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    Trouble in the Valley
    Trouble in the Valley
    Trouble in the Valley
    Ebook86 pages1 hour

    Trouble in the Valley

    By Alex Wilson

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    About this ebook

    A lady vanishes from a well-guarded estate in the Hudson River Valley. How did she even get off the grounds? Her family is wealthy but there is no ransom demand. What’s going on? Josh Malley and friends deal with false leads and dangerous people. So dangerous that Josh almost gets his ticket punched. Who’s behind this and why?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAlex Wilson
    Release dateSep 9, 2011
    ISBN9781465910295
    Trouble in the Valley
    Author

    Alex Wilson

    At 72, Alex's wife said 'Why not try writing?' Within 4 months he had six novellas on Smashwords and now, a couple of years later, 18. Obviously there was stuff lurking in there waiting to be said. Alex's wife is also his muse and editor, and a good one. They live in St. Petersburg, FL where there is a surprising amount of writerly activity.

    Read more from Alex Wilson

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      Book preview

      Trouble in the Valley - Alex Wilson

      Trouble in the Valley

      A novella by Alex and Barbara Wilson

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2011 Alex Wilson

      Discover other titles by Alex Wilson at www.wilsonwritings.com

      Oh, no, she thought. I’m not ready to open my eyes yet. Jesus, it’s still dark. Is Maria off her rocker? Out to torture me with sleep deprivation? Or, am I dreaming? I just went to sleep, for Christsakes. I’ll just burrow back in and go black again. No, that’s definitely the sound of someone in the room. Oh, fuck. I’ll just have to deal with it. Memphis threw back the covers and opened her bloodshot eyes.

      ‘Maria, what the hell do you think’…?

      That was as far as she got before the strong arms clamped down on her, the surgical pad covered her nose and mouth and the chloroform did its magic. Now, she really was in dreamland.

      * * * * * * *

      Josh Malley was fully awake and drinking his first cup in his log home in Maine when the phone rang. He snatched it up in hopes that it did not awaken his snookie snoozing away in their bedroom.

      ‘Josh Malley.’

      ‘Josh, this is Marvin Leon.’ He stopped there to allow it to sink in.

      ‘Not THE Lieutenant Marvin Leon of battalion targeting fame? How am I so blessed?’

      ‘Blessings are not what I bring you this fine day, my man. This is business, or will be if I can rope your tired old E-9 USMC ass into my situation.’

      ‘Okay, let’s start again. Who are you and why are you using the name of my fun-loving gyrene from Afghanistan? And, if you’re not still in the Corps, why are you up at this ungodly hour?’

      ‘No, I mustered out not long after you put in your papers. I went with Coldwater for awhile’…

      ‘You went with Coldwater? The mercenary outfit? How’d a nice Jewish boy get involved with that crew?’

      ‘Money, Josh. Haven’t you heard? Jews are rapaciously money hungry and the pay was enticing.’

      ‘You’re still with them?’

      ‘No, no. That didn’t last long. They are a rough crew, too rough for me. I went on my own and picked up a nice gig as head of security for a prominent family over here in the Hudson River Valley. That’s what I’m calling you about. I need help.’

      Josh’s voice dropped a half octave into a let’s-talk-business mode. ‘Okay, Marve, I’m listening. What’s the situation?’

      ‘The family’s only daughter may have been abducted.’

      ‘May have been?’

      ‘She is suddenly and unexpectedly AWOL and nobody can come up with a reason, a ‘why’ or even ‘how’.’

      ‘How old is she?’

      ’Twenty six.’

      ‘Missing from where?’

      ‘From the compound. She stops in now and then to visit the folks and has an apartment at the rear of the main house, very private. A couple of days ago, the maid went to wake her up and give her her come-to juice and she was gone.’

      ‘Couldn’t she have just walked away or driven away or been picked up by a friend?’

      ‘You’ll see when you get here, Josh, that I have this place secure. Very secure. We have 24/7 video surveillance and her car’s still here.’

      ‘Ransom note?’

      ‘None…yet.’

      ‘Have you called the cops?’

      ‘Of course, and that’s another annoying feature of this deal. The local cops know the family and the wild-child daughter and have had numerous incidents with her rebellions and minor scrapes and are comfortable that she is just acting out and will turn up. The FBI office in Manhattan has jurisdiction that extends to Dutchess County but it’s busy with a million other things, as you can imagine, and we’re a rural outpost as far as they’re concerned. Anyhow, they don’t have time for a runaway spoiled rich kid when there is no ransom demand or even evidence of foul play.’

      ‘And do I hear you thinking she was snatched?’

      ‘Her parents can’t come up with an explanation and I have called her friends – at least the ones we know of – and no one knows of her harboring any problems or resentments or pending adventures. In the past, yes, but not now.’

      ‘What would you like me to do, Marvin?’

      ‘I need someone to think this through with me. The Van Dynes will pay you handsomely for your time and efforts, I assure you. Money’s not a problem around here. I’ve worked with you, Josh, and know what a steady teddy you are. Can you come over and take a look at this?’

      ‘You caught me at a good time, Lieutenant. I’m between assignments and can get over there pretty quick.’

      ‘Bless you, Gunny.’

      ‘How about sending me a few things.’

      ‘Name it.’

      ‘Send me a layout of the house and grounds – even if hand drawn – with indication of the girl’s suite. And, give me directions and a place to camp out, maybe a B&B close by. And, oh yes, I will need a quick bio on the family; names, affiliations and such.’

      ‘How do you want it, FAX or e-mail?’

      ‘Whatever’s best for you. We’re pretty well set up here.’

      After Josh provided all the communications metrics, hung up and started packing, including his favorite ‘carry’ firearm, a small frame S&W .38 Special full of hollow points. By the time he had packed clothes and iPad, he checked his computer to find the documents Marvin Leon had promised. Josh printed out the lot and made a copy for Dana, his wife/lover/researcher par excellence. About this time, she came wandering into the kitchen following the intoxicating aroma of fresh brewed coffee.

      Dana was a gorgeous woman and strong. She was almost six feet tall in her bare feet and big boned but lean and athletic, a star spiker on her high school volley ball team. She had brown hair lightly tipped with blond that she wore in various ways depending on her mood. Being a Maine girl and having spent time in the military with her former husband, a decorated SEAL, she carried herself with relaxed confidence. And, she is brilliant as evinced by her being the youngest Associate Professor in Bowdoin’s history.

      Josh was actually an inch or so shorter than Dana but he was made of wire rope and was naturally graceful and balanced. Although he could be laconic or jokey, he was not to be trifled with when there was serious business afoot. His knotty muscles rippled beneath his casual clothes and his haircut was high-and-tight in a Marine Corps style he decided to carry on into his civilian life. He and Dana are a perfect pair.

      ‘Hi, Hon. Got a panic call from an old bud from the Corps. He’s doing security for a high born family over in the Hudson River Valley and their daughter may have been snatched on his watch.’

      ‘You’re picking a good time to be gone. I’ll be buried with work and have a full teaching schedule this semester. Driving or flying?’

      ‘I’m taking my truck. I hate to do this but I need a bit of background research

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