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    The Essence of the Problem: Marshall Drummond Case Files, #6
    The Essence of the Problem: Marshall Drummond Case Files, #6
    The Essence of the Problem: Marshall Drummond Case Files, #6
    Ebook79 pages1 hour

    The Essence of the Problem: Marshall Drummond Case Files, #6

    By Stuart Jaffe

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    About this ebook

    Marshall Drummond has faced many challenging cases in the past, but nothing could prepare him for taking on a case for his old boss, the Chief of Police. Caught in a web of lies and secrets, Drummond must figure out why the Chief's wife and maid are being terrorized by an other-worldly being before it returns to kill them all. Then he has to figure out how to stop the thing.

    Welcome to the Marshall Drummond Case Files. These stories explore the dark mysteries and thrilling adventures of 1940s PI, Marshall Drummond, before he died and became the ghost detective found in the bestselling Max Porter Paranormal Mysteries.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStuart Jaffe
    Release dateDec 18, 2018
    ISBN9781386175070
    The Essence of the Problem: Marshall Drummond Case Files, #6

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      Book preview

      The Essence of the Problem - Stuart Jaffe

      The Essence of the Problem

      A Marshall Drummond Case File

      Stuart Jaffe

      Also by Stuart Jaffe

      Max Porter Paranormal Mysteries

      Southern Bound

      Southern Charm

      Southern Belle

      Southern Gothic

      Southern Haunts

      Southern Curses

      Southern Rites

      Southern Craft

      Southern Spirit

      Southern Flames

      Nathan K thrillers

      Immortal Killers

      Killing Machine

      The Cardinal

      Yukon Massacre

      The First Battle

      Immortal Darkness

      A Spy for Eternity

      The Malja Chronicles

      The Way of the Black Beast

      The Way of the Sword and Gun

      The Way of the Brother Gods

      The Way of the Blade

      The Way of the Power

      The Way of the Soul

      The Parallel Society

      The Infinity Caverns

      Book on the Isle

      Rift Angel

      Gillian Boone novels

      A Glimpse of Her Soul

      Pathway to Spirit

      Stand Alone Novels

      After The Crash

      Founders

      Real Magic

      Short Story Collections

      10 Bits of My Brain

      10 More Bits of My Brain

      The Bluesman Complete

      The Marshall Drummond Case Files: Cabinet 1

      For more information, please visit www.stuartjaffe.com

      IT WASN’T THE FIRST TIME THAT MARSHALL DRUMMOND had a midnight meeting in the Winston-Salem railyard nor the first time the meeting would be with the cops. He understood, though. Back when he was a beat cop, before the crash of ‘29, he would never have dared talk in public to a PI who specialized in ghosts, witches, and other unworldly creatures. He would have been laughed out of a job.

      So, when his old friend, Detective Cooper, set up this meeting, Drummond knew there had to be a serious problem. Worse than that, really. After all, Cooper had contacted Drummond several times over the years whenever his cases became unusual. Cooper had even visited Drummond’s office on occasion. A clandestine meeting like this promised trouble of a greater magnitude.

      With a long drag on a cigarette, he tipped back his hat and let the cool night breeze tickle his skin. Summer neared its end but not before striking out with a final sweltering week. A rainstorm earlier that day did little to help, and the humid air wafting off the giant steam locomotives only made things worse.

      Two figures approached. The dim yard lighting made them little more than shadows. Still, Drummond recognized them right away — the sturdy frame of Detective Cooper and the rounder shape of Chief Carter.

      The Chief of Police, huh? Things had definitely gotten worse.

      Thanks for coming out here, Cooper said as he shook Drummond’s hand. The Chief kept his hands at his sides as he continually scanned the area.

      Readjusting his hat, bringing the brim lower, Drummond said, What exactly can I do for you?

      Before Cooper could respond, the Chief snorted and spit off to the side. I’m going to be straight with you. I don’t believe in any of this crap. Never have. Never will. But Pearl and I are at our wits end. We don’t know what to do and Cooper thinks you can help.

      From the derisive way Chief Carter spoke Cooper’s name and from the uncomfortable look on Cooper’s face, Drummond guessed that his friend’s job rode on the success of the night.

      Well, you’ve established how much you don’t want me to help you, Drummond said. Tell me how I can help you.

      The Chief scowled. Now I remember why I was happy to see you leave the Department. Damn smart mouth of yours.

      Cooper put a hand on each man’s shoulder. Come on gentlemen, let’s not forget why we’re here.

      Poking his cigarette in the Chief’s direction, Drummond said, I don’t know why I’m here. You can cut the games; I don’t work for you anymore. You want my help? Get on with it.

      For a second, Drummond thought he had ticked the Chief off enough to cause Cooper trouble, but then Chief Carter snorted and spit again. You listen to me — I don’t buy any of this dog-and-pony show of yours. You understand? Only reason I’m here is ‘cause I got no other choice. And my Pearl deserves every chance, so here it is — somebody broke into our house and terrorized our maid.

      Your maid? Drummond received a nod from Cooper confirming the claim. Then he frowned. A break-in and an assault? This is all your domain. You got the whole Department at your disposal, and I’m sure they’d turn every stone for you. Why are you bringing this to me?

      Use the police? Gee, that’s brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that? Oh, wait — maybe, any moron with half-a-brain would realize that I’m meeting them out here at midnight because I want this kept quiet. Your genius pal here suggested you could help and that better be the case — especially considering the odd nature of this.

      Odd?

      Now it was the Chief’s turn to receive a nod from Cooper. Stepping closer to Drummond, the Chief’s mouth twisted in disgust. Out of his coat pocket, he produced a light-blue cloth no bigger than a napkin. Mrs. Carter and I went out last night, went to a show at the Colonial, and when we got back, Ms. Daggett was standing in the corner of our living room shaking and talking gibberish. Shock, of course.

      Drummond wanted to hurry the Chief along. He didn’t need to hear the normal details. In the last twenty-four hours of a normal case, the Department would have brought every suspect in and questioned them. All the leads would have been followed up on. Standing in the railyard on a humid midnight and hearing the word odd meant something unnatural. The normal way of doing things would not help — not necessarily. It depended on the nature of the odd part of all this.

      But if Drummond pressed too hard, the Chief would remember he didn’t believe in magic. This was 1932, and he was a modern, civilized man. Ghosts were for superstitious chumps. He would curse out Cooper and storm off determined to use his own men. And whatever had frightened Ms. Daggett would continue to haunt the Carter’s house — because if the Chief used the word odd and Cooper thought this meeting worthwhile, Drummond had no

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