A Noble Lie: Jack Graystone Mysteries, #2

By Will Andrews

A Nobile Lie is the second book in the Jack Graystone Mysteries, Freshman Trilogy. In this exciting book, Jack's world is turned upside down and he is forced to decide when it is acceptable to lie. Can you lie to protect an innocent friend? Can you lie to convict a guilty criminal? Throughout his quest to find answers, Jack quickly learns that people are not always who they appear to be. And in the end, it will require extraordinary skills to save the day.

 

Each Jack Graystone novel includes approximately 300 SAT vocabulary words. These words, which are highlighted within the sentence, were developed from several SAT prep sources. The definition of each word is included in both the appendix of the book and on the Jack Graystone Mysteries website. Regardless of where you start in any of the trilogies, each book will provide a level of excitement and entertainment for readers of any age. If you are looking for a thrilling and exciting book, that is written in a clear and concise tone, then check out A Noble Lie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Streamline Book Publishers
• Release date: Aug 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201783952

Book preview

Jack Graystone

• Mysteries •

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A NOBLE LIE

Freshman Trilogy: Book Two

SAT Vocabulary Edition

Will Andrews

Streamline Book Publishers

A NOBLE LIE Copyright © 2022 by Streamline Book Publishers

This is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Streamline Book Publishers

P.O. Box 282

Orange Park, Florida 32067

Streamline Book Publishers, LLC

ISBN 978-1-7336222-2-6

jackgraystone.com

Printed in the United States of America

First Edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

From the Author

Welcome to the Jack Graystone Mysteries series. The goal of this book series is to offer exciting stories for young adults that are believable, yet with an air of fantasy. Jack Graystone Mysteries will consist of four trilogies: The Freshman Trilogy, The Sophomore Trilogy, The Junior Trilogy, and The Senior Trilogy. Each trilogy will generally follow the high school years of protagonist, Jack Graystone.  As the stories progress, Jack will grow into someone who is part James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, MacGyver, and Robin, The Boy Wonder. If you are looking for an alternative to tales about wizards, vampires, aliens, and ghosts, search no further. I look forward to providing readers of all ages with many more entertaining adventures in the future.

Sincerely,

Will Andrews

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SAT Vocabulary Words – A Noble Lie

Each Jack Graystone Mystery, SAT Vocabulary Edition, will contain approximately 300 vocabulary words, which are potentially found on the current SAT’s. These words come from several sources including Vocabulary.com, Majortests.com, and Quizlet.com. Since many words have multiple meanings, some words may contain two or more definitions. In most cases, the first definition listed is the definition utilized within the story. Merriam-Webster.com, Vocabulary.com and Wordsinsentences.com were the primary sources for the definitions provided.

Each vocabulary word is in bold print and has a corresponding number. A chronological glossary of these words starts on page 256. Additionally, these definitions can be found on the Jack Graystone Mysteries’ website at jackgraystone.com. 

BACKSTORY: REILLY’S WALK

Freshman Trilogy: Book One

Jack Graystone Mysteries revolve around the protagonist, Jacob Furthur Graystone, a sixteen-year-old high school student. Known as Jack to his family and friends, he is the only child of Elizabeth and Thomas Graystone. The series starts on the last day of his freshman year at the Worthington Preparatory School.

Jack, along with his girlfriend, Courtney, and his best friend, Ollie, have big plans for their summer break. However, things quickly change when a friend disappears. Ian Anderson, the fourteen-year-old son of a wealthy businessman, leaves to take his dog, Reilly, on his nightly walk, but only Reilly returns. Since Jack was the last known person to see Ian, he becomes entangled in the investigation and vows to find his missing friend.

The boy’s disappearance takes its toll on his parents. Mrs. Anderson becomes deeply depressed and is hospitalized. Mr. Anderson, who owns several car dealerships, can barely function. In an attempted to help this grieving family, Jack agrees to take over the job of walking Reilly. So, every night around nine o’clock, Jack and Reilly follow the same path looking for clues.

On one of these walks, Jack befriends Chris Poulter, a famous author of spy and mystery novels. The two quickly become friends and develop a mentor/mentee relationship. Chris, an ex-FBI agent who continues to consult for the bureau, assists Jack in his investigation. Not only is Chris an excellent detective, but he also has a secret room full of spy equipment. Thus, Jack has all the necessary tools to be an amateur detective.

Weeks go by with little progress, and the investigation stalls until Jack notices a clue that breaks the case wide open. From that point on, Jack’s investigation takes him from the rocky shores of Worthington to the mountains of New England.

Jack’s journey tests his brain, body, character, and morals. In the end, after encountering several evil villains, he solves the mystery. For his heroic actions, Mr. Anderson bestows Jack with several gifts, including a new Porsche Carrera. 

LOCATIONS:

Worthington

Jack Graystone Mysteries takes place in the fictitious New England town of Worthington. Located along the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean, this quaint village has a population that swells in the summer from a combination of tourists and wealthy part-time residents.

Downtown Worthington is situated along the shores of a small bay. Within this waterfront are several wharves containing shops, restaurants, and other boat-related businesses. This area is surrounded by turn-of-the-century homes situated on small lots. Since most of these houses were built before the advent (#1) of cars, many do not have driveways. Therefore, the streets of downtown Worthington are congested, and parking is at a premium.

As you leave downtown and head toward the ocean, the houses, along with their lots, become larger and more expensive. The main road through this portion of Worthington is Oceanside Drive, a two-lane road that follows the ocean.  

The Shed

When Jack and his friends are not running Worthington, they are hanging out at Ollie’s house in a building they call the shed. The shed is located away from the main residence within a cluster of trees. This building was originally constructed in the late 1800s as a barn. Over the years, it was converted to a servants’ quarters, and then to a gardener’s shed.

The shed consists of two rooms. One room resembles a garage and the other a small apartment with a bathroom and a kitchenette. The inside looks like a paint store that had exploded. Ollie used the leftover cans of paint from several of his mother’s redecorating projects and painted the walls tan, dark blue, cranberry, and lime green. He furnished the apartment with two powder blue reclining chairs (one of which is broken) and an old gold couch he had acquired from his grandfather’s friend, and furnished the garage with an old red, white and blue pool table he bought off Craigslist.

MAIN CHARACTER PROFILES:

Jacob Furthur Graystone, known as Jack to his friends, is a sixteen-year-old high school student who attends the Worthington Preparatory School. Due to living in Russia when he was in Kindergarten, he is a grade behind. Instead of entering his junior year like other kids his age, he will be a sophomore. Since his return to the states, he has been tutored in the Russian language and now reads, writes, and speaks it fluently. Jack is the only child to Thomas Graystone, an attorney, and Doctor Elizabeth Graystone, a dentist. He is wise beyond his years with an intelligent sense of humor and interacts well with adults. He’s always well dressed and groomed, which is a stark contrast to his bedroom and school locker. They are a mess. He is a good student and athlete and a hard worker, spending his summer vacation washing cars at a Porsche dealership and cleaning his mother’s office. 

Chris Poulter is a middle-aged former FBI agent who has become a famous writer of spy and mystery novels. In order to make his novels more realistic, Chris has acquired every spy gadget available. Couple that with a strong intellect (#2), and he has an incredible ability to solve crimes. He lives in a large oceanfront house with his two golden retrievers, Sherlock and Mycroft, and his cat, Moriarty. Although previously married, he is currently single but involved with his assistant, Allison. From his Aston Martin sports car to his fine tailored clothing, Chris’ appearance exudes (#3) the wealth he has acquired.

Ollie Culver, who full name is Oliver Hamilton Culver IV, is Jack’s best friend. He is a seventeen-year-old high school student going into his junior year. Like Jack, he is a grade behind for his age. Ollie is one of four children from a very wealthy but dysfunctional family. He has a large trust fund and knows he will never have to work hard in life. However, with the exception of his new BMW, you would never guess that he came from money. He has a disheveled (#4) appearance and is mostly seen wearing tie-dyed tee shirts, cut-off shorts, and sandals. Unlike Jack, Ollie is an average student and not much of an athlete. The only sport he plays is croquet. Ollie, who is everyone’s friend, has a goofy, carefree attitude and for some unknown reason adults like him. Since a child, Ollie has been practicing magic and has become quite a magician.

Courtney McKinney is Jack’s girlfriend. She is a sixteen-year-old student at an all-girls school and the daughter of Callum McKinney, Worthington’s Chief of Police. Even though she can be clueless at times and takes things a little too seriously, she has a good sense of humor and is well like by all her friends.  

Phillip Lip Simpson is a sixteen-year-old friend and classmate of Jack’s. He an excellent student and athlete who is very shy around girls. Friendship with Lip can be difficult because he has a negative about attitude about everything and complains all the time. This probably explains why he has an intelligent but dry sense of humor.

Agent Michael Stadler is an FBI agent who went through the academy with Chris Poulter. The two have remained close friends and Chris often helps Agent Stadler with his cases. Agent Stadler, who is middle-aged and in perfect physical condition, has no sense of humor when it comes to his work and does everything by the book. He thinks Jack is reckless and views him with a cautious eye. Jack is convinced Agent Stadler does not like him. 

PROLOGUE

(THREE YEARS EARLIER)

The police car’s flashing blue lights were barely visible through the thick fog that had recently rolled in from the Atlantic Ocean. Luckily, at two in the morning, few cars traveled along this section of Oceanside Drive.  

As the lone policeman leaned against his patrol car, he stared at the ground in front of him. His arms were crossed, and his face showed no emotion. He stood motionless while he listened to the soft roar of the ocean and the slow repetition of metal banging like a drum.

His eyes were not fixed on anything in particular, and he appeared to be in deep thought. His concentration, however, was disrupted when he heard the roar of an approaching truck’s diesel motor. It grew louder by the second. The squeal of its brakes pierced through the cool, damp air as it came to a stop.

With the engine rattling in the background, an overweight man appeared like an apparition (#5) through the fog. Between taking sips from his coffee mug, he asked, Where’s the vehicle?

Follow me, said the policeman.

The two men walked to the rocky shoreline and peered into the ocean. Protruding from the water was the back end of a mangled pickup truck. Small waves slapped against its open tailgate, which in turn, banged against a rock.

Has the body been removed?

The policeman replied with a nod and a frown.

Okay. Let me back the truck over here, and I’ll drag it out.

The rotund (#6) man positioned his vehicle at the road’s edge, took a large gulp from his coffee mug, and then worked his way down the jagged rocks. He cussed all the way down. After attaching a cable to the wreckage, he climbed back to the rattling tow truck. Again, he cussed all the way back up.

It took thirty minutes for the driver to pull the truck from its watery grave. When he finished, it sat upon the tow truck’s flatbed, awaiting its ride to the Worthington Police Department’s impound lot. The driver mumbled a series of cuss words while he made his final preparations and then climbed behind the wheel. With a loud groan from the engine, the tow truck left the accident scene. Water continued to drain from the demolished (#7) pickup as it disappeared into the fog.

CHAPTER ONE

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The speedometer on sixteen-year-old Jack Graystone’s Porsche read 137 m.p.h. With a sharp right-hand curve approaching, he pressed hard on the brakes while downshifting into second gear. The forward force from the deceleration (#8) was so great that he could feel the seatbelt cut into his chest. He held his breath and thought, just don’t spin out, before he turned the vibrating steering wheel to the right. This violent change in direction thrust his body toward the driver’s door. Wisps of grey smoke swirled from the screeching tires as he rounded the curve.

Jack’s heart pounded, and his breaths became shallow and quick. I can’t let him catch me. His pursuer was not far behind. The Porsche’s engine screamed as he accelerated up a small hill, upshifting into fourth gear. After a sweeping curve to the left, a long, straight section gave him the chance to build speed. The car quickly approached 150 m.p.h. A glance in his review mirror, however, indicated he was losing ground. He continued to press the accelerator to the floor, but by the time he crossed the finish line, he could see the taillights on Chris Poulter’s Aston Martin Vanquish. 

Jack eased off the accelerator and slowed to 50 m.p.h. during his ‘cool down’ lap around the racetrack. The driving instructor sitting next to him patted his knee. Good job. You cut 30 seconds off your lap time today. It won’t be long until you can do laps without me. Jack smiled. With every exhilarating (#9) lap, he felt more confident behind the wheel of his Porsche Carrera 4S.

Chris pulled into the pits first. Jack was not far behind. Simultaneously, the two jumped out of their cars and removed their helmets. Sweat dripped from Jack’s head as he unzipped and removed the top half of his fireproof racing suit and then tied the sleeves around his waist. A puff of wind blew against his sweaty t-shirt. It sent a shiver up his spine.

You’re getting faster, Jack. Next time I’ll take the lead position. We’ll see if you can keep up.

Sounds like a good idea, Jack said with a smile. I just hope I don’t run you over.

Yeah, I hope you don’t, Chris countered with a smirk.

The laps around the track had taken a toll on Jack’s Porsche. It was a mess. A layer of dead bugs and dirt covered the front bumper, the headlights, and the portions of the windshield unreachable by the wipers. The wheels, which were covered in charcoal grey brake dust, were now wrapped in four balding tires. 

Chris stuck his head into the front wheel well. The smell of burning rubber caused his face to grimace (#10). Looks like we’ll need to get new tires when we get back to Worthington.

I hate to think what that’s going to cost.

Chris let out a quick laugh. I think there’s enough money in your trust fund to cover it.

The terms of Jack’s million-dollar trust, which was given to him along with his Porsche for solving the case of the missing Anderson boy, allowed for the payment of education and car-related expenses, only. Until he turned twenty-five years old, he could not spend the money on anything else. It was up to the trustee’s discretion as to what were approvable expenses. Chris was not only his trustee but had also taken an avuncular (#11) role in Jack’s life. He had become a mentor and a great friend and would approve payment for most of Jack’s requisitions (#12). Chris even thought of a few new ones like the five thousand dollars spent on customizing the Explorer. He passed those expenses through as ‘safety items.’ The time spent at the racetrack, including the cost of the gas and tires, were considered ‘driver’s education expenses,’ all to be paid by the trust.

Jack was exhausted. He could not believe that something you do sitting down could drain so much energy. So, with Chris in the middle of a conversation with two bleached-blond women acting like ‘tween girls seeing a movie star, he left his friend and walked through the paddock to his cooler. The paddock was the area where the drivers parked between races. It contained about fifty spaces and was situated between the racetrack and the elevated grandstands along pit row. The entire area was covered by a metal canopy, which, depending on the time of day, provided shade for the drivers and spectators.

Jack dug through his cooler until he found an orange Gatorade. The ice water soothed his hands that ached from having a death grip on his steering wheel. After grabbing a packet of crackers, he headed for the grandstands. With one hand sliding up the warm metal handrail, he climbed the concrete steps toward a shady area at the top. By the time he sat, he had little energy remaining. He chugged half of his drink while he turned on his phone. When the screen lit up, he saw several missed calls and one text from his best friend, Ollie. It read,

My life is falling apart! Call me!

Since Ollie had a proclivity (#13) to exaggerate everything, Jack was not too worried. He finished his drink before he dialed his friend’s number. Ollie answered after the first ring.

Jack, where’ve you been? I have been trying to reach you. The tone of Ollie’s voice was different. It was sad and full of despair (#14). Jack knew this time something was really wrong.

I’m with Chris taking driver’s education classes. What’s the problem?

Jack...My mom and dad... Ollie’s voice began to crack.

What happened? Are they all right?

They got in a... Several loud bursts from an emergency vehicle’s siren enveloped his next words.

Jack jumped to his feet. What? I can’t hear you.

I gotta go. The policeman’s going to drive me to the hospital.

Jack’s heart raced. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?

I’ll call you soon.

The phone went dead. Jack stared at the ground with his mouth partially open for a moment until a numbness overcame his body. He collapsed onto the bleachers. What just happened? Dammit, Ollie. You can’t leave me hangin like this. He held his phone out in front of him. His eyes never left the screen. Did they get in a car wreck? Are they hurt? Are they alive? Dammit Ollie, why didn’t you just tell me? It took a few minutes for Jack to gather his wits. Well, most of his wits. He typed Ollie a text with a slight tremor in his hand.

What happened? Call me!!!

Jack went back to staring at his phone while he waited for the call. His mind continued to race with all sorts of horrible thoughts. They stopped, however, on the first ring. Jack jumped to his feet as he answered the call. What’s going on?

Ollie sighed. You’re not going to believe this. My mom caught my dad having an affair with his personal trainer. They had a big fight. And now they’re getting a divorce. He says he’s going to marry the new woman.

Really? How’d she catch him?

My dad told so many lies, he couldn’t keep up with them. My mom got suspicious and hired a private detective. Jack, it’s a real mess. He told her she has to leave the house.

Ollie, your dad can’t make her leave.

I think he can. You know my grandfather actually owns our house. My dad also told her that he has all of his money tied up in trusts and she’ll get nothing. I don’t know where she’s going to live.

Ollie, there’s no way the courts will let your dad kick your mother to the curb.

I don’t know, Jack. Hey, I gotta go. We’re at the hospital.

Uh. Uh. Who’s going to the hospital?

Call me when you get home tonight.

But, Ollie, who’s... Jack never had a chance to finish his question before Ollie disconnected the call. Jack sighed and shook his head while he contemplated (#15) his friend’s situation. He would like to say he was shocked, but to be candid (#16), he knew this was coming. Ollie’s father never grew up. He was spoiled as a child and as an adult thought only of himself.

Ollie’s mother was not much better. She did not come from a wealthy family like her husband. Her newfound wealth through marriage went straight to her head. She was a profligate (#17) spender, wasting money on anything she desired. And if she did not get what she wanted, she was implacable (#18) and made everyone’s life miserable.

This was a bad combination. Over the years, the two grew apart. And with each parent growing more truculent (#19) as time passed, they began to argue constantly. It became so bad; Jack rarely went inside Ollie’s house. The last time he ate dinner with the Culvers, it was like being in the middle of World War III.

Jack had an hour to kill before he could get back on the track. With nothing else to do, he sat in the bleachers, staring at the racetrack in front of him. The constant procession of sports cars screaming down the main straightaway put him in a trance. His mind wandered with thoughts of his best friend and how his life was about to have a drastic (#20) change.

Jack snapped back to reality when he heard the voice of someone standing next to him. When he looked up, he saw Chris.

What did you say?

I said, what’s the matter? You look upset.

I just talked to my friend, Ollie. His parents are getting a divorce.

Chris’ forehead wrinkled. Did he see it coming?

Not really. His parents argue all the time. I guess he got used to it and thought it was normal.

How’s he taking it?

Not well. Apparently, his mother caught his dad having an affair with his personal trainer. Now, his father’s getting remarried.

How’d she catch him?

Ollie said his dad told so many lies, he couldn’t keep up with them. His mother became suspicious and hired a private detective. I guess my father is right when he says, ‘You don’t have to worry about what you say tomorrow if you tell the truth today’.

Chris nodded. "That’s a good dictum (#21) to live by."

Ollie said his father is kicking his mother out of the house and isn’t going to give her any money. He’s worried she’ll be homeless.

That'll never happen.

I don’t know. Ollie’s dad doesn’t actually own anything, and Grandpa Culver pays all his bills.

For the next ten minutes, Chris sat next to Jack on the hard metal bleachers and explained the divorce process. He was very knowledgeable–like he had been through it himself. Jack contemplated whether to ask him if he had gone through a divorce, but chose not to. He had noticed Chris was very guarded about certain aspects of his past. And although they had developed a good relationship–like father and son, teacher and student, mentor and protégé–he did not think this was the right time to question him about his personal life. Besides, they were at a racetrack having fun. Why ruin that?

The conversation ended with Chris giving Jack a pat on the back. Tell your friend not to worry. His mother won’t be homeless. And besides, if his father is as big of a jerk as you say he is, he’ll be divorced from the new woman before you know it. Relationships built on deceit seldom last. If they both can cheat once, what’s stopping them from cheating again?

Jack felt better after their talk and had a spring in his step on the walk back to his Porsche. While he prepared for his next track session, his mind focused only on racing. See you at the finish line, he said to Chris as he stepped into the driver seat. I hope you can keep up, he added before he closed the door.

This time, Chris was in the lead position. The two cars left the pits together, but as soon as they entered the racetrack, Chris sped off. Jack and his Porsche were no match for the Vanquish’s horsepower advantage or Chris’ consummate (#22) driving skills.

CHAPTER TWO

Jack repeatedly dialed Ollie’s phone number on the way home from the racetrack, but every call went straight to voicemail. The phone was either turned off or out of power. As he approached Worthington, he feared the worst and did not know what to do. Do I go straight to the hospital? Do I go to his house? But if I do that, who knows what’s going on there.

Jack took a chance and drove by the shed. Although no lights were on, he could see the television flickering through the window. When he stepped inside, he found Ollie sitting alone in the dark playing a video game. Ollie glanced at Jack but said nothing.

You want to tell me what’s going on? asked Jack.

Not really.

Well, can you at least tell me who went to the hospital?

Ollie toss his controller onto the empty chair next to him, and then frowned and shook his head. My mother, he said as he stood and walked to the refrigerator. When she was fighting with my dad, she hyperventilated and thought she was having a heart attack. So, I called 911.

How’s she doing?

Ollie let out a sigh and shook his head. She’s fine. Once she calmed down, they sent her home. She can be such a drama queen, he said with a roll of his eyes.

Jack stayed with Ollie for the rest of the night until his midnight curfew. During that time, the two played video games while Ollie vented. Jack did not say much. He mostly listened to his best friend; whose emotions were all over the place. Ollie went from angry to sad to scared, and at one point, he even started blaming himself for his parent’s problems. Jack put a stop to that immediately. 

***

After a long night of consoling Ollie, Jack woke at ten, exhausted. He jumped into a cold shower hoping it would wake him, but it did not work. Even a half hour later as he headed to Chris’s house, all he could think about was jumping back into bed.

The plan was to meet at Chris’ house at eleven o’clock. The two were playing golf and had a noon tee time. Since he had to return a few items to the spy room, Jack arrived fifteen minutes early. He parked the Explorer next to a car he had never seen before, then walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Instantly, Sherlock and Mycroft, Chris’ golden retrievers, began to bark. By the time they appeared in the hallway, only Mycroft was barking. Sherlock had two tennis balls in his mouth and was ready to play fetch. To say they were happy to have a new visitor was an understatement. Both dogs jumped up and down and ran in circles so furiously, you could hear their nails clicking on the hardwood floors from the other side of the leaded glass door.

Jack watched his furry friends bounce around the foyer while he waited for someone to answer the door. Almost a minute passed before Chris’ voice blasted out of the intercom. Jack, is that you?

Yeah.

You’re early. I’ll be there in a few minutes.

By now, Sherlock and Mycroft had settled down. Jack took a seat on the front steps while he waited for Chris. He looked into the nearly cloudless blue sky and thought, this is going to be a perfect day to play golf. I just hope I don’t embarrass myself. Several minutes later, the sound of the opening door got his attention. When he turned toward the doorway, he was surprised to see Chris was not alone. He was with a younger woman who was tucking in her shirt. Chris was dressed in only a towel.

Jack, I’d like to introduce you to Katie. Katie, this is Jack.

Jack shook her hand while giving her a quick glance from head to toe. She wore a loose-fitting polo shirt, khaki shorts, and ugly sneakers.

Nice to meet you, replied Jack.

Nice meeting you, too.

Chris gave Katie a hug. Goodbye. I’ll see you in a couple of days. We’ll discuss our plans then. I sure hope your husband doesn’t find out. Chris shut the door behind her and with a glance toward Jack, said, I’ll be down in a few minutes. I have to take a shower, before quickly disappearing upstairs.

Chris’s speedy departure gave Jack no