Publisher's Synopsis
These three short stories are unrelated mysteries that will have you guessing through their final chapters. The first mystery involves a suburban setting we can all relate to. Karen is an ex-realtor, divorced, no-longer active in the industry. Now a private investigator, she specializes primarily in missing persons and potential infidelity investigations. One of her old real-estate customers, Wendy, has become a friend with both endearing and disarming traits. Wendy has observed some odd phenomena in the old house across the street from her home. Not knowing what to make of them she calls Karen who finds a plausible explanation for the unusual phenomenon her friend has observed. A massive storm with high winds and torrential rain rages for days, creating driving hazards from downed trees, racing rivulets, and accumulated debris in narrow streets. Karen's investigation of a missing person from out of state stalls. When Wendy calls with yet another issue on the house opposite, Karen is predictably rude in her response. The ensuing investigation involves both unexpected and unpleasant issues. Wendy is enormously upset, and Karen is thrown into an awkward position by the findings. The final outcome is only partially balanced by a new revelation between the two women. The second mystery revolves around boating between the US and Canada, among the northwest islands, away from the mainland. Ted and Tricia own a modest home on the shore of an island bay. Their pride and joy is a 50ft sleek powerboat. Ted is a real-estate broker but has recently had major knee surgery and is recuperating at home. A visiting boat pulls into their cove and anchors in an area that doesn't always hold well. When Tricia alerts the captain and guest of the boat she comes away with mixed impressions. Next morning the boat appears to be abandoned and disabled. Tricia contacts the Coast Guard who get in touch with the owner. The boat belongs to a Charter company, which chartered the boat to a single chap for cruising in the northwest islands. Tricia reservedly helps get the boat towed to a local boat repair facility. There, her interaction with a new employee seems out of character with other employees she knows. Based on a fortunate small finding Tricia travels to Canada to check out a possible lead. Back home Ted helps with some investigative Internet work. The mystery of the disappearing boat charterer only deepens however. A dead body found in the nearby major shipping Strait adds to the concerns of authorities. But Tricia, with her investigative instincts, suggests a solution to the local police. A little work on their part finds illegal cross-border activity that is nipped in the bud. The final mystery takes place on a hiker's paradise - a large mountain with still untrammeled woods, creeks, and ravines. Gwenda is an ardent writer, editor, and hiker. A tiff at home sends her off to her favorite retreat - an immense nearby mountain that towers above the city and the bay it sits astride. There are still many unchartered parts of the mountain with untrammeled woods, creeks, and ravines. Gwenda heads for an area where, on her last hike, she saw in the distance a running stream emanating from a pile of rocks. Curiosity leads her to two startling finds on the bank of the small creek. She returns to the city and uses both local resources and the Internet to research the background of one particular clothing object from a distant past. She learns about a community of specialized workers living in the city nearly a century ago. A mystery of those times is suddenly revealing clues in the present time. The police inevitably become involved but are not enthusiastic problem solvers. So, as a columnist for the local newspaper, Gwenda reveals her new information to readers. In the end, an exchange with an avid reader leads to a meeting which helps determine the origin of the mystery on the mountain.
