Kindle Edition
Amazon
Category:
Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 150289730X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 104
Copyright: 2014
ISBN-13: 9781502897305
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
Detective series set slightly in the future.
In a future time, when real life, current crimes are the things that TV shows are made of, Courts of Law often allow access to cases and information once limited to defense lawyers and the office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
One such show, Nadia Dankin, Truth Exposed, offers a unique insight to the workings of such transgressions. Crime show host Nadia Dankin tackles the inner functions of trials, investigations, and police tactics as she offers to expose the truth behind the crimes that catch the eyes and ears of the American public. Although a disbarred attorney herself, a fact she hopes to keep secret and out of public attention, her mission is to bring those transgressors of evil to justice by allowing the viewing public to determine the fate of her guests—who happen to be the people accused of the crimes…and if it happens to push her shows own ratings to higher limits, and thereby increase her own personal bank account, so be it.
Until Nadia decides to go after Leslie Masterson, wife of the late Senator Dayne Masterson, and recently acquitted murder suspect, the show has been a phenomenal success. When she goes on a personal attack of both Mrs. Masterson and the private investigator that Masterson hired to find the true killer of the Senator, she learns that sometimes wanting something and getting it aren’t always in one’s best interest. She finds out that there is one person whose mission in life is to find out the truth. And that person always finds the whole truth.
That person is acclaimed Private Investigator Ezra Hauk.
Finally, she learns that finding the truth isn’t what everyone wants, not even her
Excerpt
TV host Nadia Dankin smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from her pristine pantsuit as she sat perfectly poised and smiling for the camera. She had just finished a brief review of the case surrounding the death of Senator Dayne Masterson, which included for the most part, background on the Senator’s life. An image of the Senator from a recent political event was presently displayed on the background screen of the massive stage. The image slowly faded from view to be replaced by the show’s high profile logo.
"We'd like to welcome a first time guest to our show. Most of you already know her as the Black-hearted Widow, the woman who recently won her freedom in what the media proclaimed was a slam-dunk case for the Prosecution..." she let her voice soften as the camera slowly moved forward so that the entire screen was filled with Nadia's flawless features. Cold, almost life-less amber eyes narrowed to bare millimeters, until nothing but black, glassy pupils peered from behind those damning windows of soulless energy. "Her name is Leslie Masterson, wife of the late Senator Dayne Masterson." Standing and holding her hand out as if offering a life vest to a sinking swimmer she posed for the camera as it panned back, and she let her voice rise gradually, "Leslie. Welcome to the Nadia Dankin show. Where Truth and Justice are dishes served with a dash of glam. This is Truth Exposed!"
The audience roared with a mix of boo's, shouts of 'murderer', and 'soulless bitch' while their sounds of displeasure were slowly drowned out by a well-blended, pre-recorded round of thundering applause.
Inwardly nervous, Leslie Masterson showed the world a well-practiced look of confidence, self-control, and cool aloofness—the very virtues that earned her the nickname in the headlines. She walked slowly across the stage toward Nadia, and ignoring the hand that the Empress of Legal Scandal and Daytime Celebrity Drama offered, sat down and turned towards the vast audience that still hissed at her, smiling.
"It's a pleasure to be invited here," Leslie purred as she slowly turned towards Nadia, ignoring the woman's obvious looks of disdain at having been overshadowed, even if briefly, by a guest. "I understand the, uh, rather vociferous reaction from your audience," she continued quickly, taking advantage of her host's albeit brief, yet unsettled reaction at having been dismissed, "and I thank you for the opportunity to explain myself to the public. Especially after having been on the receiving end of so much anger and hostility for so many months."
Regaining composure almost instantly, Nadia waved a manicured hand towards the arena that housed a packed audience, as if signaling her minions. "Nonsense my dear, it's my duty to keep the masses informed. Truth is what we strive for. Isn't is my friends?"
Applause mixed with shouts filled the massive theatre, as the audience responded to prompts from signs above the stage—large screens that would alternately signal them when a certain reaction would be desired.
"And the truth is what we will hear, after a few brief messages from our sponsor.” Leaning forward Nadia gave Leslie a cold stare as she covered the mike on her collar with practiced ease and she whispered, “Stick with the script Missy, or this crowd will eat you alive.”
Leslie’s unwavering smile did not conceal the raw disdain that burned in her pale, blue eyes. Eyes the color of a sweltering August summer sky on a cloudless day. Eyes that shimmered under the glaring lights of the Nadia Dankin, Truth Exposed stage. Eyes that filled the headlines over the past three months, as the celebrity starved public demanded to know everything about the now infamous Leslie Masterson. “Nadia, please. We all know what you want. Unscripted. Raw,” her whisper barely audible, “and totally unrelated to the truth.”
Nadia’s personal make-up assistant came running across the stage, offering a quick touch-up during the brief intermission, only to be shooed away like a pesky gnat. “Like it’s you they want to know about,” the daytime host huffed derivatively. “These people already know every mundane fact about you. You’re old news Missy.” She leaned back and smiled, showing perfect white teeth and looking more like a person on the verge of starvation being shown a seven course gourmet meal. “We all know it’s Ezra Hauk and the other’s that played a major role in your trial that they’re here to see.”
Andrew Croft stood on the edge of the stage, just out of sight of the massive audience and signaled to Nadia that the infomercials were nearing an end. Thick, stubby fingers counted down the seconds until the cameras were once again linked with live signals outside the studio. As director he had control over many things—Nadia was rarely one of them.
Three.
Two.
One.
“Welcome back.” A deep sigh was followed by a moment of practiced silence as the camera zoomed in for a close up of Nadia’s memorable face. “As you all know, Leslie Masterson once stood accused of the heinouscrime of murder. Her husband, Senator Dayne Masterson was found in his home office, slumped lifelessly across his desk.”
Across a massive screen along the back of the stage, photos of the crime scene played in perfect unison with Nadia’s rendition of the crime of the decade, only a rare few in the audience, and even fewer members of the stage crew, noticed the slight shift of discomfort in Leslie’s posture as the photographs faded in and out of view. One of those was none other than Ezra Hauk, Private Investigator.
Standing beside the well-known, rarely seen in public, figure, was Andrew Croft. Placing one hand cautiously on Ezra’s thin, but muscular shoulder, he tapped his headset with the other. “It’s almost time sir.” He nodded his head in unison with an invisible countdown, ignoring the obvious anxiety that the older man displayed at having been touched by a stranger.
As the final stream of courtroom pictures flashed across the screen, exposing the shocked look on the faces of the jury as they were dismissed by the judge, Nadia stood and applauded softly. “Please join me as we welcome the man who single-handedly provided the key to Leslie’s release from custody, and with it her freedom. The man who proved to the world that Leslie Masterson was not the responsible party in her husband’s death, and by doing so made us all aware of his own unique skills in uncovering the often illusive truth.” Raising her voice decibel by decibel, until it echoed throughout the studio, she teased the audience with practiced ease. “Please welcome…Ezra Hauk!”
Croft pushed at Hauk’s shoulder, something he did with all the guests in order to get them moving across the stage. But this time his gesture did not produce the expected results. A puzzled look crossed his face as he found himself stepping back instead. Hauk shot Croft a warning look as he glanced down at his shoulder, and shook his head so faintly that the director wasn’t even sure that he saw the movement. “Uh,” the director tried to swallow the uneasiness that now encompassed him, “that’s your cue to go on stage sir.”
“Thank you,” Ezra remained in place several seconds longer. Just long enough to see a faint glimmer of alarm in Nadia’s eyes as she realized that she was not in control of things—he was. He stepped out from the edge of the stage and paused briefly as he peered into the audience. Long enough to ensure himself that he was right. The real killer was here. Just as he expected. Sitting in almost the exact chair that the decorated investigator believed that he would be, wearing the smug look of self-importance and delusional grandeur that psychopathic killers and politicians wore like expensive suits. Clapping his hands in welcome.
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