Larson The Pariahs

Mother Road
1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-0983-6050-4
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet/DL/kein Kopierschutz

E-Book, Englisch, 309 Seiten

The Pariahs are two detectives, forced to work together as man and wife. They tackle unusual cases throughout Central Illinois. The 'Mother Road' has them trying to solve a case that involves arson, murder, and thefts along Main Street America, old Route 66. They have to figure out how a klutzy TV reporter, three frat brothers, baseball great Babe Ruth, and the World Series of 1932 are all related. Detectives Beth and Joe Clayton bicker, wondering how they ended up together with the Illinois State Police. They have help from a techie with a fondness for orange food and State Trooper, Aretha 'Ree' Franklin.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Larson, David

Leseproben

Tuesday, March 1st Satisfied he no longer smelled of pig shit, Detective Joe Clayton arrived at the Illinois State Police headquarters in Metamora a little after noon. As he exited his vehicle and started toward the entrance, Captain August Swanson came out of the building and held up his hand. “Joe, you aren’t allowed in the building until I give you the smell test. I drew the short straw and get to check you out. Your wife and two troopers won’t come near you until I can verify you don’t smell of manure anymore”. Joe Clayton and his wife Beth are two of the highest ranking detectives with the State Police. Both come from different backgrounds and were paired by Swanson to work in his region of the state. Their track record also gives them authority of few others. Swanson was a 15 year veteran with the State Police and had previously been with the US Marshal Service. He worked thru old contacts with the Marshals to find two detectives, who, if they wanted to be detectives again, had to take the job he offered, with specific conditions. Both Clayton’s had been in witness protection after testifying against fellow officers, which made them pariahs. Swanson pulled strings and got the two from different parts of the country and pronounced them married, to each other. A marriage that wasn’t something either expected. They were given new identities and were told to live together. It was designed as a misdirection for those who might want to locate either one. The marriage was something that put a smile on Joe’s face but a look of disgust on Beth’s. “Cappy, what were you told and why are you sniffing the car”? “If you don’t stop calling me Cappy, your new nickname will be Crappy. I know you got tripped into a pile of natural fertilizer. Your co-workers made you drive home by yourself. And I am going to assume you slept by yourself”. Swanson opened the car door and sniffed. “The inside smells like pine, that’s ok. I guess the detailers were able to clean the seat you soiled. It does smell like your tires may have driven through a pile or two but that’s ok. Come here, I need to sniff you”. “All right Augie Doggie, sniff my butt. I guess that’s what you pooches do when meeting someone”? “I smell a lot of Old Spice today. You must shop in the old man section of the drug store. I trust you got rid of your other clothes as I doubt a dry cleaner would even touch them. Let’s walk inside and you tell me your side of the story”. “I actually raided your bathroom cabinet just so I would smell like my hero, the Captain”. “Keep it up and your next expense report might get lost”. Joe Clayton was in his early 50’s, 6’2” and 220 lbs. His shaggy, light brown hair was streaked with grey and his three day growth of beard was almost completely grey. He was still fit but showed signs of wear and tear. His nose had been broken at least twice. He slightly favored his left leg when walking, due to being slashed with a knife. Even though he had taken three bullets one time, he was fit and ready to work. He didn’t look like most detectives. Since he was in WITSEC, his identity needed to be protected. He was the exception that makes the rule. The Marshal Service did not want either Joe or Beth to go back into police work, but their talents were too good to waste. So Joe wore cowboy boots, jeans, and work shirts with a casual sport coat. A news boy cap was always present. He looked like the third baseman on your rec league softball team or the foreman at a construction site. “Beth and I found the old farm house. It was abandoned but was still drawing power. Around back we found a barn that couldn’t be seen from the road. The few windows in the barn were covered but cracks in the framework let light shine out. There was a new model Chevy van behind a tree. As we watched the house, two men would exit and reenter frequently. Both wore masks. This was the meth lab we had been looking for. We called Troopers Franklin and Alvarado for back up. They arrived quickly. Once on scene, Beth and Franklin went to the front of the barn while Alvarado went with me to the back. We agreed that Beth would wait five minutes before announcing our presence. Once she pounded on the door, one man raced out the front and was snared by Franklin. I was told it was a beautiful clothes line take down. The other man came out the back and flew by us toward an old chicken coop and sty. As I closed in to grab him, he ducked, tripping me, into a pile of some brand of shit. What brand, I don’t know. All I know is that it smelled bad”. “So our Miss Franklin could take down a perp in no time and you were startled or frightened, and let a bad guy race by you. Are you losing a step old timer”? “No sir, I expected him to go right and he went to the left. Anyway, Officer Alvarado quickly cuffed the perp. Beth had entered the barn and come out confirming this was a meth lab. She laughed when she saw what I was covered in. I know she thought it was about time I got some comeuppance for the crap I put her through. She called for the crime scene crew to come and do their thing. We waited till they arrived. They strongly insisted I stand downwind. Beth and Franklin took one perp in a cruiser while Alvarado took the other. I was told I wasn’t welcome to meet up with them until I could prove I was smell worthy of their company. Do you approve”? Swanson laughed and smiled. Even though he had heard the story before, he still was amused. “So Franklin takes down someone with a clothes line and you knocked the other guy over with your smell. That was very creative of you. Come on in, your buddy Blazer wants to give you something”. As the two entered the complex, a young techie known as Blazer waved and came to greet the detective. Blazer had been helpful in other cases and seemed to have bonded with Joe. Most of the force looked down on the techie. He had dyed his hair orange and fashioned a kind of mullet haircut. Like many computer geeks, he was pudgy and self-conscious. He preferred to eat items that were orange in color, like cheddar cheese and cheese crackers. He would then eat carrots to help with the constipation. His drinks of choice were orange juice and orange soda. Joe liked that Blazer would do almost anything he was asked. Nor did he look down on the techie and became a father figure, something that was missing from his young life. “Joe-Bro, I heard you dove right into your latest case. I was told you are the type of guy who won’t say shit, even if you have a mouthful. Is that true? I know you’re not the kind of guy to turn in your cow chips in the face of adversity”. Swanson had to chuckle along with Blazer. Joe snarled at the techie, “You’ve got some good ones today. Would you be willing to launder my clothes from yesterday”? “No deal dude. My motto is keep your shit to yourself”. “Another good one, if you keep it up, your cheese supplier just might find another mouse to feed”. “Joe-Bro, you know I’m your guy. I’ve got something for you. Come to my cubby hole when you get a chance”. Joe went and found his partner. Beth Clayton was about half of Joe’s weight and a head shorter. While Joe had a commanding presence, Beth was actually more of a bad ass. And Joe was fond of reminding her of her ass, which she found as annoying as he found attractive. Beth was already thin but partial to wearing black jeans, black tops, black jackets, and a black fedora. Her clothes made her look even smaller. It also concealed how tough she was. Her dirty blond hair was pulled into a ponytail which made her look younger and belie her age. Beth had been the highest ranking detective in the Pacific Northwest when she discovered corruption within her own department. She rooted out fellow officers on the take, along with several local politicians. She ended up divorcing her husband, who was also on the police force, over her willingness to testify against her own co-workers. Once she was off the stand, she was a pariah and went into witness protection. Then it was off to another part of the country. Beth Clayton was in her mid-forties and more than willing to get physical if necessary. She proved herself by being tougher than other cadets in the academy. Her fourth degree black belt meant she could handle herself. She wasn’t prepared to have a husband thrust into her life. One, who fell hopelessly in love with his new wife. A feeling Beth wasn’t sure if she wanted to return. They meet in their office. “Sweet cheeks, do I smell okay now? It should be safe for you to visit me in the basement. What do we have next”? “I’m glad you don’t smell of crap anymore but you need to lighten up on the Old Spice. I’m guessing you’re staying in a retirement center and swiping cologne”. “Hey, I can’t win. You don’t like it when I smell like shit and you don’t like it when I smell good. When am I going to be invited to visit your part of our home”? “I don’t see that happening. You’ve got the basement and I’ve got the upstairs. You may think we’re really married but you still haven’t won me over”. “Before I go see our son Blazer. What’s next on our agenda”? “You will be filling out arrest reports. And make sure Franklin and Alvarado are listed as the arresting officers. I hope you haven’t adopted that kid. I don’t want children.” Joe...