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    Sunshine: John Devin, PI Short Story, #1
    Sunshine: John Devin, PI Short Story, #1
    Sunshine: John Devin, PI Short Story, #1
    Ebook41 pages31 minutes

    Sunshine: John Devin, PI Short Story, #1

    By Michael Kowal

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    About this ebook

    It’s 1930s Los Angeles and ex-Marine, and current PI, John Devin tackles his first case — get back millions stolen from Little Jackie Sunshine, America’s famous child star. The problem? Her rancid mother is the one who stole it. All of it. For Devin there’s only one way to go — get it back. Any way possible.

    If you like your detectives hard-boiled and with attitude, with a strong sense of right, and characters you want to spend time with, grab a copy of “Sunshine.” Then join Devin as he solves his way through the amazing 1930s - the most dangerous, glittering, low-life time in Los Angeles’ crime filled history.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMichael Kowal
    Release dateAug 29, 2016
    ISBN9781536531794
    Sunshine: John Devin, PI Short Story, #1

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      Book preview

      Sunshine - Michael Kowal

      Chapter 1

      I HIT THE WATER with an unceremonious splash, then the block of concrete did the rest. It was the deep end of the pool.

      It was eight feet. I was six.

      The water was cool and refreshing in an about to die sort of way, bringing instant clarification after the roughing up I just had from the two goons above. From some instinct out of nowhere I had taken a breath right before I hit, so at least I had that. I didn’t have a lot else.

      The bottom of the pool was a deep blue that looked like black from the top. The little tiles all had slightly different blues, probably hand painted in Italy or something. Only the best for our Little Jackie Sunshine.

      My coat felt like a straightjacket in the water now, my tie like a noose, but the only thing I could think about was my new black fedora probably floating above. It had cost me a sawbuck but it was my sawbuck and that didn’t sit too well with me.

      I got to work on the knots that tied my ankle to the concrete block resting on the bottom. The knots were simple things really, the boys didn’t mean me that much harm. The Southern California sun above shone down bright as always and by the time it hit the bottom of the pool where I was making my current home, the lines and flashes added an almost diamond quality to the proceedings.

      The last knot was a troublesome thing and the little floating diamonds on the bottom of the pool started to dance inside my eyes. That’s when I did start to panic. Junior and Tiny above would not be offering any help since they’re the ones who tied the things in the first place, so I took one second that probably saved my life.

      Water had gotten into my nose and a small bit of it trickled down, burning the back of the inside of it. I focused on that pain. It was a small pain in a life full of them but it was enough. And it got me mad.

      I forced the diamonds out of my head and focused every last bit of me on the knot. Now that I had finally focused, I could see it was a hitching tie. Maybe I had underestimated Tiny.

      It took me another three seconds to free the knot. Three seconds past death in my book, but I did it and pushed off the bottom like Duke Kahanamoku.

      I broke the surface and air never

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