Clint Faraday Mysteries: Bloody Options

By CD Moulton

Five novellas: Road Kill, Not the general kind. This one was a human being who was investigating corruption - Dead Still, Well, most people who are dead are still. These two were shot in the head. - The Murder Option, sometimes that seems the only one you have.Was this one some weird kind of serial killer? - Dead Giveaway, that it was some kind of scam was obvious. The method was a dead giveaway. Then her brother and ex-husband were killed, and she was being framed for it! - Bloody Sunrise, he was murdered for a lousy couple of million? That bunch, including the Russian Mafia, spent that in a night on the town! What was it really about? Who was behind it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: CD Moulton
• Release date: Sep 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005453459

CD Moulton

Born in Florida, travelled the world as a rock guitarist with some big names in the late sixties, early seventies. Been everything from a high steel worker to longshoreman, from musician to bar owner, and much more. Educated in botany and genetics. Now living in paradise (Panamá!)

Book preview

Clint Faraday Mysteries

Bloody Options

5 novelas

© 2020 by C. D. Moulton

all rights reserved: no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder/publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblances to actual persons or events are purely coincidental unless otherwise stated.

Contents

Road Kill

Why call me about something like road kill?

Because we have a body.

Oh. That kind of road kill.

Dead Still

They were dead still from a bullet between the eyes, not for watching a bird.

The Murder Option

It was just an expression! I didn’t mean it literally!

Dead Giveaway

Does that sound like some kind of scam?

It’s a dead giveaway!

Then her ex-husband and brother turn up dead.

Bloody Sunrise

Sometimes, it would be better to stay in bed. and not answer the phone. That way, you wouldn’t even know about the body in the river.

About the author

CD was born in Lakeland, Florida, in 1938. He is educated in genetics and botany. He has traveled extensively, particularly when he was a rock rhythm guitarist with some well-known bands in the late sixties and early seventies. He has worked as a high steel worker and as a longshoreman, clerk, orchidist, bar owner, salvage yard manager, and landscaper and more.

CD began writing fiction in 1984 and has more than 300 books published in SciFi, murder, orchid culture, and various other fields.

He now resides in Gualaca, Chiriqui, Panamá, where he continues research into epiphytic plants and plays music with friends. He loves the culture of the indigenous people. He funds those he can afford through the universities, where they have all excelled. The Indios are very intelligent people, they are simply too poor (in material things and money. Culturally, they are very wealthy) to pursue higher education.

CD loves Panamá and the people, despite horrendous experiences (Free e-book; Fading Paradise). He plans to spend the rest of his life in the paradise that is Panamá

CD is involved in research of natural cancer cure at this time. It is based on a plant that has been in use for centuries, is safe, available, and cheap. Information about this cure is free on the FaceBook page: Ambrosia peruviana for cancer.

Clint Faraday

56

Road Kill

© 2019 by C. D. Moulton

Clint gets a call fro Rosario Puentes, police, to say there was a road kill found on the bridge near Chiriqui. Seeing he was in David, would he like to help the investigation?

Road kill? So what?

He was a man named Ernesto Barco. He was popular. We don’t know who would kill him, or why. It doesn’t look like it could have been a hit and run.

Oh. That kind of road kill.

Contents

Morning in David

Hit and Run

Danger!

Go After the Top Man

Confrontations

Answers

Home Sweet Home

Morning in David

Clint Faraday, PI, drove onto the careterra at Chiriqui, where it met the Bocas road, and pulled into the filling station. He saw several people he knew from cases in the area. This was close to David, where he was heading. He was there, investigating what seemed to be a scheme by some politicians to steal a bit of the Indio land. There was a small bit of gold, there. It was an old story, where they took more and more land, in little pieces.

Clint would see them exposed, and there would be no stealing of land in the comarca.

Rosario Puentes, a cop he’d met in Panamá City, was there, in the police truck. He greeted Clint, warmly, and said that he was head of investigations, here, at the National Police Station.

It’s an easy job, thanks to God! Chiriqui is a very tranquil town. There is little real crime, though I will miss the intense investigations we had in the city.

There’s nothing that most cops want more than that they aren’t needed for that kind of thing, Clint replied.

"True! A dedicated cop wishes for nothing more than that he works himself to the point his job is unnecessary.

"It will never happen I fear, my friend. People will ever remain people. A percent of them are animals, without morals, or any sense of others.

"Why can’t they look in a mirror, as do we, and ask themselves if this is what life is about? Is this what I wish to be my legacy?

"You are here because of that attempt by those four politicians in David trying to seize comarca land. They are sordid thieves, and worse. They talk about their legacy to their children, but can’t see what that legacy must be.

"I don’t want my children, and theirs, to say, ‘Papa or abuelo was a cheap crooked piece of shit! I’m so proud to be descended from such!’

"I’m, as you say, in Florida, preaching to the choir!

How is the family? Are you still enjoying this paradise?

More than ever. I heard you’re a father, now. That why the sermon?

He laughed. It makes one think.

Only those who are capable of thinking. I think you’ll leave a legacy your descendants will be proud of.

If I can simply leave one where they say I was a decent person, I will be content. Less and less are leaving that.

They chatted a bit longer, then Clint moved on toward David and his expected confrontation. He was fortunate his reputation was what it was. The people he was going to face down weren’t known for gentility. They would have him killed, in a minute – if they thought they could get away with it. It was what they were.

He remembered, when there was a minor purge, conducted by a group the corruption in the courts, and police had hurt, cheating some of their entire life’s savings or more (A Bloody Shame), and thanked a god he didn’t believe in for not letting him be one of those.

He went to the Pensión Costa Rica, got a room, talked a bit with Lee, the owner, and went to the Ciudad Judicial – with two reporter friends.

The four people he was supposed to see had an emergency come up. They were in Panamá City, with no return date noted. Sorry, Old Top, and all that rot, eh, what?

Rojelio, from The Press, and Sonya, from TVN, smirked, as they went out. They both immediately used their cellulars to ask where the four were. It seems they were all at the estate of one of them, in Veraguas.

It was reported, in a short note on TV, and in the morning edition of the newspaper, exactly what Clint was there for, and exactly what they were told, and exactly what they knew.

"Mr. Faraday, the very well-known advocate for people’s rights, always in the forefront in fighting corruption in Panamá, states that these people are acting in a very unethical, in even a criminal manner. The people must act to stop this travesty. Panamá is too fine a place for this kind of thing to be longer allowed. Demand of your legislators that this stops! Now!"

Clint grinned. They would have to reply, fast, and they would have to back down.

Sure enough! Ten minutes later, Guerra, the head of the scheme, came on a special report to cry that it was only one part of an investigation of a problem where the needs of the country must come before the needs of a few individuals. They had already rejected the plan as not being feasible! That was why they were meeting at his home!

I see, Juliana, the reporter, replied. You came here, to your estate, in Veraguas, at the time you had a fixed appointment with Mr. Faraday to discuss what you would have told him if you’d kept that appointment?

Er, um.

Back to you, Sandra.

Clint laughed. He bought a round of beers for the people who were watching the report with him, and went back to the Costa Rica to sack out. He’d accomplished what he came to accomplish without having a nasty face-to-face confrontation. As they say, His reputation had preceded him.

Hi cell brought him awake at four thirty in the morning, about the time he usually got up. He answered it to hear, Sario (Rosario Puentes) say there had been a case of road kill, on the bridge, near Chiriqui. Maybe he would like to help with the investigation?

Road kill? So what?

He was a man named Ernesto Barco. He was popular. We don’t know who would kill him, or why. It doesn’t look like it could have been a hit and run.

Oh. That kind of road kill.

I’m done, here. I’ll come, right away. About forty five minutes. I’ll get breakfast, there.

I’ll be at the restaurant just past – before, from that direction – the bombas.

Hit and Run

I’d say it was a hit and run, but not the kind where somebody hits someone, panics, and runs. Someone who purposefully hit someone, threw the body off the bridge, and ran! Sario said, showing Clint the pictures of the scene, on his digital camera.

Yes. The body has been definitely described as probable death from vehicular causes? (That was how the Spanish translated.)

Yes. From vehicular attack, though it is not the final analysis. Dr. Hernandez says he has great reservations, but the body was hit on the road, and dropped off the bridge, onto rocks, twelve meters below. There is little water in the river, this time of the year.

I saw that, on my way in. There’s some water shortage in David. IDAAN says they need to dam all the rivers around, to be able to supply enough, which will destroy the ecology of the area. You can’t help but note that the aqueduct is full, hmm?

"The aqueduct was to guarantee the water. They built it, now they need more. They just want more power.

"No politics, now. We can agree on what they are, later.

Dr. Hernadez says it appears as though Barco was hit with a piece of pipe, or something, that would have killed him. He wants to be able to show that, officially, before he makes it his report. He’s smart not to stick his head on the block, unless he can pretty well prove what he says.

So. That’s, also, politics? What was Barco into? You said he was popular.

"He was an officer, at Frontera. He had charges brought against some other border officers, for corruption. There is now an investigation. The investigation is based on his testimony.

DUH!

Meaning we won’t get anywhere with our own investigation, and theirs will stop.

If it’s ‘we,’ that is true. If it is Clint Faraday, acting because he stated that the people must rise up and put an end to this? Will that give them pause, do you think?

"You give me far too much credit, but I’ll give it a try.

I don’t suppose there’s a chance we can get a copy of the charges?

No. Other department. Not authorized.

Have you been to his house?

Only to tell the widow and son of the death. They were fatalistic. Paulo said they tried to tell him he was, what do you say? Signing his own death warrant?

Will they let me into the house to look for things?

You are a special police agent. I have a copy of those papers. You can go there, and may enter. I can’t.

"Show me the house. I’ll see if maybe he left us something to go on.

There is a fifty percent of a chance that the killer will think the fact I may not enter, and that the family are afraid, will mean no one will look, there. The least is that they will think there is time.

They took Clint’s car. Sario showed Clint an average house, in an average neighborhood. It was clean and neat, and had some gardening. A young man was by the door, apparently, arguing with an older man.

Clint pulled into the parking area in front of the house, and went to the door. He had the papers from his glove case that said he was authorized for special investigation by the National Police, and could enter any property, with cause.

Berto Barco? he asked, of the younger man.

Yes.

He handed him the paper. There is evidence that your father was murdered. He brought about an investigation. I have cause. I will appreciate it if you will show me where Mr. Barco’s items are. I would not wish to interfere with the rights of anyone else.

I am here to do the investigation! the older man snapped.

You are?

Carlos Pencero.

Show me your authorization to enter papers, Mr. Pencero.

I don’t need authorization papers! I represent the National Police!

Yes, you do. What is your department? Why are you here, without notification of our offices?

Er, I’m with immigration. Frontera. Aduana.

"Then you have no authorization, and there is no implied authorization, Mr. Pencero. That is noted, and explanations will be demanded, or I will bring charges against you!"

May I speak with you, in private?

No. I believe in the transparency laws.

I am here because of the charges Barco has brought.

I don’t doubt that! Which side?

Pencero stared, for a few seconds, then turned and walked away. Sario was standing by the gate. He stopped, and said something. Sario said, just loud enough to be heard, "He has authorization from the main offices. What am I supposed to do? Why come to me? He is the superior officer, here!"

Sario turned to grin at Clint, as Pencero stomped toward his car. A new BMW.

Nice car for a cop to be driving, huh? Clint asked Berto, who grinned, and said to come on in. He waved for Sario to come.

You don’t mean you will actually try to avenge my father’s murder?

No. We will do everything in our power to bring his killers to justice, Sario answered. I think you will have heard of Clint Faraday, and his success rate!

You are Clint Faraday?! I begin to have hope!

They went in to a small interior room, actually, an expanded and converted closet, that had a desk, computer, and file cabinet, inside.

I would not have let him know of this room, had he entered, Berto declared. Mother and I already made plans. If they come in, she will open the door, and put in the mop and broom, like it is a closet for cleaning tools. She would do that while they were in front, and could not see, inside. She would then tell me we need Clorox, and go into the kitchen. I would show them Mother and Father’s room, and tell them they could not go anywhere else. There is a copy of the charges, in the drawer, there, which is what they would want. They would take it, and go.

Good plan! Sario said. You could also tell them your father did not keep those things here.

I would tell them he gave all the papers I ever saw to the man from Panamá City, the one from the Junta Nacional, or whatever they call it.

They would feel safe, with that. Those national committees never seem to do anything, Clint said.

They do something! They draw a big salary, and have the bribes to add! Berto said, with a grimace. The government agencies are corrupt, through to the center. It is the way things are done here. It is why, I agree with Mr. Faraday about this, Panamá has a bad reputation, in the world. From outside, they can’t see it is only a few. A corrupt animal is appointed, or elected, to head some office, and he will only hire those he can get a cut from. It is why I have faint hope you will be able to solve this.

I’ll solve it, Clint promised. The problem will be getting the courts to act.

They won’t, except with great publicity, Sario added. Clint has an ability to garner publicity, as Guerra and companions discovered.

I saw the television. I had some hope he would try to explain to Juliana that she had misunderstood, or something. He did have the intelligence to just walk away. She is known to pursue such ridiculous statements by officials with great determination. He could not win. She would have shown him for more of a fool than she did!

Clint asked permission to search the computer. Berto said he didn’t need permission, but he certainly had it!

He sat at the computer, and booted. He went directly to MS-DOS, to read the registry. There was a section of the hard drive that was isolated, and needed a code, to enter.

Berto, did your father ever tell you how to get into the partitioned section?

I-f-f-l-e-s-k-e-l-b-u-t-i-n-c-three.

Sheesh! He tried it on the log-in. It brought up another file, that needed a code.

B-e-a-t-l-e-b-a-u-m.

He had a long note pad document. It pretty much described exactly what was going on at the border. It said the pictures were numbered, and gave a list of times, dates, names, licence plate numbers, make and model, and whatever else was needed for the particular picture.

There was then a list of fifty three pictures.

Big problem! There aren’t any pictures! Clint cried.

Berto grinned, and took a memory stick from under the monitor base. Clint plugged it in, and had the pictures, plus the document, plus several other things.

"Father felt he would be arrested on some false charge. I was to give the memory stick to anyone I could trust, and allow them to try to open the file on the computer. If I didn’t trust you, there would be no mention of the stick, and I wouldn’t know how to access the computer section.

"Mother and I were very much afraid that they would torture or kill him. We made the plan for if