The Blues of Portsmouth P.D.: A Series, Episode Eight

By Robert Franklin Jackson

If you haven’t read episode 7, The New Guy In Town, you should. Between 2001 and 2012, your author penned six mysteries using Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as the setting. The Portsmouth police force was very small—a chief, a lieutenant, two detectives, several other officers, and a dispatcher. They worked night and day, weekday and weekends, trying to solve a very compelling crime. The villains included two serial killers, a serial kidnapper, a pair of very wealthy sociopaths, a corrupt mayor, and a ruthless Russian heroin dealer. This was the format of many TV shows: the Law and Order shows, CSI shows, and The Closer for example. All great shows but not realistic. There must have been other crimes being committed and other officers solving them. Therefore, your author turned to another community, the imaginary community of Cypress, California, in imaginary Coast County. Again, a great police force focusing on a series of related murders. When the murders were solved, your author was so enamored with the law enforcement officers, he couldn’t bear to forget them. He had Chief Beth Van Dyke in Plymouth hire the deputy chief and an FBI agent and their girl friends and brought them to Portsmouth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796017175

Robert Franklin Jackson

Your Author, Robert Franklin Jackon, following an enlistment as a U.S. Navy Seabee/deep-sea-diver, four years in elementary school teaching/administration, twenty-seven years as a high school geography teacher, the office of Historian General NSSAR, is not content unless he is working on a writing project. Projects include: Family Genealogy, Sons of the American Revolution - History Vol. III, plus several pamphlets, just completing a 3,200 page encyclopedia of his home town, Oroville, Oroville 1915 - A Place in Time, ninety acrylic paintings, and presently, The Blues of Portsmouth P.D. a Series of eight episode, four other novellas, The Truth Book, wewillfindyouamach.com, No Vacancy, and Pene-lope and Anti-gone, and the book of a musical comedy, Stoneface.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Robert Jackson.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019901931

ISBN:                Softcover              978-1-7960-1707-6

                          eBook                   978-1-7960-1717-5

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.

Edited by: Bobbi Jackson

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

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date:  02/27/2019

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

792572

Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Nine

The Blues of Portsmouth P.D.

A Series of Ten Episodes

Taking The Fifthp

The Case of the

Erroneous Homophone

Jeff Needed Killing!

The Case of the

Connected Palindromes

Asked And Answered

The Case of the

Acrimonious Alliteration

Gone, But Where?

The Case of the

Puzzling Similies

The Mayor Went Down

The Case of the

Incriminating Metaphor

The Last House On The Left

The Case of the

Misleading Direction

The New Guy In Town

the Case of the

Uncovering Undercovers

Is Nappy Back In Town?

The Case of an

Idiom’s Leverage

DEDICATION

To my loving wife, Bobbi,

my greatest fan, painstaking editor,

supportive critic, and very best friend.

"Good - Better - Best - Never let it rest,

Till your good is better, and your better, best."

Ressie Fix, 11th Grade English

Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis

Bobbi Jackson, Proof Editor,

insists on striving for the best.

SPECIAL THANK YOUS

to

Cash Compton & Leah Dionne

at

Copy Center

for getting my books ‘wired.’

Chapter One

Monday, 27 November 2012 - M & J Detective Agency

The thrill of being ‘the one who got away,’ was fading. Noble Alan Parker, aka, Nappy, is curious to see if his skills at baffling the Portsmouth Police Department had not diminished during the past three years. During a period of 24 days in August and September of 2009, Nappy kidnapped nineteen children. His motive was not perversion, trafficking, or collecting a ransom. It was just to see if he could accomplish his goal of kidnapping twenty children. Only a heroic tackle by the mother of child number twenty ruined his plan. If the facts were known, Nappy loved children.

Nappy decided the best way to see if his skills were still viable, was to return to Portsmouth. He wondered if his crimes in Portsmouth were still fresh in the minds of the police. He remembered that Officer Hernandez had seen his face. Therefore he could not take a chance by visiting the Station House.

This caused Nappy to face a dilemma. He wanted to know if he was wanted for crimes in Portsmouth, but he didn’t want to face life in prison in an attempt to find the answer.

Nappy thought, though mixing his idioms, ‘I’ll take the bull by the horns, and plunge into Portsmouth’s uncharted waters.’ He decided to seek the services of a private detective, but which one? He decided to pick the fifth on the list in the ‘yellow pages.’ M & J Detective Agency.

17007.png

Nappy located the M & J Detective Agency which was located inside a neighborhood bank in a semi residential section of Portsmouth. Clients are not anxious to have the public see them entering a private detective agency, bringing up comments like" Are you getting a divorce? Who are you suing now? Are you dropping your addict son from your will?

Nappy entered the Portsmouth Saving and Loan, and noticed a doorway leading to hallway lined with non-banking businesses. Besides the M & J Detective Agency, two other businesses had offices, Joe Williams C.P.A , and Portsmouth Stamps and Coins.

Nappy entered the agency and was greeted by a secretary/receptionist. I’m Susan West, How may I help you?

Susan was seated behind a golden oak desk. Her desk top contained a wireless MacBook Pro, phone with voice mail and intercom capabilities, and a photo, presumably, of her husband and kids. The file cabinet was also vintage oak, as was a table where a printer/ fax/copier was located. Halloween witches and pumpkins surrounded the printer.

Nappy answered. Would Moe or Joe be seeing new clients?

That’s a new one. I usually get Mutt and Jeff. ’M’ is Theo Mendoza, ‘J’ is Roni James. Take your pick. Susan answered.

Which one has the most experience? Mendoza or James? Nappy asked.

Theo is in his sixties. Roni is forty something. Both know what they are doing." Susan said.

Is there any chance I can talk to both of them? Nappy asked.

Theo, I am sending in a new client. He would also like to speak with Roni. Susan said over the intercom, Theo would like to have your name.

Tell Theo I’m Patrick Anthony Nelson. Nappy answered.

Again on the intercom, Roni, would you join Theo and a new client in his office? Thank you."

17004.png

Theo Mendoza said, What can we do for you, Mr. Nelson?

Unlike the stereotypical ’Private Eye’ office of a metal desk, matching file cabinet with a bottle of Jim Beam hidden in the third drawer, Theo’s office had a roll top desk complete with all the intriguing cubby holes and tiny drawers. On the desk was phone, wireless MacBook Pro, and family photos. Two comfortable chairs were available for clients. His P.I. license was on the wall above the desk.

Nappy said, I’m here from New Haven. I am looking for my half brother, Noble Alan Palmer. The last news I had from him was from Portsmouth. I take it you do search for people who are missing?

Roni said, That is one of our services. Can you give us a few details about Mr. Palmer?"

I wish I could. We were separated when our father died. I stayed with my mother. Noble returned to our father’s first wife, and he assumed her maiden name. Nappy explained, while giving false information.

Theo asked, In what state did Noble’s mother live?

I believe it was in New Jersey, Bayone, I think. I realize that is little to go on. Can you help me? Nappy asked, getting out his wallet. If you take my case, how much is the retainer?

Roni answered, Five hundred will start our investigation.

Theo asked, Where can we get in touch with you?

I’ll be staying at the Seacoast Motel, Nappy replied.

17001.png

After Nappy had gone, Theo asked. Roni, Do you think we will find his half brother?

He didn’t blink at five hundred dollars. I would say he hopes so. Roni answered.

Chapter Two

Monday, 27 November 2012 - Judge’s Chamber - Family Court

Family Court Judge Leon Foster was in his chamber hearing arguments in a child custody case where Ashley Bledsoe was asking for full custody of her four year old daughter, Becci. She was charging that the child’s father, Sam Bledsoe, a part time employee at Jack-in-the-Box, was not earning enough wages to support their daughter.

Speaking for the wife was Attorney, Lyle Cross. Representing the husband was Child Custody referee, Miss Terry Tobey.

Judge Foster asked, Mr. Cross, what was the reason for the break-up of the marriage of Ashley and Sam Bledsoe?

Cross was somewhat caught off guard with the question, as he had planned upon painting Sam Bledsoe as lazy non-provider. He realized that the Judge would not ask a question that he did not already know the answer. Your Honor, Mrs. Bledsoe fell out of love with her husband and became enamored with another man.

What was Mrs.Bledsoe’s occupation at this time? the Judge asked.

Your Honor, Mrs. Bledsoe was a good mother and a homemaker,

Terry Tobey asked, Is it proper for me to object?

Miss Tobey, there are no jurors here. What is the reason of your objection? the Judge asked.

Mr. Cross called Mrs. Bledsoe a good mother. Isn’t that just his opinion?

Good point, Miss Tobey, Mr. Cross, testify to the facts, without adding your opinions.

Yes, Your Honor.

Mr. Cross, what was Mr. Bledsoe’s occupation at this time?

"He was at that time manager of the Jack-in-the-Box on Pine Street."

"Mrs. Bledsoe is charging that Mr. Bledsoe is not providing adequate support for their daughter, as a former manager, and now only a temporary employee of Jack-in-the-Box, was he demoted?" the Judge asked.

You will have to ask Miss Tobey, Your Honor.

What say you, Miss Tobey, was Mr. Bledsoe demoted?

At a previous hearing, Mrs. Bledsoe claimed Mr. Bledsoe was not spending enough time with Becci, and therefore was not a good father. Mr. Bledsoe asked the district manager to relieve him of his managerial duties, so that he could spend more time with Becci.

Cross said. Now it is my turn to object to the word ‘good.’

Terry Tobey answered, The use of ‘good’ you are objecting to, was not my opinion, but the claim of Mrs. Bledsoe.

I’m afraid, she has you again, Mr. Cross, the Judge declared. Mr. Cross, am I correct that Mrs. Bledsoe lives out of state?

Yes, your Honor. She followed her new love interest to Kittery, Maine.

Since the divorce, has Mrs. Bledsoe remarried? the Judge asked.

No, Mrs. Bledsoe is no longer involved in that relationship.

The Judge asked, Mrs. Bledsoe has asked for full custody, what are the terms of the custody agreement at this time?

Cross answered, Mr. Bledsoe is allowed one 48 hour visit on the third weekend at his apartment in Portsmouth, each month, plus he is allowed visitation at Mrs. Bledsoe’s home on holidays and Becci’s birthdays.

Do you have anything to add, Miss Tobey?

Yes, being a temporary employee, Mr. Bledsoe, must plan his work schedule with the new manager. Knowing that he can plan on third weekends, holidays and birthday, make his scheduling much easier. Tobey answered.

With so much time on his hands and the daughter only visiting occasionally, why hasn’t Mr. Bledsoe found another job? the Judge asked.

Unemployment is 8.1 and millions are out of work. He is one of those who has given-up looking. Tobey answered.

Mrs. Bledsoe, I am ruling against full custody. Mr. Bledsoe, you have your third weekend, holidays and Becci’s birthday.

Chapter Three

Monday, 27 November 2012 - Frey Shift - The Station House

Chief Bethany Van Dyke opened the meeting, "Good morning everyone. We have a full House today. I am going to introduce our new officers, and explain a new system of duty assignments. Lt. Keegen O’Regan will continue as second in command, but Lt., Bert Adams, the former chief of The Cypress, California P.D. has finally joined us, leaving his affairs in Cypress in order. I have shared my ideas with the City Council….

….Stop, don’t go another further! I didn’t miss those sideways glances and knowing smiles. I should have said, ‘I shared my ideas with Mayor Michelle Matthew, and the City Council. The night the City Council appointed me as Chief, my first official act was to ask permission to put out a call for applications for twelve new officers. My request was granted and they have joined us today. As for those knowing glances, anyone who eats at Gollys knows, I’m dating Councilman Kevin Stiles, but it hasn’t advanced to ‘pillow talk.’ All of you new officers, if you really want to become a member of this department, start eating at Golly’s after work….

….As I was saying, I have for a long time thought that the well being of our citizenry, should not take a vacation on weekends. How many times have we been called back on Saturday or