Caliber Detective Agency - Box Set - Case Files 1-6 (10 page)

***

O
ne look at Michelle Garrett and Chris knew that he was wasting his time. The woman was devastated by her sister’s “suicide” and sat in front of the casket and cried deep sobs.

Velma had gone with Chris to the Myer Funeral Home, and as she watched Michelle Garrett wipe away tears, she spoke to Chris.

“She’s either innocent, or the greatest actress in the world.”

“Well, she’s no actress, according to the info Delaney gave me, she works in a department store.”

“She’ll probably quit that job soon; when all the legal dust settles, she’ll be two million dollars richer.”

They managed to get Michelle Garrett to accompany them to a nearby coffee shop, and asked her some questions. Michelle looked like a younger version of her sister, Mira, but there was an innocent air about her that Mira never displayed.

“Were you and your sister close?” Velma said.

“Yes, until about a year ago when she married Reuben and moved here. I liked Reuben, don’t get me wrong, but I knew that Mira was only marrying him because she believed that he’d be rich someday. It all just seemed so... mercenary; and I think a marriage should only be based on love, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Velma said. “Marriage should be based on love... and sometimes patience.”

Chris sent her a sideways glance, but she avoided his gaze and so he resumed the interview.

“Speaking of marriage,” Chris said. “I understand that you’ve recently wed, congratulations,”

Michelle beamed a bright smile, and despite her tear-reddened eyes, she looked radiantly happy.

“Thanks, his name is Kyle and he’s an absolute dream.”

“Did he come with you?”

“No, he travels a lot on business. He had just left for China when all this insanity began.”

“It’s a shame you have to go through this alone.”

“Yes, but it can’t be helped, and he’ll be joining me back in San Francisco when I return; would you like to see a wedding picture?”

Velma and Chris nodded politely and sent a casual glance at the photo that Michelle took out of her wallet. A moment later, they both did a double take, and they knew that they had found Mira’s partner.

***

C
hris and Velma stood with Tom Delaney and stared through the one-way mirror at Mira Asher’s partner and killer.

“So who is he really?” Chris said

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Delaney said. “As far as we can tell, he’s been living as both men his whole life.”

“How is that possible?” Velma said.

“It isn’t, and we’ll figure it all out in time. We’ve already sent queries to the cops in the town he grew up in, but it’s a tiny town, real Mayberry, you know what I mean?”

“Is that where Mira met him?” Chris said.

“No, that was probably in San Francisco, and then when she ran into him here, she learned his secret. We think she blackmailed him into helping her kill her husband, and then he outsmarted her by marrying her estranged sister, who would eventually inherit all the money. In time, he might have killed Michelle too, probably make it look like an accidental death, and then he would have been home free.”

“How did Michelle take the news?” Velma said.

Delaney sighed.

“Not good, she’s under sedation at New York Hospital,”

The man they were staring at seemed to know that they were there, because he sent a wink and a smile toward the mirror.

Sammy Kaye, alias Kyle Garrett had not said a word since he was arrested.

“I’m betting he’s really Kyle Garrett.” Chris said.

“Why do you say that?” Velma said.

“Well, look at him, he’s not displaying any of the mannerisms that Sammy had; I would doubt he’s even gay.”

No sooner had the words left Chris’s mouth, when Sammy appeared. The man behind the mirror suddenly had a softer bearing and held his head in a different manner as his eyelids fluttered seductively.

“Son of a...can he hear us?” Chris said.

Delaney shook his head.

“But he knows I’m here, somehow he knows I’m here.”

And behind the glass, “Sammy” smiled.

***

T
hey left the station and caught a cab. When Velma told the driver where she wanted to go, Chris appeared puzzled.

“Why are we going there?”

Velma stared down at her hands, which were clenched together atop her lap.

“I want you to meet my husband.”

***

S
ergeant First Class Michael David Channing stared up at the ceiling of his hospital bed inside a New York City Veteran’s Hospital.

Chris swallowed hard.

“How long?”

“Nearly three years,” Velma said. “His Humvee ran over an IED in Iraq that killed his men; only Michael survived.”

“Good lord, Velma, I’m so sorry,”

“Thank you, but now you see why nothing can ever happen between us.”

Chris reached over and took her hand.

“I’m still here for you, if you need to talk, if you need anything, you know?”

“Thank you; that means more than you know.”

Chris looked down at Velma’s husband. The blonde young man had a pale complexion and appeared very thin.

“What do the doctors say?”

“They tell me that they don’t know, that he might never awaken, or he could wake tomorrow.”

“Who else knows about him?”

“Your mother; and I’ll tell your brother and grandfather tomorrow. It’s not that I’ve been keeping it a secret, it’s just that I hate being pitied.”

“I understand.”

“I’m going to sit here with him for a while. Why don’t you go home and I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

“All right,” Chris said, before reaching over and giving Velma a hug, when he released her, he looked deep into her eyes. “You hang in there baby, okay?”

Velma grinned.

“I work for the Caliber Detective Agency, we never give up.”

Chris nodded, kissed her on the cheek, and walked out into a lonely city.

Donald Wells is the author of numerous short stories and novels, including The TAKEN! Series, The Caliber Detective Agency, Blue Steele & The Reynolds Family Saga.

He lives deep inside a writing cave in the wilds of New Jersey.

However, the cave does have Internet access, and so, you can contact him at:

www.donaldwells.com

Visit the Reynolds Family Saga website at:

www.thereynoldsfamilysaga.com

Also, be sure to check out:

www.takenseries.com

www.bluesteele.com

www.thecaliberdetectiveagency.com

––––––––

T
his book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Did you love
Caliber Detective Agency - Box Set - Case Files 1-6
? Then you should read
Caliber Detective Agency - Box Set - Case Files 7-12
by Donald Wells!

From Donald Wells
The author of Caliber Detective Agency, Monsters, Blue Steele,The Taken! Series & The Reynolds family saga

Caliber Detective Agency - Box Set - Case Files 7-12

7)
The Calibers tackle three new cases.
A man believes someone is out to kill him in case one, while in case two, a worried father hires the detective agency to look into his daughter’s shady fiancé.
The third case is more of a favor, as the old man and Kelli travel to Texas to help out family.
Blue Steele makes a cameo appearance.

8)
The old man and Blue Steele engage in a friendly shooting contest, but then the client arrives and Jake gets down to business.
Chris and Velma reveal their true feelings for each other, despite knowing that they can never be together.

9)
As Jake learns more about Victor Jansen’s inner circle, Chris and Velma set out to sting the target of their investigation.

And in Texas, the old man investigates the disappearance of James Preston, and by doing so, he places himself and Kelli in jeopardy.

10)
The old man proves once again that he’s the real deal and gets one step closer to solving the mystery of James Preston.

Jake uncovers treachery within the Jansen inner circle and later saves his client’s life.

Meanwhile, Velma learns sometime meaningful about her husband’s nurse.

11)
Chris and Velma run their sting operation on Remmi Harlow, and then later on, Velma makes a confession.

Jake becomes jealous over Kelli’s new boyfriend, but with help from a friend, he may just win her back.

And after the old man visits Remmi Harlow in jail, he solves the mystery of James Preston.

12)
Jake and Kelli reunite, and later, Jake discovers where the illegal guns are coming from.

After the old man verifies that his hunch is correct, he brings the hammer down on the man behind the disappearance of James Preston.

Velma and Chris share an intimate moment as a fortunate turn of events takes place.
Please visit the Caliber Website at: thecaliberdetectiveagency.com

Read more at
Donald Wells’s site
.