Quandary: A Detective Series

QUANDARYDETECTIVE CARLA MCBRIDE CHRONICLESBOOK 4 NICK LEWIS Quandary Kindle Edition Copyright © 2023 (As Revised) Nick Lewis Rough Edges Press An Imprint of Wolfpack Publishing 9850 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite A-5 #323 Las Vegas, Nevada 89183 roughedgespress.com This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, other than brief quotes for reviews. eBook ISBN 978-1-68549-242-7 Paperback ISBN 978-1-68549-243-4 CONTENTS Join the Rough Edges Press Mailing ListChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38Chapter 39Chapter 40Chapter 41Chapter 42Chapter 43Chapter 44Chapter 45Chapter 46Chapter 47Chapter 48Chapter 49Chapter 50Chapter 51Chapter 52Chapter 53Chapter 54Chapter 55Chapter 56Chapter 57Chapter 58Chapter 59Chapter 60Chapter 61AcknowledgmentsA Look at Book Five:Join the Rough Edges Press Mailing ListAbout the Author JOIN THE ROUGH EDGES PRESS MAILING LIST It’s no secret that you love books as much as we do. If you join now, you’ll stay up to date on our newest releases, news and sales. For Shelley, Jim, and Rick QUANDARY CHAPTER 1 It wasn’t Red Brewster’s first rodeo. For the past twenty years, he’d called the Kentucky High School baseball championship game. In his stellar sportscasting career, his play-by-play voice was iconic. Before he continued his broadcast, he glanced at the on-deck circle as Philip Devaney warmed up. Red’s pulse and respiration ramped up; he knew what Devaney was feeling. He had experienced that same nerve-racking tension thirty years ago as a Stallion. Like the professional that he was, he took a deep breath and continued his final play-by-play soliloquy. “Alright, fans, here we go. The Stallions are down to their last out. The state championship trophy hangs in the balance. With the bases loaded and behind by three runs, it’s a do-or-die moment for the Stallions in the bottom of the seventh inning. It all comes down to Devaney, the Stallions’ all-star first baseman. Can he keep this rally going? Well, folks, we’re about to find out.” Relief pitcher Roy Gullett, for the Altmont Tomcats, had a ninety-five mile-per-hour fastball. He threw nothing but heat, and everyone knew that. However, his wildness put him in this precarious position. After a visit from his coach, he’d settled down and struck out the next two batters. It had all come down to Gullett’s flame-throwing fastball against Devaney’s quick and keen, eye-hand coordination. A lot was at stake as Red’s iconic voice continued the broadcast. “Devaney steps into the batter’s box as deep as he could, waiting for the pitch. Gullett takes his wind-up and flings the ball toward home plate. Devaney takes the pitch, strike-one the umpire signaled. Folks, I can’t believe he took that waist-high pitch right over the plate. I wonder if Devaney is playing a game of cat and mouse? We’ll soon find out.” Devaney stepped out of the batter’s box to calm his nerves. He knew a state championship was riding on the last at-bat of his high school career. The Stallions had never won a state championship in any sport. This is the closest any athletic team had ever come. Everything was riding on his shoulders. After Devaney took a deep breath, he once again settled in the batter’s box as far back as he could. He knew what was coming; Gullett threw nothing but heat. At ninety-five miles per hour, he didn’t need an off-speed pitch to keep batters off-balance. His wildness took care of that. Gullett nodded at the catcher, then took his wind-up and smoked Devaney again. Strike two, the umpire screamed. Devaney signaled timeout and stood outside the batter’s box to calm himself. After a deep breath, he took his stance deep in the batter’s box once more. He was now ready for another fastball and a chance at a hero status. With Gullett in his stance, he nodded at the catcher once more. While waiting on the pitch, Devaney focused on Gullett’s right hand as he went into his wind-up. There was nothing different in his motion or delivery, and Devaney guessed fastball all the way. As Devaney expected, Gullett delivered more smoke toward home plate. Devaney timed the waist-high fastball perfectly, and a thunderous crack filled the stadium. The ball sailed high and deep toward left field. As Devaney approached the first base bag, he watched the ball soaring toward the fence. After rounding first base, the left fielder leaped high as the ball sailed over his outstretched glove. As Devaney crossed home plate, pandemonium erupted on the field and in the stands. He had done it, a grand slam to bring home the first state championship to Oakmont High School. Although Red was supposed to be impartial, he couldn’t control the emotions flooding his soul. Once a Stallion, always a Stallion, he believed. With his voice cracking with emotion, he continued his broadcast. “There you have it, folks. The Stallions have captured the Kentucky High School Baseball Championship in grand, heroic fashion. What a game, and one for the record books. Go Stallions. Congratulations, state champs. Stay tuned for post-game interviews after these brief messages.” As the celebration continued in the stadium, Red made his way down to the field to interview Stallions’ head coach Gabe Cook and the game’s most valuable player, Devaney. Finally, catching up with them in front of the Stallions’ dugout, he began his interview. “Coach, congratulations. What is going through your mind right now?” “Well, Red, it’s unexplainable what I’m feeling. These kids worked hard all year, and they deserve all the credit, especially Devaney. I couldn’t be prouder of him.” “Philip, congratulations on