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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781546230465 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 02/27/2018 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 328 |
| File size: | 422 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Getting Married
Peter and Darcy were driving down Pacific Coast Highway going through Huntington Beach in route to Laguna Beach. Darcy was admiring the waves. "You think we could learn how to surf"? Peter was watching the waves. "I think we'd fall off our surfboards. We aren't the surfer types."
Darcy thought about it. "You're right. I like to watch the surfers anticipate a wave, paddle toward it and hop on their boards. It's amazing how they can time the waves to know when they can hop on." Peter saw a surfer paddle then hop on his surfboard. "I guess it is. I hope we can find easy parking. I think we left early enough."
Darcy let out a happy cry when she saw a Laguna Beach signpost.
"We're almost there. I love Laguna Beach."
"It's a special place," Peter replied and he hoped forever for the two of them a very special place. Peter felt for the engagement ring he had concealed in his shirt pocket. It was the third time he had checked it since they left on their day trip. This would be one time where forgetfulness would be unforgivable. "Let's walk to the gazebo and back before lunch."
Darcy considered their options. "Are you sure you don't want to eat first? We left home without eating breakfast." Peter was trying to appear outwardly calm. "I want to stretch my legs and get some exercise." Darcy always loved walking along the paths and looking out at the Pacific Ocean. "Sounds good to me."
Peter turned left onto Broadway and luckily street parking was available. Peter parked their car and he was glad to have avoiding any parking hassles. "That's what I'm talking about. I knew leaving at eight was a good idea." Peter put the car in park as Darcy reached in her purse for the roll of quarters for the parking meter. "How many quarters do you think we need to put in?" Peter was trying to calibrate the amount of time he would need to properly pop the question. "Put in three hours' worth."
Darcy carefully watched the time count on the meter as she inserted quarters in the meter. "We have parking for three hours and fifteen minutes. If we want to stay longer we'll need to be back here at noon." As they walked across an intersection crossing Pacific Coast Highway toward the beach Peter felt for the ring to make sure it was still there. Darcy looked up at a staircase winding its way up to a higher summit. "Good thing we come here once a month or we'd never get any exercise. Let's go."
They started climbing with Darcy leading and Peter behind her still feeling the ring in his pocket and silently rehearsing his lines. About halfway up between labored breaths he decided to abandon his memorized proposal and just play it by ear. Peter knew if he had to count on saying the words as he'd written them he'd flub his lines.
"That's good exercise," Darcy said as they exited onto a walking path. Lots of people were out on this picture-perfect day some strolling around with their families and dogs. As they approached the gazebo Peter noticed several people loitering inside taking in the ocean air and beach view. That wouldn't work. It has to be empty.
Peter took Darcy's hand and guided her to a bench near the gazebo. "I thought you wanted to go in the gazebo." Peter looked at the gazebo. "Let those people clear out first." Peter kept an eye on the gazebo as they were soaking in the sun. When one to two people left the gazebo one or two more took their place. After five minutes of this a couple left and nobody else was in the immediate area queued to go in. Peter grabbed Darcy's hand and almost pulled her up from the bench. "Hey, you don't have to pull me." Peter hustled her inside and they stood together looking out at the Pacific Ocean.
"There's Catalina Island," Darcy said as Peter reached into his shirt pocket and cupped the ring in his right hand. "The other day on the oldies station I heard a song about Catalina Island. We've never been there. We should go sometime."
Peter shook his head in agreement as he positioned the ring in his right hand. Just as he was going to speak a couple of teenagers came into the gazebo comparing social media notes on their phones leaning over the railing standing next to them. "Why don't you leave," Peter thought in frustration. As fast as the teenagers walked in they walked out and Peter and Darcy were alone again.
Peter gathered his courage as Darcy was watching waves crashing on the rocks below. Peter put his arm around Darcy and commiserated with her. "We've been through a lot you and I." Darcy squeezed his waist in acknowledgement. Peter looked down at Darcy. "You saved my life." Darcy looked up at Peter. "You saved mine. We saved each other. We escaped death by the slimmest of margins you know and we killed, how did one of the tabloids put it, notorious criminal Bill Lasky."
Peter looked down at her. "You mean you killed notorious criminal Bill Lasky." Darcy protested. "It was you and me working together who killed him."
Darcy felt her right-hand spasm and it was gone as quickly as it came. The ocean view was therapeutic. Peter began to reminisce. "Remember how much news coverage we got for a few weeks? We were temporary media stars. Then it was old news and the press moved on to other things." Darcy agreed. "We had our fifteen minutes of fame and now it's fading away."
Peter placed his hands on her arms and turned Darcy toward him.
Three more people meandered into the gazebo. This time Peter didn't care. Clutching the ring firmly in his fingers Peter looked at Darcy and said "Darcy, will you marry me?" Darcy's eyes widened and, after what seemed to be a century to Peter, she broke into a large smile. "Yes, I'll marry you!" As Peter kissed her and placed the engagement ring on her finger, several people in the gazebo broke out in cheers and applauded the scene they had witnessed.
Darcy held him with her head on his chest as Peter realized he'd created a minor public spectacle. A man standing next to him was pointing to his phone. "What's your email address? I've got some photos for you." Peter was feeling lightheaded as he and Darcy held each other tight. Maybe this is what bliss feels like he thought.
The following Monday Peter was in his office at the newspaper where he worked doing his part of arranging for their wedding in Laguna Beach. Word of their engagement spread fast at the paper and the police department where Darcy worked. In celebration, a network of friends took up a collection to gift the couple an allexpenses paid wedding of their dreams. That day in Laguna Beach was perfection and surrounded by their good friends, they were wed in the same gazebo – their gazebo – where Peter proposed to Darcy.
Peter's best man was Sam Sergio who also gave Darcy away. Sam worked with Darcy at the police station and was instrumental in helping Darcy and Peter solve the Bill Lasky case. Sam and Peter had become close friends. Darcy enlisted her best friend and her sister to be her maids of honor.
For their honeymoon Peter and Darcy were given two weeks paid which was spent at a luxury resort hotel in Hawaii. They leisured their days on the beach at Waikiki and explored all the beauty and mystery that are the Hawaiian Islands. While on their honeymoon among other things they explored the possibility of opening their own private investigation agency.
The weeks and months after their honeymoon were like a whirlwind. Peter was able to acquire his childhood family home in Whittier after helping his parents move to a retirement community in Phoenix. Darcy's family provided some financial assistance and she and Peter moved in. It seemed as if an invisible hand was guiding them as one blessing after another graced their lives.
What Darcy and Peter didn't know was their experiences with Bill Lasky had left them with deep psychological scars that were being hidden by all of the positive things that were happening in their lives.
CHAPTER 2
Setting Up Shop
Peter and Darcy began to seriously consider becoming private investigators. The way they saw it they had enough public acclaim to justify this goal. They studied California requirements to become private investigators and discovered they didn't qualify, or wouldn't qualify, anytime soon. Darcy came closer because she could show some compensated experience in investigative work in her job as an administrative analyst with the police department. Still she was far short of the three years, or 6,000 hours experience she needed in investigative work to meet California state requirements to become licensed.
Neither Darcy nor Peter had law degrees or four-year degrees in police science. Peter's background in sports writing and reporting were not applicable to being licensed as a private investigator. They weren't able to obtain a special waiver based on their recent experience with Bill Lasky and solving the long list of cold cases associated with him. After much debate they decided to open a business calling themselves private researchers.
Peter was able to work out a deal with the newspaper to be a part-time contributing editor for sports and crime including a crime bi-line. He passed up a promotion to be a full-time editor to pursue their dream of having their own business and being private investigators, although they had to be satisfied to be called researchers. Darcy was able to arrange working part-time at the police station as Assistant Manager of the Evidence Room. Darcy passed up a promotion that would have set her on a fast track to becoming a criminologist, but it would have required a complete commitment of her time.
They decide on a name for their business: Dale and Garcia Private Researchers.
They got incorporated, got a business license, set up a website, printed business cards and got new smart phones. Darcy found a cozy office not far off Sunset Blvd in the Los Feliz area. The long commute from Whittier to the office and back was a hassle, but the office rent was reasonable due to a fortuitous combination of circumstances and Darcy's business acumen and hard bargaining.
A schedule was devised to man the office. Darcy's obligations to the station limited the time she could devote to their new venture to Mondays and Wednesdays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Peter's shift was 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Mondays through Fridays occasionally visiting the newspaper. With his ability to work remotely downtime waiting on clients was utilized by working on his sports and crime columns for the paper.
Even though they were technically "researchers" and not private investigators Peter believed he and Darcy needed to prepare for any eventuality including the possibility that someday they could be private investigators. If that were to happen they would need to be armed. Peter had a Glock 19 handgun and he bought Darcy a matching Glock 19 so they could use the same caliber ammunition. They learned how to shoot their handguns at a local shooting range. It turned out Darcy could shoot her handgun more rapidly and accurately than Peter could shoot his. After passing extensive background checks and completing firearms training and meeting other California state requirements they were issued carry and conceal firearm licenses.
CHAPTER 3
Solving Cases
Peter and Darcy were unknowingly easing out of their careers at the newspaper and police station. Their first referral for their first client was from Sam. Sam had a side business trashing out foreclosed homes. One of his employees Angel Hernandez filed what Sam considered to be a fraudulent workers' compensation insurance claim. Sam reminded Peter and Darcy that most of their cases would be mundane and involve a lot of sitting around waiting for a break in the case.
With Darcy at the office Peter drove to the man's last known address in Bell Gardens. Peter discreetly took photos of the house and surrounding area. The man was nowhere to be seen and the house didn't look lived in. Peter's phone rang. "Hi hon," Darcy said. "Find anything?"
"No. I'm at the address Sam gave me. I don't see anything." Darcy looked at the screen of her computer. "I did some checking online and found a house painting company using the last name of Sam's ex-employee. Hernandez Brothers House Painters. The address they list is the same one you're at." "Really," Peter replied as he looked over the house again.
Peter drove back to the office and called Sam. "Sam, it's Peter. I didn't find anything at the address you gave me." Peter was feeling guilty for being annoyed at Sam for the drive he'd made to Bell Gardens. "Like I said Pete being a private investigator, oh sorry, private researcher, means sitting around a lot and trying to outthink your opponent. Think outside the box. That what you got to do to be a successful private researcher. I'll never get used to saying that."
Peter sighed. "Ok, I'll – we'll – keep at it. Darcy did find the name of a local house painting company has the same last name as your scammer. Hernandez Brothers House Painters." Sam's reply indicated this could be a lead. "That could be important. Leave it to Darcy to find a clue. I'd go with that next. I have to go now. Keep me updated." "Will do Sam." Peter hung up.
Darcy was looking at him. "Were you talking to Sam?"
Peter was going over the conversation he'd just had with Sam. "Yes. Sam thinks you may have found an important clue in finding out about Hernandez Brothers House Painters. Not sure how it would tie in. I'm mad at myself for blaming Sam for the drive I made this morning and finding nobody home."
Darcy furrowed her brow as she often did when she was thinking. "Having to do things like driving down to Bell Gardens are the unpleasant but necessary chores we have to do as researchers. What if this guy is working as a house painter? If you can catch him painting a house when he's supposedly injured that could prove fraud." Peter all of a sudden felt better about having made the trip. "Guess it would. All right."
Peter sat down at his desk. "That's the angle. I have an idea. What if I call and ask them to paint our house? It needs a paint job anyway. They won't know who we are. At least I don't think they'll know." This approach sounded reasonable to Darcy. "Probably not. Go for it. We need to solve our first case!"
Peter called Hernandez Brothers House Painters from a prepaid cell phone, a habit he had picked up from Sam when he wanted to keep a low profile. "Hernandez Brothers," came the answer.
Peter determined the guy was driving based on the background noise. Peter took a deep breath. "Are you guys available for a house painting job that needs to be done very soon?"
The voice on the phone replied immediately. "Yes sir, our schedule is open for the next week. You want the inside or outside painted, or both?" Peter shifted into his acting mode. "Outside," Peter said. "Tell you what, Mr ..." The voice filled in the blank for Peter. "Hernandez."
"Do you have referrals?" Peter could hear the ardor in the man's voice which may have been a precursor for the hard sell. "We have many satisfied customers. Do you need me to provide referrals?"
Peter was convinced. "That won't be necessary. What are your rates?" The man hesitated for a moment. "It depends on how big the job is. Our website has a chart listing square footage and rates.
Peter was feeling his subterfuge was going to work. "Yes, Mr. Hernandez. I'll check out your website and call you back. Are you usually at this number?" Mr. Hernandez continued his upbeat assessment of Hernandez Brothers House Painters. "Yes. My brother and I own the business. Sometimes my cousin works with us. Check us out and call me back. My name is Angel. We guarantee our work. What is your name sir?" Peter was figuring he shouldn't use his actual name. "Thumb," Peter said, "Tom Thumb." Angel quickly responded. "Call us back. We'll do a great job for you." Angel hung up.
Darcy was eager to find out what happened. "How'd it go?" Peter was accessing the impressions he had of the conversation with Angel. "He wants the job. Why shouldn't he? Work is work. What is the name of Sam's guy again?"
Darcy looked at her computer. "Angel Valdez Hernandez." Peter looked at Darcy. "The name of the guy I spoke to us is Angel. Angel Hernandez."
Darcy looked at her computer again. "Maybe you talked to Sam's man directly." Peter hadn't considered that possibility. "Maybe I did. I'm uncomfortable giving this guy our home address. I need to find another house." Darcy thought of her mentor and surrogate father Sam who was also their first client. "Call Sam. He's in the home foreclosure business."
Peter called Sam. Sam listened with interest to the details of Peter's phone conversation with Angel. "Good old Angel. He was with me for two years, then suddenly his back is wrenched on the job lifting up a bicycle onto my truck. He's strong as an ox. I know it's fabricated. My workers' comp mod rate went through the roof because of him. I know Angel screwed me. Good thinking on your part to use the false name Tom Thumb. Mr. Thumb I want you to finger this guy."
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Sig Alert"
by .
Copyright © 2018 David Scott.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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