracks. I hope that this day finds you well.

Sol smiled and said, My young boy, Jeremiah, so good to see you. I do wish you were still on the detective squad. I had a break-in Monday night. Someone took a vat of my cleaning solution, but the police have not found any leads as to who, what, or why. They do not even know how it was done.

Frowning, Jer asked, Sol, I know that you reside in the apartment above your business. Were you and your wife home?

Sadly shaking his head, Sol said, No, we went to visit June’s sister in Jaxson and did not get home until very late.

Jer shook his head in dismay. Oh, I am very sorry to hear this, and I will keep my ear to the wire. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know.

Sol smiled and nodded. The wife and I heard that you have started up a private investigating service. Maybe we can steer business your way. He grabbed a brown hanging package. Do you want me to put your dress items on your tab?

Jer reached out for clothes. Thank you very much, and if you would put a large supreme pizza with delivery to my house on it as well, I would be greatly appreciative. And yes, by the way, I do have a shingle out and some actual cases. In fact, I have started the process of hiring. I will see you later this week. Thank you. Jer started to turn to walk to the door.

Sol said, Jeremiah, would you have a job for a high school student maybe next summer? My son, David, will be looking for a job. He would like to work outside the family business and see what the world is like away from ma and pa.

Jer smiled and said, Have David come and fill out an application. I feel that I will be looking for some workers this summer. Jer turned and walked out the door to the sound of a bong.

Now that is something interesting. A vat of cleaning solution stolen. I wonder WHY???? Oh dear, look at the time. I need to get going to the office.

My office, what a joke. Since I left the force and decided to open my own detective agency, I knew I needed to save my money to tide me over until things got started. But since being on sabbatical, I found out the paycheck is not as big. That is why I decided to use the spare rooms off the north side of the house for an office. It has