The Shakers a Mick Hart Mystery

By Lawrence Christopher

"There is missing, then there is being made to disappear."

Mick Hart Private Investigation Agency finds deadbeat parents whose child supports payments are in arrears. On occasion, P.I. Hart will take on a case to find a missing person. In The Shakers, Sapphire Jenkins (Mary's Little Lam

• Language: English
• Publisher: Home Keys Publishing
• Release date: Jul 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088248904

Lawrence Christopher

TBD

Book preview

Also, by Lawrence Christopher

Ghettoway Weekend

Later Days and Nights

Out of the Barrel

The Mick Hart Mysteries

All About Mary

Dog ‘Em

Mary’s Little Lamb

The Tickle Fingers Series

Where’s Pinky

Five Finger Prayer Book

Backlog Titles

Blood-Related: a Mick Hart Mystery

Name that Kill: a Mick Hart Mystery

Cruising While Black: a Mick Hart Mystery

Love of the Sun, Moon, and Star

The Tickle Fingers: I Pinky Swear

The Shakers

A Mick Hart Mystery

Lawrence Christopher

MF Unlimited

Atlanta, GA

THE CHARACTERS AND events in the book are fictitious. Any similarities of real people, living or dead, are coincidental and not intended by the author.

Copyright © 2023 MF Unlimited

ISBN-10‏: ‎ 097122787X

ISBN-13:  978-0971227873

LCCN:  2023941790

Cover Design by Tolbert Graphics

Printed in the USA

Acknowledgment

JEHOVAH JIRAH

Keith Mosley

One

THE LATEST EPISODE of WTOL11’s Guilty Without Proof televised program was concluding. The state victory was accomplished against the court-appointed counsel. Reporters investigating discovered the innocence of wrongly convicted Jamie Peterson, announced the on-air television talent. There was no mention of my involvement. Which was good. The television station paid my expenses for my behind-the-scenes work as agreed.

You know, if they said your name, you would probably have more clients. Offered my wife, Latasha.

Probably. I’m good with the current flow. I replied.

She tucked her feet beneath my leg and stretched out on the couch.

I’m just saying, it couldn’t hurt to have some free publicity.

Free publicity could bring on free trouble. I’d like to keep some semblance of control of what work comes knocking at the door.

Just as I spoke those words, the doorbell chimed.

Mick, someone is here to see you, Wifey announced.

On the porch stood a hefty size young man wearing a strapped t-shirt, also known as a wife beater. He wore oversized jeans which hung off his waist exposing his briefs. His well-developed arms were covered with tattoos.

You Mick?

I suppose so. And you are?

My girl wants to talk with you.

Who’s your girl?

Sapphire.

"Where is she?

In the car. She’s about to drop. That’s why she didn’t get out.

Drop?

My kid, he clarified. I found it interesting when someone sometimes is claiming a child it is in singular possession terms as opposed to ours.

I followed the roughneck out to his pimped-out black-on-black GMC Acadia truck. In the front seat was a very pregnant familiar face from the past. Sapphire Jenkins looks to be in her mid-twenties and sure enough good and plenty. The last time I saw her she was leaving the courthouse arm in arm with her adoptive father Perry Rogers.

It was the second time Sapphire had been in court involving a murder case. The first, was when she and her brother Gerald were suspected of killing their mother. The children got off on the technicality that she was already dead when they stabbed her with a knife. Perry was engaged to their mother Mary Jane Jenkins at the time. He went on to adopt the two children. The following court appearance for Sapphire was when she was originally implicated in Perry’s second fiancée’s murder. Once again, she was found not guilty. I purposely did not say she was innocent.

I peered through the front passenger window at the angelic face of the young lady.

Hey Mister Hart, the girl sounded sugary sweet.

"Miss Jenkins. How many months are you?

Nine.

I turned to the young man leaning against the front hood while working on unwrapping a cigar. And how many months have you been out of jail?

"Why are you going to come at me like that?

I was merely making an observation.

Don’t mind him, Mister Hart. Do you remember my brother Gerald?

Yes. He was deemed a delinquent early on, but not for his own doing. Gerald was a follower and easily influenced by his sister. What about him, I asked.

He’s missing.

Missing?

Yes. He’s going to college in Atlanta. I haven’t heard from him in over a week. We talked or texted every day. But like I said, I haven’t heard from him in over a week, close to two.

You are talking about Atlanta. I imagine that there are all sorts of good and bad trouble a twenty-something boy can get himself into.

See, I told you, said the young man in support of my speculation. He was lighting his remade cigar. The burn was that of marijuana. He offered me a tote.

No thanks.

Show some respect, Sapphire demanded of her baby’s daddy.

I am. I offered him a hit.

I mean don’t be smoking that around Mister Hart.

It’s okay. Have you reported Gerald’s missing to the school or the Atlanta police?

No. I wasn’t sure who to call.

I suggest that you do one or the other or both.

Would you help me look for him? She begged.

But he might not be, what you consider loss. I think if you contact the school and the proper authorities, you’ll find out that it’s just a misunderstanding. He might be somewhere with a girlfriend.

No, he’s not. Oh, please, Mister Hart. Finding people is what you do, isn’t it? I can pay you. Sykes, give him the money.

Sykes reached into his front jeans pocket to pull out a folded wad of bills.

I can’t take your money, Miss Jenkins.

But you must. She pleaded.

He said that he can’t take the money. Sykes reiterated.

"Be quiet, Sykes. – Mister Hart, please.

Two

I DID TAKE the money and the job, just to put the expectant mother’s mind at ease – even if temporarily. Putting in my office safe,