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    The Men Who Were Hard of Listening -- Rafe Velez Mystery 5: Rafe Velez Mysteries, #5
    The Men Who Were Hard of Listening -- Rafe Velez Mystery 5: Rafe Velez Mysteries, #5
    The Men Who Were Hard of Listening -- Rafe Velez Mystery 5: Rafe Velez Mysteries, #5
    Ebook47 pages36 minutes

    The Men Who Were Hard of Listening -- Rafe Velez Mystery 5: Rafe Velez Mysteries, #5

    By AB Stonebridge

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    About this ebook

    Landscaper Billy Byrum has a money problem. Author Dennis Tinker has a writing problem. Neither man thinks he's doing wrong by others – until things spin out of control. Billy's brother ends up dead and Dennis's wife thinks he has a fan turned stalker. Both situations end up in Rafe's lap. The question is: who's listening and who's about to have a nasty fall from grace?

    Rafe Velez is a fictional character, based on a real person alive today. One thing you can be sure of: you will never, ever guess who he actually is!

    As a private investigator, Rafe dealt with decades of crime, divorce, death and depravity – and barely broke even. Pushing 50, he had a few extra pounds around the middle, a sprinkling of gray hair and a cynical view of life, relieved only by a deadpan sense of humor. All of that changed one day, thanks to a windfall he didn't expect.

    Enter the world of the Rafe Velez Mysteries: intrigue, suspense, mystery, crime and a cast of characters taken from real life (and changed just enough to protect their identities – at least, until the statute of limitations expires). Enter into the mind of a man whose life is an open book – that should be suppressed!

    Meet his friends, frenemies and frequent locations for his adventures:

    • Detectives Toole and Williams, Robbery/Homicide's finest – said nobody, never.
    • Harpo, a stray dog that wandered into his life and has a great sense of humor.
    • Jean Smalls, the first woman in a long time who threatens to take his bachelor card.
    • Keith Verdi, electrical contractor, who has other talents – and secrets.
    • Momo Argento, the semi-retired Don of a crime family, who keeps a hand in the game.
    • The Greasy Spoon restaurant, a real tribute to truth in advertising.
    • The Shiny Penny, your soon-to-be-favorite dive bar.

    ...and a motley crew of clients and suspects. Expect surprises: not every client is on the right side of the law and not every suspect is guilty.

    You won't always know what's going on in the minds of the supporting characters. You will always know exactly what Rafe is thinking – unless he's not thinking at all!

    Discover The Rafe Velez Mysteries. No, really, go ahead! PG Rated – no four letter words or explicit sex, but if you read between the lines..

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAB Stonebridge
    Release dateJul 8, 2014
    ISBN9781501446016
    The Men Who Were Hard of Listening -- Rafe Velez Mystery 5: Rafe Velez Mysteries, #5
    Author

    AB Stonebridge

    You may have already read work by the author AB Stonebridge. As a ghostwriter for many different clients, his work has been seen all over the world. Writing a mixture of fiction, non-fiction and 'True Fiction' (also known as invented history), his work adorns many reports, stories, Web pages and more. Now, after repeated entreaties, pleas, threats and some mockery from fellow authors, AB Stonebridge is creating popular fiction for the Kindle Store. In it you'll discover a breadth and depth of experience that only an exciting life (that did not end abruptly in premature death) can bring you! AB Stonebridge has seen and done things in his life that most people shy away from. You are cordially invited to guess which plot elements are drawn from real life and which come from a rich imagination. In addition, he has met and befriended people from all over the world. Many of them appear in his works. The names have been changed to protect the guilty. If you like suspense, mystery, noir touches, cynical humor and surprise, you'll love his work. There will be characters you love, characters you love to hate and a wide-ranging view of life, in a world not unlike our own, that will draw you into its twists and turns. Take all the time you need, in the next thirty seconds, and decide to delve into the works and world of AB Stonebridge. The more you read, the more you'll find yourself entranced by the stories, personalities and just plain good fun packed into every work. AB Stonebridge is not a legend, myth or giant - yet. It's up to you, the reader, to discover the works of AB Stonebridge, share them with friends and family and decide for yourself. Without your support, he is nothing. With your support, more and more of his works will become available, for your delectation. https://www.facebook.com/abstonebridge/app_191387770912394

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      Book preview

      The Men Who Were Hard of Listening -- Rafe Velez Mystery 5 - AB Stonebridge

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Epilogue

      Chapter 1

      Herbie Byrum stood in his backyard, looking mystified. Where the hell is my lawn chair? He turned to the house and yelled, Bernice! Where the hell is my lawn chair?

      What?

      Where the hell is my lawn chair?

      Bernice came to the window and asked, What?

      Dang! Where the hell is my lawn chair?!

      Bernice paused, then answered, I dunno. A look of suffering was on her face.

      Herbie shook his head and mumbled to himself. He went inside and said, Bernice! The damn' lawn chair is missing!

      I don't know what to tell you, Herbie.

      Well, you could tell me where the hell my lawn chair is!

      Bernice shook her head, looking frustrated. Did you look in the garage?

      Why the hell would I look in the garage?! It's not a garage chair, it's a lawn chair!

      Bernice walked to the door, opened it, looked in the garage and sighed.

      Herbie, it's in the garage.

      Who put it there?!

      You, apparently. I didn't.

      Herbie paused. Oh, yeah, I cleaned it off yesterday and sprayed some WD-40 on the hinges. His voice was small, but not apologetic.

      Are we going to the store soon, Herbie?

      What?

      I said, are we going to the store soon?

      What for? Herbie looked preoccupied.

      The wall phone rang. Herbie picked it up and handed it to his wife. She rolled her eyes and answered it. She held the receiver out to him. It's your brother.

      Billyum! How's things?

      Bernice could hear growling from the receiver.

      Sorry. Billy. What's up?

      More growling came from the receiver.

      I have to go shopping with Bernice now. Can I talk to you about it later?

      A rising torrent of growls came from the receiver, ending in a click.

      I forgot. He told me he needed something. He's pissed.

      Well, let's get started, Herbie.

      Herbie looked completely mystified. Where are we going?

      Shopping.

      Herbie looked pained, took out his car keys and walked to the garage. Bernice grabbed her purse and followed.

      Rafe Velez called to his wife, Jean. Honey, you gotta see this! Harpo is learning to read!

      Jean peeked inside the door of Rafe's office. Rafe wrote a big letter F on a piece of paper and held it up for the dog, Harpo. What letter is this, boy?! Rafe paused to listen. K?! You said K?

      Jean was grinning.

      Rafe wrote another F, holding it up. What letter, boy?! K?! Again K?! The dog wagged his tail.

      How come every time I write F, you see K? Jean looked puzzled for a moment, the gave a look of amused disgust.

      You're teaching that poor dog to drop F-bombs?!

      No! That comes next. He turned to the dog. "What word begins with F and ends with U-C-K?' He

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