Two PIs Are Better Than One

Rick Allen

Description

Two private investigators are on the trail of a potential bank robbery they believe will happen the weekend of the Route 66 Days Parade in Flagstaff, Arizona. Working together on the case will either rekindle an old flame between the two, or drive them and everyone else crazy.

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 15 décembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781622877805
• Langue: English

Extrait

Two PI s Are Better Than One


Written by

Rick Allen
Two PIs Are Better Than One
Copyright ©2014 Rick Allen

ISBN 978-1622-877-79-9 PRINT
ISBN 978-1622-877-80-5 EBOOK

LCCN 2014957281

December 2014

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL R I G H T S R E S E R V E D. No p a r t o f t h i s b oo k pub li ca t i o n m a y b e r e p r o du ce d, s t o r e d i n a r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m , o r t r a n s mit t e d i n a ny f o r m o r by a ny m e a ns ─ e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l , p h o t o - c o p y , r ec o r d i n g, or a ny o t h e r ─ e x ce pt b r i e f qu ot a t i o n i n r e v i e w s , w i t h o ut t h e p r i o r p e r mi ss i on o f t h e a u t h o r or publisher .
CHAPTER 1

The white, mid-sized sedan weaved through scenic Sardine Canyon, carrying its occupants en route to rob the Cache Valley Bank in Logan, Utah. Jack Poole and Jessica Wood had made the ride from Brigham City to Logan in their rented car every day for the past week, and had the drive timed down to the minute. This was the first time, however, the two were making the trip dressed in full costume.
Despite the protective layer of his flannel shirt, Jack’s suspenders dug into his shoulders beneath the restrictive seatbelt causing him to squirm, but knew that he would be unable to relax until the job was done. Giving the rear view mirror a slight downward tilt he eyed his Irish red wig and fake beard and allowed himself a half-smile. Everything appeared in order, yet he was aware that the muscle tightness in his shoulders was increasing by the moment. His eyes returned to the road, and with his free hand he ran his thumbnail between his two front teeth slowly reversing the effects of the orthodontia work of his youth.
It was the twenty-third of July and Jack and Jessica’s bank robbery revolved around today’s date. Each year, all across the state, citizens of Utah celebrate the state holiday of Pioneer Day on the twenty-fourth of July. This was the day that the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley escaping religious persecution in the east. This year the twenty-fourth of July fell on a Sunday, which happened to be the Sabbath Day. Depending on the city in Utah, most festivities this year were being held on Monday the twenty-fifth. As Pioneer Day was a recognized Utah State Holiday, banks were obliged to close their doors.
Most banks in Utah, and elsewhere, had abbreviated hours on Saturdays, generally closing by one in the afternoon. This year the Cache Valley Bank on North Main in Logan, was closing all day on the twenty-fifth in observance of Pioneer Day, which meant not only that it closed early today, the twenty-third, because of the Pioneer Day Parade, the route of which went right down Main Street, passing in front of the bank, but also all day on the twenty-fifth in observance of Pioneer Day itself which included an always well-attended rodeo. The festivities were the reason that the two thieves had chosen this bank to be the second financial institution that they would plunder.
In the process of considering every detail of the heist, Jack checked his watch only to look up to see that a full-grown raccoon had ambled out onto the road and was now standing on its hind legs and occupying his lane. Jack swerved, narrowly missing the mammal, and in the process let out a shriek that had Jessica in hysterics.
“What are you laughing at? We could have been killed back there,” Jack said, watching the animal scamper off to safety in the rear view mirror but keeping his foot on the accelerator. “That thing came out of nowhere. Did you see the way it was staring at me with those crazy eyes? I think that stupid rodent was actually playing chicken with me.”
Jessica laughed so hard she lost the wad of gum she’d been chewing.
“Oh, you think that was funny, do you?” Jack demanded.
“Hmm,” Jessica paused for dramatic effect, “a defiant raccoon, a bank robber and a shriek that sounded like it came from a third-grade schoolgirl. Oh, you’re right. There’s nothing funny about that at all.”
“Well, I’m glad I could provide a little comic relief for you,” he said, his voice rising by several decibels. “Now, if you don’t mind, we need to stay focused. Today is not a dry run. I don’t think I need to remind you how serious we need to be right now.”
“No you don’t. I was just wondering if we have enough time to do each other’s nails before we hit the bank? You know, with you getting in touch with your feminine side and all.”
“You get all of that out of your system? You done? Good.”
Jessica nodded, but then burst into laughter again. “Relax,” Jessica managed to say, amid chortles. “Everything is going to go like clockwork.”
“It better. You need to find and get rid of that gum,” he managed to say, the tension etched in his brow.
Jack glanced at his watch and eased up on the accelerator. The adrenaline was coursing through his veins and was invigorating, but he knew he had to keep it in check. Nothing could be left to chance today. Their previous dry runs had not stirred up in him this much emotion. For that matter, their previous bank robbery had not created this level of anxiety. Despite the practice runs, and all of the research and planning that had gone into today’s activities, he knew he was in uncharted territory.
Jack was frustrated by the fact that Jessica was the brains behind this operation and not him. He knew that she was smarter than he would ever be able to give her credit, and he knew that she knew it as well. His girlfriend did not appear to have a care in the world as her seat was reclined slightly as though she were out for a Sunday drive. And then a milepost jolted Jack’s thoughts back to the present as he realized that Sardine Canyon was about to appear in his rear view mirror.
The position of the sun emblazoned overhead in the cloudless sky, announced the approaching noon hour. A jet-black raven coasted on warm air currents across the interstate and perched on the bough of a maple tree at the mouth of the canyon. In a less than regal fashion the majestic Sardine Canyon walls spat Jack and Jessica in their rental car out and into the Cache Valley, like a watermelon seed at a lazy summer picnic.
They sped along the interstate while the bucolic farming communities in the Valley just off the highway appeared content to leave the life of the fast lane, with its sensory overload, to the city folk. The slower pace was almost palpable. Many of the homes Jack and Jessica passed had adjacent barns that were most likely erected with the assistance of their owner’s neighbors. While some of the homes had beautiful white picket fences, others had no fences at all. There was no acknowledgement at all from Jack when he sped by a smiling rancher perched atop his tractor who tipped his hat to him. Jack had other things on his mind.
********
The population of Logan, Utah was just shy of fifty thousand. From the looks of things, the majority of its residents were participating in some form or fashion with the Pioneer Day Parade as throngs of people milled about. Folding and camping chairs, and even the occasional overstuffed beanbag lined both sides of the street. Homemade quilts covered intermittent grassy areas, while some residents found the best vantage point comfortably atop their father’s shoulders. All eagerly awaited the start of the parade.
Main Street was alive. Although the parade had not yet begun, movement was everywhere. Having cordoned off the streets, a few scattered policemen meandered up and down the parade route monitoring the crowd and the parade participants. Despite the officers’ best efforts several children dashed on and off the street playing what appeared to be a serious game of tag. Vendors tried not to step on anyone as they navigated through the thick crowds selling soda pop, bottled water, snow cones, and cotton candy. A few designated areas along the route had cooking stations where the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, now wafted out over the crowd.
Laughter from old and young filled the air. Above the din of the crowd, the not too distant sounds of high school marching bands tuning their instruments could now be heard, although was obvious that a few of these high school musicians were not destined to make the collegiate level marching band unless their skills were met with marked improvement.
The pioneer theme was evident at every turn and especially in the beautiful floats. Trailers, wagons, and trucks both large and small had been transformed into moving representations of the plight and the strength of the pioneer saints. While some men and women rode atop them, others walked along beside or even pushed handcarts, but all wore the attire of a pioneer saint making the trek from east to west. The parade and the action were about to begin.
********
Officer Abe Doust stood at his post as security detail, in the lobby of the Cache Valley Bank in downtown Logan, Utah. An affable man with an air of confidence about him, he stood a hair under six feet. He possessed a cheerful countenance and a halo of thick, salt-and-pepper hair in the shape of a horseshoe around his balding head with a matching mustache that was more often than not, unruly. The fact that his uniform was two sizes too small gave him the intended appearance of being more muscular than was the case, and now as he tugged on his newly issued bulletproof vest that fitted snugly over his protruding abdomen, he hummed the bass accompaniment to Amazing Grace , content in the knowledge that his membership in the local church choir did nothing to detract from his macho appearance.
Officer Doust was retired from the Logan City Police Department where he had spent the majority of his time educating high school students on the dangers of