EXCERPT #4 – THE END OF THE TREACHERY
(Harold’s efforts are thwarted by a shady character from Los Angeles.)
I woke up early, a routine from my army days. I made coffee and a couple of scrambled eggs, and filled the cats’ bowls with water and food. As I stepped out of the building’s front door, I didn’t find Richie waiting patiently and dutifully as expected. What stood out was an almost brand-new coupe with a suave looking carefree gentleman in good spirits as he exited the vehicle. He strode up the walkway with an air of confidence. He had the physique of a heavyweight boxer who had retired several years prior and had gained a paunch from living high on the hog. He had dark, slicked-back hair, likely done with a popular treatment such as Wildroot Cream Oil. His black moustache appeared perfectly trimmed a la John Gilbert. This man made it known he knew more than me without uttering a single word. In my mind, I still needed proof.
“I let your boy know you wouldn’t be needing him,” he said as he stuck out his hand. He had yet to introduce himself despite admitting he altered my plans without asking me. It came across as either assurance or arrogance. Both bothered me.
“And why is that?”
“Waste of your time heading to LA” I looked at him perplexed. I made my decision to travel to the West Coast only recently and known only to, at most, three people. “I’m Max Burke.” He grabbed my hand and shook it as though he tried to wring a towel dry. “I’m a private dick, just like you.” That comment did not impress me.
* * * *
Harold Bergman, a Jewish private detective and World War II veteran, is approached to locate a missing girl. Little does he know, this seemingly routine case plunges him into a labyrinth of deceit, entwined with a looming threat to national security.
Meanwhile, a distraught woman challenges the official narrative surrounding her husband’s death, convinced that a vengeful client orchestrated his demise. As he delves deeper into these cases, he uncovers layers of hidden truths and personal agendas, where every step reveals a new layer of treachery.
Determined to unravel the web of lies, Harold must navigate through a maze of danger and deception, drawing upon his resilience and faith to unearth the sinister truth that threatens to unravel everything he holds dear.
The End of the Treachery, Volume 2 of The Wichita Chronicles, will be released on December 9, 2024 and is currently available for pre-order.
