Pencil Thin Mustache (Jake Sullivan Series Book 22)

Pencil Thin Mustache A JAKE SULLIVAN NOVEL CHIP BELL Pencil Thin Mustache is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. All rights reserved. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission of the author is theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from this book, please contact Chip Bell at: [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. THE JAKE SULLIVAN SERIES Come Monday Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season Havana Daydreamin’ A Pirate Looks at Forty One Particular Harbour Son of a Son of a Sailor Jamaica Mistaica Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes He Went to Paris Tampico Trauma Fins Big Rig We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About Cuban Crime of Passion Gypsies In The Palace Tin Cup Chalice The Pascagoula Run Cheeseburger In Paradise Why Don’t We Get Drunk Volcano Boat Drinks ALSO AVAILABLE: Trilogy The First Ten Adventures COMING FALL 2023: Brown Eyed Girl Pencil Thin Mustache A JAKE SULLIVAN NOVEL CHIP BELL “Oh, I wish I had a pencil thin mustache Then I could solve some mysteries, too.” - “Pencil Thin Mustache” by Jimmy Buffett Dedication This book is dedicated to all those who grew up in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. If you’re like me, you can listen to Pencil Thin Mustache and never have to ask a question as to what the lyrics mean. Acknowledgement I would like to acknowledge Tom Corcoran, who passed away recently. Not only was he the fantastic author of the Alex Rutledge mysteries, but a great story teller and photographer who captured the essence of Key West in what he put on paper and what he caught on camera. I was fortunate enough to meet him on my early trips to Key West and hear some of those great stories in The Chart Room bar. Rest in peace, Tom. Prologue Key West Chapter 1 Mike and Jake found Sam Walsh asleep in his hospital bed. They entered quietly and sat in the chairs until he groaned slightly and turned to his side, his eyes opening and catching a glimpse of his two friends. “You guys didn’t have to come. I’m okay.” Sam and Jake rose and walked over to the bed. “We wanted to see for ourselves, nerd,” said Mike. “How are you doing, Sam?” asked Jake. Sam pulled himself into a sitting position. “Really, I’m okay. Just some bruises here and there. They did some blood work and other tests and are just keeping me until they get the results, and then I’ll be on my way home.” “Do you have any idea who did this?” “As far as actual proof,” said Sam, “no. I was riding my bike and never heard the car approaching until it gunned the engine and came up behind me. Lucky for me I had just come along an open space along the highway and Chapter 2 On the way back from the Key West Medical Center, Jake and Mike discussed Santiago, now known as “Truffant.” “So, we’re in agreement?” asked Jake. “Just you and me? And we stay on this until it’s done?” “I’ve been thinking about the just you and me part,” responded Mike. “Well, don’t,” said Jake. “You know we’d never get approval for an op like this. You do know what our intentions are, don’t you?” “Yeah, yeah . . . I get it. But here’s the thing . . . what if I told you I know a guy in the Dominican Republic that I did some work with when I was in the FBI in taking care of some particular cartel bad guys. And this guy is tough, smart, honest, and a good guy to have on our side.” “What is he . . . military?” “No, he works for the ‘Policia Nacional Dominicana’ in a special task force that’s set up to try to stop the horrific