Why

By Ed Alto

A law and order mystery is about how terrible things can happen to people. Often why do they happen? Other people. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes completely unintended, sometimes both. This is a mystery that delves into how and why this happens.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ed Alto
• Release date: Jun 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005851262

Ed Alto

Ed, after retiring as a Civil Engineer, has tapped his creative side. He is currently working as an artist, a singer/songwriter/musician and has discovered that he can tell stories not only through his music but also by writing books. “Over the Border” is the result of that discovery and is Ed’s first novel. His passion for history and his talent for writing has been combined to bring this historical western thriller to life.Ed has a reputation as a true Renaissance man with his recently released CD “Every Ordinary Day” and the success of his artwork. His paintings have been accepted into several fine art competitions and Starbucks has his art on permanent display.Ed has said that writing “Over the Border” has opened up an exciting new creative venue for him. As a result he has written a follow up book “Deception Factor” which is in the editing stages and will available in the near future. Watch for its release.Ed is an avid outdoorsman and lives in the Northwest near Seattle. How he finds the time to combine all his passions is a mystery in itself. You can view Ed’s art, listen to his music, and contact him by visiting his website.

Book preview

WHY

By: Ed Alto

Copyright 2022 Ed Alto

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

PART I

Chapter 1

You can never anticipate when the unexpected might happen.

Mr. Ambrose Morgan, CEO of Premium Motors Corporation, was heading home after a long day of negotiating with the labor union. He was feeling tremendously uplifted after successfully addressing the union’s concerns which averted a costly strike. As CEO he, of course, was concerned with the corporation’s interests. But he was also respectful of the employees’ concerns that worked for him. He felt that everyone left the bargaining table pleased with the outcome. It had been a tough three days of negotiations, but they were over.

He couldn’t wait to get home and share this success with his wife, Olivia. He had called her earlier and told her to be ready to go out to dinner and that he had something to share with her. She wasn’t sure what the occasion was, but Ambrose was insistent. He decided he was going to take her out to their favorite French restaurant to announce his news and to celebrate.

Olivia was ready for their date, but Ambrose never made it home.

****

As he slowly opened his eyes Ambrose scanned his surroundings. It felt to him as if he was having an out of body experience. Nothing seemed real.

What is this? Am I in some dream fantasy? Things seem real but this isn’t real is it?

Everything was a little hazy except for the throbbing in his head. He tried to wake himself up from what he thought was some horrible dream when he suddenly heard a voice, He just opened his eyes. Get the doctor right away.

Mr. Ambrose Morgan glanced in the direction of the voice and tried speaking but words were eluding him. Had he heard someone call for a doctor? He soon realized he was lying in a bed with a mask over his mouth. His head was throbbing with a colossal headache. His body felt strange as if he was floating in water. He had trouble lifting his arms, but all of a sudden it was all real, not a dream.

Soon there were voices all around. There were people racing in all directions as if he was in a Keystone Cop movie. They all seemed to be talking to and over each other. They were talking so fast that he couldn’t understand a word of what was being said. It sounded like some foreign language. At least that’s how it appeared to Ambrose.

Where am I? he finally was able to verbalize.

Then a single voice emerged from the chaos and said, Just relax Mr. Morgan you’re going to be alright. You probably feel strange because of the medications we have given you. That feeling will eventually wear off.

While all the other people around him sounded incomprehensible, that one distinct and understandable female voice continued, Mr. Morgan, I am a doctor. You’ve been in an accident. You are in the hospital. You had been unconscious ever since you were brought in about two hours ago. I’m happy to say you were very fortunate, it could have been a lot worse. We have taken some x-rays and some tests and it doesn’t appear that you have sustained any serious injuries. You should be feeling a lot better once you’ve gotten some rest. We are just checking you vitals to be sure we haven’t missed anything.

Ambrose’s attention was focused on this female’s voice as she was explaining what apparently had happened to him. An accident? he inquired.

Yes, we have just given you a rather strong medication to help you sleep, so just relax and get some rest and we will talk more in the morning.

Soon he felt himself getting drowsy and just said, Okay. Then all of a sudden everything and everybody disappeared as he slipped into a deep sleep.

The next morning when Ambrose Morgan awoke he could hear beeping behind him. Suddenly he remembered that someone had told him that he was in a hospital. Last night still felt like a surreal dream that he could barely recall. This morning he felt more cognizant and remembered he had been told that he had been in an accident. His head was still throbbing but not nearly as much as he remembered last night.

A nurse entered the room and asked, You’re awake. How are you feeling today Mr. Morgan?

Ambrose was still shaking the drowsy feeling from his head when he inquired, I believe I was told I was in an accident. Is that true?

Yes, that’s true. You were brought in last night. The doctor’s performed a series of examinations and you should be fine. There are no serious injuries.

What happened, do you know?

From what I understand your car was hit by someone who ran a red light. I heard he was driving at an excessive speed and they said he was intoxicated. Your car was hit on the side near the rear and it spun your vehicle around violently. You apparently hit your head on something before the airbags went off. You have quite a contusion on your head. However, you were fortunate. The airbags prevented you from incurring much more serious injuries. There was a witness to the accident that called 911 immediately and that’s how you ended up here. How are you feeling today? Any aches or pains?

I have a slight headache and feel somewhat drugged, but other than that, I don’t feel too bad. You say I don’t have any serious injuries? What about this bandage on my head?

We put the bandage on your head with some ointment to control the bleeding and bring down the swelling. You don’t appear to have sustained any serious injuries to your body or head. You were unconscious when the paramedics arrived on the scene so we initially suspected something a lot worse, a possible massive concussion. We scanned your head last night and didn’t see anything that would cause alarm, but you still have quite a bump on your head where you hit it. The airbags did their job but it seems you hit your head just before they deployed. We also took a series of x-rays. It doesn’t appear that you sustained any bodily injuries other than some minor bruising. The doctor will be in to see you soon and she will fill you in further. She will want to know if you feel any dizziness or confusion.

I don’t feel any of that now, but I will let you know if I do. What happened to the other driver?

The other driver lost control of his car after hitting you and his car went out of control and he ran into a tree. He didn’t make it.

Did anyone inform my family?

Yes we did. The doctor called your wife last night and told her about your accident. Your wife was quite concerned but we told her that you didn’t have any serious injuries and should be fine. We told her we gave you something that would make you sleep through the night. We called your wife again this morning and she is probably on her way here as we speak.

Thank you.

Chapter 2

That morning Ambrose partook of the fine cuisine of a hospital breakfast. It was a fine breakfast because he was just happy to be alive. Not long after his wife walked into the room and hugged him. She was elated to see that he was sitting in a chair and looking none the worse for having been in an accident. All except for the bandage draped around his head.

Later that afternoon the doctor spoke to both Ambrose and Olivia and explained what their tests revealed. She said that he might feel a little sore because of the violent twisting he had gone through, but there weren’t any physical injuries to his body. She told them that they had scanned his head and other than the hard shock to his head that had been inflicted he didn’t show any signs of a concussion. Nevertheless, she wanted Olivia to monitor him to see if he exhibited any signs of dizziness or confusion. After the doctor’s consultation, she told them that she would authorize Ambrose’s release from the hospital. The doctor gave him a prescription for a pain medication in case he experienced any more headaches. She asked Olivia to call her if the headaches became severe or if he felt dizziness or showed signs of confusion.

Ambrose was feeling much better and hadn’t yet experienced any adverse effects. The nurse set up a follow-up appointment as a precautionary measure. Ambrose’s wife Olivia signed his release. An