The chronological order of my stories is as follows:
Todd & Melina series, Interludes 1-5, Sperm Wars series, Russian Roulette series, Case of the Murdered Lovers series, Case of the Murdered Chessplayer series, The Swap series, Interludes 6-10, The Murdered Football Player Series, Case of the Black Widow series, Teresa's Christmas Story, The Case of the Black Badge series, A Case of Revenge series, Teresa's Summer Race, The Trilogy series, Dark Side Of The Force series, Caught In The Act series, The Phyllis Files 1-2, Case of the Murdered Bride series, The Credit Card Caper series, The Phyllis Files 3, The Hot Wives Investment Club series, Seriously Inconvenienced series, Case of the Paper Trail series, Christmas Mystery Theater, The Porno Set Mystery series, The Medical Murder Mystery series, The Eightfold Fence series, The Phyllis Files 4, Pale Morning Light series, Silverfish series.
Cold As Ice, Ch. 01
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
*****
Part 1 - Prologue
Saturday, March 28th. The project was started! The ground was cleared and work was beginning. Piles were being driven into the mountainside for the construction of The "New" Cabin. It was going to have a steel frame, which was unusual for a house but necessary because of the weight of the large, bulletproof windows that would give such scenic vista views of the Town below. The walls would be insulation-filled concrete, with Hardiplank on the outside to make it look like a rustic cabin. Inside would be drywall, light colored so that the rooms were not as dark as the old Cabin's rooms had been.
The space inside was more efficiently planned, so that space was not wasted and every part of the house could be better used. It would be an A-frame as viewed from Town, with the slanting roof coming down nearly to the ground. On each side would be one-car garages. As one looked at the house from the driveway (opposite the deck and Town-side view), the right side garage went into the kitchen, while the left side would go into a little room that would be my den and office... and that is where there already was the secret entrance to the wine cellar, which Old Man Bonniker had dug literally into the mountain. It was a safe room as well, and even more than that: I could put stuff in there that I didn't want found.
The large walk-in closet to the master bedroom would be on the right side instead of the left, over the kitchen. Inside that closet, at the end of the house facing the deck, a small space had a circular staircase that was only 30 inches wide, barely enough to fit a person. I got that idea from President Thomas Jefferson's home 'Monticello' in Virginia; he believed in efficiency and his stairs were only 24 inches wide. Laura and I were both physically larger than he was, so I had to plan for that. The staircase came from the attic room and down to the main floor between the walls of the greatroom and kitchen, where the double fireplaces had been in the old Cabin. Aside from an unusual thickness of the wall, no one would realize it was there. But most importantly...
... we would never again be trapped in our bedroom in the event of a fire or home invasion.
Part 2 - Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
"Can you get us a few moments with the Commander?" Teresa asked at 9:00am Monday, March 30th. "I've got something big, and it'll save time if I tell you both at the same time."
Cindy made a quick call to Helena French, the Commander's assistant. "Okay, let's go, but give me the Cliff's Notes real quick before we get there." Teresa did so, both women knowing that the Commander expected Ross to be aware of the situation before bringing Croyle into his office.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Okay, Croyle, whaddya got?" I asked as two of Crowbar's Angels came into my office, completing the set. Tanya Perlman was already there. I had Teresa and Cindy sit down in the chairs in front of my desk.
"We think someone is trying to smuggle diamonds into the County." Teresa said. "We were working on a drug ring, and 'Chris Pervert' came across a C.I. who told him that the drugs were cover for a diamond shipment."
"So Detective Christopher Purvis
has
been getting some work done, eh?" I said, then asked Teresa pointedly. "And why are you of all people using a nickname like that?" Tanya was trying hard to suppress a giggle.
"I'm aware of what people call me." Teresa shot right back. "And they can go fuck themselves and the horse they rode in on." I just shook my head, but couldn't resist grinning, and Tanya lost the battle and began laughing out loud. 'Teresa Cunt' Croyle just did not care, and in that respect she was a lot like me. One reason I like having her in charge of Vice.
As Teresa playfully slapped Tanya on the shoulder, I examined the report Teresa had made. As she gave some details about it, I could see that Weinstein, the Jewish club owner in the southern part of the Tenderloin District, was linked to it. And the warehouse involved, which was near Weinstein's club, was owned by a shell company that my research had revealed was ultimately owned by one Town & County Councilman Thomas P. Cook, ostensibly for legitimate business purposes.
"So why smuggle diamonds into our Town?" I asked. "Why not into the City?"
Teresa replied "We have several diamond sales outlets in the County, sir. For one thing, we have a University, which means a lot of college guys buy engagement rings. The rich executives buying for their trophy wives is another. Except for the sheer size of the City, the diamond stores here do the most business in the State."
"I see." I said.
"Another thing, sir," said Teresa, "is that they may be shipping
through
here on their way to the City. The SBI and FBI are all over the direct Southport-Midtown-City route like a wet blanket. So they route further west, straight up to here, maybe even going over the State line. At any rate, like the drug routes, these guys are coming through here and I'd like to bust their chops."
"Well, diamonds
are
a girl's best friend, eh, ladies? Okay, plan the raid, coordinate with SWAT if you need to and Cindy or I will give them authority to go. Just let Cindy and me know right before 'go' time."
"Yes sir." Teresa said. "It'll be soon, maybe tomorrow night."