Gone Without a Trace: A Samuel Garcia Private Eye Mystery

By Alton Lynn Cooper

Samuel Garcia is called upon to help his good friend, Sheriff Joe Halstead, solve a cold case from seven years ago. The case involves the disappearance of Paul Gleason, Amarillo National Bank’s associate manager, along with twelve million dollars of bearer bonds issued by the city of Amarillo, Texas. Paul Gleason’s twin brother, Raymond Gleason, is carrying on at the bank after the disappearance of his brother and the bonds that had been entrusted to their care. The disappearance stumped both the Amarillo sheriff and the FBI special agent assigned to it shortly after the crime occurred. The case is filled with murder and intrigue and, in the end, reveals the depth of depravity that can fill the human heart. Samuel is also faced with a mysterious stranger showing up at his family’s sprawling cattle ranch, threatening to take away his mother’s head maid, who has captured Samuel’s heart. The knowledge of this individual’s presence in their home torments Samuel throughout his time on the bank case, causing many moments of anguish in his personal life.

Gone without a Trace is sure to keep the reader turning pages, joining our master detective in his latest caper as he unwinds a web of deceit, trapping a nest full of rats.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891303409

Book preview

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Gone Without a Trace

A Samuel Garcia Private Eye Mystery

Alton Lynn Cooper

ISBN 979-8-89130-339-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89130-340-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Alton Lynn Cooper

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. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

About the Author

Books by Alton Lynn Cooper

Introduction

Samuel Garcia was the young debonair Spanish associate of Davey Gibson in the novel On the Wings of Love. He's a dashing young man who is most comfortable in blue jeans and a brightly colored shirt with his feet clad in genuine leather cowboy boots (with carved designs on them, of course). Samuel's great-grandfather was a policeman and passed his love of solving difficult cases down to his flamboyant grandson. After Davey moved back to the States from serving in missionary work in the South Pacific, Samuel joins the local police department on Kalmajo Island to gain on the job experience preparing him to return to Texas and take up residence as an elite private investigator. He launches his career in some most unusual ways before finally landing his first big case tracking down some pretty clever cattle rustlers (In the Dark of Night). In his next major case, he is called upon to stop the loss of millions of dollars in stolen artwork, resulting in a near-death experience at the hands of a mad man (The Case of the Vanishing Masterpieces).

Samuel manages to remain footloose and fancy-free, even though he has a number of young lady admirers, along with a loving mother who is expecting a host of grandchildren from her eldest son. Samuel established his office in the old bunkhouse on his family's sprawling cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle after evicting numerous families of mice who had called the place home for many years. A hard case with large amounts of intrigue gets Samuel's blood moving and his investigative juices flowing. He fancies himself among the best when it comes to snooping, and we certainly hope you will agree after traveling with him through this latest caper. He is called upon by the Amarillo police chief, Joe Halstead, to help solve a seven-year-old crime involving an elusive criminal who vanished with millions of dollars in bearer bonds. Come along on this page-turning adventure and see if you can unravel this latest mystery before our master detective figures it out, bringing the culprits to justice.

Samuel slapped at the clock radio on the nightstand as it began blaring out the latest news concerning the Amarillo cattleman's auction.

If you want your bulls and your heifers in the sale, you better get your beef into town by this Friday deadline or keep them for yourself. This is Colonel Jimmy George coming at you from Amarillo station, WWTYZ, on this beautiful Saturday morning smack-dab in the middle of May.

One last swing sent the radio crashing to the bunkhouse floor with Colonel Jimmy George riding along with it. Samuel pulled himself up into a sitting position on the side of the bed and began vigorously scratching his scalp through his thick mane of black wavy hair. He had been home recuperating at the ranch since finishing his latest case concerning the stolen artwork. His injuries sustained at the villa in France were healed for the most part, with only a few aches and pains still remaining in his lower back. He crawled out of bed, making his way to the bathroom, getting ready for the day ahead. He would join his mother and his brothers at the main house for breakfast and then go into Amarillo for his meeting. Joe Halstead was the sheriff in Amarillo and a longtime friend of Samuel and his brothers. He had been called to their school as a young sheriff's deputy during the brother's formative years to break up a few of their schoolyard scuffles. Samuel and his six brothers were known at times to engage in roughhousing with some of their fellow classmates that the school principal referred to as an out-of-control brawl on school property. Halstead had contacted him the day before, asking for the meeting to discuss the forming of select teams helping to solve some of Amarillo's cold cases. After doing his morning cleanup of shaving, showering, and putting his raven-black hair in place, he bent down, retrieving the banished clock radio from the floor, returning it to the nightstand. Noticing the minute hand only six marks away from touching the number 12, signaling 7:00 a.m., he hurried out the door, heading for the hacienda and Ms. Valentina's wonderful hot breakfast. His mother did not tolerate any of her boys showing up late or coming into her presence not properly dressed entering the main house.

Samuel hurried up the long winding drive with the live oaks arched overhead, listening to the early morning birds trilling out their joy of a new day. The weather was a perfect seventy-four degrees with a soft southerly wind blowing across the pasturelands, causing a person's heart to be happy to be alive. During his most desperate times in his last case, he feared that he may never walk this drive to his home again. There was more than one individual that wanted him dead in the worst way. Much to the dismay of his mother, Sofia, he had chosen to become a private investigator instead of remaining here on the family ranch, helping his six brothers run the place. His father, Mateo, had moved on to heaven a number of years ago, leaving his mother as the patriarch of the family's sprawling cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle. The ranch had grown since his father's death, adding thousands of head of cattle along with fields of hay, corn, and pecan trees. The ranch covered more than 114,000 acres under his mother and his brothers' care and was continuing to expand as the years passed on.

Samuel turned the last curve in the stone driveway, stopping quickly at the sight of the bright red Ferrari sitting near the front entrance. He moved around it, admiring its sleek lines, curious as to who would be at the ranch this time of day in such an exquisite machine. The windows were down, allowing him to stick his head in the driver's side, drooling over the gorgeous interior as the strong smell of rich leather filled his nostrils. He hurried to the front door, rushing into the entrance foyer just as the large grandfather clock began announcing 7:00 a.m. in its deep bonging tune. Samuel entered the expansive dining hall, seeing his mother and brothers seated around the long oak table prepared for the breakfast meal.

It's fortunate for you that clock didn't finish its work before that body of yours was in its seat.

Samuel's mother gave him a stern look, letting him know she was still in charge of the house.

Did one of my brothers buy that beautiful machine resting out front, or is that yours, Mother?

It's neither theirs nor mine. Now you ask grace for our food, and we will begin our day with God's blessing upon it. Valentina will serve us this morning and then I have given her the rest of the day off.

After Samuel prayed over their food, Valentina swept into the room with a radiant glow on her face, smiling as she instructed her serving staff placing a wonderful breakfast before those gathered around the table.

Valentina, please introduce your guest before the two of you leave to enjoy this beautiful spring day.

Yes, and thank you for allowing me this time with him.

Samuel's eyes were glued on the tall young man as he came out of the kitchen, stepping into the dining hall. He was immaculately dressed in an expensive dark pinstripe suit draped over square, muscular shoulders clothed in a deep wine-colored silk shirt open at the collar. His feet were clad in highly polished leather cowboy boots that would put Samuel's to shame. He had a full head of black wavy hair matched with a neatly trimmed mustache framed by a face with a square jaw and rugged chiseled features. The gold Rolex watch, highly polished boots, and exquisite gold and diamond rings on his hands spoke of him being a very successful individual. Samuel thought he must be staring at one of the world's leading bullfighters famous around the world.

Valentina, please introduce your dear friend to us.

This is Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez. He has come a long way to visit with me, and I am so thankful, Ms. Sofia, for the day to spend with him.

Hector Lopez addressed the group at the table in a deep rich Spanish voice. It is so nice to make your acquaintance. Valentina has shared with me concerning her work here and how much she cares for all of you. I must admit I have tried to pull her away to a different life, but so far, to no avail. However, we Spanish men don't give up so easily, as you well know, so we keep on trying, no.

Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez flashed a brilliant smile to everyone as he took Valentina's hand, pulling her toward the bright red chariot awaiting them at the front entrance. Samuel swallowed his mouthful of chewed-up sausage, washing it down with a large gulp of hot coffee before speaking. His mother never allowed her boys to speak with food in their mouths. That lesson had been learned the hard way through their formative years, being told to leave the table many times, resulting in going to bed on a burning stomach.

Why would you let your employee go off with someone we know very little about? Samuel stared intently at his mother as she took time swallowing her food before responding.

They have known one another since childhood as I understand it. They seem to be very close.

Sofia loaded another bite of warm grits into her mouth, watching her oldest son, as deep concern spread across his face.

What does he do for a living? From the looks of that machine out front, he may be mixed up in white-collar crime for all we know.

Samuel Garcia, you will not sit at my table thinking the worst of someone you just met. For all we know, he is a very successful self-made man looking to settle down with the señorita of his dreams, no.

She seemed extremely happy to see this Mr. Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez whoever he is. And I agree with Mama. He sure smells of success. A young señorita would surely count it a blessing to catch his eye.

Samuel gave his brother Diego his most disgusting look.

So we let our employee go off with someone we know nothing about and not be concerned for her well-being?

Don't worry so much, my son. I met him when he first came to the house this morning, and he seems to be very fond of our Valentina. I'm sure he would no doubt protect her with his own life.

Samuel finished his breakfast quickly and asked to be excused from his mother's table. He wanted to stop in town before meeting with the sheriff and google this man to see if just maybe, there was a warrant out for his arrest. Sofia Garcia smiled to herself, watching her eldest son rush off toward his office, intent on snooping into Ms. Valentina's dear friend.

Ah yes. Young love can so trouble a tender heart, no.

What did you say, Mother?

Nothing, Javier. Finish your breakfast. You and your brothers have pastures to plant, no.

Samuel watched the Ferrari as it slowly went down the winding drive under the live oaks spreading their branches overhead. Evidently, Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez had taken his time getting Valentina acquainted with the dashing sports car before pulling away from the main house. He heard Valentina's laughter and watched as she put her hand on the driver's shoulder. The radio came alive with a Spanish love song just as the sleek red machine turned onto the two-lane heading toward Amarillo. Samuel had never felt so strong a stirring in his heart as he did at that moment. He had admired his mother's head maid from a distance, playing cat-and-mouse games with her over the past two years. He felt coldness spread itself through him, thinking of her spending this beautiful spring day with this debonair, rich man, going who knows where, doing who knows what. He thought that he may have toyed with her emotions to the point she had given up on him and was now setting her hat for this Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez.

Samuel pushed the Jeep as fast as he dared heading for Amarillo. He noticed the blue plume of smoke exiting the rear was making its presence more and more known as the days went by. He made a mental note to stop at the garage in town one of these days and get the old girl checked out. He had earned enough money from his last two cases to buy a new machine of his own, but couldn't stand the thought of abandoning the Jeep. It had served him and Davey Gibson well on Kalmajo Island and then took a bullet for him during his work catching a nasty nest of cattle thieves. It had stuck by him, and he would stick by it. He eased his way down Main Street, heading for the public library, hoping to go online and do a search of Ms. Valentina's long-lost friend. He had learned how to use technology during his last case tracking down the art thieves and wanted to see exactly who this Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez was. After all, he was doing it out of concern for his mother, protecting her head housekeeper from potential harm.

Please stop hitting the keys so hard. That is a computer, not a punching bag.

Samuel looked up into the pinched face of the Amarillo public library supervisor.

Sorry. It doesn't seem to be working right.

Why do you think it's not working right?

I've entered information, doing a search for a certain individual, and it continues coming up blank.

Have you considered the possibility there is no information available concerning this particular person?

Why wouldn't there be something on him?

Is he a bank robber or a serial killer or wanted by the FBI?

I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out.

Move over.

Samuel glanced at Ms. Gladys Shoemaker's name tag as she nudged him out of the control seat in front of the computer and began entering the information he fed her. The chain holding her dark thick-rimmed glasses firmly to her nose swung away as she banged the information into the machine.

Hector Maria Gonzalez Lopez?

Yes.

According to this, he doesn't exist.

That's impossible. He was at my mother's house this morning. I saw him with my own eyes.

Well, he apparently hasn't killed anyone yet or robbed any banks. Until then, you will just have to keep waiting for him to make a name for himself on the evening news. Gotta go now.

Samuel sat stunned as Ms. Gladys hurried off, pushing a cartload of books over to the rows of shelves, returning them to their rightful place. He typed the name in two more times, continuing to get a blank screen in response. An uneasy feeling crept its way over him. Just how well did Valentina know this man who showed up on his mother's doorstep whisking her away?

*****

Cup a joe?

Black and thick, I hope.

Made it fresh day before yesterday. Reheated four times. Should tighten your socks.

Sheriff Joe Halstead poured Samuel and himself a cup of steaming coffee and sat down at his desk.

Thank you for coming in. How's that back of yours doing?

Getting better as the days go by. If the brute in France had landed a few more blows, my snooping days would have to be carried out from a motorized chair.

"You chose this line of work, my friend. It's not easy being in law enforcement these days. Plenty of people out there wanting to be rid of us wearing the uniform as well as a private detective such as yourself. I've been called upon by the mayor of Amarillo to put together a group of people to work on a number of cold cases that have remained unsolved for the last ten years. I thought of you and have a case in mind that has stumped not only me, but also the FBI agent that was