Jake Carmedy from Deadly Legacy

Let's give a warm welcome back to Jacob Carmedy of Deadly Legacy.

It's just Jake. I can produce three pieces of ID to prove that if you like.

Sorry, Mr Carmedy. Chief Thorsen referred to you as Jacob and... what now?

What?

You're scowling at me. I said sorry.

Only the chief gets away with calling me Jacob -- partly because I can't stop him and partly because he's earned the right to call me whatever he damned pleases. I also feel weird when someone calls me Mr. Carmedy -- but that's my bad not yours. I've been out of the regular forces for ten years now and it still feels weird being called mister. Call me Jake or Carmedy, okay.

Once a soldier always a soldier?

I still have reserve status, but yeah, I guess so. Maybe not for everyone...

Do you think it's a bit cliche having a former military man as a detective? Former Army Ranger becomes FBI agent in Bones. Former Army Ranger becomes bounty hunter in the Stephanie Plum novels. All those former SEALs and Marines in NCIS.

Do I care if you think it's cliche? I don't think so. I was a MP and security specialist. What was I going to do? Become a baker? If it makes you happier, I'm not a Ranger, Marine or SEAL. I am Canadian. Anyway, part of the reason I find it strange to be called Mr. Carmedy is because Joe only used "mister" and "ms" with civilians. You might as well say, "once a cop, always a cop."

Fair enough. You still keep your uniform in good order.

Like I said, I still have reserve status. I also keep my hair short, my face clean-shaven and my nails trimmed and filed. But so does every male professional worth his salt. What is this obsession with my military background.

Sure, I like khaki and olive. The colours work for me and I don't have to worry about putting the wrong shirt with the wrong trousers. Everything I own matches. Almost everything I own is equally practical in the office or in the field. You can't say that about the Zoot suits and Berber-style clothes that are in fashion right now.

You seem a little sensitive about this topic.

Certain people seem to have made it their holy mission to get me wearing more colour.

Kate Garrett?

<laugh> No. That maybe the one thing she doesn't want to change. Hell, she even likes me in uniform. And I have to say, she looks fine in her dress blues. Nothing like a woman in uniform, I always say.

Deadly Legacy is free March 4-7, 2013. Pick it up and learn more about Carmedy and Garrett.

Season's Greetings and all that jazz

FREE DECEMBER 22-23, 2012

Nighthawk here, wishing you a Happy Look-We're-Still-Here Day! I've got Chief of Detectives Igor Thorsen from Deadly Legacy back in the studio. The chief doesn't observe Christmas at this time of year. He and his family celebrate Yuletide.

Which predates Christianity, you know. In fact, Christmas stole many of it's traditions from the old religion.

Stole? A bit harsh. How about adopted?

Don't try to tell an old cop about what is and what is not theft.

Um... mistletoe.

Hmph! Clever hanging that in here. Peace then. Just don't expect me to kiss you, bird beak.

Isn't it bad luck not to kiss under the mistletoe?

Only if you're a couple... or wannabe couple. Mistletoe gives permission for young couples to kiss - but only as long as the berries hold out.  Of course I wouldn't pass up a chance to kiss my wife under the mistletoe... or any other time either.

Which mistletoe tradition is older - peace or kissing?

Good question. Motivated by jealousy, Loki the Trickster was determined to kill Baldr the Good. Warned by a prophesy, Frigg got all things living and inanimate to swear not to hurt her son. Mistletoe got left out of the pact on a technicality. Loki tricked the Blind God Hodr into shooting Baldr with an arrow poisoned with mistletoe. Baldr died, but fortunately that doesn't usually last with gods. Frigg forgave the mistletoe and kissed everyone associated with Baldr's return as a token of thanks.

So, you can see, the kissing part is there from the get-go, but it's about making peace, not making love. Enemies who meet under the branches of a tree growing mistletoe must keep the peace. On the other hand, mistletoe is also associated with fertility and that might go back before the Loki-Baldr incident. Lot's of strong magic in mistletoe.

And you, Chief of Detectives Thorsen, believe in magic.

I'm talking to you, aren't I?

Point taken. So, no kiss?

Maybe a peck.

On that note folks, whatever way you celebrate the season, we wish you...

Happy Holidays

and

Peace and Prosperity in the New Year

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(December 21, 2012)

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Next on Nighthawk Talks...

Igor Thorsen from Deadly Legacy shares talks about his Yuletide traditions. (We tried to get him for today, but one of his traditions is spending the longest night with his family.)

Call for Characters...

Nighthawk needs some fresh victims - er guests - for the new year. If interested, please get your author direct message Alison Bruce on Twitter or Facebook.

Kate Garrett of Deadly Legacy

Welcome back to Nighthawk Talks, I’m your host Nighthawk...

You’re a bird.

Well, yes.

Common nighthawk, aka chordeiles minor. Owl-like insectivore. You look more like a crow. No, a raven. I remember my father telling me that ravens have longer tails and hookier beaks.

Nighthawk is my name, not my species... Never mind that!

Tonight we welcome Detective Kate Garrett.

Is Nighthawk your real name?

No my real name is “Quoth” - YES, it’s my real name!

Calm down, ma’am, it was just a routine question. How long have you been a virtual radio host?

I’m supposed to interviewing you, Detective Garrett.

You haven’t asked me anything yet.

Tell us about your father.

Which one?

Joe Garrett, of course. How many father’s do you have?

Well there’s Joe of course - everyone knows Joe. Then there’s my step-dad David. He’s a physician and counsellor at the university. I guess a lot of people know him too, but not as well as he knows most people. The Chief, Igor Thorsen, is my godfather. I used to call him Papa Igor when I was younger. Not so much now he’s my boss.

You say “everyone knows Joe”. He must cast an awfully large shadow on your life.

Well, he is taller than me, but compared to the Chief...

You know that’s not what I meant.

Yeah, but I get tired of the question. It’s almost as bad as “How are you feeling?” How am I supposed to be feeling when my Dad dies? As for living in his shadow... think of it more like shade. Sometimes I get a little lost in it, but mostly it provides protection.

Fair enough. What are the benefits of being Joe Garrett’s daughter? You didn’t exactly have a normal childhood with your father being injured and turning to alcohol, and your mother having an affair with another man

If you think that’s abnormal, you’ve never looked at family services stats. Anyway, my childhood was happy. It was my teen years that were ... challenging. I got through them. Even if I was willing to talk about what I went through – which I’m not – you’re prying into events that involve people who are not here to speak up.

Does that mean you won’t tell me about your new partner, Jake Carmedy? He called you the “damned woman.”

He did, did he?

He thinks you’re crazy to leave the police force.

Police services. Even in your time, it’s police services.

What do you think about Mr Carmedy?

I have generally found Carmedy to be polite and professional with people other than myself and, it seems, with you.

He walked out on the interview when I suggested he was attracted to you.

(Sputtered laughter.) According to this wiki, ravens are supposed to be highly intelligent problem solvers. So, before you ask me something that will make me walk out, why don’t we end this interview and have an off the record chat over coffee.

That’s an offer I can’t refuse. If you want to learn more about Kate Garrett, dear listener, you’ll have to pick up Deadly Legacy by Alison Bruce.

In 2018, rookie detective Kate Garrett lives in the shadow of her near-legendary father Joe. When Joe dies unexpectedly, he leaves Kate half interest in Garrett Investigations, his last case that ties to three murders, a partner she can't stand and a legacy to live up to.



Don't forget to check out the Reader Appreciation contests at Imajin Books... where SUMMER SIZZLES!

Jake Carmedy from Deadly Legacy

Hmm...This place is really old school....

Wonder what that button does...

Don’t touch – Mr Carmedy, that’s my seat. Could you go over there? Thanks.

Welcome to Nighthawk Talks. Tonight we have Jacob Carmedy from Deadly Legacy.

You’ve been talking to the Chief, haven’t you?

Chief Igor Thorsen has been a guest here. Why do you ask?

It’s Jake, not Jacob. I can show you my birth certificate if you want proof. I let it go with the Chief. With you, not so much. And I’m with Garrett Investigations. Is Deadly Legacy another detective agency? They must specialize in estates. We – that is Garrett Investigations – specializes in bodily injury, security and related criminal investigation support.

What does related criminal investigation mean, exactly?

It means we’re licensed to act as consulting detectives to the police. My partner, Joe Garrett, was a violent crimes detective with the City Police Services before he was wounded on the job. My specialty is security but I’ve done my share of following up on complaints of violence when I was an MP.

Most of the time Joe and I get hired by the police when one of our civil investigations turns out to be criminal. Sometimes Joe get’s called in just cause he’s Joe.

Now that Joe Garrett is dead, will you still be hired by the police?

I have my consulting license – took me long enough. It’s a lot harder to get than the private investigators license unless you were a cop first. Military police doesn’t carry as much weight, I found out. But I am qualified and experienced, so the business is still eligible for police contracts.

And your new partner, Kate Garrett?

If she’s crazy enough to leave a secure job with police services, she’d probably get licensed fast enough. She’s been a cop for a while and she made detective last spring. I remember Joe was really jacked up about that. Really proud.

How would you describe your relationship with Detective Garrett?

If you mean Miss Kate, professional is how I’d describe it. Joe, on the other hand, was my best friend and mentor.

Did you hit it off from the start... with Joe that is?
Yes and no. We hit it off, as you put it, well enough for him to hire me, but we both had a steep learning curve.

Both of you?

I had a lot to learn about civilian investigation. Joe had a lot to unlearn about military culture.

Tell us about your military career.

No.

Okay. Tell us about you and Kate Garrett.

[Mutters] Damned woman!

You call her "Damned woman!" But you really think a lot of her, don't you?

No comment.

Then let’s go back to your service in Iraq.

I think Ms Garrett is being foolish. She has a secure job, doing what she wants to do, and benefits to boot. Why the hell does she want to be a private investigator? Because she thinks her father wanted it. Well, maybe he did, but Joe wasn’t infallible, no matter what some people think. And she’s bossy... well maybe not bossy but the take charge type. Independent.

You don’t like independent women?

That’s not what I said, Ms Nighthawk. Independent is good - but not in all circumstances. If she wants to be my partner, she’s got to stop acting like my boss.

And you’re attracted to her. That must be awkward.

Nice meeting you Ms Nighthawk. I’m outta here.

Maybe we'll learn more about Jake Carmedy from Kate Garrett. Meanwhile, find out more on your own in Deadly Legacy by Alison Bruce.

Jake Carmedy has lost a partner, mentor and friend, but grief will come later. First, he has a case to solve, one that has detoured from a simple insurance case to a murder investigation. If that isn’t enough, Joe’s daughter seems to want to take her father’s place as his boss.


Also check out the Reader Appreciation contests at Imajin Books... where SUMMER SIZZLES!

Igor Thorsen from Deadly Legacy

I usually leave this blog up to Nighthawk, but I thought you might be interested in knowing a bit about Igor Thorsen's origins. He was inspired by the picture of a viking on a gift bag from York, UK. I visited the newly found viking digs with my parents in 1976. Getting that close to an active archeological site was amazing. And that viking on the bag... well I developed quite a crush on the guy. 

Someday I'd like to go the Jorvik Viking Centre and see how the place has changed over the years... but mostly I need to replace my bag.

I'm Nighthawk and this is no place for authors. Instead, I have a real character: Igor Thorsen, Chief of Detectives, City Police Services, brought back from the future. 


Welcome Chief. You're a close friend of Joe Garrett, our previous guest, right?

I’ve known Joseph most of my adult life. He was a community cop back when I was partnered with him as a rookie. Even then, everyone knew Joe and Joe knew everyone. He wasn’t so much older than me, but it took me a while to figure it out. He seemed like he’d been a cop forever.

You also know Joe's daughter Kate.

I’ve known Kathleen all her life. I drove Joseph to the hospital so he could be there when she was born. He was so proud and he wanted her to be proud of him. She was the reason he took the detective’s exam. I don’t think he was all that ambitious for himself. He preferred dealing with people over collecting evidence.

Is it true that Joe pushed Kate to follow in his footsteps?

He was pleased when she chose to become a police officer. I think he wanted her to become a detective. He never came out and said it, but he was always setting her puzzles to solve and playing observation games with her when she was growing up. I know that’s what she thinks he wanted.

Kate didn't get a lot of time to process her father's death.


Life doesn’t stop just because you lose someone you love. You know about the murder of Delano Gage, but my detectives had another dozen or so violent crimes to investigate at the same time. Even so, I gave Kate time off.

I soon saw that wasn’t what she needed. She needed distraction and I needed the manpower. Having her babysit one of the potential targets of our killer seemed like a good idea at the time. To be honest, I didn’t take the threats against him seriously. He was like the boy crying wolf to get attention. But there’s always a real wolf eventually.

In your future, police sometime use consulting detectives. How do you feel about that?

Funnily enough, Joe was one of the biggest opponents of the consulting detective idea. He embraced community policing – not all our colleagues were on board with it – and like I said, he didn’t originally want to be a detective. The hours stink. You’re always on call, even when you’re not supposed to be. You’re always having to upgrade your skills... and it’s nowhere near as glamorous as say Tactical. Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on a rant. The point is that Joe didn’t like the idea of consulting detectives until he became one.



That's not what I asked, Chief. What do you think about consulting detectives working with the police?

The reality is, we don’t have the budget a big city has to have all the detectives we need all the time. Even the OPP is stretched with the cutbacks we’ve had over the years. Like the idea of consulting detectives or not, there are times when I need to engage them. Most of them are former cops, which takes the sting out. Joe’s the only one I’ve brought in on violent crimes though.

You must really miss your friend.
<grunt> I’m really pissed off at Joseph. Not only have I lost my best friend, but because of his death, I’ve had to give up one of my most promising detectives... temporarily. Kathleen Margaret Garrett will be back in my department, legacy or no legacy. You can count on it.

Will she? Maybe we'll ask Kate Garrett that question. Later.

Deadly Legacy, by Alison Bruce, is available in Kindle format and paperback.

Alison Bruce is on a virtual mystery tour of blogs for the coming week. Check out links here. 

Nighthawk is seeking interesting new characters to interview. Direct message @alisonebruce on Twitter if interested.

Joe Garrett - Deadly Legacy

Welcome back! It's been a while, I know, but I had to go beyond the veil to get our next guest. Joe Garrett, formerly of the City Police Services, more recently the principle of Garrett Investigation, is dead but far from forgotten. His shade is felt throughout Deadly Legacy. Now it's here with us in the studio.

Hi Nighthawk. Thanks for inviting me.

Perhaps you could start by telling us how you died.

Well, er... that's a bit embarrassing. I was tailing a client at his request. He thought someone was after him and it was my job to spot the perp. I spotted the guy - it was someone I knew. In my surprise, I wasn't paying attention. Neither was the driver of the HSUV who hit me. Evidently I died in hospital, but I don't remember much. Maybe I don't want to.

HSUV?
Hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle. I think they were around now - maybe we didn't call them than then.

That's right, we didn't just bring you back from the dead, we brought you back from the future.
Ah, Back to the Future - I loved those movies. Yeah, your present is my past. Right about now I'm getting shot in the hip defending an abused wife. Or maybe I'm in rehab already.

That's the wound that led to your retirement from the police and you becoming a private eye.
<laughs> Not that I mind, but the PC term is "private investigator". I'm also a consulting detective.

What's the difference?
A thousand dollar bond and second license that qualifies me to be hired by law enforcement agencies. It wasn't a big deal for me because I had twenty plus years in service before I went private. It was a bit more difficult for my partner Jake. He was a detective with the military police, but that doesn't have as much sway. Kate might have trouble getting the license. She's only been a cop for five years and she's a rookie detective,


What do you think about your daughter Kate following in your footsteps?
Couldn't be prouder or more worried.


Worried for her safety?
No! Well maybe a little. I'm a father after all. I'm more worried about living in my shadow. I've lived in my own shadow long enough, I know it isn't easy. I guess I haven't helped things by leaving her half my business. In fairness, though, I wasn't planning to die so soon.

So what's it like in the future?
You'll have to wait and see... or read the book. I'm outta here.

You can find Deadly Legacy on Amazon.com. Guess I better go get my copy now.

In 2018, rookie detective Kate Garrett lives in the shadow of her near-legendary father Joe. When Joe dies unexpectedly, he leaves Kate half interest in Garrett Investigations, his last case that ties to three murders, a partner she can't stand and a legacy to live up to.

Please join Alison Bruce on Twitter and Facebook - she's trying to get as many friends as Joe.