The Case of the Missing Drug Lord’s Daughter

A Deacon Blues Mystery

 

 

By Joseph P Hradisky Jr

DEDICATION

 

This is dedicated to my best friend, love of my life, Teresa Adella Hradisky who passed away too soon at the young age of 54. I wish everyone knew, had, the kind of love we shared. The world would be a far better place if they did.

DISCLAIMER AND THOUGHTS

 

This is a work of fiction. No character resembles any persons living or dead.

 

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my book.

 

My only regret, in life, when I die is the idea, I will never have the chance to meet everyone in the world to say hi to and call them my friend. Given the chance this is what I would use time travel for. Since that is not possible then my words will just have to do.

 

Hi, my FRIEND, I wish you all the best.

ONE

 

A little smoke filled the large room as dancers moved to a slow song. Sorta of a slow song. Deacon Blues was finishing his signature song for the last set of the night. As he neared the end, he saw an old friend John Graham sit down at Deacon’s reserved table. It was the only table on the dance floor side of Deacon’s Place. Half the space was dance floor while the rest was the stage for bands to play on. In the middle was a square bar with the rest of the area taken up by tables. In the back was the kitchen where if you want it, it would be made.

 

      As Deacon finished the last note a memory floated into his thoughts. He had been on the road for almost two weeks when he found himself standing at the entrance to Myers Park in Lansing New York. How he came to be there he still had no clue, but he was. Deacon had just stopped the car past the railroad tracks because the house on the left was up for sale. It wasn’t much of a place but something about it tugged at his soul. After a few minutes he drove into the park, slowly following the road till he made it to a small parking area nearest to what looked like a swimming area. A long dock, about three hundred feet long, made its way into the waters of Cayuga lake, off to the right was a small lifeguard shack then a long building. Later he would learn on the front was a small snack shack with the remainder for restrooms and park equipment.

 

      Yet what drew his attention was the dock, nor did it take long before he found himself sitting at the end, of the dock, staring out over the calm lake waters. Deacon was so taken with the peaceful sounds of the lake it was hours later, a little past midnight, when Deacon came to himself. It was right then, and there, he decided he was going to buy the park. He was very aware it would be hard for anyone to buy a park, but Deacon was not anyone. Over the years he had accumulated more than enough money to afford whatever price it would take to purchase this beautiful property. A long time had passed since the last time Deacon felt so at ease in his soul. A very long time.

 

      “John.” Deacon Jones said as he sat down at his table.

 

      “Ron.” John Graham replied.

 

      Deacon, Ron Tanner, grimaced at the use of his real name. “From now on call me Deacon.”

 

      John smiled. “I heard you had issues back in the city just before you left.”

 

      Deacon barely smiled. “Not really, too many distractions were playing havoc on my music writing. I needed to find somewhere to clear my head.”

 

      “So, you found it in this small city of Ithaca?” John sounded a little incredulous.

 

      “No, I bought Myers Park.” Was all Deacon said. “So, what brings you to my world after all these years?”

 

      “I would be lying if I said it was to catch up.” John paused for a moment. “My boss, Jerome Angelo, needs your special kind of work for a really important job.”

 

      “So, he doesn’t trust anyone he employs?” Deacon, in the past, had run ins with Jerome.

 

      “No,” John admitted. “He also said, because of the situation, it would be better to use someone not on the payroll. Including the police.”

 

      “Must be really bad if he is not using them.” Deacon thought about the request for several minutes. “Tell Jerome I can meet him here anytime he wants…”

 

      “I’m not sure you understand, I am to take you to him now.” John told Deacon.

 

      Deacon Blues stared at John as another memory entered his thoughts. It was the last time he had seen his friend. For several years Deacon had tried to get John Graham to work for him with no success. That night he made it quite clear if John didn’t accept the job, then he would never ask again.

 

John took the envelope Deacon handed him to just tear it up saying. “Deacon, there is no way you can afford me. Jerome pays me quite well and I can do what I want when I want. Also, if I don’t like a situation, I can say no. How can you ever beat that?”

 

Deacon never answered but left his friend not to see him until now. “No, John, it is you who doesn’t understand. I already know what the situation is, how important it is, and any place near him is unsafe as well as having too many ears listening in.”

 

“You think there are spies?” John started to laugh till he saw the look in Deacon’s eyes. “Well, what do you really think?”

 

“Till I can prove otherwise I’m going in that direction.” Deacon responded. “Besides everyone knows there is no honor among thieves. Those ears, eyes, may not have anything to do with the job but it doesn’t mean it will not be listened to. Especially if there is any money to be had. And therein lies the problem of knowing what the truth being sought really is.”

 

John Graham stared at his friend for several minutes. “So, without knowing what the job is… (Deacon started to say something) or at least officially what the job is you don’t think it is a good idea to go to him, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Okay, I will be back as soon as I can convince my boss.” John got up from the table and left the bar.

 

Deacon tried to watch his friend leave, but another memory invaded his thoughts though he tried to keep it from doing so. Again, he found himself sitting at the end of the dock at Myers Park staring out over the water when a subtle sound made him turn to look back at the entrance. It was the sound of tires on old pavement. Though he could not see the vehicle he already knew it was a police car. Deacon kept an eye on the car till it pulled to a stop next to the lifeguard shack. Both front doors opened and soon he was joined on the dock by two patrolpersons. The one, in the lead, was a male who looked like he was very close to retirement. It wasn’t just the extra weight he carried but the attitude he was carrying with him as well.

 

The other was woman who looked as if she had just graduated from the academy. She had the gung-ho look as if everything in the world needed fixing and she was going to do it as quickly as she could. Basically, standard for all rookies, he did wonder if she would still be alive in a year. He didn’t think so because she didn’t have a good teacher who would keep her alive. Both stopped a few feet from Deacon, but he didn’t say a word but waited to see what they were going to do or say, and he didn’t have long to wait.

 

“You do know the park is closed, right?” The older officer asked with a little too much emphasis on every word. According to his name tag he was Officer Collins.

 

Deacon shook his head no saying. “I do now, sir.”

 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Barked the young officer whose name tag told Deacon her last name was Robertson.

 

And there was the attitude Deacon knew was coming. “It means I don’t remember seeing a sign when I wandered into the park about 12 hours ago.” Deacon had to look at his watch to see it was almost 12:30.

 

“Where are you from?” Officer Collins barked at Deacon.

 

Deacon smiled. “Does it really matter?”

 

Officer Roberson put her hand on her pistol but did not take the safety strap off, yet. “Just answer the question.”

 

“I will think about it.” Deacon lost his smile just as quickly as it had appeared. “Though I would suggest you take your hand from your sidearm if you know what is good for you.”

 

“Is that some kind of threat?” Officer Robertson snarled at Deacon.

 

Deacon shook his head slowly. “Actually, the only threat is the one you are making toward me. I haven’t given you any reason to touch the weapon which means if you pull it, I will have to arrest you, cuff you, read you your rights, and then wait till the staties arrive to take you to jail. Do you really want that?”

 

This seemed to piss the two off even more. To the point where Officer Robertson pulled her sidearm to point it at Deacon Jones. “That’s enough, shut up and turn around with your hands on your head. NOW!”

 

It took less than thirty seconds to disarm her, cuff her before he disarmed Officer Collins to cuff him as well. Once this was done Deacon pulled what looked like a slim wallet out of a back pocket. This he flipped open to show the two what it was. On the lower half was a silver badge with writing on the upper flap stating he was a member of a special New York Rangers police unit. Deacon stared at the two for several minutes till he was sure they had read it. “You really couldn’t leave it well enough alone, could you?”

 

Officer Collins started to say something, but Deacon didn’t let him have the chance. “Don’t bother, I am going to be a lot nicer than you have been. On my way out I will use the local radio to have someone come to free you. What you need to understand is very simple. Never let me see you again unless I am the one who comes looking for you and you really don’t want that to happen.”

 

Deacon went to the cruiser to call in the info about the two cops before getting into his car. He was about to leave when He saw some movement off to his left. On the other side of the park, near the mouth of Salmon Creek, he saw a large number of people gathered there. Thinking about what the older officer said he was a little surprised they were there. A warning signal went off in the back of his head as he looked at them. It was loud enough where he drove over till, he was sitting in his car facing what looked like a gang. There were about twenty all told. Deacon turned off the car to sit there watching them to see what they would do.

 

Deacon was very disappointed none of them made a move to find out who he was or why he was

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Texte: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Bildmaterialien: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Cover: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Lektorat: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Korrektorat: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Übersetzung: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Satz: JOSEPH P HRADISKY JR
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 06.10.2022
ISBN: 978-3-7554-2231-0

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Widmung:
This is dedicated to my best friend, love of my life, Teresa Adella Hradisky who passed away too soon at the young age of 54. I wish everyone knew, had, the kind of love we shared. The world would be a far better place if they did.