Calvin Watters from Dead Man's Hand

From NFL rising-star prospect to wanted fugitive, Calvin Watters is a sadistic African-American Las Vegas debt-collector framed by a murderer who, like the Vegas Police, finds him to be the perfect fall-guy.
 
Good evening. This is Nighthawk, your avian of the hour. With me tonight is Calvin Watters.

<Sigh> This takes me back.

I take it you're no stranger to the studio.

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me, but four years ago you media people were lined up for a piece of Calvin Watters, the next “Big Thing”. The rich had welcomed me into their group with open arms. But now I’m just an outsider looking in—just another thug to them. I might look like only a bill collector to you, but at one time I knew how to act with the arrogance of the very rich.

My keen senses perceive a certain amount of  bitterness on your part. What led to your fall from grace, or at least graceful living? 

I’ll tell you what happened: Calvin Watters, an unstoppable force both on and off the football field, was brought down by his own foolish pride.

You've been quoted in the media that your career suffered for other people's mistakes. 

It wasn't the quarterback's fault for missing the audible or the fullback's fault for missing the key block. It was mine, my selfish act, and it had taken me a long time to understand and accept responsibility for it.

You started to move forward then.

I was on my way back until Sanders appeared. Once he framed me for murder, and the body count mounted, Rachel and I were on the run for our lives.

The police are usually pretty savvy about set ups. What convinced them you were the best suspect?


Do I have to spell it out?

I’m the best at what I do. When my clients look at me, they see only one thing—professionally trained brutality. I’m tailor-made as a violent killer and African-American at that.

It had to be more than racial profiling.

My prints were all over that office. I had opened the doors, used the phone and searched the papers on Grant's desk. It was the prefect frame. I am an African-American former football star who can be shown to have gone bad. Even if I had rock solid proof of innocence, with all respect, things would not go well for me in a court. This isn't OJ all over again.

You have a hard road ahead.

My internal strength will never diminish.

Last night, for the first time in four years, I was able to go to sleep without pain. Everything I went through, from evading the cops, beating a hired killer, and proving my innocence, I know I will persevere and never quit again.

No offense, but I saw you limping into the studio.

After the way I pushed my body, my knee has a lot of new injuries, but I plan to start physical therapy in a week and resume my gruelling, daily exercise regimen in small doses.

You want to return to professional football?

<Laugh> I want to be "Superman" again.

You can learn more about Calvin in Luke Murphy's Dead Man's Hand, published by Imajin Books. Best of all, it's...

FREE OCTOBER 29 & 30

Jake from Incendiary

Chelsea James, captain of the Biggin Hill First Aid Squad, has had ten years to mend a broken heart and forget about the man who'd left her hurt and bewildered. Ten years to get her life on track. But fate has other plans.

Fire Inspector Jake Campbell, back in town after a decade, investigates a string of arsons, only to discover they are connected to the same arsons he'd been accused of long ago. Now his past has come back to haunt him, and Chelsea is part of that past.


My friends, we have Jake Campbell here in the studio. It's taken a bit of wheedling to get him beyond "No comment." Let's see if he's ready to talk.

You've been accused of arson, Jake. Why? 

Because there was evidence at the scene that would implicate me. Someone planted it.

Who?

I assume the arsonist.

D'uh. Any idea who that is?

As an investigator, I can see how the evidence points to me, but I'm innocent. I don't know who's guilty.

But you must have some ideas.

<Silence.>


Okay, tell us about Chelsea. I take it you guys have a history?

We were lovers when I used to live in Biggin Hill.

And?

I left when I was first accused of arson. I'm guessing she didn't take it too well. I can't blame her. I didn't really ever say goodbye.

That's not a good way to keep a girl's interest, that's for sure. It certainly would make me squawk. Is anyone helping your investigation or hindering you, for that matter?

Both. Chelsea is helping me. She always thought I was innocent. Guess I didn't realize earlier on how important that was. And yes, the arsonist is putting roadblocks up so that I can't figure out who that is.

Good luck with clearing your name Jake... and clearing up things with Chelsea.

Want to find out what Jake doesn't know yet? Pick up Chris Redding's Incendiary, published by Imajin Books.

Lowmar Dashiel from Inquisitor Royal

It's always a challenge when we have other-worldly visitors to the studio. Tonight we have Lowmar Dashiel, Personal Inquisitor. From what I understand, this is job is similar to being a private eye except in Andruan, our guest's hometown, lowlifes include demons.

Lowmar, I know this is all strange and new, but could you just stay seated and...

I have to say, if you’re trying to intimidate me with sorcery, you need to aim a little higher.  I mean, I’ve incurred the wrath of more than one first grade sorcerer and looked a blood demon in the eye.  So a few flickering lights and disembodied voices aren’t going to impress me much.  By the way, what’s this thing you’ve asked me to speak into?

It's called a microphone and it's technology, not sorcery. Also, believe it or not, I'm not trying to intimidate you - just interview you for the enlightenment of our audience. After all, you're not just any Personal Inquisitor, you're the Royal Inquisitor, right?

Damned Commander Boxen!  He was the one who persuaded the King to get me to look into Carnen’s murder.

And Carnen is?

He was the Sorcerer Supreme.

Look, I’m a personal inquisitor.  Divorce, blackmail, the odd missing person - that’s what I do.  Not murder investigations, and certainly not one where the Sorcerer Supreme has been killed by magic.  But the King wanted someone with no axe to grind, and Boxen thought I fitted the bill.

I got lucky that time, and the King was impressed enough to put me on a sort of retainer.  My associate, Grishen, thought it was hilarious, and dubbed me ‘Inquisitor Royal’.  He was laughing the other side of his dwarfish face a year or so later, when we stood with Boxen in a house in Andruan’s Dwarf Quarter, looking at the mutilated body of a maniac’s latest victim.  And then, when those assassination attempts on the royals started, the King looked to me to solve that one as well.

But now you have more prestige, more klout, that must make things better.

Things didn’t exactly get better when someone took a shot at me.  The trouble was, it might have been someone connected with one of the King’s cases, trying to keep me from the truth, but I’m not what you’d call devoid of enemies either.  By the way, the King didn’t seem to appreciate the difficulties of juggling two major inquisitions whilst keeping my less auspicious clients happy and trying to stay alive.


How difficult can your King make things for you if he's not pleased?

Grishen is convinced it will be our heads if we ever fail the King, but I’m more optimistic.  Maybe it would just be a spell in a rat-infested dungeon.

When I was talking to Grishen earlier, he suggested you have women problems on top of everything else. He mentioned a sorceress named Zarna, for instance.

Just because Zarna was the prime suspect in the Carnen case, some people seem to think my motives were more about saving her than about pleasing the King, or even the little matter of averting a new sorcerers’ war.  What man in his right mind would get involved with a sorceress of the first grade?  Especially one destined to be Sorceress Supreme?

Besides, I’m with Jode now.  Nice and uncomplicated.  Well, apart from her being a trained bounty hunter who was on the trail of her husband’s killer when we met.  She’s far too handy with a crossbow for me to dare look twice at Zarna, or any other woman.

What's next for you?

Well, I’ve still got my head attached, and I’ve avoided that rat-infested dungeon so far, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the King called upon my services again some day.  Meanwhile, I’ve now got Jode, as well as Grishen, to work cases with me, so long may the people of Andruan be unpleasant to each other and need my services.  When it comes to the personal inquisitor business, I’m still the first and the best

I suppose one of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is something my father used to be fond of saying.  He said you should never look back.  He and I didn’t agree on much, but he was right about that.  Although there’s a minstrel coming to town who I last saw a decade or so ago. Maybe I’ll take Jode and Grishen. It couldn’t do any harm, could it?

Why do I think those are famous last words?

Find out more about Lowmar Dashiel, Personal Inquisitor in Inquisitor Royal by Dave Sivers, available in Kindle at Amazon.com and Amazon.uk

Becki Green from A Purse to Die For

Yeah, you're absolutely right. If you want to know about veggie cooking, especially in Black Currant Bay, I'm the one to talk to. Back home in my beloved adopted hometown, I swear I've got to be the only person scouring Metro for tofu.


Oops. We're back on the air Becki.


I've been talking to Becki Green who can be found in A Purse to Die For by Melodie Campbell and Cynthia St-Pierre. Becki is an amateur sleuth and vegetarian foodie. An interesting combo.

I wasn't always vegetarian. To this day, I still love the taste of flame-grilled filet mignon. But I've got more than 25 years' experience cooking meat-free. From a home cook perspective, you understand, with close to a hundred recipes in my virtual recipe book, vegetariandetective.blogspot.com.

Have you ever considered trying to get your own show, like friend and partner in crime solving, Gina Monroe? You could do for vegetarian cooking what she does for fashion.


Keep in mind, I'm not a chef and don't claim to be. Hey, do you watch MasterChef on TV? Love that show!

Maybe we should talk about the murder mystery.

None of this would have happened if I hadn't been in Langdon Hills to celebrate my godmom's birthday.

(Sniff) Sorry. Makes me tear up to think about it. It was supposed to be such a happy time. She died suddenly. Very upsetting. I stayed for her funeral the reading of her will. None of us expected a body to be discovered in the backyard.

I don't suppose anyone does. Were you a suspect?

Yes, I was a suspect. (Loud exhale.) Was interviewed by Detective Rob Dumont and everything. Being married to the Chief of Police of Black Currant Bay didn't get me out of that one. No sirree.

Man, I've never been suspected of any wrongdoing before, in my life! I mean, I'm like everybody else. I try to be good and honest I don't even cheat on Measure How Sex-crazed/starved You Are self-quizzes. But Detective Dumont said, and I quote, "you arrive here in Langdon Hills and people drop like flies."

Not the most tactful of comments.

You know what I learned from this?

Do tell.

(Pause) Two things really. One, you can't get everything right all by yourself, 100% of the time. Even if you have a reputation for getting things right. And two, your chances of nailing things will double if you work as a team with somebody who shares your interests.

And that would be Gina Monroe?

Gina and I are both avid amateur detectives.

I take it that means you'll be working together again.

It ain't over yet.

Thank you Becki. And thanks to Cynthia St-Pierre who brought you hear today.

Find out more about Becki and Gina in A Purse to Die For, published by Imajin Books.

Freesia Worth from Dark Waters

Tonight we welcome Freesia Worth.

(Muffled.) Wow. Sitting in here reminds me of the creepy interview room I was in when they were questioning me about Mizu and Rick’s Dad, Frank. You know, except there’s a lot more equipment in here.

Freesia’s story is told in Dark Waters from Imajin Books. Though only sixteen, Freesia tackled the mystery of her mother’s disappearance...

(Slightly clearer.) And more windows instead of the mirrors they have in those police rooms, you know?

Not much like an interrogation then.

And it’s a heck of a lot more echo-y in here. My sister, Sage, would really hate it in here. (Laughs)

If you come closer to the mike, the listeners will be able to hear you better and we’ll lose the echo.

Oh.

After losing your father in Afghanistan a few months earlier, your mother mysteriously disappeared. Despite the hard work of Detective Barry Cuaco – he did work hard right?

Yeah.

Despite his hard work, the case was going cold...

Y' know none of this would have happened if people had just listened to me from the beginning! From the get-go, I tried telling people that something wasn’t right. I tried telling everyone that my mom wouldn’t have just left us alone, not with how much Sage needed her and after we’d just lost our dad. But no one listened to me, so I just went and figured things out on my own. Well, Rick and Mizu helped a lot too. Just goes to show that younger people have what it takes to solve problems too.

Rick is the guy you like?

Well yeah I like him – but I don’t LIKE him... well maybe I do a little but...

Why don’t you tell us about Mizu instead.

Wow. I’m not sure I really can. It hurts too much. I mean, I can tell you that she was a very strong presence. She was definitely someone who set her own path and didn’t listen to what others said was right or wrong. But there was something so hauntingly familiar about her, it was scary to be around her. And that’s all I can say about her.

You’ve had a helluva rough time in your short life.

Actually, life started really good for me and my sister, Sage. Then things kind of got really crappy for awhile. We lost our dad, then our mom, Sagey lost her voice on top of having to deal with all her sensory stuff and it was super rough. But everything turned out okay.

So you’re dealing.

It sucks not to have our parents with us but, well, we only have good things ahead of us, I think.

I hope so. Thanks for joining us, Feesia.

Find out more about Feesia and Sage Worth, Feesia’s not so secret crush Rick, and the mysterious and illusive girl named Mizu in Dark Waters by Chynna Laird.

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!