The Stolen Manuscript
A Mystery in the Tim Tender Series
by
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In October of 1970, the citizens of Baltimore are in a baseball frenzy. Weavers's Birds have conquered Bench and Rose's Big Red Machine of Cincinatti. It was a 4 to 1 win; very convincing. The community is in a sort of perpetual happy trance. But, when Jake Venom, Monument City's favorite son, turns up missing before he can mail his new story to his Publishing Company, Premature Burial, the euphoria begins to fade. Later, when the Terror Master's body is discovered dead downtown behind a Dempsey Dumpster, reality starts to overcome Baltimore's Baseball High. A silver lining for P.I. Tender comes as a substantial increase in Tim's overall financial fee. His meal ticket is provided by Vicki Venom, "loving" wife of Jake, who, ever at her advanced age, has the best body that money could purchase. But, in the beginning, did she hire Tender's outfit, a one Investigator/one office manager, Bea E. Hopkins, Tim's fiance, to locate her missing husband--or, his lost manuscript? Or, could the three Sicilians, searching for justice, be involved, the trio claiming that the story should have been Don "Varelli's not Don "Corleone's? Possibly, a third angle: Morris Mechanix, the one-man Limousine Service Owner, a frustrated Writer, who offers discreet charters in his converted 1951 GMC Panel Truck--minus any side windows. After all, Jake Venom's previous bestseller, "Tender Nightmare," squeezed-out a crisp $5 Million. The Challenge begins...
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About the Book
A Private Eye, originally from Florida, now living in Baltimore, is hired to find a famous missing horror author and his latest manuscript, the writer, one of Mobtown's own. Tender nodded in the direction of the dead Venom. “What’s on his right arm?” “Believe it or not, it’s a Webster’s Dictionary. Here, use my pen to flip through these page numbers on this log. Be careful—it’s a Paper Mate. Here’s a pad; write down the words that are highlighted.” Tender bent down and crossed under the yellow-and-black tape surrounding the crime scene. “I have my own notebook and pen, a Montblanc.” “Well, excuse me for livin’, hon!” Omaha said with a smile. “What’s with the ‘Caution: Wet Paint’ on the strip surrounding the body?” “All the ‘Police Line: Do Not Cross’ ones are being used; Captain Calvert ordered more, but Chief Crossland said they haven’t arrived.” “Busy day, huh?” “It’s Thursday.”... “You were a bad boy; it was deserved,” PI Tender stated. “Revenge murder, huh?... “Seems likely.” “Think he was on the take with the mob?” Tender questioned. “Wouldn’t have thought it, but his nose area does look somewhat raw. Get a little closer, check out his mouth.” “It’s full of oysters!” “Definitely a full house,” Omaha said. “Are those bloodstains on his shirt?” “Cocktail sauce. Sergeant Small was able to get a little taste. A negligible amount of blood around the wound...
About the Author
Ray E. Spencer graduated (honors) from the University of South Florida, Tampa Campus, where he earned a BA in English (Creative Writing Option). Ray also holds an AS Degree in Hospitality Management from St. Petersburg Junior College. He had a 25-year stint in the Hotel/Restuarant Business, including co-owning a restaurant. He has written another novel, "Tender Nightmare" (amazon.com, other sites), and Screenplays based on his two books.