Mystery/Suspense

360

September 2002, Trade Paperback, $14.95 - Book IV of the Stan Turner Mystery Series.

Stan and Rebekah’s good friends, Don and Pam Blaylock, are in deep trouble. An imprudent investment in a Golden Dragon franchise and their son’s arrest for DWI trigger an avalanche of misfortune culminating with the murder of Luther Bell, the smooth talking, restaurant promoter responsible for their impending demise. While Stan conducts a preemptive investigation to prove his clients are innocent, he is inundated with lawsuits and claims from their growing list of creditors and must deal with the inevitable marital strife that threatens these once proud families. Then one of Stan’s old flames resurfaces and makes a play for Stan’s affections sending Rebekah in a rage that culminates in a confrontation with the intruder and a .38 special. A wrongful death suit worth millions, ancient Peruvian pottery filled with diamonds and a confrontation with the Mob round out this nail biting legal thriller.

Excerpt
Melanie had lied to me. She must of planned to cheat me. I was confused and angry. I said, “You know who I am. You know I have a family. If I betrayed you it would be suicide . Believe me this is the best way to handle it for your sake and for mine. If you go in there with a gun in my back someone might get suspicious and then it will be all over. It’s too dangerous. Trust me. My way is best.”
“All right. But believe me I will kill you and your family if I don’t get the diamonds.”
“I know. You’ll get them. Don’t worry.”
They untied my hands and I heard each of the car doors slam. I waited several minutes to be sure they were gone and took off the blindfold. Glancing around everything seemed normal. I opened the car door and walked slowly into the bank. The thought of running to a security guard crossed my mind but I knew that was too risky. I didn’t really know who I was up against. If it was the mob the police couldn’t protect me or my family. I headed for the elevator and went downstairs to the vault.
The receptionist smiled as I walked up to her.
“I need into my box.”
“Okay,” she said and pointed to the log book. I signed in and she got up and led me into the vault. We both put in our keys and opened it. She carried the box into a private stall and set it down. I thanked her and she left. I opened the box and lifted the felt bag.
It was too light. Panic ripped through me like a chain saw. The bag was empty. Oh my God! Melanie must have switched bags on me. . . . The rubber band. She sent me for a rubber band to give her time to make the switch. Oh God! No!
I fell back hard against the side of the cubicle. I heard a voice. “Are you all right in there?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said as I tried to figure out why she had taken them. She must have planned it all along. Make the mobsters think I have the diamonds and she gets away clean. Brilliant, but what a cold heartless woman.
My mind began to spin out of control. I thought of Rebekah and my children being mowed down by machine guns. Blood was gushing from their wounds. I could hear them wailing. What should I do? Oh, my God! Help me. Okay, get hold of yourself. Think.