Dirty Blonde: Inspector Calamari Mysteries

By Richard Vadim

After filing a sexual harassment suit against a famous female artist, a male model is murdered … the murder weapon? One of the artist's sculpting chisels.  But all is not what it seems.  Follow Detective Dulles Calamari and Sergeant Angel Treadwell as they weave their way through the trials and tribulations of the art world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Vadim
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223292043

Book preview

Dirty Blonde

An Inspector Calamari Mystery

Richard Vadim

Dirty Blonde

An Inspector Calamari Mystery

by Richard Vadim

Copyright © 2023 Richard Vadim

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For licenses, contact: [e-mail]

This work is a product of the author’s imagination.  Any references to people or places are imagined or used fictitiously.

Printed in the United States of America

First Edition

To my family.

Dirty Blonde

An Inspector Calamari Mystery

Contents

1 – The Art World

2 – The Real World

3 – The Masterpiece

4 – Rock On

5 – The Show

6 – The non-Rooster Murder

7 – The Tarnished Artist

8 – Indecision

9 – The Jury’s Out

10 – Switcheroo

11– Still Life

12 – Thwarted

13 - Salvation

Epilogue

1 – The Art World

I guess my office is a tad on the cool side, Ida pouted as she observed her model’s withered manhood.  She looked him in the eye and eased her expression.  "However, Wolfgang, I must admit that, for the most part, I have not seen such a perfect specimen in some time. 

Wolfgang beamed.  Thank you.

"Do you mind if I take some pictures?

They will help me when I plan out the piece."

No, ma’am, be my guest.

Ida clicked away with her cell phone camera from numerous directions and angles. 

"Would you mind striking a few poses

for me?"

Anything in particular?

"Well, can we start with something like Myron’s Discus Thrower?"

Wolfgang contorted to the proper position, and Ida circled the six-foot diameter platform, snapping more pictures.

"How about The Dying Gaul?  Do you know that one?"

Yes, ma’am.  The model sat on the carpeted stage and settled into the pose he remembered seeing.

Again, Ida studied him from various viewpoints.  "Wonderful; lastly, how about Rodin’s The Thinker?"

Wolfgang pulled the bench at the platform's edge into the center and replicated the requested pose.

Ida applauded.  Excellent, Wolfgang.  You can get dressed now.

Presently Ida and Wolfgang exchanged glances across her desk.  Wolfgang, as I indicated in my ad, I was looking for someone to paint for a new collection of nudes I am working on.  But, seeing you up close, in the flesh, I would really like to sculpt you in stone.

Cool.

That is, of course, if you will have the time.  Sculpting is a more time-consuming process.  It will take me months.

Oh.

I’ll pay you five hundred dollars per week.  I don’t plan to work more than four hours per day; sculpting is more strenuous than painting.  You can count on the weekly check even if we work less or take a few days off.  How does that sound to you?

Sounds great, Wolfgang smiled.

Have you any commitments at the moment?

"I have a few possible short-term gigs,

but I’ll gladly let them go for this steady opportunity."

Wonderful.  It will take me a few weeks to figure out what pose I want, determine if I can secure the right stone, and then have it set up in the studio.  So, you’ll have time to do some short-term assignments.

Thank you, ma’am.

No, thank you.  And Wolfgang, when it’s just the two of us in the room, call me Ida.  When there are others around, you can use Ms. Getsuemi.

Yes, ma’am … I mean Ida.  It’s been nice doing business with you.

Ida rose and accompanied Wolfgang toward the door.  Now, stay fit, but don’t over-exercise.  I want the muscle tone I just saw.  I don’t want to see any changes.

No problem, Ida.  You’ll let me know when you want to start?

I will.  How do you feel about coming over to my place some night next week?  I should have some preliminary ideas by then, and perhaps we can discuss them at length.

That would be nice.

Artist and model stopped in front of the desk of Ida’s