Murder and the Private Detective, Book Eight

By Robert D. Coleman

John Carter's Great Grandfather, David Carter, a down-and-out private detective in 1963 Texas. After suffering great professional and personal, and physical loss. He finds himself on the trail of a killer who is right in the middle of the biggest crimes of the 20th century. (A historical event is depicted. This book is a work of fiction.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert D. Coleman
• Release date: May 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005337315

Robert D. Coleman

Hi, my name is Robert Coleman. I was born in Waxahachie, Texas and spent the first 10 years of my life there. My family then moved to Irving, Texas where I graduated from MacArthur High School. I have been blessed with two amazing sons that I am very proud of. I have also been blessed with two grandsons that I love dearly. For the last 25 years, I have lived in Groesbeck, Texas. That area has become the center of my fictional books. I was always blessed with a great imagination. My teachers said I was a daydreamer in class. I could always come up with great stories in my head. My problem was always getting it on paper. I sometimes struggle with the English language. (I suspect I am dyslexic.) I was always too embarrassed to show anybody my work until I met a wonderful woman, who also happens to be a writing teacher. I reluctantly showed her one of my books. She read it and told me that the story was the hard part. Spelling and Grammer could be fixed. With her encouragement, I started reworking some of my stories and making new ones. Now 20 years after I put my first story on paper and almost 4 years after I started the rewrites, I have Murder and the Cold Case. I am very proud of it! I have another one almost ready (you can preorder it now), first drafts on 7 more, and several ideas for even more. So I hope this is the first of many. So thank you, Laura. Without your help and encouragement, this could have never happened.

Book preview

Murder and the Private Detective

By Robert D. Coleman

Copyright © 2022 by Robert D. Coleman

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Please do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

CONTENTS

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

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Author’s Note

CHAPTER 1

(Present Day)

Texas Ranger John Carter sat at his desk at the Texas Ranger C. Company Headquarters in Waco, Texas. He looked up at the clock on the wall. It was 12:30 pm. He had wanted to be out of here by noon. He, along with his brother Brian and their sons Tom and Michael, we’re going over to the old Mathison place for the opening weekend of deer season. Tom and his twin sister Becky had gotten home from Texas Tech last night. Brian and the boys were getting everything ready, and they would leave as soon as he could get away from here.

He just had to get this last little bit of paperwork done, and he was out of here. They had been working on some cold cases, but nothing major is going on right now. There had been nothing new on the mysterious man with the missing fingers. This had been bothering him for the last few months after the Stahl case. Who was this man, and why was he so interested in him. But he was going to put that out of his mind and have a great weekend hunting with his brother and the boys.

He looked up to see Texas Ranger Jessica James walk into his office. Why are you still here Pops? She asks. He puts his pin down and smiles at her. I was just finishing up some paperwork. He says. She sits down in the chair across from him. You know everybody is waiting on you. She says. He closes the folder on his desk and stands up. I know I’m done. He says as he walks over to the hat rack and puts on his Silverbelly Cowboy hat. Can you and Martin and Hooks handle things around there for a few days? He asks. James stands up and smiles. Yes, Pops, we can handle it. She says. He starts walking toward the door. Good, because cell service is not very good over at the place we are going. He says. She follows him out of the office and to the elevator. Have a good time Pops. She says. Oh, I will. He says as the elevator doors close.

He kept thinking of the hunting trips he and Brian had with their Dad and Papaw on the drive home. His Papaw had a few rules for hunting. Number one, I put you in a stand, and you keep your ass in that stand till I come back and get you. Number two, don’t ever break rule number one. He smiled, thinking of his Papaw. They had a lot of good times together. J.D. Carter was one great man.

When he got to Groesbeck and pulled into the driveway of his home, he saw his son Tom and nephew Michael carrying an ice chest out and putting it in the back of the truck. It looked like they had it loaded down and ready to go. He got out of the car and walked over to them. Tom turns around. Dad. Where, you been? We have been waiting for you. Tom says. Carter looks over in the back of that truck at what they had loaded. I got tied up on some paperwork. He says. Tom slaps his Dad on the shoulder. Ok, Let’s get Uncle Brian and get on the road. Granddad is already over there waiting on us. Tom says. Carter takes another look over the truck. Did yall get everything we will need? He asks. Tom gives him a surprised look. Yes, Dad. We got guns, knives, rope, ice chest, food, drinks, water, change of clothes, blankets. We got it all. Carter turns back to Tom, What about the ammo box? He asks. Tom looks over into the truck and then back at Michael. Mike, did you get the ammo box? He asks. Michael looks over into the back of the truck. No, I thought you got it, Michael says. Tom shakes his head. No, that was your job, Mike, Tom says. Michael throws his hand up in the air. How was that my job? He asks. Carter holds up his hands. It doesn’t matter who’s job it was. Let’s just get it." Carter says.

Carter turns and walks inside the house and finds his brother Brian sitting at the kitchen table reading his bible. Brian looks up at him. Hey brother, how was your day? He asks. Carter gets a soda out of the refrigerator. It was busy. Got held up on some paperwork. Carter says. Brain closes his bible. The boys are chomping at the bit to go. Carter nods. I know, There getting the ammo box now. Carter takes a drink of his soda. Carolyn comes walking in and bends down, and kisses Carter. Hey hun, can I get you something to eat? She asks. Carter stands up. No, babe, the boys are ready to go. I just need to change clothes. He says as he turns and walks to the bedroom.

While Carter was getting dressed, the bedroom door opened, and Tom walked in. Hey Dad, I got something for you, Tom says as he reaches into a plastic bag and pulls out a tee-shirt, and holds it up. It’s a camouflaged tee shirt with Texas Tech on the front in bright red letters. Carter laughs and takes the shirt and holds it up. You think the deer will be able to read that? He asks. Tom smiles. They will know what school you support. He says. Carter puts the shirt on and looks over at Tom, who gives him a thumbs-up sign.

They all then start toward the truck. Carter stops and hugs Carolyn. She kisses him. Yall be safe and bring home a big one. She says. Carter then turns to Becky, and she hugs him. Good luck Daddy, please don’t let Tom kill anything. We will never hear the end of it. She says.

They walk outside and get into the truck. Carter gets into the driver’s side, Brian gets shotgun, and Tom and Michael get in the back seat. They wave at Carolyn and Becky as they pull out.

About 30 minutes later, they pull up to the gate. The header over the entrance says Mathison Ranch. Brian gets out to open the gate. Michael leans over the seat. Hey, Uncle John, If this place has been in our family for so long. Why do we call it the Mathison Ranch and not the Carter Ranch like all of Grandads other places? He asks. Carter looks back over his shoulder. Well, Mike, back in the late 1850s, Paul Mathison bought this place and built the Ranch house here. He was killed, and our ancestor, Jeb Carter, also a Texas Ranger, tracked down the killer. The Ranch was in foreclosure, and Mathison’s daughter Beth was going to have to leave. Jeb fell in love with her and bought the Ranch from the bank. They got married and lived here. Jeb never changed the name to honor Beth’s father, Paul. So it has always been the Mathison Ranch. Mike nods, That’s cool. He says.

Brian gets back in, and they drive through the gate about 100 yards up to the house. The house is large and in reasonably good shape for as old as it is. It has a large center section and east and west wing. Across from it is a bunkhouse where the hired hands lived, and down a little way was the barn and stable.

Carter parks the car, and they get out. John and Brian’s Father, Luke Carter, walks out onto the front porch. About time yall got here, Luke says. Sorry, Dad, I got held up at the office, Carter says as they walk up onto the porch. Michael walks up to Luke. How old is this house, Granddad? He asks. Luke looks around at the house. It was built in the early 1850s. The east and west wings were replaced much later. But the center part of the house is original. Electricity was added later." Luke says.

Luke looks over at John and Brian. John, you and Brian can put your stuff in the main house with me. You boys will have the bunkhouse to yourself. He says. Good deal, Brian said as they entered the house. Luke then turns to the boys. Follow me, and I will show you to the bunkhouse, he says.

Luke starts walking to the bunkhouse, and Tom and Michael follow. Walking up on the porch, Tom looks at the front door and gives Luke a confused look. Granddad, Why does it say on the front door, David Carter Private Detective? He asks. Luke wipes the dust away on the door and looks at it. "David Carter was my Grandfather. Him and my Grandmother were the last to live here full time back in the 60s. David worked for the Fairfield Police Department for a long time and worked as a private detective for a while after that. He used the old bunkhouse for his office.

Luke unlocks the door, and they walk inside. He turns on the light switch. "I got the generator going, so you should have power. The lights come on, and they look around. There was one big room with a massive fireplace in the back. There was a desk in front of the fireplace, and two chairs in front of the desk off to the side were some file cabinets and a couch. They walked around and found two rooms on each side with two bunk beds in each room. It looked like at one time they could have slept as many as 16 ranch hands.

Luke turned and started toward the door. Yall need to go down to the stable and get some firewood and get a fire going. It’s going to get cold tonight. He said. We will go get some Granddad, Tom says as Luke leaves. Tom walks over and sits down behind the desk. Look at this old phone. It’s got a rotary dial. He picks it up and plays with the dial. Can you believe they used to use stuff like this? Tom says. Michael leans over the desk and looks at it. My Dad told me that people used to share a line. You could pick it up and hear your neighbors talking. Michael said. Tom shakes his head. Ya like no privacy. Tom opens up the desk drawer. Hey Mike, look at this. Tom reaches into the drawer and pulls out a felt fedora hat, gray with a black band. Look at this old hat, Tom says. Tom looks it over and wipes it off. Looks like it’s in good shape. Tom puts it on his head. It’s my size. How do I look. He says. You look goofy, Michael says. Tom looks back down in the desk drawer. What else do we have in here? Tom pulls out a framed picture and looks at it. Michael walks around the desk and looks over Tom’s shoulder. Who is that? Ask Michael. It was an old black and white picture of a man and a woman. Tom takes a close look at the picture. Well, the man in this picture looks a lot like Dad and Granddad. So if I were guessing, I would say this is David Carter. He turned the frame over, and on the back, it said. David and Rose 1960. Ya, that’s David all right, and Rose must be his wife, Tom says. They are like our Great Great Grandparents? Michael asks. Tom looks up at him. Ya, something like that." He says.

Michael turns and looks at the fireplace. This is a huge fireplace. Tom turns around in the chair. Back in the day, it was the only way to stay warm. He says. Michael sits down on the rock ledge in front of the fireplace. He looks at Tom funny and stands up. This rock is loose. He says. Tom walks over and looks down at it. The place is a 150 years old. What do you expect. He says. Michael nods. I guess your right. We better get some wood up here before it gets dark. He says. Tom stands up. Ya, it’s going to get cold tonight.

Tom reaches and opens the front door. As they go out, he rereads the door. David Carter Private Detective. He looks at Michael. Wonder what it was like to be a Private Detective in the 1960s? He asks. Michael shrugs. I don’t know, But I bet old David Carter was a cool guy. He says as they walk out the door.

*

May 1963

David Carter washed his face and looked into the bathroom mirror. He was not getting any younger, that’s for sure. But at age 56, he had a few good years left before he started rocking on the front porch. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face off, and ran a comb through his hair. He then turned and walked down the hall to the bedroom. The restroom was an add-on to this old house. When it was built, they were still using the outhouse in the back.

When he got to the bedroom, he reached into the closet, pulled out a starched white shirt, and put it on. His wife Rose did an excellent job of keeping his shirts starched just like he liked them. Rose has been his loving wife for 32 years now. He didn’t know what he would do without her. They had a grown son, John David Carter or more commonly called J.D. He was very proud of. He also had a very special 6-year-old grandson Luke.

He buttoned up his shirt and tucked in the tail. He picked up his shoulder holster and put it on. He picked up his 38 revolver and checked the load, and holstered it under his left armpit. He picks up his Fairfield Police Lieutenants badge, puts it in his wallet, flips it around, and puts it in his pocket. He walked to the kitchen and found that Rose had breakfast ready and on the table. He hugged her from behind and kissed her on the cheek. Good morning, sweetheart. He said. She smiled at him. Morning, eat while it’s hot. She says.

He sits down, and she put a plate already fixed in front of him and sits down beside him. Thank you. He says, looking over at her. You’re not going to eat? He asks. She shakes her head. No, I don’t think I can hold it down. She says. He stops eating and takes her hand. Are you still not feeling good? He asks. She looks down, not wanting to look him in the eye. No, I’m not feeling good. But I’m sure it will be better today. She says. He squeezes her hand. Sweetheart, this has been going on for weeks now. I think you need to see a Doctor. I want you to call and make an appointment today. He said. She frowns. I’m sure it’s just a virus and will pass. No big deal. She says. He gives her a stern look. If it were just a virus, you would have been better by now. I’m not taking no for an answer. Make the appointment. She gives him a small smile and nods.

David finishes eating and gets up. He bends over and kisses Rose. Go lay down and get some rest, then call the doctor. I have a big day today. Not sure when I will get home. He says. She looks up at him. Have a good day. Love you. She says. He smiles at her. Love you too, sweetheart. He says, walking away. As he gets to the front door, he grabs his gray fedora hat and puts it on, and heads out the door.

He got into his car and dove the eight miles into Fairfield. He had lived here all his life. His family had settled here before the civil war. He had worked for the Fairfield Police Force for the last 26 years, minus a 3-year break for World War 2. He had worked his way up from traffic cop to lieutenant in charge of A card. A card worked the day shift and had a Sargent and four officers. His son J.D. was one of the officers. B card was the night shift, and Lieutenant Randy Turner ran it. They had been friends for a long time. They both reported to Captain Jack Ward and Police Chief Bud Jackson. Captain Ward was going to retire soon, and both he and Turner were hoping to get the job.

He pulled up to the Fairfield Police station and went in. Sergeant Don Miller had started briefing with the four other officers on A card. He walked in just as they were finishing up. His son J.D. walked up