An
Alexander Steele Murder Mystery
By
Larry J.
February
in Philly is always cold, but the polar vortex had made it colder than usual. The bone chilling deep freeze didn’t deter
Mrs. Ferguson from her morning routine.
The
KYW news radio theme played from her kitchen counter top radio while she put on
her red plaid jacket, burgundy scarf with matching ear muffs.
At
6:00 a.m. she donned her knitted gray cap and headed outdoors to take her
poodle Gladys for her daily walk along side the Delaware
River. The gray haired
retiree had no idea that she would soon feel another chill, one that she would
never forget. As she walked along the
frozen dirt path Gladys began to bark.
Mrs. Ferguson looked in the same direction as the little black dog. Dawn was breaking. It was difficult to see. She squinted as she peered towards the
water. Gladys tugged on her lease
causing her master to leave the path and tread closer to the river.
Mrs.
Ferguson caught a glimpse of something floating in the murky water. An old rotten log she though. The elderly woman’s curiosity
had
gotten the better of her. She inched
closer to get a better look. Seconds
later Mrs. Ferguson screamed so loud she could have woke up the dead……….well
almost.
Twenty
minutes later two officers in a police boat fished the lifeless body out of the
Delaware. It was clear from their expressions that this
was no ordinary corpse. Anyone who
followed politics or has watched the local news would have instantly recognized
that face. The body fished out of the
river was none other than Pennsylvania’s
controversial congressman Earnest Holloway.
Everyone has skeletons locked away in the closet, but politicos usually
find a way to keep them locked away better than most. Congressman Holloway had more than his fair
share of enemies. His death was sure to
reveal more than a few dark nasty secrets.
News
of the Congressman’s death spread like wildfire. Soon reporters from across the country had
converged on the banks of the Delaware
where his body was discovered.
Across
town Alexander Steele was unaware of the Congressman’s demise. His dilemma was of the domestic nature. After loosing a bet to his girlfriend Shakia
Steele had just finished whipping up breakfast for two consisting of shrimp and
grits with waffles and coffee. Shakia
smiled as she took her seat at the table.
Still in her green night gown Shakia examined the food. “Very good Alex, I always knew you were good
with your hands. I should bet you more
often. After breakfast you can make good
on the second half of your bet.” Steele
was about to speak when the doorbell rang.
It was 8:45 a.m. on a Friday morning.
Normally Alexander Steele would be at his night club. Steele tightened up the belt on his tan robe
as he walked to the door. Shakia was
even more surprised when Steele opened the door and saw her sister standing in
the doorway. Shakia got up from the
table at her sister entered the living room “Naomi what are you doing
here? Is Mom alright? Is everything okay?” Shakia rushed over and gave her younger
sister a warm hug. “Mom’s fine, everyone
is fine. How have you two been?” Steele looked at Shakia then turned to Naomi
as she gently rubbed Steel’s shoulder, we’re great. What brings you to our neck of the
woods? Aren’t you supposed to be in
DC? Naomi looked puzzled. Haven’t you guys been watching the news? Steele picked up the remote from the sofa and
turned to MSNBC. Naomi was too impatient
to wait so she just blurted it out.
Congressman Holloway has been murdered.
She gestured to the TV. They pulled him out the river a couple of hours
ago. The three stood in the living floor
as they watched the footage of the Congressman’s lifeless body being pulled
onto the boat like fisherman hauling in a large tuna. Shakia put her hand to her mouth; oh that’s
terrible who would do such a thing?
Steele snickered, ha, really, take your pick. That guy had more enemies that Saddam
Hussein. Naomi turned from the TV to
Steele. Alex can I talk to you for a minute
…….alone? Shakia perked up when she
heard the words alone. “Well that’s not
the least bit suspicious at all sis.
What do you have to say to him that you don’t want me to hear? Realizing that it was a bad move Naomi
conceded the point and agreed to include her sister in the conversation. The three sat on the couch and Naomi began
making her pitch. You guys know that I
am the Senator’s assistant. Well you
probably also know that Congressman Holloway is; well was changeling my boss
for his senate seat in November. That’s
gonna move him to the top of the suspect list.
This is going to be a distraction to my boss Senator Green so he wants
to hire you to find out who murdered the Congressman.
The Senator had a fundraiser diner
at the Four Season Hotel last night that is why I am in town. After dinner he drove back to Washington. There is no way he could have murdered the Congressman.
Shakia tapped Steele on the arm and
tilted her head toward the kitchen.
“Alex can I see you in the kitchen for a minute” Naomi seemed even more
nervous than before. She strained to
hear what was being said in the kitchen but could only hear whispers. Shakia was beside herself. Alex, she’s lying. I could always tell. When she was 9 she broke a saucer in Mom’s
china closet and glued it back together without saying a word. I almost got blamed but my parents knew that
whenever she wiggled or tapped her foot she was hiding something. It’s a dead giveaway. Steele was about to confront Shakia’s sister
when her cell phone rang. Naomi reached
inside her right coat pocket and pulled out a black cell phone but didn’t
brother to look at the number, she simple turned the ringer off. Steele stroked the ends of his mustache and
sat next to his girlfriend. “That was
the Senator wasn’t it?” Naomi glanced down at her phone. “Yes, how did you
know?” Steele smiled, “that’s a $20.00 phone.
A woman in your position, your salary wouldn’t rely on a cheap phone
like that. I’m sure your other phone is
somewhere inside your handbag. My guess
is he’s the only one who has that number that’s why you didn’t brother to look
to see who the caller was. If I were a
betting man, Steele paused long enough to look over at Shakia; I would say that
you and the Senator are having an affair.
That’s why you were so sure he didn’t commit the murder. You two spent the night at the hotel
together. How am I doing so far?” Shakia shook her head and sighed as she
starred at her sister, “Lord Jesus what have you done. That’s why you didn’t want me in the room
when you and Alex talked. Please tell me
it’s not true.
“Shakia it’s not what you think. I knew you wouldn’t approve.” Naomi struggled to find the right words. After a moment of fidgeting in her seat she
held up both hands and blurted out “it’s complicated. Can we focus on the murder for now? I promise I will explain everything to you
once this mess is over.” Shakia crossed
her arms, leaned back on the couch and starred at her sister.
“You bet your ass we will”
Steele was equally put out by Shakia’s sister act of
deception. “Naomi, you know me so I’m
gonna be blunt. Tell me everything, no
hedging. If you lie to me again you’re
on your own and let’s be clear about one thing.
If the Senator murdered Holloway he’s going down.”
After an apology to Steele and Shakia Naomi began explaining
how she rented the hotel suite where the fundraiser was held. She told Steele that she and the Senator had
spent the night together and that he was driving back to Washington because he
would have been recognized it he had taken Amtrak.
Shakia took one look at Steele and knew it didn’t look good
for Naomi or the Senator. “Alex, its bad
isn’t it? Steele shook his head. “Yes, but it we move fast enough we can keep
it from getting worse.” He asked Naomi
who checked out of the hotel. She
explained that the Senator always left first and that she would wait 15 minutes
before leaving. Since the hotel has
automatic checkout she just dropped the key off and left.
Steele rushed to the phone and called his friend Stan. It didn’t take a detective to realize that
the voice on the other end of the call was not his best friend/computer
hacker. “Who am I speaking too” “Oh this is Christine who is this?” This is Steele, baby I’m in kinda of a rush,
can you put Stan on?” Minutes later a
groggy sounding man spoke into the receiver “Steele man do you know what time
it is?” “Yeah it’s time to get your ass
up. It’s after nine. I need you to get over to the Four Seasons
hotel. I need to know what areas their
surveillance cameras monitor.” Stan
yawned into the phone. “I don’t need to. I was just there last month. They only have cameras in the main lobby and
all the entrances and exits.” Steele
could hear Christine’s voice in the background “last month, why were you at a
hotel last month. Mr. you got some
explaining to do.” The sleepy voice on
the other end spoke again.” Thanks Steele”.
There was a sudden click and the line went dead.
Steele instructed Naomi to contact the Senator. “Tell him to be honest for a change and tell
the truth about him staying at the hotel and when he left. Just leave out the part about you being there
with him. The surveillance cameras will
verify him leaving. Once they see him
leaving the hotel they won’t need to watch the rest of the footage. They aren’t looking for you so they will
assume that he was alone.” Naomi looked
worried, “but he won’t have an alibi Steele.
Staying alone in a hotel in the same city won’t prove his
innocence.”
Steele motioned for her to calm down. “Baby steps, this is the murder of a
Congressman we’re talking about her. That
means a lot of rocks are gonna be turned over and a lot of dirt will come
out. If your boyfriend is driving a
government car then it is equipped with a GPS not to mention the Easy Pass
monitor that keeps a record of every time he goes through a toll. We’re not just talking about lying to the
local cops; we are talking about the FBI, a grand jury and possibly a judge. Sooner or later they will want a statement
from you but since you are near the bottom of the food chain hopefully that
won’t be for a while. In the meantime
you need to lay low. Stay with your
sister until I figure who the killer is.
Naomi looked over at an angry Shakia then back at Steele. “Do I have too? Can’t I stay here with you? Steele laughed and went to get dressed.
Part Two will be posted Tuesday
Chapter #2 Sex Drugs and Politics
Want more Alexander Steele
Case of the Death Dealer
Case of the Deadly Ring
Legacy of Death
Alexander Steele Murder Mystery Trilogy
Author Larry J
Available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac.
The Alexander Steele Murder Mystery series consist of the first three short stories set in Philadelphia. Philly native Lawrence Johnson aka Larry J. takes you into Philly's neighborhoods by way of his fictional,suave,detective Alexander Steele. The semi retired PI is the proud owner of the Mount Airy hot spot known as the Inner Sanctum. Steele has a problem. He just can't seem to put his past life of crime solving behind him. A seemly endless stream of new clients come to his club each with tempting new cases for the ever inquisitive private investigator.
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Available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac.
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