Searching For Truth: A Jake Scott Mystery (Jake Scott Mystery Series Book 1) Read online

  ACCLAIM FOR AWARD WINNING AUTHOR BARRY FINLAY

  SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

  A JAKE SCOTT MYSTERY

  “Don’t let Jake’s pipe-and-slippers persona fool you into thinking this is just a cozy mystery. It’s not. It's merely a disguise for a sharp and compelling whodunnit.” – Cath ‘N’ Kindle Book Reviews

  “Searching For Truth is an intriguing whodunit that embraces much more psychological depth than most mysteries and will have readers both guessing and involved to the end.” – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

  THE BURDEN OF DARKNESS

  A MARCIE KANE AND NATHAN HARRIS THRILLER

  “Thoroughly captivating, ingenious, and full of heart-pounding suspense, this is an action thriller done right…” – The Prairies Book Review

  “Those who like their thrillers especially strong in interpersonal relationships and connections and character psychology and evolution will welcome The Burden of Darkness for its compelling blend of action and insight.” – Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

  NEVER SO ALONE

  A NATHAN HARRIS THRILLER NOVELLA

  “Finlay constructs a convincing special operations plot, complete with high action to keep the reader on edge.” – The Prairies Book Review

  “Brilliant. Would be an amazing film!” – Goodreads reader

  REMOTE ACCESS

  AN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL THRILLER

  “Finlay paints a frighteningly realistic picture of two of the things people often fear today — terrorism and cybercrime.” – RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books

  “While grounded in reality, Remote Access is a must-read with a singular sense of escapism rare in a political thriller.” – BestThrillers.com

  A PERILOUS QUESTION

  AN INTERNATIONAL THRILLER AND CRIME NOVEL

  “Written with a compassionate, knowledgeable voice, the book is an excellent story of mystery and intrigue.” – RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books

  “A Perilous Question sizzles with international intrigue as the tension and suspense mount to a compelling pitch. Barry Finlay will keep you turning the pages.” – Rick Mofina, Bestselling Author of FREE FALL

  THE VANISHING WIFE

  AN ACTION-PACKED CRIME THRILLER

  “I had a hard time not just giving up the rest of my life and reading this in one sitting.” – Vaughan Hopkins, Amazon reviewer

  “The pace grabs hold. Whether the mild-mannered accountant Mason Seaforth could actually pull off what’s at stake depends on the colour, the energy and dialogue of the story telling. The Vanishing Wife is convincing.” – Donald Graves, Canadian Crime Reviews

  KILIMANJARO AND BEYOND

  A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY

  “The book reads like a journal and the writing is warm, familiar and humorous. ‘Kilimanjaro and Beyond, A Life-Changing Journey,’ will challenge all who read it to consider how they too can make a difference, not only for others, but for themselves as well.” – Reader Views

  “…at once so inspirational and courageous, so human and humane, and so deeply personal that the reader feels they are climbing right along with this small and highly determined group.” – Reverend Dr. Linda De Coff, Author, Bridge of the Gods

  I GUESS WE MISSED THE BOAT

  A TRAVEL MEMOIR

  “This is an exhilarating read.” -– Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame reviewer

  “I Guess We Missed the Boat is a fresh, ironic and jovial travel adventure novel in which each traveler can recognize himself or herself. It is a travel book that is amusing and practical at the same time.” – Reader Views

  SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

  A JAKE SCOTT MYSTERY

  BARRY FINLAY

  Searching For Truth

  A Jake Scott Mystery

  Published by Keep On Climbing Publishing

  Copyright ©Barry Finlay 2021

  (613) 240-6953

  [email protected]

  www.barry-finlay.com

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from Access Copyright (The Canadian Licensing Agency) 320-56 Wellesley Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S3

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Cataloguing data available at Library and Archives Canada.

  ISBN: 978-1-7771395-2-0

  Dedicated to Annika, Jaelyn and Isaac. May reading always bring joy to your lives.

  Table of Contents

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  The Vanishing Wife

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Searching For Truth introduces a new character, Jake Scott, a retired, bored, and lonely former reporter needing someone or something to drag him out of the lethargy he finds himself in.

  While retirement is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for many, it’s not treating Jake very well. Most glide into it. Others, like Jake, find the transition rougher than expected. Experts will tell you there are pitfalls hiding in the pot of gold. Loneliness is one, as coworkers are no longer available to swap stories with five days a week. While it seems counterintuitive, not having something else to occupy the mind can lead to even more stress than work ever provided. Reduced physical activity can create health problems. While everyone dreams of retirement, a person must be prepared for the transition.

  I enjoyed writing about the challenges Jake faces in his retirement, as he is failing miserably at adapting. He has also lost his wife and his only daughte
r has moved out of town, which makes his challenges even greater. I hope you enjoy reading as Jake finds something to do that may be more than he bargained for.

  The setting for the book is Ottawa, Canada. While most of my books are set in locations that we have visited around the world, the pandemic ended that, at least temporarily, so there was no better place to set the book than my hometown. Many of the locations and street names mentioned in the book are real. I thought Jake should have to deal with the winter like the rest of us since Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital city in the world where snow and ice are prevalent for too much of the year. Most inhabitants embrace the cold with outdoor activities, except those who escape to warmer climates, which is something Jake dreams of doing.

  Many people were involved in writing Searching For Truth. Of course, any errors in fact or detail remain my responsibility. Several readers worked their way through the early manuscript despite the grammatical errors and typos and I appreciate all of them very much. Jacques Tremblay and Steve Mitchell provided editorial comments and suggestions for which I’m very grateful. Constable Amy Gagnon, Media Relations Officer, Ottawa Police Service, was wonderful at filling in some blanks, and I’m very appreciative of her efforts. Thank you also to Books Go Social for designing the cover and providing the layout.

  Thank you to you, my loyal reader. As much as I enjoy writing, it is your reviews and feedback that encourage me to make every book the best it can be. For those who help by telling your friends and family about my books, thank you very much. Making people aware of a book among the millions available is always a challenge and I appreciate everyone who helps.

  Finally, a special thank you to my wife Evelyn, who always reads the earliest versions of the manuscript, and provides invaluable comments and inspiration.

  Now, it’s time to delve into the mind of Jake Scott in Searching For Truth

  PROLOGUE

  A SLIVER OF the moon was all that illuminated their spot at the end of the parking lot. A cave would have offered better light as the burned-out streetlamp hanging above the car provided nothing. The absence of light suited Matt Pawsloski and Melissa Thomas just fine.

  They had arrived around nine o’clock and parked at the far end of the lot, relieved to see theirs was the only car. If Matt rolled down his window, they could hear the roar of Hog’s Back Falls and the bravado of teenagers shouting somewhere nearby. He shut off the car but left the window down a crack. Just enough to provide a breath of air in the humid Ottawa night while muffling most of the outside noise.

  Matt unknotted his tie. It produced a zipping sound as he yanked it from his shirt collar and tossed it on top of the light gray suit jacket draped across his briefcase in the back seat. He had removed the jacket earlier in the evening when he left the office. The suit and tie fit his upwardly mobile path at the legal firm where he worked downtown. Shortly, he would have his law degree, but by watching others of lesser capabilities progress in the firm, he learned that being seen in the office by the bosses after hours was almost as important as the work he produced. Besides, he needed to confirm the identity of the person responsible for an irregularity at the office and waiting until others left afforded the best opportunity. He had stayed late, which suited Melissa since she worked beyond her scheduled shift end of eight o’clock.

  Matt reached for Melissa’s hand as they sat in silence for a few minutes. She was jittery, shuddering at the sound of a sewer hole cover clattering as a passing car on the street drove over it. She leaned across the center console in the Camry to be closer to Matt. A mosquito buzzed around her head until it made a fatal miscalculation and landed on her arm where she swatted it.

  She said, “I hate this, Matt. It’s too dark and creepy, and this car is so uncomfortable. I feel like a teenager stealing a few minutes with her boyfriend.”

  Matt’s annoyance showed as his lips scarcely moved.

  “Well dear, I guess it’s partly true. I am your boyfriend. What else can we do? We can’t rent a hotel room every night, and there’s no time to drive to my place. Your husband wouldn’t appreciate it if we used your bedroom.” His tone softened as he changed the subject. “Speaking of your husband, what’s Gary doing tonight?”

  Melissa gazed into Matt’s eyes. Her hesitation signaled her discomfort with the subject. Finally, she said, “He went to a friend’s place. Just a bunch of guys getting together like they always do. You’re right, I can’t be too long. Besides, you seem edgy.”

  Matt leaned to pull Melissa closer and brushed her lips with his.

  He said, “I’m sorry, some things at work are bothering me. Things I’d rather not talk about yet. When are you going to leave him? You know he stormed into the office and threatened to kill us? In the office! Good thing I wasn’t there. You’ve been talking about leaving him for weeks, but I don’t think it will ever happen.”

  Melissa pulled back, saying, “It will happen. The time just has to be right. If he ever caught us, he would kill us. He’s got a terrible temper when he’s mad. You know that, right?”

  “I heard about his temper when he came into the office. It’s all the more reason to leave him. Does he have a job yet?”

  Melissa shrugged and blew air through her lips before responding. “He says no one in town is looking for chefs right now. He’s pretty picky, but eventually, he’ll have to take something, even if it’s in a fast-food restaurant. We had a tremendous fight about him not working the other night. It was so loud, the police came.”

  A fleeting smile crossed Matt’s lips as he said, “That must’ve been something. Now, there isn’t another car in the parking lot. It’s just you and me, so let’s make the best of it.”

  Melissa snuggled close to Matt again for a moment before jerking upright again, saying, “What if a police car shows up? They must patrol the parks.”

  Matt’s head dropped back in exasperation. “Oh my God, Melissa. You worry too much.” He pulled her closer to continue what they started. He found her lips again and kissed her intensely as he unbuttoned the top of her blouse. His words were a whisper. “The way I feel, we won’t be here long. Let’s get into the back seat. This console is in the way.”

  His fingers found the inside of Melissa’s lacy bra as she draped her arms around his neck.

  The lights of a car turning into the parking lot reflected off the facets of Melissa’s diamond ring. The vehicle crept past their parking spot before doing a deliberate, meandering U-turn and pulling in on the opposite side. Shallow breathing was the only sound in Matt’s car as he peered through his back window, but the other vehicle’s tinted glass obscured the driver’s face. Eerie shadows cast by the moon danced across the asphalt as tree limbs rocked gently in the breeze. Matt shivered involuntarily, but he tried to hide it from Melissa.

  Melissa sat back and whispered, as if the other driver could hear, “I told you the police might patrol the park.” Her voice was frantic. “We had better go, Matt.”

  “Melissa, it’s not a police car and I have never seen them drive an unmarked Mercedes. That car is expensive. It’s probably just some old guy hiding from his wife. Or maybe the driver stopped to make a phone call. Even if it is the police, we’re consenting adults, so they won’t do anything. Let’s just wait a bit and see if he leaves.”

  They used the next few minutes to discuss their future, ever watchful of the other car. The tension in Melissa’s body eased, comforted as she was by Matt’s words. She wasn’t a stunning beauty, but the smile that came readily to her face, and the dimples it created, attracted Matt from the beginning. She found the humor in anything, tonight being an exception. He found that incredibly attractive. The first time they met, when she patched him up in the hospital after a bicycle accident, the smile and her sense of humor drew him like metal to a magnet. She made him laugh by emphatically imagining a curb leaping in front of his bike at the last second. It took his mind off the pain. He noticed her wedding band only after he asked her out for coffee, and she accepted. He w
ondered if she took it off when she worked, but he never asked. The affair had been ongoing for months.

  Her hands ran nervously through her hair as she talked about leaving her husband, but she continually glanced over Matt’s shoulder to see if the dark car had moved. Matt listened as she talked. He had heard it all before, and he didn’t actually believe it. Melissa was too timid to walk out on her husband. She was too afraid of what her husband might do if she left him. But he listened, nodding at the right time, and deliberately, tantalizingly, letting his fingers wander under her skirt.

  Melissa stopped him. She said, “Matt, listen to me. I have a plan this time. We will be together. I’m going to leave him.”

  Her voice trailed off as a sharp knock on the window startled them. Neither had noticed the man approaching from the black Mercedes. It wasn’t a hand knocking. It was something metallic rapping against the glass that set both their hearts racing. Melissa gasped. Matt turned to peer at the intruder, but a piercing flashlight beam blinded him. He threw one arm up to block the light while he pressed the button to roll down the power window. Nothing happened because he had turned off the car.

  It didn’t matter.

  The last sight either would see was the flashlight beam and the flash from the barrel of a gun. Melissa died first as the blast from the man’s weapon pierced the glass and the bullet struck her in the forehead. She slumped against the passenger door. Matt died right after as the next bullet entered his heart, interrupting the scream forming in his throat. The gunman shot them each twice more for good measure.

  The killer shoved the gun into his waistband and listened to the night as he strode to his car as if nothing had happened. Dogs barked in the distance, disturbed by the sound of the gun. The boisterous teenagers had gone quiet, either trying to identify the noises or running the other way. A smile danced across the man’s lips. He started the car and drove away into the humid Ottawa night.