Detective Jack Stratton Box Set
Page 49
All Jack Stratton wants to do is get married to the woman he loves—and make it through the wedding. It seems like he is finally getting his wish until he responds to a police distress call and discovers his old partner unconscious in an abandoned house. Investigators insist it was just an accident, but Jack fears there may be more to it. Sketches of women cover the walls, and among them is one sketch that makes Jack’s blood run cold—a sketch of Alice, pinned up beside an invitation to a very special wedding—his own. As Jack and Alice fight a deadly killer, their long, happy future together seems like it’s just inches from slipping away. This time, “till death do us part” might just be a bit too accurate.
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Hear your favorite characters
come to life in audio versions of
the Detective Jack Stratton
Mystery-Thriller Series!
Audio Books now available on Audible!
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Novels featuring Jack Stratton in order:
AND THEN SHE WAS GONE
GIRL JACKED
JACK KNIFED
JACKS ARE WILD
JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER
DATA JACK
JACK OF HEARTS
JACK FROST
JACK OF DIAMONDS
Epic Fantasy
PURE OF HEART
Psychological Thriller
THE GIRL WHO LIVED
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It’s just my way of thanking my loyal readers.
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The Adventures of Finn & Annie — Mini-Mystery Series
In these heartwarming short stories, join Finn and Annie as they investigate their way through murder, arson, theft, embezzlement, and maybe even love, seeking to distinguish between truth and lies, scammers and victims. A MiniMystery series that will touch your heart and leave you craving more!
Finnian Church is trying to piece his life back together. After losing his leg serving in the Army, he is starting a new career as an insurance investigator. Joining him is newly hired videographer Annie Summers— a woman who lost her hearing and is trying to make it as a single mother of two. The world might see them as broken and battered souls, but as they come together to solve mysteries, they discover that they make a great team.
The Case of the Attic Door
A man mysteriously murdered in his house. Nothing stolen, and no apparent suspects. It seems like an open-and-shut case, but is it?
The Case of the Dropped Groceries
Was it a simple trip and fall or is someone trying to scam the insurance company?
The Case of the Wayward Ride
A minister is killed in a car crash on an isolated road, and a convicted prostitute is found injured in the passenger seat. What will Finn and Annie uncover about the clergyman’s fateful ride home?
The Case of the Phantom Pet
Recently involved in a car accident, a man now claims that his precious dog, Bun, was injured during the crash, too. Can Finn and Annie solve the case and discover what really happened to Bun?
The Case of the Disappearing Diamond
When an expensive diamond and pearl earrings go missing, was the new maid responsible? Join Finn and Annie as they try to solve the case and discover what really happened!
The Case of Raining Nails
When a man files an insurance claim for his broken windshield, Finn and Annie want to believe him but how can they when he swears the damage was caused by raining nails?
The Case of the Mouse in my Soup
When a customer at Annie’s friend’s restaurant claims to have found a mouse in her soup, Annie asks Finn to uncover the truth. Was this a case of a rat in the kitchen or a made up tale to earn a quick buck? Join Finn and Annie as they seek to solve the mystery of a mouse in my soup.
The Case of the Missing Gift
When customer’s gift cards turn out worthless, suspicion falls onto the store owner. Is it a case of a Grinch stealing the gifts or a greedy store owner pilfering the presents?
The Case of the Slippery Dog
When a woman claims to have slipped in a department store, Finn and Annie are brought in to investigate. Did the woman really fall or is her tale a slick con job?
The Case of Lightning Strikes Twice
The first time a man’s house was struck by lightning, the insurance company thought it was a case of bad luck. But when the same man’s new vacation home is struck by lightning years later, Finn and Annie start wondering if it’s simply a case of unbelievably bad luck or something more ominous?
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank all the wonderful readers out there. It’s you who make the literary world what it is today—a place of dreams filled with tales of adventure. To all of you who have taken Jack and Replacement under your wings and spread the word via social media (Facebook and Twitter) and who have spent the time to go back and write a great review, I say THANK YOU! Your efforts keep the characters alive and give me the encouragement and time to keep writing. I can’t thank YOU enough.
Word of mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoy the series, please consider letting others know or leaving a review at Amazon, even if it is only a line or two; it would make all the difference and I would appreciate it very much.
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW HERE
I would also like to thank my wife. She’s the best wife, mother, and my partner in crime. She is an invaluable content editor and I could not do this without her!
My thanks also go out to: my two awesome kids, my dear mother, my family, my team—Maia McViney and Maia Sepp, my fantastic editors—David Gatewood of Lone Trout Editing, Faith Williams of The Atwater Group, and Karen Lawson and Janet Hitchcock of The Proof is in the Reading. My fabulous proofreader—Charlie Wilson of Landmark Editorial. My unbelievably helpful beta readers, Kay Bloomberg, and my two awesome kids.
About The Author
My name is Christopher Greyson, and I am a storyteller. Since I was a little boy, I have dreamt of what mystery was around the next corner, or what quest lay over the hill. If I couldn’t find an adventure, one usually found me, and now I weave those tales into my stories. I am blessed to have written the bestselling Detective Jack Stratton Mystery-Thriller Series. The collection includes And Then She Was Gone, Girl Jacked, Jack Knifed, Jacks Are Wild, Jack and the Giant Killer, Data Jack, Jack of Hearts and Jack Frost. My latest novel is the psychological thriller, The Girl Who Lived.
My background is an eclectic mix of degrees in theatre, communications, and computer science. Currently I reside in Tennessee with my lovely wife and two fantastic children. My wife, Katherine Greyson, who is my chief content editor, is an author of her own romance series, Everyone Keeps Secrets.
My love for tales of mystery and adventure began with my grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. I will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. My love of reading and storytelling eventually led me to write Pure of Heart, a young adult fantasy that I released in 2014.
I love to hear from my readers. Please go to ChristopherGreyson.com and sign up for my mailing list to receive periodic updates on new book releases. Thank you for reading my novels. I hope my stories have brightened your day.
Sincerely,
JACK KNIFED
Copyright © Greyson Media, LLC
Published: December 10th 2013
The right of Christopher Greyson to be identified as author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and didn’t purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Find out more about the author and upcoming books online at www.ChristopherGreyson.com.
EBOOK EDITION: 2.0 - 02-25-20
ISBN: 978-1-68399-031-4
Enjoy the Bonus Prequel
to the Detective Jack Stratton Series
Contents
Also by Christopher Greyson
1. Where Have All the Heroes Gone?
2. A Bright Future
3. Can’t You See the Resemblance?
4. Dominoes
5. The Haves and the Have-Nots
6. When the Suits Show Up
7. Driving Aunt Haddie
8. The Game
9. The Hunt for Two
10. A Favor
11. You’re Not My Date
12. The Red Whistle
13. Thirteen Benches
14. My Own Lying Eyes
15. Unlovable
16. So Has Mrs. Franklin
17. It’ll Cost You
18. Dracula
19. I’m Looking
20. Friends
21. Facts
22. Aunt Haddie to the Rescue
23. Spirit Day
24. On Borrowed Time
25. Follow All Leads
26. Delivery
27. Not Your Case
28. Trouble
29. The Truth Will Set You Free
30. You Do Think I’m Stupid
31. Consequences
32. Like Your Old Man
33. You Think I’d Miss This?
34. Broken Reeds
Jacks Are Wild
The Detective Jack Stratton Mystery-Thriller Series
The Adventures of Finn & Annie — MiniMystery Series
Acknowledgments
About The Author
Also by Christopher Greyson
The Girl Who Lived: A Thrilling Suspense Novel
The Detective Jack Stratton Series:
And Then She Was Gone
Girl Jacked
Jack Knifed
Jacks are Wild
Jack and the Giant Killer
Data Jack
Jack of Hearts
Jack Frost
Jack of Diamonds
Pure of Heart: A Fantasy Adventure
The Adventures of Finn & Annie: A Mini-Mystery Series
This book is dedicated to my wife. She not only saved my life but brought me to a wonderful place.
To her I am forever indebted.
1
Where Have All the Heroes Gone?
“Help me!” The old woman’s desperate plea rose above the din of the afternoon traffic. Bystanders moved away from the trouble; in the rough neighborhood of Hamilton Heights, you kept your head down and your eyes shut if you wanted to make it home alive.
The junkie yanked on the woman’s handbag. His lanky forearms, riddled with scabs, stuck out from his filthy red hoodie as he attempted to twist the leather strap from her hands. “Let go, you old hag.”
A small crowd formed, watching the struggle from a safe distance. No one offered assistance. One man took out his phone but didn’t call the police. He pressed the video record button instead.
Age and poverty had worn the Hispanic woman’s shoulders into the shape of a wishbone. “No money.” She clung to the strap of the handbag like a drowning child clutching a rope. “Jus’ medicine.”
The junkie’s eyes widened at this welcome news, and he jerked harder, pulling the old woman forward. Her legs buckled and then her knees crashed down on the pavement. He planted his feet and dragged her forward, scraping her legs along the jagged concrete while her fingers tightened on the leather.
“My husband needs it,” the woman begged.
“Give it up.” He smashed his foot down on her fingers. The junkie’s dilated pupils darted erratically toward the growing audience, but he didn’t see anyone rushing to stop him.
“Please—”
The strap broke, and the woman landed with a sick thud on the sidewalk. The thief bolted with his prize clutched under his arm.
As the indifferent crowd parted to let him through, two young men stepped out of Ma Barker’s Mini Mart—straight into the thief’s escape route. He slammed into the first man—Chandler, all six foot six and two hundred ninety pounds of him—and bounced right off. Chandler didn’t budge.
The junkie swore and scrambled to his feet as Jack Stratton pushed past Chandler to get a better view down the sidewalk, where a tiny, bent woman with disheveled hair and bloody knees shouted and pointed.
“Please, stop him!” the woman begged, limping toward the two young men. “He stole my purse!”
The old woman, toddling determinedly toward them, looked straight into Jack’s eyes, pleading, Do something!
Without asking for a second opinion from his brain, Jack flew after the red hoodie.
“Jack, stop!” Chandler called out, too late.
The old woman’s cry for help rang in Jack’s ears. Her face flashed through his mind—desperate, helpless. A victim. Jack had been a helpless victim, prey, in the past. Not now. Jack was the hunter now. The adrenaline surging through his body was like rocket fuel. I’ve got this.
The wiry thief cradled the purse like a football. He had a lead and picked up the pace, but he wasn’t in shape and Jack’s legs quickly ate up the distance. The junkie weaved between pedestrians or shoved them aside.
But Jack wasn’t just in shape, he was close to his athletic peak. For over a year, he had been training with the same focus as an Olympian—his objective not a gold medal but a gold shield. His quarry suddenly changed direction and zigzagged to the other side of the street. Jack wasn’t thinking with his head but with his feet, and he cut in front of a car so close that his hand brushed the car’s hood and the rear bumper passed within an inch of him, but he didn’t even register the sounds of the aggrieved driver yelling at him or the horn or squealing brakes. Anger simmering just below the surface propelled Jack forward. Less than ten yards separated them now.
“I’m not stopping!” Jack shouted as he flew forward.
The junkie cast a desperate glance over his shoulder, gasping for breath. Losing steam, he cut down an alley.
Jack barely slowed as he rounded the corner. Trash littered both sides of the narrow utility alley. Its graffiti-covered brick walls trapped the summer heat like a furnace, and the stench of garbage and urine hung in the stale air. A rat, searching for its next meal, scurried under a dumpster.
The alley came to a dead end, and the junkie had nowhere to go. Cornered, he turned to face Jack.
Jack skidded to a halt. Figuring the junkie had had enough, Jack expected the guy to give up.
“Hand over the bag.”
A thin smile curled across the junkie’s cracked lips. Then he hurled the handbag at Jack’s head.
Jack snagged it with one hand. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
But the creep had one more trick up his filthy sleeve, and a sudden flash of light turned out to be a knife in his hand. The serrated blade was short, about four inches, but long enough to kill.
“Whoa!” Jack dropped the handbag to the side and raised his arms. The junkie seemed unsure how to press his advantage and took a step forward.
Jack cursed himself. Once again his need for justice had short-circuited his instinct for self-preservation. Should he bolt and leave the handbag, or stay and fight?
The junkie decided for him, lunging
straight at him, slashing with the knife toward Jack’s vulnerable face, neck, and abdomen. Jack jumped back, but not quite fast enough—the blade sliced through the front of his shirt, grazing his skin.
The junkie thrust again, and all of Jack’s training took over. He pushed off with his right foot and twisted sideways. His right hand swept down in a scoop block, and he used the momentum to knock the junkie’s jab to the side.