The Postman Always Brings Dice, Reed Ferguson Private Investigator Mysteries: Book 12

Sample Chapter

CHAPTER ONE

Weddings are fun occasions, but the weeks leading up to the nuptials can be stressful, especially for the bride, who usually does most of the planning. The lead-up time can also be murder if you’re the groom, and a private investigator as well, and your ex-girlfriend calls days before the big event and asks for your help. My name is Reed Ferguson and I’m that guy.

It was a Sunday in early May, and Denver had been blessed with spectacular weather. It was the perfect time of year to tie the knot to the perfect woman, my fiancée, Willie Rhoden. But with all the wedding stress, Willie hadn’t been herself lately. As we neared the big day, she was going slightly psycho on me. She was generally an even-keel type of person, but I never imagined someone could get so bent out of shape because her veil was too short. Added to this was the fact that her parents and my parents were all coming into town in two days, and it’d been pretty stressful around Casa Ferguson. So when the opportunity to take a brief break occurred, I jumped at it.

I’d been trying to do my part to help out, running errands, making honeymoon trip plans, and now, dealing with Willie’s veil. We were standing in the living room, and I was staring at her.

“What do you think?” she asked as she adjusted the veil. “It’s not long enough, is it?”

“It looks fine,” I said, even though I didn’t have a clue.

“No, it’s not right.” She tugged at the edge of the veil and adjusted it. Then she let out a huge breath.

“Why don’t you ask Darcy?” I suggested. “Wouldn’t your best friend and maid of honor know if it’s right or not?” Darcy lived across the street. If she was home, she could be here in moments.

Willie eyed me. “You’re just trying to get out of helping.”

“No,” I said slowly. “Since I have no idea what you want to hear, I’m trying to get out of answering.” And since Darcy was a lawyer who loved to laugh and always seemed upbeat, it might be just what Willie needed now.

“Splitting hairs.” Her lips were in a thin line. “I’ll call Darcy.” She yanked the veil off and stomped down the hall and into the bedroom. At that moment, opportunity spoke.

“Oh, it’s not always easy to know what to do.” It was my latest ringtone, a line from my cinematic hero, Humphrey Bogart, in The Maltese Falcon.

“Reed?” a sultry female voice asked.

“Yes?” The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. An ex-client?

“It’s Alicia.”

And then it clicked. That voice…not an ex-client, an ex-girlfriend. Alicia Ferrigam and I had dated for a year when I was at Harvard, but I hadn’t seen her since then. We’d broken up right before graduation and hadn’t stayed in touch.

“How are you?” she asked.

“I’m great.” My mind raced. Why was she calling me now, after all these years?

“I need your help.”

Question asked, question answered, I thought. “Why me? We haven’t spoken in years.”

“You’re a private investigator, right?”

So she knew. “Yes,” I said.

“I found your website. I want to hire you.”

“You’re in Denver?”

“Yes, I moved here a few years ago.”

“I see.” I paused. “I’m getting married this weekend.”

“Congratulations.”

“I’m not sure it’d be a good idea for me to see you right now.”

“I’m asking for help,” she snapped. “Not a date.”

“Same old Alicia. Tough as nails.”

“Not so much, now.”

“All I meant was that I don’t have much time right now,” I said. “Is it something that can wait until after the wedding and honeymoon?”

“It won’t take long, I promise.” There was worry in her tone.

“What’s going on?”

“Not over the phone. Do you have an office where I could meet you? Please?”

I glanced down the hallway. Willie’s voice came from the bedroom, and she did not sound happy. Meeting Alicia didn’t seem like a good idea. However, it would give me a break from the veil catastrophe.

“Please?” Alicia repeated.

“Fine,” I said. “How about the Starbucks on the Sixteenth Street Mall?” I’d given up my office awhile back since I was hardly ever there, and I didn’t think inviting her to the condo was wise.

“I can be there in a half an hour.”

“I’ll see you there.” I ended the call and walked into the bedroom. The veil was lying on the bed, but Willie wasn’t around.

“Hey,” I called out.

“In here,” she said from the bathroom. I went to the door and looked inside. Willie was staring into the bathroom mirror, a brush in her hand. “Maybe it’s my hair.” I wisely said nothing to that. “Darcy is coming over to help me figure this out.”

“Good,” I said. “Then you don’t need me right now?”

The brush stopped halfway to her head. “What’s going on?”

“A possible case.”

The brush hit the countertop – hard. “Reed, you promised no work this week.” She whipped around to face me. “Our parents are coming into town soon and we’ve got all kinds of things to do.”

I held up a hand. “It’s for a friend. She said it wouldn’t take long.”

“She?”

“Yes.”

“What’s her name?”

“Alicia.”

Recognition flitted across her face. “Isn’t she your ex-girlfriend, the one you sailed with?” Willie asked.

She had a good memory. I nodded. “We were on the Crimson team together.”

“I see,” she said coldly.

Normally, a potential female client wouldn’t be an issue for Willie. But this was an ex-girlfriend, and this wasn’t a normal situation, so I should’ve expected a negative reaction from her. I should’ve, but I didn’t.

“It’s no big deal,” I said.

“What does she want?”

“I don’t know. I’m meeting her for coffee and she’ll tell me what she needs. She sounded worried.”

“Fine.” Willie snatched up the brush and turned back to the mirror. “Just go.”

“She said it wouldn’t take long,” I said lamely. “And I’ll make sure I pick up my parents at the airport and do whatever else needs to be done.”

“You better,” she muttered.

“I’ll see you later,” I said.

Not a word from her. I hesitated, and then made my escape before I got deeper into trouble.

 

10++++++++stars!!!! Man, did Reed get into a mess a week before an important moment in his life!! It is a real page turner, l didn't sleep much at all. Renée, you did it again!!!! Now on to the next Reed book!! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!! ~Reader review