Spencer West PI Read online

  Table of Contents

  SPENCER WEST, P.I.

  Acknowledgments

  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

  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

  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

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 66

  Chapter 67

  Chapter 68

  Chapter 69

  Chapter 70

  Chapter 71

  Chapter 72

  Chapter 73

  Chapter 74

  Chapter 75

  SPENCER WEST, P.I.

  DICK BROWN

  SOUL MATE PUBLISHING

  New York

  SPENCER WEST, P.I.

  Copyright©2019

  DICK BROWN

  Cover Design by Laura Bemis

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

  Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Published in the United States of America by

  Soul Mate Publishing

  P.O. Box 24

  Macedon, New York, 14502

  ISBN: 978-1-68291-969-9

  www.SoulMatePublishing.com

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  This book is dedicated to the more recent scientific acceptance of some proven paranormal phenomena. The subject was used in this book because of my personal interest in paranormal phenomenal events dating back to the 1950s reincarnation story of Bridey Murphey. Later, my interest resulted in the successful use of hypnosis in my practice as a Certified Hypnotechnician for weight control and smoking cessation on clients referred by physicians.

  My interest continued into the paranormal research of the CIA and Pentagon who, under different military branches, carried out experimental testing for decades beginning in the 1970s. Their effort to develop a type of intelligence capability to be used in the Cold War with Russia is the basis for its inclusion in this book. They conducted a variety of experiments under many different code names. Eventually they were all consolidated under the code name Stargate Project by the CIA. The early successes included Uri Geller in 1973. During these tests, researchers asked Geller to duplicate drawings that were produced by another person, whom he could neither see nor hear. Geller was isolated in a room nearby that was shielded electrically and acoustically and had no windows. He drew a cluster of twenty-four grapes, the same number as in the drawing of the sender person in the isolated room.

  Unfortunately, they were unable to consistently duplicate the desired results in their experiments in psychoenergetics, their term for remote viewing, on command under controlled circumstances. Funding was eventually stopped for the Stargate Project due to its failure as a useful application for use in the field of intelligence by the CIA and was closed down in 1998.

  There have been other independent documented reports, however, of individuals with the capability of psychoenergetics or remote viewing, as it was later termed as the newest paranormal technique broadening the scope of astral projection and out of body experience. The application of remote viewing as used in this book is fictional, but has been reported as a proven rare gift for a very few individuals who have the capability. Mnemonist, the capability as used in this book, is the proven and scientifically accepted ability of a person who is said to have a photographic memory. The unusual capability is also featured in the protagonists of best-selling author David Baldacci’s series, The Memory Man.

  Acknowledgments

  As always, thanks go to my wife and family who are my biggest fans and supporters. Thanks to my lifelong friend and editor Marilyn Marbrook whose keen eyes help keep the story moving and produce the best book possible. And I can never forget my publisher, Debby Gilbert who believed in me when others didn’t. Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words of support that fuel my desire to keep writing.

  Chapter 1

  In their beautiful home in affluent suburban Highland Park, north of Dallas, Nicole and Jayden West had prepared an intimate dinner. It was a special occasion to honor their son, Spencer. Displayed in the center of the dining table setting of sparkling crystal, imported china and gleaming silverware was the plaque Mayor Ron Wagner had presented to detective partners Spencer West and Harper Stone that afternoon. The family and Spencer’s guest, Elaine Phillips, sat at the table especially arranged to watch the ceremony on the six o’clock news. A large-screen TV was mounted in the dining room for the occasion. Nicole had asked Spencer if he wanted to invite Harper to the celebration dinner. Spencer declined. As much as he cared for his partner, he had other plans that would be awkward if Harper were there.

  With everyone comfortably seated around the table at six o’clock, the large screen displayed a wide-angle shot of a platform draped with red, white, and blue bunting. The camera zoomed in on Spencer and Harper, seated in a row of Dallas dignitaries. Mayor Wagner rose and approached the podium. He scanned the audience before he began to spea
k, looking at all the potential voters for the coming election.

  “As mayor of Dallas, it gives me great pleasure this afternoon to recognize two of our young officers and the great work our police force is doing. Will Detective Harper Stone and Detective Spencer West please come forward?”

  Spencer and Harper stepped up to the stage next to the podium, facing the clapping audience and TV cameras.

  Facing them, Mayor Wagner said, “In special recognition of your courageous service on Police Chief James Hondras’s new drug task force, I proudly present these plaques expressing our appreciation on behalf of the City of Dallas. Your dedication and excellent police work led to the arrest of dozens of gang members, breaking up the largest drug operation in the Metroplex area. The results of your effort have made our city a safer place to live and work.”

  Thunderous applause rose from the crowd gathered between the Texas and American flags flying in front of the imposing Dallas Police headquarters.

  Jayden switched off the TV, sparing them remarks from the remaining city officials, who were anxious to speak to the captive audience. Jayden and Nicole beamed at their son and at Elaine Phillips. Spencer had brought his girlfriend of three months to meet his parents.

  “That was a brave thing you did, leading the SWAT team into a warehouse of heavily armed drug smugglers on your first assignment. I know, I wanted you to be a computer engineer and work for me, but I couldn’t be prouder of you tonight.”

  Small-talk followed as the Wests got acquainted with Elaine. As dinner concluded and plates cleared in preparation for dessert, Spencer stood up and walked around behind Elaine’s chair.

  “Mom, Dad, last week before we made the drug raid, I asked Elaine to marry me if I survived. To my surprise she said yes.”

  Spencer helped Elain with her chair. She stood next to him with a glowing smile lighting up her face and extended her left hand. Her ring finger bore a simple solitaire diamond they hadn’t noticed until now.

  “I know it was an unorthodox proposal. Since I did survive, we wanted to surprise you on this special evening.”

  Surprise was an understatement. The two had only been dating for a few months. Elaine was almost a total stranger to them. After a brief silence, Nicole rose to embrace Elaine, as Jayden and Spencer shook hands, ending with a manly hug and slap on Spencer’s back.

  “A toast,” Jayden said. Wineglasses were filled. “We raise our glasses to celebrate happiness, long life, and children for Spencer and Elaine.” More congratulations followed as Nicole led the newly engaged couple into the parlor to talk of wedding dates and plans for a Highland Park social event.

  The evening finally came to an end as the hour approached midnight. Acceptance of Elaine had settled in. Parting hugs by the Wests sent Spencer and Elaine into the dark Dallas night, cooled by a Canadian cold front that had brought a late summer evening rain. Arm in arm, the pair walked to Spencer’s Chevy Malibu. They paused in the white beam of the security lights, and returned final waves from Jayden and Nicole standing in the portico of their mansion.

  Spencer opened the passenger door for Elaine. As she entered the Malibu, a black sedan with darkly tinted windows moved slowly up the street toward them. The vehicle pulled even with the Malibu without attracting anyone’s attention. The passenger window rolled down. Automatic weapon fire shattered the silence as Spencer’s vehicle was riddled. Nicole and Jayden stood frozen in horror. The hail of bullets ripped into the bodies of Spencer and Elaine multiple times. The attack ended as quickly as it had begun.

  The dark car’s smoking tires burned through the wet street and caught traction as it disappeared from sight. When the haze of smoke from the firing cleared, Elaine’s limp body lay slumped on the front seat with blood pulsing from a head wound. Spencer was draped over the half-opened door oozing blood from several wounds.

  Nicole had to use both of her hands to steady her cell phone as she screamed directions to the 911 operator. Jayden ran back into the house and returned with a handful of towels and tried in vain to stop the bleeding. By the time the EMTs arrived, Jayden and Nicole were both soaked in blood. A squad car with the grieving parents raced after the ambulance to Dallas Presbyterian Hospital, arriving simultaneously at the emergency entrance. Nicole and Jayden bounded from the patrol car and jogged alongside the gurneys, offering words of encouragement to the unconscious bodies under the bloody sheets. They were stopped at the trauma bay entrance. Spencer and Elaine were whisked through the double doors to emergency surgery.

  Exhausted and shocked, the two retreated to the waiting area, trying to collect their thoughts on what had just happened. They were unconcerned about their blood-stained clothes, they just wanted a quiet place to wait for the surgeon’s report. Spencer’s partner, Detective Harper Stone, hurriedly made her way through the crowded waiting room to the couple. Nicole was relieved to see a familiar face.

  “I’m so sorry,” Harper said, holding back tears. “How is he?”

  “They are both in surgery. We haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. West, we will find the bastard who did this. I give you my word, if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Her promise reassured the Wests. They had met Harper on a few occasions after she and Spencer were partnered when he was promoted to detective. At one point, Nicole thought there might have been a romance developing. Harper didn’t hide the fact that she had feelings for Spencer. They would have welcomed her into the family as warmly they had Elaine.

  Spencer had explained to Nicole that he cared deeply for Harper and was protective of her as he would be toward a sister. They even went to their squad’s Valentine party together. But it wasn’t to be. That was where Spencer met and fell in love with Elaine, who at the time was dating a fellow detective, Rudy Macovick. Spencer and Harper’s relationship was never quite the same after that, although her feelings for him never changed.

  “Harper, who would do such a thing?” Nicole asked, still weeping. “Why would anyone want to kill Spencer or Elaine? I don’t understand.”

  “I have an idea who might be responsible, but I wanted to make sure you two were okay. I’ll need to talk to you again. Will tomorrow morning be all right with you? I’ll come to your house. You don’t need to come down to the madhouse we have going on at the station right now. We will get the bastard,” she said again. “No one shoots one of ours and gets away with it. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to get back to the crime scene. Call me as soon as you know something.” Harper turned and threaded her way quickly through the crowd and disappeared.

  Nicole and Jayden found empty seats in the far corner of the waiting room, trying to separate themselves from the cacophony of the Saturday night emergency waiting room. They needed to calm their nerves and steel themselves for the surgeon’s report when it came.

  It was a typical Saturday night in the emergency room. Overloaded with casualties from bar fights, gang shootouts, violent domestic disputes, and several bad car accidents. Of the fifty thousand annual criminal incidents in Dallas each year, Presbyterian appeared to have more than its share that night.

  Nicole controlled her emotions and turned to Jayden. “This doesn’t seem real. How can you be so calm? Are you okay?”

  “I’m trying to process what happened before my head explodes. Just an hour ago we were having such an enjoyable evening. Now, here we are, not knowing if Spencer and Elaine are alive or dead. It makes no sense.”

  Nicole squeezed Jayden’s hand, laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She was emotionally spent. Her mind drifted back to their teen years when Jayden was the love of her life. But he’d panicked when she got pregnant and broke her heart by running away to college without her. She thought of the many years she’d wasted hating him and the guilt she’d felt for aborting their baby. She’d fallen in love again, married, but was widowed at a y
oung age. Their chance meeting twenty years later allowed a widow with some baggage and a divorced man with a young son to put their history behind them.

  She marveled at how the resurrection of that young love was even stronger in their mature years, giving them both a new start in life. Spencer’s loving acceptance of Nicole as the mother he never had, allowed her to shed the guilt of the abortion. She loved Spencer as if he were her own flesh and blood. Now she was afraid of losing him.

  Chapter 2

  Two hours later

  “Nicole . . . Nicole, wake up, the surgeon’s here.” By the time Jayden got her attention, she had shaken off her frightening dream of losing Spencer and regained her focus.

  The ER surgeon arrived in his bloody scrubs with his surgical mask dangling around his neck. Before Nicole could ask him about Spencer’s condition, Dr. Raj Acharya asked, “Mr. and Mrs. West, are the young lady’s parents here?”

  “No, they live in Nebraska.”

  “I’m very sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “The young lady didn’t make it. She died from a bullet to her left temporal lobe that exited through her right temporal lobe. She was brain-dead on arrival. We did everything we could. Do you know if she is an organ donor? She is a prime candidate for harvesting her organs.”

  “I don’t know.” Nicole said, taken aback at the question she felt was insensitive. “We barely knew her and have never met her parents.”

  “Would you be so kind as to inform them of her passing?”

  “Yes . . . I will try to locate them as soon as possible.”

  “Please tell them there was nothing we could do. She felt no pain. I’m so sorry.”

  Jayden caught Nicole before she collapsed to the floor. As the two men held her up, Jayden’s face was only inches from the surgeon’s. “What about our son? Is he . . .?”