Double Trouble

  DOUBLE TROUBLE

  A novel by

  SCOTT WITTENBURG

  ©2015 Scott Wittenburg

  Discover other titles by Scott Wittenburg at http://www.scottwittenburg.com

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  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 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 Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters and events of this book are entirely the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, or to any persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  PROLOGUE

  Eight-year-old Carly Fulton was terrified as the man pushed her into the back seat of the car, sat down beside her and slammed the door shut. The car lurched forward as the driver floored the accelerator and sped out onto the street. Neither man spoke for several blocks and the only sounds Carly heard were her own sobs.

  She stared out the window and began counting the streetlights streaking by in an attempt to get a handle on her emotions. Her mother had always told her she was a strong girl for her tiny size, both physically and spiritually. But her mother could never have known how much she had already been forced to endure in the last six days. The mere thought of her mother made Carly sob even harder. What she wouldn’t give to be with her right now.

  “Driving straight through?” the driver said.

  “Yeah,” Marty replied.

  Marty was the name of the man sitting beside her. She had never seen the driver before but she hated Marty as much as she feared him. She knew better than to cross him, though. She had learned the hard way where that would get her. And where it had gotten some of the others.

  Marty was a fat man with a thick, bald head and always wore a baseball cap turned backwards. He could move fast for his large size and was stronger than a bull. He had a high-pitched voice that didn’t match his bulk and if things were different, Carly would find it hard not to laugh at him every time he opened his mouth and spoke in his prissy voice.

  If things were different, that is.

  It was a hot, sultry night and the smell of body odor filled the interior of the car. She was the one who stank, and who wouldn’t after six days of nothing but a hose down two nights ago? She was also weak from starvation but food was the last thing on her mind right now. Although she had no idea where the men were taking her, she sensed that she was going to be killed or worse. What could be worse than death? She didn’t know, but it was out here. She had seen more than half of the others who were taken away never return. The ones who had returned were no longer allowed to see or speak to anybody in the main room. They were held in another room down the hallway instead. She could tell from the sound of crying and screaming echoing along the hall that most if not all of them were young girls and boys.

  She couldn’t imagine where they had been or what they had been forced to do at the mercy of their captors. And where had the others gone to?

  She’d never been to Florida before but had seen photos of it. The little she had seen of the place in daylight was pretty with all of the palm trees. There were lots of people in shorts and bathing suits enjoying their freedom. She could smell the ocean now but all she could see were the countless hotels lining the street as far as the eye could see.

  Suddenly she fell apart as fear took hold again.

  “Where are we going?” she cried, peering over at Marty.

  “You’ll find out soon enough, Princess.”

  “Are you taking me back tonight?”

  “That’s none of your business. We’re done talking now.”

  “All I want to know—”

  Suddenly Marty smacked her hard across the cheek.

  “Fucking shut-up or I’ll shut you up!” he screamed.

  Her face stinging from the blow, Carly turned away and stared out the window. She should have known better than to ask any questions, but she was finding it harder and harder to control herself. She had spent the last six days forcing herself to do as she was told and to not show any fear. That’s what her mother would have told her to do. She knew that things could be even worse had she not possessed such a strong will to survive. But she could feel herself growing weaker and weaker and finding it harder to be strong the longer she remained so far away from home.

  CHAPTER 1

  Amanda had no sooner sat the groceries down on the counter than her cellphone rang. She checked the caller ID and answered.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, honey. Have I caught you at a bad time?”

  “Not at all—just got back from Kroger’s. What’s up?”

  “Some bad news, I’m afraid. Remember my telling you about Jodi Wilburn being murdered last week? Guess who they think did it.”

  “Who?”

  “Nick.”

  “No way!”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “But Nick would never kill Jodi! I know they may have had some problems but I also know how much he loved her. And besides that, Nick Wilburn doesn’t have an evil bone in his body.”

  “Nobody in town thinks he did it, either. But the Sheriff’s department has reported that whoever killed Jodi also made off with a small fortune. Apparently she had all of the jewelry and cash her grandmother left her last year stashed away in her home. They believe the murderer had known about the stash beforehand and where to find it. Nick had installed a hidden safe in their home that nobody else knew about.”

  “How do you know all of this, anyway?”

  “From your Uncle Ken. He’s representing Nick.”

  “So they’ve arrested him?”

  “Not yet, but Ken thinks it’s inevitable.”

  “Jesus, I can’t believe how screwed up that little town is! I’m so glad we moved to Mansfield and got away from that lynch-mob mentality.”

  “C’mon, Mandy—it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Oh yes it was. And now an innocent man is probably going to be sent to prison for something he didn’t do. That whole police force is corrupted, if you ask me. All they want to do is hurry up and hang somebody for this horrible crime before everybody in Milldale gets all paranoid about it, that’s what I think.”

  “Well, I’ve known Nick Wilburn since the two of you were in diapers and his parents shouldn’t have to go through this. They’ve had enough problems already, with Les recently losing his job and Marge’s poor health. This has really devastated them.”

  “And they’re such nice people. How’s Jodi’s family handling this?”

  “Not well at all. I drove down to see Ken yesterday and ran into Jodi’s mother at the Wal-Mart—she looked terrible.”

  “Poor Mrs. Brooks. I wonder if she thinks Nick did it.”

  “I doubt it. Nancy has always been fond of Nick and was anything but thrilled when he and Jodi split up. She tried her damnedest to keep those two together but Jodi flatly refused to forgive Nick for messing around with a younger woman. And you know how obstinate Jodi could be.”

  “I know all too well. God what a mess! First Jodi gets murdered, and then Nick becomes the prime suspect. I’ll bet the whole town is going crazy.”

  “Oh yeah—this is the most excitement they’ve seen there in a long time. Speaking of a long time, when are you going to come visit us? It’s been nearly two months since I’ve seen you.”

  “I know, Mom, and I apologize. I’ve just been so busy with this promotion at work and all. But I promise I’ll come up the fir
st chance I can get away.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that. I miss you so much and can’t wait to hear more about that new guy in your life. What’s his name—Alan?”

  “Yes, but don’t jump to any conclusions. We’re just friends, Mom—nothing serious. He is a great guy, though.”

  “I’m sure he is. Well, try to make it up for a visit soon, Mandy. That’s all I ask.”

  “I will. Take care, Mom. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  As she put the groceries away, Amanda felt a sharp pang of guilt for not visiting her parents more often. She’d been so wrapped up in her job and everything else that had been happening that there had been no time to think of what a lousy daughter she was.

  She brewed herself a cup of tea and went into the family room. She was proud of how charming and comfortable her apartment was and nothing made her more content than plopping down on the soft leather sofa and reading a good book or watching the tube. She had spent a lot of time and effort making this place feel like her own.

  She took a sip of hot tea just as Henry jumped up on her lap and joined her. There had been a lot on her mind the last few months, ever since she and Alan Swansea had started seeing each other on a fairly regular basis. She had known Alan nearly as long as she’d known his deceased wife, Julie. She and Alan had started dating back when Julie and Amanda were roommates at college and then the couple eventually married. Last spring Amanda had seen Alan at her work place after all these years while he was investigating a murder case. Although she’d felt a bit awkward going out with her old friend’s husband, their relationship had grown steadily from that point on.

  Alan was a private investigator and had been hired by her boss’s wife to find out who had murdered their young daughter a couple of years ago. Amanda had in fact played a pivotal role in the capture of the girl’s murderer, resulting in she and Alan becoming close. Both agreed they made a good team; he had in fact suggested that she consider joining forces with him on future cases. At first she had scoffed at the idea. But now she was having second thoughts.

  Having just learned that one of her dearest childhood friends was suspected of robbing and murdering his ex-wife, Amanda feared that he could be sent to prison for doing something he would never do. Nick Wilburn simply wasn’t capable of murder and most certainly would never have murdered his ex-wife. Jodi Brooks and Nick Wilburn had been a steady couple since middle school and were married right after their graduation from high school. The couple had always gotten along and seemed content in their marriage.

  But that all changed once Jodi discovered that Nick was having an affair with a younger woman. From what Amanda’s mother had learned, Nick had readily admitted to the brief affair, apologized to Jodi for his selfish mistake, promised never to do it again and begged Jodi’s forgiveness. But Jodi wouldn’t budge. She had filed for divorce shortly thereafter, the divorce was granted and Nick had moved out of town.

  Amanda petted Henry and the cuddly terrier licked her hand. She conceded that much of what she knew about Nick, Jodi and everything else that went on in her former hometown she had gleaned through her weekly talks with her mother, who was living in Mansfield. Amanda’s family had moved to Mansfield when she was a sophomore in high school. Her father had been transferred to a better paying job and she had been thrilled to escape the small-mindedness of the little river town in southern Ohio.

  Amanda’s mother had always been close to her brother Ken and the two siblings kept in regular contact with one another despite the distance between them. Amanda sometimes suspected that her mother regretted moving out of Milldale and would move back in a heartbeat if it weren’t for Amanda’s father, who was perfectly content living in Mansfield.

  The mere thought of living or even visiting Milldale made Amanda shudder; she loathed the place that much. It had been an okay place to grow up in but it wasn’t fit for anybody expecting a future beyond blue-collar work or standing in the unemployment line. Comprised of little more than a main street, a small, virtually abandoned downtown area and a run-down, soon to be shut-down paper mill, Milldale was a struggling Appalachian community located on the Ohio River surrounded by scenic, rolling farmland. The nearest town of any appreciable size was Huntington, West Virginia—fifty miles away and not exactly what one would call a major urban hub.

  Amanda now felt a need to pay her old hometown a visit. A need to find out what was really going on there and to see what, if anything, she could do to prevent Nick Wilburn from being convicted of a crime she knew he did not do.

  But she knew she couldn’t to do it alone. She needed a partner.

  Amanda thought for another moment, smiled resolutely, and then reached for her phone to call Alan Swansea.

  CHAPTER 2

  Alan pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine. As he walked toward her Dublin town house apartment, he wondered why Amanda had been in such a hurry to see him. She’d said it was something really important but wouldn’t elaborate. This was the sort of thing that always made him nervous. Was she going to tell him she’d found somebody else? He hoped not. If that were the case, he would kick himself royally for playing things so cool with her all this time instead of letting her know how he really felt and cared about her.

  He stepped up to the door and knocked. She answered almost immediately.

  “That was quick!” She swung open the door and pecked him on the cheek.

  “I sorta got the impression you were in a hurry, so I didn’t waste any time.”

  “I appreciate your coming on such short notice, but this couldn’t wait.”

  He followed her into the family room and was greeted by Henry. “Howdy, Hank,” he said, leaning down to give him a pat on the head.

  “I wish you wouldn’t call him that,” Amanda said. “He was just neutered last week and is confused enough already.”

  “Sorry about that. But I always thought that ‘Henry’ and ‘Hank’ were interchangeable.”

  “Not in this case. Want a beer?”

  “Sounds great.”

  “I’ll be back.”

  Alan plopped down on the sofa, his eyes following her as she left the room. Amanda Linville was a classic American beauty—petite with thick, shoulder length brown hair, full lips and a perfectly proportioned figure. He found it hard to believe she was in her early-thirties and even harder to believe that she was actually somewhat attracted to his lamentable self. It had been hard to resist falling under her spell since their unexpected reunion during his last case. Amanda had been Julie’s bridesmaid at their wedding several years ago.

  She had also attended Julie’s funeral not so long ago.

  Julie had been the love of his life until tragedy suddenly snuffed out their wedded bliss. Terminal cancer. Three months of sheer hell and despair. Alan still wondered how he had managed to survive the terrific pain and loss after her passing.

  And now here he was a couple years later smitten by her former friend. The guilt at times was palpable. But that was beginning to change.

  Amanda came back into the room, carrying a couple of cold beers. She handed him one.

  “Thanks.”

  She sat down next to him, took a swig of beer and set it on the coffee table. Not one to beat around the bush, Amanda faced him and promptly came to the point.

  “I need your help. I just found out from my mother that an old childhood friend of mine is suspected of murdering his ex-wife in Milldale. I know Nick Wilburn didn’t do it but they’re trying to nail him for it anyway. I want to go down there and see if there’s something I can do to help—along with your help and expertise, of course.”

  Alan took a slug of beer. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you, of course. But how can you be so sure your old friend didn’t do it?”

  “Simply because he loved Jodi way too much. I know that sounds silly, but you’d have to know the guy as long as I have to understand what I mean. Nick had been hooked up with Jodi since we were all in mi
ddle school, for crying out loud. They were always a happy couple and clearly committed to each other. Well, at least until Nick made an error in judgment.”

  “And what would that mean, ‘an error in judgment?’”

  “He had a brief affair with another woman. But he knew it was wrong and begged Jodi’s forgiveness. She refused to forgive him though and they ended up getting a divorce.”

  “No offense, but that sounds exactly like the sort of thing that might launch a once happy couple into a quagmire of ill will, mayhem and violence. Maybe this Nick guy isn’t quite the golden boy you believe him to be.”

  “I’m not saying he’s perfect. I’m saying he isn’t a murderer.”

  “Okay, assuming he’s innocent, what do you propose I, or we, do to help him out? It sounds like he needs a good lawyer more than anything else.”

  “He already has one—my uncle.”

  “I see. That’s a good start. So are you suggesting we drive down to Milldale and see what we can find out?”

  She nodded. “Exactly. What do you think—will you do it?”

  “Like I already said, of course I’ll do it.”

  She gave him a big hug. “Thank you!”

  “Hey, no thanks needed. I’ve been telling you we’d make a good team, and I see this as an excellent opportunity to find out what we can do. But what about your job? If we get rolling on this, it could take weeks or even months to investigate. Milldale is a couple of hours away.”

  “I’ve already figured that out. I’ve got some personal days due me so I’ll just take some time off. At least it’ll be a start. And then we can take it from there.”

  “I assume we’ll be doing this pro bono.”

  “Not necessarily. I’m going to call Uncle Ken and see if we can work something out. I can’t promise anything and this may well be nothing more than a favor you’ll be doing for me. I want to be up front about that right now.”