Saturday Special 11 18
Hey it’s Chris,
Happy Saturday!
We’re a few days away from Thanksgiving, so what a great opportunity to thank you for being part of this writing journey.
I’ve got a couple of things lined up over the next few weeks, so get ready for even more.
While you wait, check out:
Fantasy/Paranormal Exclusive Freebies! group promo
Science Fiction & Fantasy / Mid-November group promo
Do me a favor. Go hit SUBSCRIBE on my YOUTUBE Channel so more people can find it.
Have you grabbed your copy of:
1. Battlefield Z Complete Boxset
2. Incursion
4. The Shadowboxer Files — Thriller Boxset
5. Bravo Actual A Big Sci Fi Boxset Collection
6. Witchmas — An Urban Fantasy Adventure Boxset
7. Beachhead Collected
8. The Round Up Western Collection
9. Iron Rations a massive Sci Fi Collection
PLUS These FREE
Our Daughter’s Bones: An absolutely gripping crime fiction novel
Primitive Weapons: A Tye Caine Wilderness Mystery (Tye Caine Wilderness Mysteries
Tall Man in Ray-Bans (A John Tall Wolf Novel Book 1)
The sun hung low over the Florida Gulf Coast, casting long shadows on the sandy beach. Palm trees swayed gently in the warm breeze, and the scent of saltwater lingered in the air. Danny Gumbo, a middle-aged private investigator with a perpetual five o’clock shadow, sat in his dimly lit office on the edge of town, nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee. The phone on his cluttered desk rang, interrupting the melancholy tune playing on his vintage record player.
“Mr. Gumbo, I need your help,” said a deep, gravelly voice on the other end.
Danny recognized the voice immediately. It was Rufus Sterling, a local businessman known for his shady dealings and a penchant for trouble. He had a reputation for being slippery, and Danny had crossed paths with him more than once.
“What do you want, Sterling? Last time we met, you left me with a broken nose,” Danny said, rubbing his still-sensitive nose.
“I got a problem, Gumbo, a big one. I’ve been accused of killing my business partner, William “Wild Bill” Wilkins,” Sterling replied. “I didn’t do it, but the cops won’t listen. I need you to find the real killer.”
Danny hesitated. Sterling was the last person he wanted to work for, but the promise of a substantial fee was tempting. He sighed and agreed, “I’ll look into it, but I’ll be working with the police, not against them. If you’re lying, you’re on your own.”
Sterling grunted his approval and hung up. Danny had his reservations about getting involved in this case, but he couldn’t resist the lure of a substantial payday.
The following morning, Danny visited the local police station to offer his assistance. He found himself in a small, cramped office facing Detective Linda Hastings, a tough-as-nails officer known for her no-nonsense approach to solving cases.
“Reluctant as always, Gumbo,” Linda said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “Fine, we could use the extra help. But remember, you’re not in charge here.”
Danny nodded, “I know the drill. So, tell me about Wild Bill’s murder.”
Linda pulled out a case file and spread a collection of photographs and documents across her desk. “Wilkins was found dead in his beachfront mansion, shot in the head. The murder weapon was a .38 caliber revolver, and there were no signs of forced entry. Sterling claims he was with a client at the time of the murder, but we need concrete evidence to clear his name or put him away.”
Danny examined the crime scene photos and the witness statements. As he studied the evidence, he couldn’t help but feel that there was something off about the whole situation.
“I’ll start by talking to Sterling’s alibi,” Danny suggested, “If he’s telling the truth, we might have a witness who can clear him.”
Linda agreed and gave Danny the name and address of Sterling’s alibi, a woman named Vanessa LeRoux. Danny headed to her apartment, a cozy place overlooking the Gulf, its windows allowing the salty breeze to waft inside.
Vanessa was a striking woman in her mid-thirties, with a mane of dark, wavy hair and eyes that seemed to hold secrets. She was hesitant to talk to Danny at first, but his smooth talking and charisma eventually won her over.
“Mr. Gumbo, Rufus Sterling couldn’t have killed Wild Bill,” Vanessa insisted. “I was with him all night. We had a business meeting that lasted until the early morning.”
Danny pressed for details, trying to corroborate Vanessa’s story. She provided him with receipts and a security camera video from the restaurant where they had met, confirming their alibi.
With Sterling’s alibi seemingly airtight, Danny decided to dig deeper into Wild Bill’s business dealings. He started by talking to the victim’s employees and associates, hoping to uncover any potential motives. As he pieced together the puzzle, he found that Wild Bill had been involved in some shady business deals of his own, including a real estate development scheme that had gone south.
One name kept cropping up in Danny’s interviews — Frank D’Amico, a local developer who had a notorious reputation for being ruthless in business. Danny decided to pay D’Amico a visit, hoping to get some answers.
D’Amico’s office was in a high-rise building overlooking the Gulf, a stark contrast to the modest surroundings of most of the town. The man himself was as imposing as his reputation, with a slick suit and a permanent scowl.
“What do you want?” D’Amico grunted as Danny entered the office.
“I’m looking into the murder of Wild Bill Wilkins,” Danny said, not mincing words. “There are some ties to a business deal gone bad, and your name keeps coming up.”
D’Amico’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t seem surprised. “I knew this would come back to haunt me. Look, I had nothing to do with that murder. Wild Bill and I had our differences, but I don’t kill people.”
Danny decided to press further, hoping to provoke a reaction. “If you’re innocent, you won’t mind answering some questions.”
D’Amico leaned back in his leather chair, clearly annoyed but willing to cooperate. “Fine, ask your questions.”
As Danny delved deeper into his investigation, he discovered that Wild Bill had been involved in an intense legal battle over a prime piece of beachfront property. The dispute had been dragging on for months, with Wild Bill and D’Amico at each other’s throats.
With this new information, Danny returned to the police station and shared his findings with Linda. She was skeptical but agreed to look into the property dispute more closely.
Days turned into weeks as Danny and Linda worked tirelessly to untangle the web of deceit and secrets surrounding the murder. They dug up old documents, interviewed more witnesses, and confronted those who had something to hide.
In the end, it was a surprise revelation that cracked the case wide open. A hidden clause in a property agreement came to light, one that would have made Wild Bill the sole owner of the coveted beachfront property. That clause could have cost D’Amico millions, providing a powerful motive for murder.
Armed with this new evidence, the police arrested Frank D’Amico for the murder of Wild Bill Wilkins. It was a bittersweet victory for Danny, as it meant Rufus Sterling was free of the murder charge, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there were still secrets hidden beneath the surface of the Florida Gulf Coast.
As the sun set over the Gulf, Danny Gumbo sat on the beach, gazing out at the horizon. He had solved the case and earned his paycheck, but the salty breeze carried with it the reminder that some mysteries were never truly solved, and some secrets would always remain buried in the sands of time.
