“Mr. Singer, I’m really sorry to bother you,” she said. “I know you’re probably not in any shape to talk right now—”
“I can talk,” I said, barely slowing down. “I might not want to.”
She hesitated at my tone, then stuck her hand out. “Maybe we can start over. I’m Amanda Lane.”
I stopped, shook, and waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, I said, “Okay, Amanda Lane. What can I do for you?”
She looked stricken. “You don’t—God, I’m sorry. I thought you’d remember right away. I’m Brenda Lane’s daughter. You worked on my mom’s case. Back in ‘96?”
“Oh. Oh,” I said, straightening. My crabbiness dribbled away and I felt a flush creep up my neck. “What I can do for you, Ms. Lane? I’m not with the department anymore.”
“It’s just Amanda, Mr. Singer. My mom was Ms. Lane.”
“All right, Amanda.”
“I know you retired recently,” she said. “I called the DC police and talked to someone in your squad. I mean, old squad. They told me you’d probably be here.”
“You just called the MPDC and asked for me?” I said, surprised.
“No, I…I kept the card you gave me. That night. Your number didn’t work, but it went over to someone else’s extension.”
“Jesus,” I said. “You held on to that thing for twelve years?”
Her smile came back. “It’s like a charm. The night you gave it to me, I put it in this little purse with a plastic shield and never took it out. Saved it from the wash more than once.”
“I’m flattered,” I said, then waited.
“Well,” she said, faltering. “I know this is weird and I know you’re not with the police anymore, but you seemed to be the only one I could call right now. The only one who might understand.”
“Understand what?”
“I don’t know if you’re the right person, but I…” She trailed off.
My patience started to lift around the edges. “Look, Amanda, you came this far. You might as well tell me something.”
Words tumbled out of her like kid’s blocks from a box. “There hasn’t been a crime, so I can’t go to the police. In fact, nothing’s actually happened, so there’s nothing to even report, but my mom took too long and I’m afraid if I wait and see, then that’s the dumbest thing I could possibly do. I don’t want to end up as a story in the newspaper, I—”
“Hold on,” I said. In just a few sentences, her voice had taken off, getting loud, rushed, and scared. “Start at the beginning. Keep it simple. Are you in danger?”
She swallowed. “Not right now.”
“You said now. You think you will be, soon?”
“Yes.”
“From someone you know or a stranger?”
“Both,” Amanda said.
“What does that mean?”
“It’s Michael. Michael Wheeler, the man who killed my mom. He’s back. And I think he’s back for me.”
. . .
Please visit www.matthew-iden.com to find out more about A Reason to Live and the other books in the Marty Singer Mystery series.
About the Author
Matthew Iden writes hard boiled detective fiction, fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers, and contemporary literary fiction with a psychological twist. He is the author of the Marty Singer detective series:
A Reason to Live
Blueblood
One Right Thing
The Spike
The Wicked Flee
Visit www.matthew-iden.com for information on upcoming appearances, new releases, and to receive a free copy of The Guardian: A Marty Singer Short Story — not available anywhere else.
Writers can only survive and flourish with the help of readers. If you like what you’ve read, please consider reviewing Stealing Sturgis on your favorite readers’ website. Just three or four short sentences are all it takes to make a huge difference. Thank you.
Stay in Touch
Please say hello via email, matt.iden@matthew-iden.com, through FaceBook (www.facebook.com/matthew.iden), or Twitter (@CrimeRighter). I also enjoy connecting with readers and writers at my website, www.matthew-iden.com
Acknowledgements
Many people helped in creating the first generation of this novel, including my wife Renee, my family, and a host of friends who helped shape this book from its scribbled beginnings more than ten years before its actual release. Thank you, all!
The new manuscript would’ve been a mess without the inestimable beta-reading help of Carol, Marc Lee, and Steve, who helped proof this version, advised in several key areas, and generally gave me the thumbs up when I needed it.
Lastly, special thanks go to my editors Elyse Dinh-McCrillis (theeditninja@gmail.com) and Michael Mandarano (michael@michaelmandarano.com) for whipping this book into shape. Thanks, team!
By the Author
Crime Fiction
{the Marty Singer Mysteries}
A Reason to Live
Blueblood
One Right Thing
The Spike
The Wicked Flee
The Guardian (short story)
Stealing Sturgis
{short story collection}
one bad twelve
Psychological Suspense
The Kindness of Neighbors
Fantasy & Science Fiction
{short stories}
Sword of Kings
Assassin
Seven Into the Bleak
{anthology contribution}
Walk the Fire #2: Trial By Fire
Non-Fiction
{Writing Craft}
Telling Your Tale