P.I. I Love You (Miss Demeanor Suspense Series Book 1) Read online

  P.I. I Love You

  Miss Demeanor Series

  Book 1

  Joanne Jaytanie

  Excerpt from P.I. I Love You

  “Ah yes, River Nightingale is one of our primary investigators. She just happens to be in the office. If you would take a seat, I’ll ask if she can see you now.” She disappeared into the next room.

  The receptionist returned moments later followed by a petite girl. She smiled directly at him, her blue eyes quickly tracking up and down his body. He nearly blushed. As she rounded the counter she held her hand out to him.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Baxter, I’m River Nightingale. Cory tells me that Mike referred you?”

  “Um, he did, but I understood you to be a seasoned policewoman,” Blake said. Geeze, she couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty. Was this a joke? he wondered.

  P.I. I Love You

  A Books to Go Now Publication

  Copyright © Joanne Jaytanie 2015

  Books to Go Now

  Cover Design by Romance Novel Covers Now

  Also published on Smashwords

  For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]

  First eBook Edition –September 2015

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

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  Dedication

  I would like to dedicate and acknowledge my Go to Guy, and husband, Ralph Duncan.

  Ralph is a licensed professional engineer. He has been accepted into the National Academy of Forensic Engineers and nationally certified as an accident reconstruction specialist. Ralph has provided expert opinions to the legal and insurance industries, and consults to numerous law enforcement agencies as to the dynamics and causations of hundreds of accidents. He has testified in both criminal and civil court proceedings. Ralph’s training includes, but is not limited to; mechanical failures, dynamics and physics of most types of land, sea, and air vehicles, human factors analysis, human injury biomechanics, and blood spatter analysis.

  Look for Joanne Jaytanie’s other titles

  Chasing Victory

  Payton’s Pursuit

  Love’s Always Paws-Able

  Uncharted Love

  Building Up To Love

  Chapter One

  Another Saturday night. The only excitement River had going on was Bacardi, her homemade mojito mix, and sitting in front of the television with her laptop. Why did she need excitement anyway? It was overrated. She got enough excitement during her duty shift—at least that’s what she told herself. She’d actually chased a perp down on foot today. Thank goodness for her friends in the Lady Cops group. She laughed. “Just because you don’t have a life outside work, doesn’t mean they don’t.”

  She put her mojito down on the coffee table, and stretched out on her sofa. Laptop on her lap desk, she switched it on, sipped on her mojito, and waited for the screen to come to life. She opened her favorites and clicked on Lady Cops. Chats were in full swing as she scrolled through to see what was happening.

  “Hey River, what no hot date tonight?” Maile asked.

  “Not hardly, Bear Creek is lacking in the hot date department. What about you?”

  “I do have a date, with my newly purchased novel, print copy I might add.”

  “Now that’s pitiful—a date with a book.” River giggled. “Are Cassie and Shay on-line?”

  “Hey, I’m bored. Please tell me one of you ladies have something juicy to share,” Shay said.

  “Have you been following the discussion on the shipment of guns intercepted here in Arizona? Not anywhere near me, of course,” Cassie said.

  “Guns? At least there’s action where you live,” River said. “We had a herd of mountain goats on Main Street this week—that’s what qualifies for action in Bear Creek.”

  “It’s all about your perspective. Mountain goats walking down a street in Prescott, Arizona would be news here.” Cassie laughed.

  River opened a separate message box and sent a private message to the three women.

  “About that vacation we’ve talked about for the last two months: I haven’t used any of my days in over a year. What do you say we go for it? Pick out five days and a destination we’d like to visit. Have some fun in real life?”

  “I’m game,” Shay said.

  “Me, too,” Cassie answered.

  “I’d love to visit Seattle,” Maile said. “I realize it’s not very far from you, River, so if anyone has any other ideas, I’m good with it.”

  “Far enough. Like I said, I haven’t been out of Bear Creek in forever. Not even to visit any other places in Montana.”

  One month later…

  River, Shay, Maile, and Cassie were all relaxing in chaise lounge chairs beside a magnificent infinity pool trimmed with Italian tile and surrounded by pristine landscaping; the pool even sported a double waterfall. The view from their chairs encompassed the entire skyline of Seattle, all framed by the Puget Sound. The Sound shimmered like glass on the hot summer day.

  “Wow, I never want to leave here,” Shay said.

  “You’re truly certain we aren’t going to get a rental bill for this place that will take me the rest of my life to pay off?” Maile asked.

  “Absolutely certain,” River said, as she rubbed suntan lotion over her legs. “Uncle Mike owns this property. He’s not really my uncle. But I’ve known him since the day I was born and he’s always been an uncle to me. He and Dad grew up as neighbors in Portland and remained best friends every since. Dad asked if Mike had some place reasonable for us to spend a relaxing week together. Since Mike’s always had properties in Seattle and has always treated me well, he told Dad only the best for his policewoman and her friends would do and insisted this be entirely his treat.”

  “And I say it again—wow!” Shay said. “I’ve never stayed in a place this amazing.”

  “This place has everything, including a sexy chef,” Cassie said. “We don’t even have to go out, if we don’t want.”

  “I’d like to spend at least one day sightseeing,” Maile said. “I’m happy to go alone, if you girls want to stay here.”

  “No way. We came here to spend time together. If you want to go sightseeing, I’m in,” River said. Cassie and Shay nodded in agreement. “Then let’s spend tomorrow at the Pike Place Market and the waterfront! I hear that Pioneer Square is cool, too.”

  Maile smiled at her friends. “You guys are wonderful. I feel as if we’ve known each other for years.”

  “I feel the same way,” Cassie said.

  “Too bad we don’t live closer,” River said. “It would be nice to get together for dinner or a movie whenever the mood struck us
.”

  “Wouldn’t that be great? How are things going with each of you?” Maile asked.

  “About the same for me,” Cassie said. “I’ve closed more cases than my male counterparts and still no talk of promotion.”

  “I guess I should confess,” River said. “It’s because of my job I asked you all to get together.”

  “Why, what happened?” Shay asked.

  “One of our officers retired and his position opened up, which should’ve been a promotion for me. Opportunities like this have only happened two other times in the ten years I’ve worked for the department and the first time happened right after I got there.”

  “You didn’t get the promotion, did you?” Maile asked.

  “No. I’ve been the top closer for the past two years, but all I got from the captain was a line of bullshit. He said it wasn’t my turn. Two other cops deserved it before me. One of them has only been with the department for five years. He’s closed fewer cases than anyone else, and he’s before me?”

  “Damn politics,” Cassie said.

  “Face it, this has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with anatomy,” Maile said. “We all work in small towns with small-minded people. We may never work our way up the ladder.”

  “Ladies, dinner is served,” said the sexy chef.

  After a day shopping and sightseeing, the girls were treated to another great dinner cooked by their gorgeous chef. Maile sighed as she joined the others in the living room for after-dinner drinks. She plopped herself down on a buttery soft leather recliner and said, “I love Seattle.”

  The chef entered with a tray full of golden concoctions adorned with pineapple spears.

  “These look luscious, what are they?” Shay asked.

  “My specialty, pineapple-mint mojitos.”

  River’s head popped up from her laptop and her three friends laughed.

  “Well, at least we now know what will drag you away from that darn thing,” Shay said. “We just spent the entire day walking the streets of Seattle, aren’t you drained?”

  “I was, until I saw this message in my email. How would you ladies like to live in Seattle?” River asked.

  “What are you talking about?” Maile asked.

  “I’m talking about quitting our dead-end jobs and starting a business of our own, as private investigators.”

  “What? How?” Cassie asked.

  “There’s an agency for sale in Pioneer Square. The owners are retiring. We would acquire their client lists and all open cases.”

  “You’re serious?” Maile asked.

  “As ever.”

  “I’d consider it, if I could swing the loan. But I don’t think I could qualify for a business loan and a house loan at the same time,” Shay said.

  Maile and Cassie agreed.

  “I know I couldn’t,” River said. “But I also know my Uncle Mike would help us out in a heartbeat. Moving back here, only three hours away from my parents and Uncle Mike? He’d be all in.”

  “You really think so?” Maile asked.

  “I do. We wouldn’t have a chef or an infinity pool, but he owns a number of apartment buildings and I’m sure he has a few here. I think we could work out a reasonable monthly rent. I know it’s not the same as a house.”

  “I’m willing to live in an apartment if it means getting our own business off the ground,” Cassie said. “If we sell our houses, we could apply the proceeds on the down payment for the business.”

  “Good point, Cassie. We need to figure out where we stand financially. Between the four of us, we may not need an outrageous loan amount. There’s also another possibility. Investing in businesses is what Uncle Mike does. He may be willing to invest in our business as a silent partner. If we could show him a reasonable amount of return, I know he’d be interested. We’d also want a buyout option for us down the road. We’d need to work together and develop a business plan.”

  “I agree. I think if we do this we need to go through every step as a team. Instead of making River responsible for pitching our plan to Mike, we should go as a united front and give him the entire presentation,” Maile said.

  “We’re a good bet. Each of us has at least ten years’ experience on a police force,” River said.

  “We’ll need to do some studying and get licensed as private investigators. I wouldn’t think it would be too difficult given our current occupation,” Shay said.

  “I did a double major in college. My dad insisted I get my business degree, just in case I couldn’t get a job in law enforcement. I’ve also managed my department for weeks when the captain got called away or went on vacation,” River said.

  “Ironic, wouldn’t you say? Your captain picks you to run the department, but doesn’t feel you’re qualified for the promotion,” Maile said.

  “All about the anatomy,” Cassie said. “We have four more days here. Think we can pull this presentation together in that length of time?”

  “I’m in,” Shay said.

  The three women looked at Maile and waited.

  “Oh, what the heck. I’m more than ready for a change.”

  Five months later…

  The four women stood on the sidewalk outside the massive stone and brick building as workmen expertly handled the lift to hang their sign on a black wrought iron upside-down L-shaped post. The post was placed between their two enormous arched, mullioned windows. The black rectangular sign had gold leaf raised letters which read: Miss Demeanor Private Detective Agency.

  June, the owner of the art studio next door, walked out carrying a trayful of champagne glasses.

  “Congratulations, ladies,” said June. “You worked hard to pull this place together in a short span of time. I’m so glad you’re here! I feel safer already.”

  “Thank you,” River and her friends said.

  “I met Cory, your receptionist, yesterday. She’s a lovely girl,” June said.

  “Actually, Cory is our administrative assistant. She’ll hold the fort down and keep the place running,” River said.

  “Well, enjoy your champagne.” June walked back into her studio behind a potential customer.

  “I can’t believe we pulled this off,” Cassie said. “A new business of our own, and thanks to Mike, affordable apartments on Capitol Hill.”

  “The best part is we live right next to one another, someone pinch me!” Maile laughed. “Ouch!” she exclaimed when Shay did as asked. “I was just kidding,” she said as she rubbed her shoulder.

  “Well, P.I.s, back to work! Tomorrow is our grand opening. We better get inside and pull this place together,” River said.

  Chapter Two

  The electronic door chime sounded.

  “Good afternoon and welcome to Miss Demeanor Private Detective Agency,” said a woman with short, black hair streaked with bright blue. Blake thought her attractive, once he got past the outrageous hair. She was dressed in an extremely short, pleated, blue plaid mini-skirt, which showed off her long shapely legs, clad in shear black tights. Her bright yellow top dipped low, revealing a glimpse of her tantalizing cleavage. One of her ears donned a variety of pierced earrings; the other, only one piercing in the middle of her upper ear and displayed a large deep blue gem. In Seattle anything was in style.

  “Hello,” Blake Baxter said.

  “How may I help you?”

  “I’d like to hire one of your private investigators.”

  “Certainly. May I ask how you heard about us? Perhaps our flyers, email blast, or our social media page?”

  Blake stared at the woman as she rattled through the list.

  “Ah, sorry. None of the above.”

  Her spunky attitude faded slightly.

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. It sou
nds like you’re doing a great job promoting the business. Would it make you feel better if I told you I was referred here?” he asked.

  Her sunny smile reignited.

  “Yes, I guess I forgot that one,” she said, as she jotted his name on a piece of paper. “Might I ask who referred you and if you have a particular P.I. in mind?”

  “I hear all four women are wonderful, but Mike Dunbar mentioned Ms. Nightingale by name.”

  “Ah yes, River Nightingale is one of our primary investigators. She just happens to be in the office. If you would take a seat, I’ll ask if she can see you now.” She disappeared into the next room.

  The receptionist returned moments later followed by a petite girl. She smiled directly at him, her blue eyes quickly tracking up and down his body. He nearly blushed. As she rounded the counter she held her hand out to him.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Baxter, I’m River Nightingale. Cory tells me that Mike referred you?”

  “Um, he did, but I understood you to be a seasoned policewoman,” Blake said. Geeze, she couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty. Is this a joke? he wondered.

  “Yes. I served in a police department in Montana for ten years and no, I’m not a teenager, I assure you. I happen to be in my mid-thirties.”

  “I see. I’m sorry for my ill manners.”

  “No worries, you’re not the first person who has thought that and certainly won’t be the last. My only hope is when I’m seventy, people will think I’m fifty.” She smiled at him again. “If you’re still interested in a P.I., I’m sure I can help you.”