Mark and Amy Stewart made it back to Kansas City with their gold intact, a fact that Mark said would not have happened had there not been our chance meeting in the airport waiting room on the first day of our trip. In the course of our adventure together, we had saved both their lives and their gold, something that Mark vowed that he would always remember.
He told us later that they had decided to use part of that gold to have a bronze statue of John Stewart erected in Skagway as a tribute to that hardy pioneer that had braved the elements and made the six-hundred mile journey to the Yukon gold fields and returned with a bag of gold --- a feat accomplished by just a small percentage of the thousands that tried.
Before our incredible adventure, Mark’s great-great grandfather had been just a vague memory of something passed down to him from his own grandfather, but after having actually been where his great-great grandfather had lived and, experienced to a degree, his amazing life, his roots and family heritage took on new meaning to him and had become a source of personal pride.
A few months later, Alfred Quimby, true to his word, sent us a copy of a historical paper that he had published, documenting the amazing discovery of a bag of gold that had been buried for over a century.
Included in that paper was a photo of Ox and me, knee deep in some unknown prospector’s grave, removing a metal box. I had to wonder, how many future students of Alaskan history would stumble upon that photo and wonder about the goobers that were digging up some dead guy’s final resting place?
In any event, our deed had been recorded in the annals of Alaskan lore, for better or for worse.
Gold!
Among all of the earth’s elements, it is the most highly prized even though it has no intrinsic value other that which has been imposed by man himself.
Since the dawn of civilization, the shiny substance has mesmerized humankind. Excavations of Stone Age burial sites indicate that gold was the earliest element collected and treasured by man.
For more than six thousand years, gold has been symbolic of power, wealth and status.
The ancient Egyptian kings adorned their bodies with gleaming gold and were buried in golden coffins.
While Moses was up on the mountain taking care of business with the Big Guy, Aaron used the forty days and nights he was away to build a golden calf that became an object of worship for the Israelites.
Spanish conquistadors sailed the seven seas in search of cities of gold.
In more recent history, a hundred thousand men and women braved the harsh Alaskan winters and the hardships of a 600-mile journey to lay their hands on the elusive substance.
Throughout history, there have been men and women, like the infamous Soapy Smith and his gang of three hundred con men and cut-throats, who have committed unspeakable acts, driven by their desire to possess the precious metal of others.
We encountered such a trio in Louis French and the Larsons.
Also throughout history, when greedy men possess the power to take that which is not rightfully theirs and tip the scales of justice, other men step forward to balance those scales, as did Frank Reid and his vigilantes in lawless Skagway.
As long as human nature is what it is, there will always be men like Louis French that will skew the scales of justice, and at those times, the call will go out from Lady Justice for someone to step up and right those scales.
My name is Walt Williams and that’s why I’m a cop!
John D. Stewart
Prospector, with his poke of gold, stolen by
Slim-Jim Foster and John Bowers
Soapy Smith’s Gang of Con Men
Den & Mukti in the Rotterdam Dining Room
Ketchikan, Our first port of call
Totem Bight State Park. Old Man Feeney?
The Author at Mendenhall Glacier
Beautiful Mendenhall Glacier & Lake
Salmon roasting over an Alder wood fire
Author at entrance to a deserted mine
Mount Roberts Tram rising 1,800 feet
Juneau, Alaska from Mount Roberts Tram
Gold Rush Cemetery
Author at Soapy Smith’s Grave
Grave of ‘Unknown’ #1
Grave of ‘Unknown’ #2
White Pass Train entering tunnel
Train exiting tunnel on return trip
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author, Robert Thornhill, began writing at the age of sixty-six and in four short years has penned fifteen novels in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, the seven volume Rainbow Road series of chapter books for children, a cookbook and a mini-autobiography.
Lady Justice and the Sting, Lady Justice and Dr. Death, Lady Justice and the Vigilante, Lady Justice and the Candidate, Lady Justice and the Book Club Murders and Lady Justice and the Cruise Ship Murders won the Pinnacle Award for the best new mystery novels of Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring of 2013 and Summer 2013 from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.
Many of Walt’s adventures in the Lady Justice series are anecdotal and based on Robert’s real life.
Although Robert holds a master’s in psychology, he has never taken a course in writing and has never learned to type. All 26 of his published books were typed with one finger and a thumb!
His wit and insight come from his varied occupations, including thirty-three years as a real estate broker. He lives with his wife, Peg, in Independence, Missouri.
Visit him on the Web at: http://BooksByBob.com
LADY JUSTICE TAKES A C.R.A.P.
City Retiree Action Patrol
Third Edition
This is where it all began.
See how sixty-five year old Walt Williams became a cop and started the City Retiree Action Patrol.
Meet Maggie, Willie, Mary and the Professor, Walt’s sidekicks in all of the Lady Justice novels.
Laugh out loud as Walt and his band of Senior Scrappers capture the Realtor Rapist and take down the Russian Mob.
http://amzn.to/16lfjnY
LADY JUSTICE AND THE LOST TAPES
In Lady Justice and the Lost Tapes, Walt and his band of scrappy seniors continue their battle against the forces of evil.
When an entire eastside Kansas City neighborhood is terrorized by the mob, Walt must go undercover to solve the case.
Later, the amazing discovery of a previously unknown recording session of a deceased rock ‘n’ roll idol stuns the music industry.
http://amzn.to/1cDeiMK
LADY JUSTICE GETS LEI’D
In Lady Justice Gets Lei’d, Walt and Maggie plan a romantic honeymoon on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, but ancient artifacts discovered in a cave in a dormant volcano and a surprising revelation about Maggie’s past, lead our lovers into the hands of Hawaiian zealots.
http://amzn.to/15P6bLg
LADY JUSTICE AND THE
AVENGING ANGELS
Lady Justice has unwittingly entered a religious war.
Who better to fight for her than Walt Williams?
The Avenging Angels believe that it’s their job to rain fire and brimstone on Kansas City, their Sodom and Gomorrah.
In this compelling addition to the Lady Justice series, Robert Thornhill brings back all the characters readers have come to love for more hilarity and higher stakes.
You’ll laugh and be on the edge of your seat until the big finish.
Don’t miss Lady Justice and the Avenging Angels!
http://amzn.to/1i2yFDz
LADY JUSTICE AND THE STING
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL ---WINTER 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
In Lady Justice and the Sting, a holistic physician is murdered and Walt becomes entangled in the high-powered world of pharmaceutical giants and corrupt politicians.
Maggie, Ox Willie, Mary and all your favorite characters are back to help Walt bring the criminals to justice in the most unorthodox ways.
A dead-serious mystery with hilarious twists!
LADY JUSTICE AND DR. DEATH
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL --- FALL 2011
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
In Lady Justice and Dr. Death, a series of terminally ill patients are found dead under circumstances that point to a new Dr. Death practicing euthanasia in the Kansas City area.
Walt and his entourage of scrappy seniors are dragged into the ‘right-to-die-with-dignity’ controversy.
The mystery provides a light-hearted look at this explosive topic and death in general.
You may see end-of-life issues in a whole new light after reading Lady Justice and Dr. Death!
http://amzn.to/H20Erx
LADY JUSTICE AND THE VIGILANTE
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – SUMMER 2012
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BOOK ENTREPRENEURS
A vigilante is stalking the streets of Kansas City administering his own brand of justice when the justice system fails.
Criminals are being executed right under the noses of the police department.
A new recruit to the City Retiree Action Patrol steps up to help Walt and Ox bring an end to his reign of terror.
But not everyone wants the vigilante stopped. His bold reprisals against the criminal element have inspired the average citizen to take up arms and defend themselves.
As the body count mounts, public opinion is split.
Is it justice or is it murder?
A moral dilemma that will leave you laughing and weeping!
http://amzn.to/1d3FLK6
LADY JUSTICE AND THE WATCHERS
Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games, Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World and George Orwell wrote 1984.
All three novels were about dystopian societies of the future.
In Lady Justice and the Watchers, Walt sees the world we live in today through the eyes of a group who call themselves ‘The Watchers’.
Oscar Levant said that there’s a fine line between genius and insanity.
After reading Lady Justice and the Watchers, you may realize as Walt did that there’s also a fine line separating the life of freedom that we enjoy today and the totalitarian society envisioned in these classic novels.
Quietly and without fanfare, powerful interests have instituted policies that have eroded our privacy, health and individual freedoms.
Is the dystopian society still a thing of the distant future or is it with us now disguised as a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
http://amzn.to/15P5LEE
LADY JUSTICE AND THE CANDIDATE
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – FALL 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
Will American politics always be dominated by the two major political parties or are voters longing for an Independent candidate to challenge the establishment?
Everyone thought that the slate of candidates for the presidential election had been set until Benjamin Franklin Foster came on the scene capturing the hearts of American voters with his message of change and reform.
Powerful interests intent on preserving the status quo with their bought-and-paid-for politicians were determined to take Ben Foster out of the race.
The Secret Service comes up with a quirky plan to protect the Candidate and strike a blow for Lady Justice.
Join Walt on the campaign trail for an adventure full of surprises, mystery, intrigue and laughs!
http://amzn.to/19f3XVZ
LADY JUSTICE
AND THE
BOOK CLUB MURDERS
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – Spring 2013
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
Members of the Midtown Book Club are found murdered.
It is just the beginning of a series of deaths that lead Walt and Ox into the twisted world of a serial killer.
In the late 1960's, the Zodiac Killer claimed to have killed 37 people and was never caught --- the perfect crime.
Oscar Roach, dreamed of being the next serial killer to commit the perfect crime.
He left a calling card with each of his victims --- a mystery novel, resting in their blood-soaked hands.
The media dubbed him 'The Librarian'.
Walt and the Kansas City Police are baffled by the cunning of this vicious killer and fear that he has indeed committed the perfect crime. Or did he?
Walt and his wacky senior cohorts prove, once again, that life goes on in spite of the carnage around them.
The perfect blend of murder, mayhem and merriment.
http://amzn.to/1aWGg3K
LADY JUSTICE
AND THE
CLASS REUNION
For most people, a 50th class reunion is a time to party and renew old acquaintances, but Walt Williams isn't an ordinary guy --- he's a cop, and trouble seems to follow him everywhere he goes.
The Mexican drug cartel is recruiting young Latino girls as drug mules and the Kansas City Police have hit a brick wall until Walt is given a lead by an old classmate.
Even then, it takes three unlikely heroes from the Whispering Hills Retirement Village to help Walt and Ox end the cartel's reign of terror.
Join Walt in a class reunion filled with mystery, intrigue, jealousy and a belly-full of laughs!
http://amzn.to/17S9YE0
LADY JUSTICE AND THE ASSASSIN
Two radical groups have joined together for a common purpose --- to kill the President of the United States, and they're looking for the perfect person to do the job.
Not a cold-blooded killer or a vicious assassin, but a model citizen, far removed from the watchful eyes of Homeland Security.
When the president comes to Kansas City, the unlikely trio of Walt, Willie and Louie the Lip find themselves knee-deep in the planned assassination.
Join our heroes for another suspenseful mystery and lots of laughs!
http://amzn.to/1bDdrKJ
LADY JUSTICE AND THE LOTTERY
Two septuagenarians win the lottery's biggest prize, dragging Walt and Ox into the most bizarre cases of their career.
The two 'oldies' are determined to use their new found wealth to re-create the past but instead propel Walt into the future where he must use drones and Star Trek phasers to balance the scales of justice.
When an extortion plot turns into kidnapping, Walt must boldly go where no cop has gone before to save himself and the millionaire.
Come along for another hilarious ride with the world's oldest and most lovable cop!
http://amzn.to/1exhji6
LADY JUSTICE AND THE VET
Ben Singleton, a Marine veteran, had returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and was having difficulty adjusting to civilian life.
Fate, coincidence, or something else thrust him right into the heart of some of Walt and Ox’s most difficult cases.
Our heroes find themselves knee-deep in trouble as they go undercover in a nursing home to smoke out practitioners of Medicaid fraud, meanwhile, Islamic terrorists with ties to the Taliban are plotting to attack one of Kansas City’s most cherished institutions.
Join Walt and his band of senior sidekicks on another emotional roller coaster ride that will have you shedding tears of laughter one minute and sorrow the next.
http://amzn.to/17GyE3n
WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
In August of 2011, I completed the fifth novel in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, Lady Justice and the Sting.
As I always do, I sent copies of the completed manuscript to several friends and acquaintances for their feedback and comments before sending the manuscript to the publisher.
Since the plot involved a holistic physician, I sent a copy to Dr. Edward Pearson in Florida.
Dr. Pearson loved the premise of the book and the style of writing, particularly as it related to alternative healthcare, natural products and Walt's transformation into a healthier lifestyle.
In subsequent conversations, Dr. Pearson shared that he had been looking for a book that he could share with his patients, c
olleagues and peers that would spread his message in a format that would capture their imagination and their hearts.
The Sting was very close to what he had been looking for and he made the suggestion that maybe we could work together to produce just the right book.
As I reflected on this idea, I realized that Walt's skirmishes with pharmaceutical companies, corrupt politicians, doctors, nurses, hospitals, bodily afflictions and a healthier lifestyle were not confined to just The Sting, but were scattered throughout all six of the Lady Justice mystery/comedy novels.
[Lady Justice 11] - Lady Justice and the Cruise Ship Murders Page 15
