Goose City Unhappily Ever After

Goose City

Unhappily Ever After

By

Linwood D. Ellsworth

SMASHWORDS EDITION

******

PUBLISHED BY

Linwood Ellsworth on Smashwords

Goose City

Copyright 2017 by Linwood Ellsworth

Cover Design by

Linwood Ellsworth

Cover Photo from

Pixababy (free)

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Table of Contents

Prologue - Once upon a time

Chapter 1 - Funeral for a friend

Chapter 2 - Jack and Goldie

Chapter 3 - The Plan

Chapter 4 - Meeting Margery

Chapter 5 - The Affluent Law

Chapter 6 - Jill Dobb

Chapter 7 - Truth for the People

Chapter 8 - Evidence

Chapter 9 - The Pimp and the Dame

Chapter 10 - Saffron Peterson

Chapter 11 - A plan to rob a Giant

Chapter 12 - Lunch with Wesley

Chapter 13 - Goldie, Jack, and Beanstalk Lane

Chapter 14 - A death on Beanstalk Lane

Chapter 15 - Detective Horner on TV

Chapter 16 - Peter, Peter

Chapter 17 - Frantic Jack

Chapter 18 - Arrival in Italy

Chapter 19 - Meeting at the Cushy Cow

Chapter 20 - Shoreditch Hospital

Chapter 21 - Taffy’s warehouse

Chapter 22 - The abduction of Mary Lamb

Chapter 23 - The Owl and the Pussycat

Chapter 24 - Simple Simon’s video

Chapter 25 - Goldie’s father

Chapter 26 - L. B. Blue’s informant

Chapter 27 - An Escape Plan

Chapter 28 - The Press Conference

Chapter 29 - Let’s visit Taffy

Chapter 30 - Dame Trot’s Revenge

Chapter 31 - The Wachowski Brothers

Chapter 32 - The abduction of Anne Hubbard

Chapter 33 - Find Jill Dobb!

Chapter 34 - Nancy Kills

Chapter 35 - I’m Detective Tuesday Child

Chapter 36 - Red Ridin’ Hood

Chapter 37 - I’m Jill Dobb

Chapter 38 - Leaving Goose City

Chapter 39 - Mary Lamb

Chapter 40 - Taffy’s Confession

Chapter 41 - A few Questions

Chapter 42 - Old Enemies

Chapter 43 - Bunting comes a knocking

Chapter 44 - The Butcher

Chapter 45 - I’m Tommy Tittlemouse

Chapter 46 - Killing Taffy

Chapter 47 Kill the Butcher

Chapter 48 I’m Master Agent Richard Whittington

Chapter 49 - Targets

Chapter 50 Taffy is dead

Chapter 51 - Your Brother is a Suspect

Chapter 52 The Raid

Chapter 53 - After the Raid

Chapter 54 - Peter Forewarned

Chapter 55 - The Assassination of Jackson Horner

Chapter 56 - Unhappily Ever After

Chapter 57 - Humpty had a great fall

About Linwood Ellsworth

Other titles by Linwood Ellsworth

Prologue

Once upon a time…

The girl and boy skulked through the large house. Each carried a large sack loaded with their booty. The owners of the house were attending another social function for the wealthy of Goose City.

Who owns this house? asked the shabbily dressed boy, nervously looking around.

William Willy Wilkins, responded the girl.

How does he make his money? the shabbily dressed boy asked, admiring an abstract painting. He cocked his head left then right to gain an understanding of the art.

He owns Wilkins Pharmaceuticals, replied the girl. He’s a pusher just like the Lions and Unicorn; the only difference is that Wilkins has money.

The girl stopped and admired a painting of a young girl frolicking in the ocean. She carefully examined the picture. This is an original Daffy Dilly. We could easily get $10000 for this.

Taking the painting from the wall, she quickly removed the fasteners holding it to the frame. Rolling the picture, she carefully put it inside her sack.

Let’s go, said the shabbily dressed boy. I think we have enough.

Not until we do our thing, said the girl with a smile. Going into the kitchen, the girl searched the cupboard for three bowls. After finding three bowls of different sizes, she filled them with porridge and arranged them on the table. In a separate room, the boy placed three brown dried beans on a table.

Okay, let’s go, the girl said. The pair quickly and quietly the exited mansion.

Chapter 1

Funeral for a friend

Whenever there’s a funeral, it always seems to rain. All officers not on duty stood in the rain dressed in their service uniforms listening to the chaplain recite a verse from the bible. He said something about commending the body back to the earth and God taking the soul.

I really wasn’t listening. All my thoughts were on Bobby Shaftoe.

He ambushed Jenny Wren and Bobby 'Bookworm' Snooks while they questioned him about a dead model. The fucker shot them as they sat in his house. He escaped in his private jet with a blonde female. We later identified her as Nancy Dawson. It had been six days, and we had the slightest clue to their whereabouts.

It wasn’t business. It was personal. I would hunt Bobby Shaftoe to the ends of the earth and bring him to justice.

After the shooting, we were forbidden by Chief Fitzwarren from searching the house. He even went to great lengths to keep the whole incident quiet, but thanks to Margery Daw and her alternative media friends he couldn’t keep it quiet.

I again felt the falling rain as the firing party fired their three-volley salute. I watched as the flag party folded the flag of Bobby ‘Bookworm’ Snooks. I watched in disgust as Fatman handed the triangular folded flag to Bookworm’s grieving parents. Then off in the distance, a bagpipe player played Amazing Grace. Once the music started, the sound of sobbing filled the air of Wooden Hill Cemetery.

Hours later most of the GCPD met at the Derby Ram to pay tribute to Bookworm. I sat at the bar and listened as everyone shared a funny story about Bookworm. The most hilarious story I could come up with is how he vomited on my shoes after seeing his first dead victim.

Hey hon, you okay? asked Joan the bartend and my girlfriend.

No, I said solemnly. Bookworm is dead because of me. I don’t even know if Jenny is going to pull through.

You can't blame yourself, Joan said while she rubbed my hand.

It’s my fault, I said. I told them to go question Shaftoe.

Don’t do this to yourself hon, said Joan. This horrible thing that happened to them comes with the job. They knew the risks.

Something as simple as an in-home interview shouldn’t have ended with one dead police officer and another fighting for her life.

Dick sat next to me. What are we going to do?

I tapped the bar, so Joan could refill my glass. What can we do? Fatman has blocked all access to the house. Any clue to finding Shaftoe is in that house. Joan filled my glass with another shot of Bonfire.

Screw Fatman! said Dick angrily. I should’ve arrested Shaftoe's ass for pushing me.

If we want to get Shaftoe, we play this one his way, I said. If we try to do it our way, Fatman will see to it that we never get the chance. I quickly downed the Bonfire.

What’s in there that he doesn’t want us to see? Dick asked.

The big ugly truth, I said. Fatman is doing the job the rich pay him to do. He keeps their embarrassing moments hidden.

Detectives L.B. Blue and Nimble later joined us. Nimble’s right arm was still in a sling while he recovered from a gunshot. The injury relegated him to desk work. He was shot by an unidentified gunman while we arrested Lucy Locket.

L.B. held up his glass and said, Today we buried a damn good detective. You will be missed, Detective Snooks. We all raised whatever we had in our hand in toast of Bookworm.

Then the owner of the Derby Ram, Jack Spry took the stage. Ladies and gentlemen and officers of the Goose City police department, I now welcome Butterfly to the stage.

From behind the red velvet curtain walked Polly Harrow, a crime scene tech for the GCPD. She was also one hell of a musician. With her guitar in hand, she took the stool behind the microphone.

A lot of you may know me as Polly Harrow, she said. Tonight, I’m Butterfly, and I would like to sing a few songs in honor of our fallen comrade Bobby ‘Bookworm’ Snooks.

We all sat back and listened as Polly ‘Butterfly’ Harrow sang in honor of our fallen comrade.

Chapter 2

Jack and Goldie

A small black and white TV played. On the screen was a local reporter reporting on the funeral of Bobby Snooks.

I'm standing outside of Wooden Hill Cemetery where Detective Bobby Snooks, a four-year veteran detective of the GCPD, is being laid to rest. Six days ago, while questioning Bobby Shaftoe in his home, Detectives Snooks and Wren were shot by Mr. Shaftoe. Detective Snooks died at the scene while Detective Wren lay in critical condition at Shoreditch Hospital. The whereabouts of Mr. Shaftoe and his accomplice are unknown. I'm Nia Balroubadour reporting for WGCD-9.

Shaking her head, Abigail Dunn turned the television off. She turned her attention to a stack of bills laying on the kitchen table. She fretted over how she would pay them. Her two waitressing jobs wouldn’t be enough to cover all the monthly expenses.

Mom, I’m home! called out her son Jack as he entered their cramped two-bedroom apartment in the Babylon section of Goose City.

I’m in the kitchen, shouted his mother.

Going into the kitchen, Jack found his mother, still wearing her Flying Pig uniform, sitting at the table. She looked tired. Are you okay?

I’m okay, said Abigail. I’m just a little tired. The morning shift can be a bit rough.

You should take a shower and go to bed, said Jack. What’s that?

I can’t go to bed, I have to be at Reigate in an hour, said Abigail. These are our bills.

Jack picked up the bills and slowly looked through the stack. He dropped the bills back onto the table then reached into his pocket. He pulled out a roll of money and removed six one hundred-dollar bills. Here, this should cover everything. Save your money.

Where did you get money from? asked his mother as she looked at the crisp one hundred-dollar bills.

It’s the summer, said Jack. People in St. Ives and Banbury like to have nice looking lawns.

Smiling, his mother graciously took the money.

Tomorrow night we shall dine at March Winds, my treat, said Jack. So, call the Crow and tell them you won’t be coming in tomorrow. Now get some rest.

Abigale stood and hugged her son. You are such a good boy Jack Dunn. She kissed him on the cheek then went into the bathroom.

Jack went into his bedroom. Going to his closet, he removed a shoebox and opened it. Inside were stacks of bills. I think I need to open a bank account. He dropped the roll with the rest and returned the shoebox to the closet.

Lying on his bed, he looked up at the ceiling and smiled.

******

Goldie Locks crawled through her opened bedroom window. She quickly undressed and got into bed. As soon as she closed her eyes, her bedroom lamp popped on.

It’s after midnight Goldie, said her mother who sat in a chair in the corner. Do you care to explain yourself?

Sitting up in bed, Goldie said, I went to the Sixpence after work.

Your curfew is 11:30, said Jane Locks. Not a minute later.

You sound just like your mother, snapped Goldie.

Quickly getting out of the chair, Jane went across the room and slapped Goldie. Never compare me to that old hag.

Fighting back the tears, Goldie said, I’m sorry.

Jane sat on the bed and hugged her daughter. I’m sorry Goldie. I just don’t want to lose you like I lost your father.

Looking her mother in the eyes, Goldie said, You won’t lose me. I promise.

You know that she--, said Jane.

Don’t say it, said Goldie. Please don’t say it.

Her mother hugged her again then said, I love you, Goldie. Now get some sleep.

Goldie placed her head on her pillow and closed her eyes. Her mother turned off the lamp and left the room. Goldie turned on her bedside lamp and climbed out of bed. She picked up her rucksack and opened it. She reached in and removed two large rolls of money. I need to start a bank account.

Chapter 3

The Plan

The next morning, I awoke with Joan sleeping next to me. My head throbbed from way too much drinking. Getting out of bed, I stumbled into the bedroom. As I looked in the mirror, all I saw were Bobby and Jenny as they walked out of headquarters on their way to question Shaftoe. I quickly brushed my teeth and went to the kitchen to make coffee. The grinding of the coffee beans made my head throb even worse. I went into the living room and switched on the television. The morning news replayed the coverage of Bookworm’s funeral. I could hear the coffee pour into my cup. I went into the kitchen, grabbed the cup of black coffee, added three sugar cubes, and went back into the living room. On the television was Nia Balroubadour, covering Shaftoe’s shooting of Bookworm and Jenny. She stood outside of the Shaftoe’s front gate.

Ever since the tragic shooting of Detectives Bobby Snooks and Jenny Wren in the Shaftoe’s residence, these gates have not opened. Sir Victor and Dame Isabel Shaftoe have yet to make a statement. The whereabouts of Bobby Shaftoe are still unknown to the GCPD. I'm Nia Balroubadour reporting for WGCD-9.

The rich own the mainstream media in Goose City. However, they didn't control the alternative media. Margery was a part of that group of outsiders that told the truth.

Then it came to me despite the throbbing pain in my head. I would rely on the alternative media.

Mornin’ hon, said Joan as she entered the living room wearing my GCPD dress uniform shirt. She sat next to me and nuzzled against me. I love you, Jackson.

I love you, Jumpin Joan, I said with a smile.

I haven’t jumped since I injured my knee in college, said Joan with a smile. Call me something else.

Okay, I said. How ‘bout Joan Horner? She perked up. I like the way that sounds.

One day, I said. She punched me in the shoulder then got up to make herself a cup of coffee.

After showering, I went to the office. The atmosphere continued to be somber. A lot of people were pissed off because we couldn't go into the Shaftoe’s mansion. A few could care less. Dick sat in our cubicle staring at his computer monitor. Mornin, said Dick. Welcome to another fine day at GCPD.

I flopped down in my chair and did the same as Dick. What are we going to do today?

I say went sneak into the Shaftoe’s mansion, replied Dick.

As enjoyable as that sounds, we won’t give the Fatman the joy of preventing us from apprehending Bobby Shaftoe, I said. Besides I have a better way to get us inside the mansion. What is it? asked Bobby as moved to the edge of his seat.

We use the media, I said.

The media can't be trusted, groaned Dick. The rich own them all.

Not the alternative media, I said.

No one listens to that group of tin foil hat wearers, said Dick jokingly.

The rich do when they are about to be exposed, I said.

Are you sure? Dick asked.

Yeah, I said. I call Margery and see if she has time for me.

Okay, said Dick. I just hope you don't get burned.

Then my phone rang. It was an internal number, so I said, Jackson speaking.

Jackson, I have something for you and Dick in my lab, said Polly. Leaving our cubicle, we went to Polly’s lab in the lower level. When we arrived, she had an excited look on her face. What’s so important that you took us away from our busy morning, I said jokingly.

I got a hit on the blood from the EPH shooting, said Polly