Along came MagsPeople on the street called her Raggy Maggie for obvious reasons. She was the consummate street person complete with shopping cart and collection of stuff she found in dumpsters. It was getting to be too cold to sleep outside and she needed to find shelter. The woman at the Good Shepherd centre directed her towards grandma Sheffield’s rooming house and even called ahead to make sure grandma had a bed for he...

Chapter 9 As it turned out Mom and my sisters left me alone, and didn’t rake me over the coals regarding Gerry. They were more interested in the current events in my life. They had given up on me having a man in my apartment –let alone a dead one! I told them I could not say much regarding the case in progress. However the police were doing every thing they could. With that aside, they moved on to my employment status. I...

The desert is dry and arid. I am wandering around aimlessly looking for some sort of oasis in this barren wasteland. I keep a look out for wild animals and snakes waiting to make me their next meal. Suddenly up ahead I see a settlement made up of caravans and tents. There are people milling around and sitting by campfires. "Senorita?" One man uttered as he regarded my tattered clothing. I looked like I had been through a...

It was as windy as if Hurricane Isaac was blowing through town. I was on a stake out waiting for my FTA (failure to appear) not only was he late getting home from work. He was late in every sense of the word as I would soon discover. My name is Big Mama Mary and I am the toughest bounty hunter this side of Death Valley. My rack and my attitude are about the same size, extra-large. Tonight I am training a newb named Pam th...

Random acts of dialogue.Dialogue in any book is great storytelling. Right after the hook to reel the reader in, dialogue is the mover and shaker of any novel.Dickens might have argued that narration and flowery descriptions were the backbone. However, I beg to differ with him.I thought of this scene where two former lovers meet again after 30 years.Setting: a seedy bar in the downtown area of Toronto. Characters: Stephen...

Chapter 2 I got in my car, and stopped at Timmy’s. When in shock there’s nothing better than an extra large double-double and a sour cream glazed to put things right. Okay, so in this case, there were a lot of ways things could be improved, but coffee and a donut was a good start. Gerry offered to tag along, but I needed time to collect my thoughts, before heading to my employment agency to let them know I was available f...

Chapter 5 Gerry had agreed to keep his eye on the comings and goings to the building and help keep the police abreast of any strange faces around the neighborhood. Later that same evening, Inspector Gibbons called to check up on me and to see if I recalled anything important. Right now the case was lukewarm at best and they were working on the list of leads they had. Right in the middle of the conversation, there was an e...

Chapter 3 My appointment at the police division was for 3 p.m., and I hoped not to bump into anyone I knew. I took my longtime friend Elaine with me for emotional support. We have been buddies since our college days when we used to raise hell and get drunk. She is perpetually single, and loves it. She says it would be a frosty day in hell before she does the ball and chain routine. Call it commitment phobia. Seeing me and...

Chapter 7 Sunday morning came along, and I found myself cocooned in Gerry’s blankets with chipmunks buzzing around in my head. I swore to myself that there would be no more beer—until of course the next time. Somewhere in the apartment the phone was ringing. I struggled out of bed and answered it. It was Gibbons calling to report that the car was clean—no outstanding warrants on the driver—and to ask me if I knew a man by...

Prologue May 15, 2005 / Delivering the Goods “C’mon man, can’t we just leave the package on the balcony?” The short stocky youth was trying to drag an item off the rental truck. “Nope, we have specific orders to deliver the ‘goods’ right to the apartment — I have instructions right here, Dawg.” “How we gonna get in there without getting caught?” He was anxious about this aspect of his initiation exercise. “Rebo, brother.....

Gus’s Life ---A dog's eye view of his world. Intro Okay here are the bare facts. The ugly truth; I am a dog! I guess it could have been worse; I could have been born a cat. Now there’s a bad attitude and a waste of fur if ever I saw one. With dogs, you always know where you stand. Cats have a hidden agenda. Always appear like they couldn’t care less. Let me tell you this people! IT’S A FREAKIN’ BIG LIE!!!!!!!!!! CATS DO C...

To the moon AliceShe was leaving it all behind. Her life, such as it had become, was of no use to her. Alice tossed aside the rubbish of her 9 to 5 office temp life and her human refuse of husband and walked out of the city with her head held high, free of the heavy smell of the past that stained her old clothes. No turning back, she thought, no regrets. I hope Phil remembers to feed Buster. As telephone wires slipped pas...