Gotcha Detective Agency Mystery Box Set Read online

  Gotcha Detective Agency Mysteries

  Boxed Set, Books 1-6

  Jamie Lee Scott

  LBB Company

  Contents

  Copyright

  Join The Jamie Lee Scott Newsletter

  Let Us Prey

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Textual Relations

  Copyright

  Copyright

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Death of a Sales Rep

  Copyright

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  What a Meth

  Copyright

  Copyright

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  Chapter 76

  Chapter 77

  Chapter 78

  Chapter 79

  Chapter 80

  Chapter 81

  Chapter 82

  Chapter 83

  Chapter 84

  Epilogue

  Bad Vice

  Copyright

  Copyright

  Join The Jamie Lee Scott Newsletter

  Chapter 85

  Chapter 86

  Chapter 87

  Chapter 88

  Chapter 89

  Chapter 90

  Chapter 91

  Chapter 92

  Chapter 93

  Chapter 94

  Chapter 95

  Chapter 96

  Chapter 97

  Chapter 98

  99. Mimi

  Chapter 100

  Chapter 101

  Chapter 102

  Chapter 103

  Chapter 104

  Chapter 105

  Electile Dysfunction

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Join The Jamie Lee Scott Newsletter

  Chapter 106

  Chapter 107

  Chapter 108

  Chapter 109

  Chapter 110

  Chapter 111

  Chapter 112

  Chapter 113

  Chapter 114

  Chapter 115

  Chapter 116

  Chapter 117

  Chapter 118

  Chapter 119

  Chapter 120

  Chapter 121

  About the Author

  Connect with Jamie Online:

  Join The Jamie Lee Scott Newsletter

  The Gotcha Detective Agency Series

  The Uncertain Mystery/Suspense Series

  Jamie Lee Scott

  Copyright © 2011 by Jamie Lee Scott

  Second Edition

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  * * *

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Created with Vellum

  Join The Jamie Lee Scott Newsletter

  JOIN THE JAMIE LEE SCOTT NEWSLETTERWant to be the first to read Jamie Lee Scott novellas for FREE?

  Subscribe to her newsletter for EXCLUSIVE novella ebook series

  HOMICIDE, LIFE WITH NICK

  There will be 4 new novellas that will be available FREE to newsletter subscribers.

  So if you’re not a newsletter subscriber, here’s your chance. This is open to international readers too.

  *must be deliverable online

  Click here to get the newsletter!

  Let Us Prey

  1

  When you work as a private detective, there are two things that are certain; you’ll be bored nearly to death by a long stakeout, and you’ll have to pee at some time during that stakeout. I was approaching the “have to pee” stage when my cell phone rang.

  “Speak to me.”

  “Nice, very professional,” Charles said.

  “I try. What’s up?”

  “I’ve got Jackie coming to relieve you. I have sort of an emergency at the office. The client is on her way now.” There was an undertone to Charles’s voice that put me on alert.

  Before I could respond, he hung up.

  I’m Mimi Capurro, and I own Gotcha Detective Agency. We’re a fledgling agency on the Central Coast of California. I’m a former Secret Service agent. I left the job to start a family with my husband, Dominic, but the family plans hit a major road block when Dominic died in a plane crash a year after we married. Gotcha is my way of trying to move on, and I’ve put all of my time and energy into growing the business. Some days are easier than others.

  Charles Parks is my right-hand man. He’s from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. I met him while I was protecting a former first lady. Charles is not only one of my best friends, but he’s a genius with computers, business, and defense.

  Jackie Baccarin, who was coming to relieve me, was my best friend. Normally I would never recommend going into business with friends, but these were friends with talent. Jackie could pee in a freaking coffee can without ever leaving her stakeout post. Now that’s talent. And like me, she needed an outlet. She’d lost her husband too. Only she’d killed hers. Not literally, it’s just that as far as she was concerned, he was dead.

  I saw Jackie’s car come around the co
rner, so I fired up my 1982 Toyota pickup and headed out. Gotcha has a fleet of cars for different occasions. Since my Land Rover would have stood out like a purple cow in this neighborhood I had the Toyota. And by a fleet of cars, I mean we had our personal cars and three that belonged to the company. Thank God for people who trade in their junker cars and the auctioneers who sell them. All three cars cost $1,500, total.

  Some P.I. agencies specialize and only do insurance work, or track down deadbeat dads. Gotcha isn’t picky; we’re a young company and can’t afford to be picky about the cases we take. Since I have a specialized background in the Secret Service, we also provide bodyguards, or professional protection.

  I drove around the back of the Victorian house that had been converted into offices, and parked in the backyard/parking lot. This house had belonged to Dominic when he ran his produce brokerage company. It was while doing business for that company that he was killed.

  Every time I opened the kitchen door, I swore I could smell the Blue Mountain coffee he was so fond of. But that label hasn’t been brewed in the house since I took over, so I know it’s just a memory. I feel the glitch in my heart to this day, and it’s been more than two years since his plane went down.

  I thought I could sneak into my office and do a quick clean up and pee, before my client arrived.

  Yeah, that didn’t happen as my new clients were sitting in my office when I walked in. I’m not big on surprises, so I shot Charles a look that told him as much.

  Charles, who’d been sitting at my desk, casually rose to his feet when I entered the room. “And this is Mimi.”

  The ladies looked in my direction just as I was adjusting my face from a scowl to a smile. I walked forward and shook hands with both women.

  The older woman looked to be in her forties. She had large brown eyes like topaz gems and wavy, medium-length hair the color of rich cream. She stood tall with a muscular build. Her skin was tanned, which clashed with her gray suit. I shook her hand first.

  She took my hand in a firm grip. “I’m Lauren Silke.”

  I’m pretty sure I had a fan-girl moment, but I did my best to hide it. I was shaking hands with the New York Times bestselling author of the Sophie Nolan vampire series. I had every book in the series. Well, I didn’t have the latest, but as soon as it hit bookstores I would.

  “Wow, I’m a big fan.” I just had to say it.

  “Thank you.” Lauren indicated the waif standing beside her. “This is my assistant, Esme Bailey.”

  I turned to the girl with the large sapphire eyes. Her fine, straight, black hair was worn in a precise bob. She was tall and thin and a shade too pale. Her hollow cheeks and thin red lips made her look even thinner. I had to envy her style with her black thigh high boots and miniskirt.

  “Esme. Hi.”

  Esme gave me an overenthusiastic handshake.

  “Oh, thank you so much for meeting us at the last minute. Charles has been such a doll in your absence. And he assures us that taking us as a client will be no imposition. I’m so sorry for the last-minute meeting.”

  Was this girl on crack? Her movements were steady and fluid, but she spoke so fast I could hardly keep up. And when she said Charles had assured them I’d take the case, the words really began to blur as my mind whirled.

  I glared at Charles again.

  “Well, ladies, now that you’ve met, I’ll just go grab you some coffee and cookies.” Charles nearly ran from the room.

  Charles, a fop if ever there was one, wore creased khaki slacks and a lavender polo shirt. I could see the lavender in his argyle socks as he left the room.

  I’m pretty sure my Doberman, Lola, heard Charles say cookies because she stood from her bed in the corner of my office, performed a downward dog, and trotted to the kitchen. She didn’t even acknowledge me.

  I went around my desk and sat. “Okay, so exactly what is it I’m taking on here?”

  Lauren settled back in her chair, and as she did I noticed something a little off about her coloring. I couldn’t quite place it.

  Esme sat forward in her chair, her long legs twisted like spaghetti noodles. She seemed anxious.

  “Okay, so you know who Lauren is?”

  I smiled. “I do.”

  “Oh, good, that will make this faster. So you know about Sophie and the vampires. Well, then, um, you also know that in the last book, Lauren killed off a long-running character. I mean she had to, there were just getting to be too many characters to keep track of. But I digress.

  “Okay, apparently some of her loyal fans aren’t thrilled with the story line lately. And this last weekend Lauren was speaking at a paranormal writers conference—“

  “I was on a panel. Not really speaking. My presence was considered to be a great draw for some reason.”

  “And, long story short, she got the shit beat out of her in the bathroom. By a lady claiming to be her fan of all things.” Esme was wide eyed, and now nearly tipping off the chair.

  Lauren glared at Esme, but said nothing.

  That was it. The makeup on Lauren’s face was thick. Very thick because it was covering bruises. And when I looked closer I could see just a bit of red on her eyeball.

  “Oh my God. How on earth did that happen?”

  Now Lauren sat forward in her chair. “I went to the bathroom, and this lady apparently followed me in. We were the only two in the bathroom, and I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, why would I?”

  Esme interrupted. “And the woman waited until Lauren was in the stall and had her pants half down, then she kicked in the stall door.”

  “Did you have any idea who she was?”

  “Not a clue,” Lauren said.

  “Anyway, she knocked Lauren out cold.”

  I leaned forward. “Holy shit.”

  Lauren laughed. “That’s exactly what I thought when I came to. But the woman was gone. I vaguely remember her saying she was pissed off about something, but I can’t for the life of me remember what she said.”

  “Did anyone find the woman, or walk in while this was happening?”

  Blushing now, Lauren said, “No, a woman did come in moments later and found me on the floor with my pants down. God, it was humiliating.”

  Esme laughed. “But good publicity.”

  “Huh, I didn’t read about it.” Then I wondered where I would possibly have read about something like this happening.

  “The conference was in Seattle. It was in their paper.” Esme reached into her Coach briefcase and handed me a clipping of the article.

  I glanced at it and put it on my desk. “So how do I fit into this?”

  “Lauren’s book tour for Prey starts tonight. Yeah, tonight. And she needs a bodyguard.”

  “Tonight?” What the hell did Charles get me into?

  Right on cue, Charles reentered the office with a tray of coffee and snacks. He placed it on the table between the two women.

  “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I made plain black coffee, but there are several creamers.” He pointed at a plate on the tray. “And we have hazelnut, orange, and mocha biscotti.”

  “So Charles, you are going to provide Ms. Silke with executive protection tonight?”

  Esme was giddy. “Oh, Charles, really?”

  “Not me. I’ve cleared your schedule, so you’ll be available to travel to San Francisco with Lauren tonight.”

  I stood. It took everything I had to not reach across the desk and grab Charles by the collar and yank him toward me. I took a deep breath before I spoke. We needed the clientele, but I felt like Charles had manipulated me. Wouldn’t be the first time. Or the last.

  “Fine. I’d be happy to accompany you tonight. I’m sure Charles told you about our fees?”

  Esme regurgitated what Charles had quoted in my absence and I nearly choked. The quote was nearly three times our normal fee.

  I coughed, then said, “And this works for you?”

  Lauren said, “If we can schedule you for the week, we can double the fe
e.”

  “The week?”

  “Well, Lauren has five engagements this week. And with the attack at the conference and the flurry of negative and nasty comments on Facebook, Twitter and her blog, we think it’s best she has someone watching her back so she can give the proper attention to her fans.”

  “Do you have the itinerary for this entire week?”

  “I don’t have it on me. I have to call Lauren’s publicist this afternoon to get the details on times, flights, and all that. We weren’t sure we were going to honor the tour dates if we couldn’t get a bodyguard.”

  Esme reached back into her briefcase and handed me a hardcover book.

  I looked at the stunningly erotic cover of Prey. When I opened the cover I saw it was autographed already.

  “Wow, thanks.”

  Esme smiled. “No problem. This is going to be a great week.”

  Neither Lauren nor Esme touched the coffee and biscotti. And I immediately started preparing for the job ahead, having no idea what I was getting myself into.

  * * *

  I’d never been to a book signing, but I think it would have been considered a hit. There was a line out the door of the bookstore in San Francisco that trailed down the block. Lauren talked and laughed and signed for three hours.

  I had no idea how fanatical fiction fans could be. More than half of the fans dressed as characters in Lauren’s books. Well, their versions anyway.

  Toward the end of the signing Lauren said, “You didn’t get to meet my biggest fan. He looks exactly like I pictured Lawrence when I created his character. The guy is great, a little creepy, but dedicated. I don’t think he’s missed a signing in California since my first book. Weird he wasn’t there tonight. Esme always points him out when she’s with me. I swear she knows him, but she says she doesn’t.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t see anyone who looked like that.”

  Lauren looked thoughtful, and said, “Weird he wasn’t here,” like it was in a dream.

  After spending an hour at Lauren’s house that afternoon, the drive to and from San Francisco, and the signing, I was exhausted. So when our driver pulled the car up to Lauren’s house to drop her off, I was ready to be home and in my nice warm bed.