Collection of detective stories featuring Detective James Andrews. “Secret admirer?” Officer Roberts asked handing Detective James Andrews a red heart shaped box, wrapped with a white ribbon. “Not likely,” James said taking the box, setting it down on the desk in front of him. James pulled the white ribbon that made a bow around the box. He slid the top of the box up, lifting it off. “What the…” James pushed back from his desk standing up. “Get a crime scene kit up here,” He ordered.
First off I’m terrible at writing blurbs. That being said, I wrote a book. I write for me, this writing road trip started about five years ago, and has had its fair share of bumps, flat tires and odd nights spent at creepy motels. Personally I am proud of Detective Stories I enjoyed writing it, I am emotionally invested in the characters and I reread it often for my own enjoyment. Now choosing an excerpt was difficult, my short stories in this series bleed into each other. I wanted to pick something that would be enticing but not confusing because characters are introduced and then refenced back to during the storylines. I’m going with Deceit which is a story I enjoyed coming up with that then helps build future storylines. I never intended to write a ‘soap opera’ but the characters dictate. I’m just here to tell their story. With all that I hope that you enjoy getting to know Detective James Andrews in Detective Stories. -Megan Hinde
Deceit
Scarlet kept step with the big brute that was Marco Bishop, through the city streets, she followed him up to his apartment building.
“Good evening, Mr. Bishop,” the doorman said.
“It should be,” Marco said nodding towards Scarlet, as he keyed in his door code.
Scarlet made eye contact with the doorman, while making a mental note of the door code.
63-30-41
Marco held the door for Scarlet.
“Why thank you Mr. Bishop,” she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek as she entered the building.
Marco took a moment to admire her hourglass figure, that was being hugged by a tight little red dress.
“Would you like a drink?” he asked as they entered the apartment.
“Sure, Scotch if you have it,” she answered sliding off her red pumps.
Marco poured two glasses, handed one to Scarlet and took him into the living room. He sat down in an overstuffed leather chair, downed his Scotch and raised his finger in a come here movement.
Scarlet finished off her drink, setting it down on the kitchen counter and walked over. She gave him a smile and dropped to her knees.
~ ~ ~ ~
Mac’s 24hr Diner advertised ‘Breakfast Available All Day’ John handed the menu back to the cute blonde waitress.
“Just a coffee for now, thanks,” he said watching as Scarlet entered the apartment building across the street.
~ ~ ~ ~
Scarlet ran her freshly manicured nails along Marco’s thighs, she unzipped and unbuttoned his pants. Sliding her hand into his pants as she moved up and kissed him, slipping her tongue into his mouth. Along with a little white pill.
He swallowed as she kissed him again, deeply. As she repeated the door code to herself.
63-30-41
63-30-41
Marco’s breathing changed, his whole body fell limp. Scarlet checked to make sure he was still breathing. Then she made her way into the bedroom. She moved the nightstand away from the wall, giving the wall a light push. The panel popped out. She moved it over and found what she was after. Blueprints to the convention center and candidate elect Norman St. Johns’ campaign schedule. She thumbed through them then put them back into their hiding space.
She grabbed her shoes and left the apartment. She gave the doorman another smile as she ran across the street in her stocking to Mac’s Diner.
She sat down in front of John and motioned for the waitress.
“About time, Detective Marks” John said taking a sip of his second cup of coffee.
“Hey, I got what we need for tomorrow morning,” said Detective Josephine Marks.
“What can I get you?” the cute blonde waitress asked.
“Coffee, and a Denver omelette with wheat toast, please,”
“I’ll have the same,” John said.
“So how was it?” John asked as he took another bite of his omelette.
“It was fine, just part of working undercover,” Josephine gave him a smile and continued eating her meal.
~ ~ ~ ~
“He’s leaving,” Josephine said tapping John’s arm.
John looked over at the apartment building.
“Give him a few then we go in,”
Josephine and John walked across the street to the front of the apartment building. Josephine gave the doorman a smile and entered the door code.
63-30-41
She walked down the hall to Marco’s door.
“I hope this works,” she breathed as she turned the doorknob.
The door opened, she pushed the lock button back in so that it would lock this time, when she left.
She went to the sliding glass doors off of the living room, that opened up to the side of the building and let John in.
“Nice apartment,”
Josephine went into the bedroom, moved the nightstand and opened the panel. She handed the blueprints and papers to John.
“At least the informant was right,” he took all the papers.
Josephine walked back into the living room finding her purse that she had left on the kitchen counter. John came up behind her, sliding his arms around her and pulling her into him. He kissed the back of her neck.
“I kinda like you as a redhead,”
She pushed back into him as he kissed down her neck.
Knock, Knock
“Fuck,” Josephine said jumping at the sound.
“Miss, are you still there?” the doorman asked.
John left through the sliding glass door and Josephine grabbed her purse and answered the door.
“Found it,” she said, holding up her purse and walking quickly down the hallway.
~ ~ ~ ~
“You do know that we need to be at the briefing by 11 am?” John asked between spitting and brushing.
“Yes, I know,” Josephine answered from the shower.
“We have plenty of time, are you joining me before the hot water is gone?” she asked.
John shook his head, dropped his boxers and got into the shower.
~ ~ ~ ~
“Detective Marks and Detective Keen have confirmed that Marco Bishop is planning to attempt an assassination of candidate elect Norman St. Johns. At the moment we are just observing, Mr. St. Johns has been made aware and has increased his personal security. But he refuses to stop campaigning and is going ahead with his ‘Clean Streets Initiative’”
~ ~ ~ ~
It was too early for it to be this hot, June had just begun but it was already well over 80 degrees on Thursday morning.
“So what do we have?” Detective James Andrews asked as he sipped his coffee.
“Male, 45 to 50 years old, approximately 6’ 5” and 245 to 255 lbs. No ID yet,” the responding officer answered.
“Well, how did you get out here, Mr. Doe?” Detective Andrews asked while he looked over the scene.
Detective Andrews gave the John Doe a once over.
No stab wounds, No bullet holes, No fresh lacerations or bruising.
He reached with a gloved hand, moving some hair away from his neck.
“Interesting, get a photo of this,”
James continued looking around the body, there were drag marks from John Doe’s shoes, that started where the tire tracks ended.
James walked away from the body and faced the dirt road. He lit a cigarette and walked down the road towards the highway. It was quiet, a faint breeze moved through the birch trees.
“Who found him?” he asked, returning to the scene.
“Marjorie and Larry Nesbit were out walking their dogs, they live about a half mile down Route 18,”
“Well let me know as soon as we get his prints back, he’s gotta be somebody,”
Now if you have read this far I Thank You. I Thank you even more if you check out the ebook version or order a paperback copy. Here’s to continuing on with Detective James Andrewes and his Detective Stories.