Rocky Mountain Deception

By Marcy Falango

Greeley, Colorado, calm and peaceful. Just what Detective Meranda Shaw needed. New York, where she currently lived with her husband Robert was putting a strain on their marriage. She worked long tedious hours with no signs of letting up. Meranda soon learned the darkness in New York was nothing compared to the evil facing her in Greeley. Murder, lies, deceptions, and greed would tear her world apart. Who can she trust? Follow Meranda and her partner Izzy as they unravel the dark truth of who is corrupt. Meranda's dark hole gets deeper and darker. She is a fighter and not one to give up easily. She lives by her motto, "You are never out of the fight" and she could be hell-on-wheels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781641386999

Marcy Falango

I have always longed of being a writer. Putting my thoughts and feelings on paper has always come easier to me than verbal. As a graduate from the Institute of Children’s Literature, I feel that now is the time to put my passion to work for me. As a mother of four children (all grown now), I have always felt that good morals should be a strong part of their upbringing, and that is a large part of what my story is based on. I currently reside in Pinellas Park, Florida, with my family. I am a retired housewife and enjoy the game of pool and cooking. Oh, and writing of course. I find that the older I get, the more comfort I seek in my life. More is not always better.

Book preview

Chapter

1

The police department got the call about a homicide at 5862 Monroe Street at 8:42 p.m. Lead Detective Meranda Shaw and her partner, Isabelle Sanchez, arrived at the scene by 9:03 p.m. Meranda knew this house—blue with white trim and a dark-blue front door. A six-foot white vinyl privacy fence surrounded the west, north, and east sides of the house. A gate to enter the backyard was on the east side of the home. The house was block construction with a shingle roof. It was a single-family, two-story home. The perimeter around the crime scene was taped off and secure. The victim was lying lifeless facedown on the lawn. Izzy used her fingerprint scanner to identify the victim, Jake Bradford, son of Mayor Luke Bradford. Sixteen and played football at Wilder High School. Meranda approached the officer first to arrive on scene. She showed her badge, introduced herself, and asked for a recap of events. The officer had taken the mayor’s statement. I was awoken by the sound of a car speeding away. I ran to the window but could only get a glimpse of the rear of the vehicle. It was too dark to read the license plate. I ran outside and found the boy’s body. The officer pointed in the direction of a tree. The mayor said a shadowy figure was leering, but it was too dark for him to get a good look at whoever it was. All he saw was a figure about six feet tall and wearing a dark hoodie. Male or female, he didn’t know.

Where’s the mayor now? said Meranda.

I asked him to wait in his library until you arrived. Not sure how responsive he will be right now. It was a struggle to calm him down earlier when I questioned him.

Thanks, said Meranda, I’ll try not to keep him waiting too long. After getting the preliminary questions out of the way, she excused him. I’ll take it from here.

The detectives approached the body. They kept their distance until the medical examiner had finished bagging his samples for tests later.

Doctor, I understand you estimate time of death was between one and four in the morning. Is there anything else you can tell me about how he died? asked Meranda.

The only thing I can tell you with any certainty is that he died of blunt force trauma to the head. I’ll know more after the autopsy, responded the medical examiner.

Doctor, I do need to check out the body before you take him away. Meranda thanked the medical examiner and walked away.

Meranda found Izzy talking to one of the officers. "Sorry to interrupt, but, Izzy, I need you with me. The mayor said he saw a person standing in the shadows behind a tree on the east side of the property. Could you examine that area for evidence?’

Not a problem, Meranda, Izzy said as she headed to the tree where the body was found.

Meranda turned her attention back to the medical examiner. You done, Doctor?

Yes, my dear, all yours. Just let me know when I can transport.

The victim was in a body bag. Meranda bent over and unzipped the bag to examine the body. She made note of his head wound and bloody knuckles. It looked like he put up quite a struggle. She also noticed finger marks around his neck, which led her to believe that maybe the victim did not die with the first try. When finished, she zipped the bag up and told an officer he was ready to be moved.

Meranda approached Izzy. Find anything useful?

There’s no prints. These shoe prints might be useful, and whoever it was smoked menthol cigarettes. I bagged the butts to be sent to the lab for examination, says Izzy.

Good job, partner, replies Meranda.

As scene detective, Izzy took her responsibilities very seriously. She grabbed the attention of the two technicians (forensic scientists) who just arrived. Could you please start collecting all the evidence you feel pertinent to this case? She then took her camera from the car and took pictures of the footprints and the crime scene before the investigation started to damage the integrity of the scene. Once initial documentation was complete, Izzy composited a scene sketch (sometimes called 3-D) documenting the placement of the body, blood spatter, blood drops, murder weapon if available at the crime scene, as well as any other evidence. When Izzy completed her work, Meranda suggested they have a talk with the mayor in hopes he might remember something, anything.

The detectives showed their badges to the officer guarding the entrance to the mayor’s house. He pointed them in the direction of the library. They walked the length of the corridor and into the library. The mayor was seated in an easy chair next to a roaring fireplace. He was hunched over, with both hands covering his eyes, and sobbing.

Meranda gently tapped his shoulder. Sir, I’m Detective Shaw, and this is my partner Detective Sanchez. We need to ask you a few questions about your son. Would that be okay?

The mayor glanced up at Meranda. I guess so, but I already gave the officer my statement, that’s all I know. I have no idea how or why this happened.

Meranda sat on the sofa directly opposite the mayor, with Izzy sitting beside her. Mr. Mayor, we are so sorry for your loss. I Just need to know more about your son—what he was like, what he was into, and who he hung out with. Sir, was he having trouble at school? At home? Do you know if he was using drugs?

The mayor jumped up and glared at Meranda. I don’t think I like what you are insinuating about my son. No, Jake was not into drugs. Sure, he went through some rough patches, but what teenager hasn’t? He wasn’t that kind of boy. Can we discuss this later? I would really like to be alone right now.

Meranda stood up. Sir, may we have your permission to search your son’s room? There may be evidence there that can lead us to his killer.

No, you may not, under any circumstances, invade my son’s or my privacy. Please see yourselves out. I would like to be alone. The mayor rose from his chair and aggressively pointed the detectives in the direction of the library doors.

We’ll get back with you in a few days. Again, sorry about your son.

After they closed the library doors and walked outside, Meranda finally spoke up. We really need to get a warrant to search his son’s bedroom. Maybe he was hiding things from his father, or maybe we’ll just get lucky and find a lead.

"Meranda, you know we will have a problem