sidhe_faerie | Entries tagged with hastings pi

Favor for a friend

Hastings P.I

Shelly, Jax

WC: 143

Prompts: spill, cheese, flour, wine, dairy, warm

Shelly sighed. She really didn't want to be there but a job was a job. She sipped the warm wine and picked up a cheese puff from a passing tray. She took a bite but immediately regretted it. It tasted like flour and goo.

She found a napkin on a nearby table and spit it out. Someone bumped her arm and she spilled some wine on the tablecloth of the buffet table.

Jax walked over. "Don't like the nibbles?"

"No but I don't expect much from a cop party." Shelly sighed. "I wouldn't be here if I had a choice."

"I know. I appreciate the help on this one." Jax sipped her wine and made a face. "This stuff is nasty."

"You're gonna owe me big time for this." Shelly nodded toward the door. "He's here."

"Keep your eyes open." Jax moved away.

The Ukrainian Job

Prompt: Anxious

WC: 300

Shelly paced the floor. Bryce was late again. It wasn't unusual for him to be late but she had one of those feelings of hers. She tried to shake it off but she couldn't.

The door opened just as her phone rang. She looked up as she picked up her phone. "Jax, what are you doing here? I was supposed to meet Bryce."

"Answer your phone." Jax sat down and crossed her legs.

Shelly hit accept and sighed

"Shelly don't be mad…." Bryce knew her well.

"I've been waiting on you for over an hour." Shelly glanced at Jax. "Where the hell are you?"

"I'm on a stakeout. Jax has what I want you to look into. I just need background. Don't get too nosy. These guys are dangerous."

"So, you want me to do the digging. Seriously?" She looked at Jax and held out her hand.

Jax handed her a flash drive.

"They won't expect a P.I. to be looking into them…. Take your gun in case there's trouble."

"I don't like this. I'm charging triple. Bryce, be on your toes. If anything…."

"Shelly, goes both ways. I gotta go, they're on the move." The call disconnected.

Shelly looked at the phone. "Damn it! He's gonna get himself killed one day."

"I agree. He takes a lot more risks than I would." Jax stood up. "Just like someone else I know."

Shelly looked at the flash drive. "Mob?"

"Worse. Human trafficking. These guys are from Ukraine. They grow them ugly and dangerous there."

Shelly chuckled. "It's the cold. I'll get started. Jax, watch his back."

"Yeah. My job. Remember?" Jax smiled. "You still love him, don't you?"

"Yeah but don't tell him I said so. It will go to his head."

Jax nodded. "Not a word from me."

Blood

Prompt: Sticky

WC: 300

Shelly entered the house through the open fron door and looked around. She spotted something on the floor in front of her. Blood!

Shelly bent down and touched the spot of blood on the floor. It was sticky and not dry or wet. She followed the trail of drops to a door on the third floor landing.

She didn't know what she would find there but she had to look. She opened the door and looked around.

Next to the boarded up window, Bryce sat with a gun in his hand. He was unconscious and there was blood on his shoulder.

Shelly closed the door and pulled out her phone. She called 911.

"There's an officer down at 2364 Mulberry Street. He's unconscious and bleeding." She put the phone on speaker and sat it on the floor as she knelt down. "He's still breathing! Bryce, you idiot, why didn't you wait for backup?"

Bryce stirred. "Shelly…. I thought….."

"I know but I'm still pissed at you for being stupid. Help will be here soon."

"The shooter…. Across the hall…." Bryce handed her his gun. "Carefull."

"Got it. Be right back." Shelly stood up and went to the door. She took the safety off the gun and searched the rest of the house.

She saw the ambulance drive up as she was checking the first floor. She put the safety back on and put the gun in her pocket. She went out to meet them.

"He's on the third floor, door on the left." She called out then she saw Jax. "Great! That's all I need."

She sighed. This was going to be tricky to explain without getting into details with Jax. She plastered a smile on her face and hoped for the best. It was all that she could do.

Shelly touched her forehead and then pulled back her hand. Blood. She took a deep breath. It explained the dizzy nauseous feeling she was experiencing. It was likely a concussion. It wasn't her first time being knocked in the head. It came with the job.

She sat up and checked her pockets for her phone but it was gone. Whoever hit her must have taken it. She remembered a dinner a block away. She would have to get there to call for help.

Her car keys were gone too. They wouldn't get far with it. The gas gauge was stuck at three quarters of a tank. She was sure it was nearly empty and she was going to get gas after she met with her informant.

Her informant….

Shelly looked around and spotted the man lying on the ground. She stood up and staggered over to him. He was dead. There was a bullet wound on his chest and another in his leg. Whoever killed him wasn't messing around.

Shelly searched his pockets and found nothing. She checked his socks. He dad always told her it was the one place bad guys forgot to check. She found a flash drive in his right sock. She put it in her pocket.

She made a mental note of where she was then started walking towards the dinner. She had to call Bryce and let him know what had happened. He wouldn't be pleased that she had put herself in danger but he would forgive her as soon as he saw she was in one piece, more or less.

(268)

Expert Advice

Shelly walked to the edge of the roof and looked down. The body in the alley below looked like a ragdoll. "Why am I here, Jax?"

"I just wondered if you knew the guy. He was a PI from Vegas." Jax stepped back from the edge. "Not a way I would want to go. Why come all this way to off yourself?"

"He didn't. He was pushed." Shelly met the detective's questioning look. "He landed on his back on the far side of the alley. Don't they teach you basic physics in detective school? My dad taught me that if the land on their back, away from the side of the bulding, it's usually murder."

"You don't need to be such a smart ass about it." Jax sighed and looked around. "No signs of a struggle here."

"The roof is asphalt. There won't be scuff marks." Shelly looked at the edge of the roof itself. "No marks of any kind. He could have been dead and they just tossed him over for good measure." She stepped away from the edge of the roof and headed for the door. "You won't be needing me for this."

"Hastings…" Jax grabbed by the arm. "I need you to look at his case notes and see if that was the reason he was murdered." She handed Shelly a notebook in an unsealed evidence bag. "Just between us."

"Bryce said you were a good detective. Why are you giving me evidence that should have already been logged in and sent for processing?"

"Please just take a look at it." Jax looked around. "Its obvious your the woman for the job. Only another PI would understand a PIs notes."

"Fine. I'll call you as soon as I have something." Shelly tucked the notebook in her bag.

(300)

Title: The Lead
Fandom/Original: Hastings P.I. (Original)
Prompt: Oily
Rating: PG
Word Count: 154
Summary: Shelly and Bryce follow a lead to a cabin in the woods.
Warnings: dead body

Shelly knelt down and touched the oily spot on the driveway. She rubbed her fingers together. "We must have just missed him."

"How do you know that's his?" Bryce put his gun back in the holster.

"Have you seen that clunker he drives? It's older than you." Shelly stood up.

"I'm not that much older than you." Bryce looked around. "We should check the house anyway." He walked up to the door.

Shelly shrugged. "Okay but I'm not going through the window this time."

"The door is open." Bryce pulled his gun. "Stay there."

"Bryce…" Shelly sighed.

Bryce stopped just inside the door. "Shelly, you were wrong. He's still here."

Shelly came in behind Bryce. She groaned when she saw the dead body on the floor. "Damn. He was our only lead."

"You call it in and I'll check the house. We may get lucky." Bryce raised his gun and started checking the rooms.

Title: Shoot Out
Fandom/Original: Hastings P.I. (Original)
Prompt: Bang
Rating: PG
Word Count: 169
Summary: A confrontation on the docks
Warnings: guns

Shelly jumped at the bang of the gun shot. "BRYCE!" She ran out of the warehouse and looked around. "BRYCE! WHERE ARE YOU?"

Bryce waved at her from behind a barrel. "Here. Keep your voice down and take cover. "

"Who is shooting at us?" Shelly asked from behind a crate.

"Oh, just the bastard we were looking for. "

Another shot rang out.

Bryce fired back. "I've called for backup. They should be here any minute."

"Right." Shelly sunk lower behind the crate. "What if he's not alone?"

"Then we are totally screwed." Bryce laid down cover fire as he made his way to Shelly. "I only have one extra clip for this gun and my backup piece is a revolver. You need to start carrying, Shelly."

"Dad never did." Shelly nodded to the stack of crates near the dock. "He's over there. "

The gunman was fiddling with his gun.

"Looks like his gun is jammed." Bryce stood up. "Put it down Greer."

Greer dropped the gun and raised his hands.

Title: Detective Jax
Fandom/Original: Hastings P.I. (Original)
Prompt: Syrupy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 183
Summary: Shelly meets Detective Jax
Warnings: none

Shelly walked into the San Francisco police station. She looked around then walked up to the sergeant at the desk.

"Hi. I'm here to meet Detective Jax. She's expecting me." Shelly smiled sweetly.

"She's in homicide. Did you kill somebody?" The sergeant looked her up and down. "You look like a gun for hire."

"Close." Shelly showed him her identification. "I'm a private detective but I don't have a gun." Shelly looked down at her leather jacket and studded boots. "You might be right though."

The sergeant laughed and picked up the phone. "Jax, there's a P.I. here looking for you…. I'll tell her." He put down the phone. "She's on her way out."

"Thanks." Shelly sat on the bench by the door to wait.

A tall brunette came through a door and looked at the sergeant. He pointed to Shelly.

"Shelly Hastings? I'm Alice Jax. Let's go get some coffee. The coffee here is like syrup but it tastes like motor oil."

"Sounds good." Shelly stood up. "Thanks for doing this."

Alice shrugged. "I owe Bryce. Just paying back a favor."

Title: Mamma Chin's Brother
Fandom/Original: Hastings P.I. (Original)
Prompt: Tangy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 175
Summary:
Warnings: dead body

Alice Jax lifted the blanket off the top of the trunk. She opened it then stepped back wincing.

"I know that smell." Shelly blinked her eyes and pulled her jacket over her face.

"Yeah he's a bit tangy." Looks like he's been here a week. Alice waved Shelly into the hallway. "Are you going to tell me why you were looking for this guy?"

"His sister hired me to find him." Shelly leaned against the wall. "She was worried about him."

"So she wouldn't know anything about why the Chinese mob was after him then?" Alice looked back into the room at the trunk. "Looks like he was in over his head."

"She said he had a new job and a new girlfriend." Shelly told her.

"You wouldn't know where to find her would you?" Alice pulled out her phone to call in to the precinct.

"China Town?" Shelly shrugged. "Sorry Alice."

"Tell Bryce he owes me." Alice turned to talk on the phone. "It's Jax. I have a body at 342 Lindley apartment E. "

Lost Brother

PHOTO 5 a person in a straw hat sitting in a park on a bench

WC 337

“Hello Mama Chin.” Shelly sat down on the bench next to the petite Asian woman. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes child, I want you to find my brother. He lives in San Francisco. He hasn’t called me in a while. I’m worried. I tried calling him, but his phone is disconnected. I'm an old woman and he is my only brother.”

“Do you have his address and a recent photo?” Shelly asked.

“Yes child, I know how this goes. I watch Magnum PI you know. I have it on DVD.” Mama chin pulled out a photo and an envelope from her purse. “This is his last letter.”

Shelly took the photo and the letter. She looked inside. “It’s in Chinese.”

“Yeah. We came over together as small children, but our parents made sure we could read and write in Chinese. We write letters to keep in practice. I put a translation in there. He is mostly talking about a new job and his girlfriend. She’s a floozy.”

Shelly resisted the urge to smile. “I’ll get out there and track him down. I have a contact out there that can get things started for me. She went to the police academy with my ex-husband.”

“The hottie with the nice butt?7 Yeah. I remember him. He likes my duck.” Mama Chin nodded. “You need to get back on that. That's some prime real estate.”

Shelly laughed. “We're trying to work things out. Its slow going.”

“Good.” Mamma Chin grinned. “You need each other. Life is easier when you have someone to share your shit. Me and Papa Chin been married for 40 years now.”

“I promise to bring him for duck when I find your brother.”

“Deal! How much is this gonna cost?” Mama Chin opened her purse.

“Three dinners for two?” Shelly wasn't going to take her money.

“Okay! Deal!” Mama Chin looked at her watch and stood up. “Thank you. You're a good girl. Gotta go.”

Shelly watched the old woman rush off and smiled.

Beach Stakeout

PHOTO 4 a rocky beach looking out into the ocean with a rowboat near by

WC 337

Shelly sat on the blanket hugging her knees as she looked out at the sunrise. “Bryce, they didn’t show.”

“I know.” Bryce rubbed his face he was tired and starting to get hungry. “We’re just going to have to try again tonight. I’ll reach out to my contact and see if he knows what happened.”

“You do that. ‘Im going back to the hotel for a shower and some sleep.”

“Look at us. We spent the night on a blanket on the beach. We haven’t done that since…”

“Aruba. I remember us nearly getting arrested for public lewdness when dawn came.” Shelly laughed. “I still remember how red that officer got when you pulled your badge out of your pants.”

“That was fun.” Bryce sighed this was not.

“Aw! I don’t know. A stakeout with you is always memorable.” Shelly leaned over and gave him a playful shove. “You still snore.”

Bryce chuckled. “It was jet lag.” He stood up and reached down to pull her to her feet. “I’ll get the blanket you get the thermos and the binoculars.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Shelly let him pull her to her feet. She stumbled into his chest.

“I miss you.” Bryce whispered into her ear.

“I miss you too, but we promised to take things slow this time.” Shelly put her hands on his hard chest. “We need to do this right, Bryce.”

Bryce sighed and wrapped her arms around her. “I know but I miss you so much it hurts.”

“Just know we are doing what's best for both of us. We aren’t those crazy kids anymore. We’ve grown up. We had to.”

“I hate being a grown up.” Bryce let his arms fall. “We have to go before beach patrol finds us. I don’t think flashing my gold shield will impress these New England cops.

Shelly picked up the thermos and binoculars then headed for the car. Bryce shook the sand out of the blanket and followed her.

He would always follow her anywhere. Always!

The Package Job

PHOTO 3 old suitcases in a closet

WC 337

Shelly opened every draw and cupboard in the old tumbled down shack. She was just about to give up hope when she saw the chain for the pull-down attic stairs.

“It has to be up there. If it’s not I’m screwed.” Shelly pulled the chain and the stairs came down with an ominous groan. She climbed up.

The attic was small and there was a hole in the roof. Birds cooed at her as she moved a spider web away from her face.

“You guys wouldn't know where my package is would you? It’s in an old suitcase. Seen anything like that here?” Shelly moved slowly as she walked around the attic. She lifted a tarp and found a stack of old suitcases. “Why did I think this was an easy job? Yeah right!”

She tried to pull one out but when she pulled it the entire pile came down on top of her.

The birds squawked and flapped their wings but didn't fly away.

“Thanks for the support guys.” Shelly dusted herself off and chuckled.

She pulled a key from her pocket. She tried it in every lock and it fit the last one. She turned the key and opened the suitcase. The files she had been looking for were inside. She shut it back up and relocked it.

She got to the pull-down stairs when she realized she wasn't alone. “Whoever you are, I have what I came for and I'm just gonna leave now.”

There was a movement behind her then everything went black.

Shelly came to, sitting behind the wheel of her car. The house was burning. She looked around but didn’t see the suitcase. She checked her pocket the key was gone.

“Damn it!” Shelly slammed her hands on the wheel. She leaned her head against the wheel and sighed. I almost had it.

She looked for her phone, but it was gone. She turned on the engine and headed for the main road. She needed a gas station and a phone.

Cheap Snitches

PHOTO 2 Fireworks from a boat on the lake

WC 338

This wasn't her idea of a clandestine meeting. Shelly sat on a blanket in the middle of the park on the banks of the lake waiting for Bryce. He was bringing her copies of police files that pertained to the case she was currently working.

She opened the picnic basket next to her and took out a sandwich. She was hungry and he was late. He was always late.

She jumped as the first firework exploded in air from the boat in the middle of the lake. She cursed herself for being so jumpy. It’s just been a long week and its wasn't uncommon for her to get shot at in her line of work.

Bryce sat down next to her. “Good spot.” He was in jeans and an untucked white shirt. “Handsome as ever.”

“I thought so.” Shelly glanced over at him. “Want a sandwich? Ham and swiss on pumpernickel.”

“Only if you put dill pickles on it.” Bryce looked in the basket.

“Of course I did. What do you take me for, a gourmet?” Shelly reached into the basket and handed him a sandwich. “You got something for me?”

Bryce reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He took a SD card out and handed it to her. “Files and crime scene photos.”

“I owe you.” Shelly took the card and dropped it the inside pocket of her leather jacket. “What are you doing later?”

“Taking you for ice cream?” Bryce smiled that smile he used to get his way.

“Fine but no expectations.” Shelly warned.

“I'm just hanging out with my ex-wife. Not expecting a thing. Nope not a single thing.” Bryce chuckled.

“God! You're still an ass! You know that?” Shelly laughed.

“Yeah.” Bryce admitted. “But you can’t seem to stay away from me.”

Shelly sighed. “Yeah. You're the. Cheapest snitch i have. A sandwich and ice cream and boom all the info a girl could ever want.”

Bryce raised an eyebrow at her then leaned over and kissed her. “Anytime.”

Warning Signs

PHOTO 1 Burning matches letters/documents searching on a map

WC 340

“Burn the evidence before they find it on you. It'll get you killed”.

Shelly heard her father's voice in her head again. He was probably right. She wanted to do it but she couldn't bring herself the put the match to the bundle of documents.

Shelly sighed and blew out another match then stuffed the documents back in her leather carry all.

She was onto something and she knew it. She picked up the map again and checked the coordinates. She knew the town and she knew there was going to be trouble.

Shelly had gone through the documents twice. Bryce wasn't going to like what she was going to find. Shelly sighed. If her ex-husband didn't like it he had only himself to blame.

The documents she had on her had belonged to Bryce's father. The old man had a secret life his son knew nothing about. The old guy had been a walking Rico Act violation.

Shelly got back in her car. She put her bag and the map on the seat beside her and went to find the old man's stash. If it was still there, she had to find it before someone else did. If the wrong people found out about this, Bryce could be in danger.

She pulled out of the roadside park and took a left onto the main road. She had a three-hour drive to Coastlan. She would have to play it smart.

She glanced back at the tight red dress and matching stilettos. She would just have to go undercover. But a pushup bra and a ditzy persona was only going to get her in. She had to think smart to get herself back out with the goods in one piece.

“Watch your ass Shell. You're going to have to charm the hell out of ‘em”.

Shelly sighed. Her father was in her head again. She didn't know if it was her fear or a sign that this job was going to go horribly sideways. With her luck it was probably both.

Truce
Pairing Shelly/Bryce
Prompt: BITE THE BULLET- To undertake the most challenging part of a feat of endurance, to face danger with courage and fortitude, to behave stoically or to knuckle down to some difficult or unpleasant task.
The expression originated in field surgery before the use of anesthetics. A surgeon about to operate on a wounded soldier would give him a bullet to bite on, both to distract him from the pain and to make him less likely to cry out.
Word Count: 399
Written for GYWO "Dog Days of Summer Idiomatic Challenge"

Bryce sat in his car outside the building where shelly had her office. He was trying to decide if he wanted to go in.

Shelly told him that she wanted to talk to him. In his experience, that was never a good thing. The last time she wanted to talk to him, she presented him with divorce papers.

Bryce had no idea what she wanted to talk to her about. She wasn't working a case with him. They hadn't had an argument recently. Actually, they were getting along better than they had in years.

Finally, Bryce let out a deep sigh and got out of the car. He decided it was best to bite the bullet and get it over with. He set his jaw and went inside the austere office building. He walked down the hall to the door marked Hastings Investigations and put his hand on the door knob. With one last deep breath he opened the door and went inside.

“
Took you long enough. I left that message early this morning.” Shelly eyed him from her seat behind the desk. “Sit down. We need to talk.”

Bryce sank into the leather chair on the opposite side of the desk. “What’s this about?”

“Us.” Shelly leaned back. “We are blurring the lines Bryce. This is supposed to be a professional relationship.”

“I thought it was.” Bryce was confused. It wasn't like he was bringing her flowers and candy. He was just giving her case files.

“I know what you said to Roddy.” Shelly tilted her head. “Why didn’t you say it to me instead?”

“Shelly, you don’t want to hear that i still love you.” Bryce rubbed his face with his hands. “He should have never said anything to you.”

“He didn't. Jeanie did.” Shelly told him. “You still loving me isn’t the problem. Me still loving you. Now that's a problem.”

Bryce raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I still love you too.” Shelly sighed. “I’m an idiot but it’s true. Now what do we do about it?”

“Dinner?” Bryce suggested. “Followed by sex?”

“Dinner. yes.” Shelly stood up. “We’ll decide about the sex later.”

“Sounds fair.” Bryce stood up. “Italian?”

Shelly shook her head. “Chinese.”

“I’m glad we had this talk, Shelly.” Bryce reached out his hand to her as they walked past the desk.

“Yeah me too.” Shelly took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

In The Dunes
Prompt: Sandy
Word Count: 505
Pairing: Shelly/Bryce

Shelly walked over to the swing set and ran her hand over the swing to get the sand off the seat. It was typical of Bryce to ask her to meet in the one place she didn’t like.

It wasn’t that she hated this particular park with its sandy playground and wooden swings but it was more of what it represented. It reminded her of the child she had lost with Bryce.

It stabbed her in the heart every time she thought of how she lost the life that hadn’t even been born yet. She knew he blamed her even though he never said anything. He had never even mentioned the baby at all after it happened.

She sat down to wait. She looked at her watch and realized that she was early. Waiting here was not going to be good for her mood.

Shelly kicked the sand beneath the swing and absentmindedly started to swing back and forth.

Bryce got out of his car and walked over to where she was. “Hey Shelly.”

Shelly came to a halt on the swing. “What do you need, Bryce?”

“New missing person’s case. I thought you might want to help us out.” Bryce held out a file and looked around. “Do you ever wonder what our kid would have been like?”

“Yes.” Shelly took the file from him. “Is that why we are here and not at the diner?”

Bryce shrugged. “I was just thinking…”

Shelly looked in the file and nodded. “Same fee as always. I will call when I have some info.” Shelly got off the swing. “Next time at the diner.”

“Got it.” Bryce nodded. “I’m sorry Shelly for not being there for you. I was an ass.”

“Yes you were.” Shelly looked at him and frowned. “What has brought this on?”

“I just needed to say it. It was one of the things that lead to our breakup.” Bryce looked her in the eye. “We should have never spilt. I miss you every day and I think you miss me too.”

“Yeah but it’s been a long time and we both need to move on.” Shelly patted him on the chest. “You know it in your heart just as well as I do.”

Bryce kicked at the sand and shifted on his feet. “I want you back.”

Shelly brushed the sand off her bum and looked at him. “You know I would have loved to hear that a few years ago but I don’t know how I feel about it now. Just let me think about it. Okay?”

“I will settle for that.” Bryce smiled. “Give me a call as soon as you have anything for me. I have to get back to the station.” Bruce stared to walk away.

“You owe me a cup of coffee next time we meet.” Shelly called after him. She looked at the file and watched him walk to his car and get in. “I can’t believe you still love me. I still love you too, ass.”

No Tell Motel
Prompt: Frowsty
Word Count: 546
Character: Shelly Hastings, Desk Clerk

Shelly walked into the drab no tell motel and looked around. She walked up to the desk and tapped on the bullet proof glass.

A short bald man walked out of an office and slammed the door. “We only take cash.” He looked her up and down. “You're new. Are you one of Johnny's girls.”

“No. I'm looking for this guy.” Shelly held up a photo. “Is he here?”

“No.” The man frowned and started to walk back to the office.

“He was with this guy.” Shelly held up a twenty dollar bill. “Do you know him?”

The man looked back. “Hmmm…. I might know him. Doesn't he have twin brother?”

Shelly rolled her eyes and pulled another bill from her pocket. “You mean him?”

“Yeah.” The man held out his hand.

“So did you see him or not?” Shelly held up the photo again. “What room?”

“He's in 6B. I never saw you.” He held out his hand again.

Shelly hand him the bills and headed for the elevator. She rubbed her nose at the frowsty smell. “Geez does this place ever get cleaned.”

The bald man tapped his shirt pocket and laughed. “It gets hosed down once a month.”

The doors shut and Shelly sneezed. There was nothing worse than these old musty no tell motels.

The elevator doors opened and she walked out. The hall light blinked over head as she looked for the door.

Two women came out of a room and looked her up and down. The walked past her and started to whisper. Shelly smiled. It wasn't the first time that had happened and she knew it wouldn't be the last. Since she found herself in these no tell motels fairly often.

She found the door she was looking for at the end of the hall. She knocked and waited. She would either hear someone go out the fire escape or the door would open. If nothing happened, she would pick the lock.

Shelly waited. She rubbed her nose to keep from sneezing again. She hoped that she would get a response soon before her sneezed again.

The door opened. The man she was looking for stood looking at her. “Johnny must be kidding. You're not a redhead.”

“No I'm not and neither is your wife, Frank.” Shelly pushed him inside and shut the door. “You and I are going to have a talk.”

“I'm not going back. She tried to kill me.” He shook his head. “I don't want to die.”

“Calm down and get your pants on.” Shelly picked up a pair of pants from the floor and threw them at him. “We’re going to the cops. You can tell them all about it.”

“Why? They didn’t do anything the last time she tried to kill me.” Frank pulled on his pants. “They just took a report.”

“I have a friend that I know will listen to you.” Shelly handed him a shirt from the back of the chair. “Let’s go.”

Ten minutes later, Shelly was sitting with the Frank from the hotel room talking to Detective Bryce Neville.

Bryce looked at Shelly and winked. “So why do you think your wife wants to kill you?”

“She told me she did.” Frank shifted in his seat. “Several times.”

Betty
Prompt: Acrid
Word Count: 654
Characters: Shelly Hastings, Betty :

Shelly knew that sound. It sounded like an exploding car. She knew that smell too. She ran as fast as she could toward it. It was the acrid smell of burning tires and gasoline.

When Shelly rounded the corner into the alley, she saw the car on fire. It was fully engulfed in flames by the time she reached it. She pulled out her phone and called 911.

Shelly had just let a wayward husband out of her sight for nothing. She couldn’t do anything but wait for the fire department.

Suddenly, there was a moan coming from behind one of the dumpsters. Shelly ran over to see if someone needed help.

“Hey.” She knelt down next to a redhead covered in suit that was leaning against the wall. She was dressed like a hooker. “Were you in the car? What's your name?”

“I’m Betty. I was just about to get in for a date. He turned off the engine and it exploded. I need to get out of here.” Betty tried to get up but just winced and slid back down.

“I think you need to go to the hospital.” Shelly glanced over at the car. “Was he alone? What did he look like?”

“Yeah.” Betty rubbed her head. “He was alone. Mid-thirties... I guess. He looked like a stockbroker. Maybe a lawyer. My head is killing me.”

“You might have a concussion. Sit still. I hear the fire truck.”

The truck screeched to a halt at the end of the alley. One of the firemen came to where Betty and Shelly were.

“Hey I’m Bob. Are you hurt?”

“She has a headache. I was the one that called it in. There was a guy in the car.” Shelly stepped back so Bob could look at Betty.

“Don't go.” Betty reached out to Shelly. “Please stay with me.”

“Okay.” Shelly nodded.

“Be right back.” Bob stood up. “Got to radio for an ambulance and the coroner. Sorry about your friend.”

“Yeah.” Betty nodded then rubbed her head again. “My mother told me this was a dangerous life. I should have listened.”

Shelly laughed. “My mother gave me the same speech. I’m a private detective. She worries too much.”

“I think mine worries just enough. I knew i should have stayed in school and learned to type or something.” Betty looked down at her clothes. “I'm a mess. It'll take a week to get the burnt rubber smell out of my hair.”

“Longer.” Shelly ran a hand through her short blonde tresses. “Not my first car fire. At least, it’s not my car this time.”

“You should have listened to your mother too.” Betty grinned. “I bet you never saw someone die though. I'm never going to forget that, am I?”

“No.” Shelly looked back at the car. The fire was almost out. “I remember every dead body i find and some who were not so dead. It stays with you. Betty, you should talk to someone about this.”

“I am. I’m talking to you. I don’t even know your name.” Betty sighed.

“I’m Shelly. Hastings Investigations is my agency.” Shelly pulled a card out of her jacket pocket and handed it to Betty. “You know, I might have an opening for a receptionist. The pay sucks and so do the hours.”

“I'll take it. I can't do this anymore.” Betty looked at the card in her hand.

An EMT walked over. “Hi I’m Ted. Let's get you in the ambulance. Did you hit your head?”

“Yeah. I was thrown back from the explosion.” Betty told him. “Can Shelly come with me?”

“Sure.” Ted winked at Shelly. “Here's my partner now.”

The other EMT helped ted put Betty on the gurney and take her to the ambulance.

Shelly followed them. She was too stressed to worry about the wayward husband she had been following. She would have to pick up his trail again tomorrow.

His Secret Revealed
Prompt: Petrichor
Word Count: 532
Pairing: Shelly Hastings/Bryce Neville

Shelly opened the windows after the rain had stopped. The familiar petrichor of spring washed over her as it filled the room.

It had been a long cold winter. She had sat in the cold too many times watching too many husbands cheat on their wives. She had her fill of it for a while. She needed a vacation from the business.

There was a knock on the front door. Shelly smiled when she found Bryce standing there. “Hiya.”

“Shelly, I need your help.” Bryce pushed past her and looked at the open windows. “Feeling restless?”

“Yeah.” Shelly plopped down on the sofa. “What is it? I charge the department double, remember?”

“This isn’t official.” Bryce took a deep breath. “Spring. We were married in the spring.”

“We divorced in the spring too.” Shelly patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Sit. Tell me what has you making wrinkles on your forehead.”

“I have a son.” Bryce started. He looked at the file folder in his hand. “It happened before we got together. He and his mother are missing…”

“Give it to me.” Shelly held out her hand for the file. “I knew about your son. I did a full background check on you. I thought if you wanted to talk about it you would but you never did.”

Bryce handed her the file folder. “He was a …. Surprise from a one night stand. I had a DNA test done after he was born just to confirm he was mine. She didn’t want support or me in his life at the time.”

Shelly looked at the file. He looks like you. “Montana?”

“She had family there. Her parents i think.” Bryce sighed. “Will you find him?”

“And then what? Do you want visitation? Custody?” Shelly eyed her ex-husband. “What happens when i find him?”

“I want to see him.” Bryce shook his head. “I should have demanded my rights but I was young and stupid.”

Shelly frowned. “I'll do this for you and it will only cost you expenses. I'll talk to her. He’s what ten or eleven? He's been asking questions about his dad by now, I'm sure.”

“I don’t know if she got married.” Bryce rubbed his knee. “She was seeing someone the last time i talked to her.”

“You think this guy she was seeing stepped into the role as dad for….” Shelly looked at the file. “Andy? It's possible but he’s old enough to know that this guy is not his father.”

Bryce took a deep breath. “You know it smells like baseball season. I wonder if he plays little league.”

“If he’s like you he plays and sucks at it.” Shelly hit him on the shoulder. “I would say that he's busy on the farm or whatever they do in Montana for fun. I’ll leave in the morning.”

“Plane tickets and hotel expenses for starters.” Bryce pulled an envelope out of jacket pocket and handed it to her. “This should cover it. There is a little extra for stuff. I owe you big for this.”

“No Bryce, you don’t.” Shelly leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll do my best for both of you.”

Her Father
Prompt: Leathery
Word Count: 504
Character: Shelly Hastings

Sometimes memories are good to have and sometimes they can be painful. It’s just a matter of deciding which is which. That was Shelly’s choice today.

Shelly stood covered in dust as she hugged her father's old leather jacket. She had forgotten it was in the storage locker with some of her files and junk.

She had finally decided to clean out the storage locker in the basement. She had been putting it off and for a good reason. The memories stored there were still fresh and painful.

Hastings Investigations was founded by her father, Harry. The old man never turned down a case and never failed to get results. He looked like he was in a biker gang and spoke like a minster. He was a lot to live up to.

Shelly had started out in the family business by doing his office work. Harry relied on her to keep everything in order so he could do his best in the field.

Harry surprised his daughter one day with a leather jacket and a request. He wanted her to join him in the field. That was the day she started learning about what her father really did.

She still had that leather jacket. It hung in the closet of her office. There was a tear in the sleeve where she snagged it going over a fence to avoid a very angry dog.

Shelly found out later that her father had just found out he had cancer. He didn’t tell her until he was sure she could handle the business on her own.

Three months later, she buried her father in a suit and tie. That was her mother's request not hers. Harry had only worn a suit for court and on his wedding day. It was an unusual sight.

Shelly smiled as she rubbed her face on his leather jacket. It felt like one of his hugs. She took a deep breath and smelled his scent still lingering on it.

Shelly couldn’t believe she missed him so much. It had been a long time and still she was just as broken up as if it was yesterday.

Shelly wondered what he would think of how she was doing her job. Would he be proud or would he wonder what she was thinking taking on some of the cases that she had lately. Shelly smiled it was more likely he would just give her a hug and laugh just like he used to do.

Shelly put the jacket aside. She would take it to the office and hang it with hers in the closet. That way he would always be with her as she worked.

With that settled, Shelly dug into the rest of the boxes and sorted out what she really wanted to keep and what she could get rid of.

There were still so many memories in the boxes to be discovered. She had already found the best one of all. She had found her father and her best memories of him.

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The Pink Journal

Original Fiction

Entries tagged with hastings pi

Favor for a Friend

The Ukrainian Job

Blood

Stop 1-11-2021

Expert Advice

The Lead

Shoot Out

Detective Jax

Mamma Chin's Brother

Lost Brother

Beach Stakeout

The Package Job

Cheap Snitches

Warning Signs

Truce

In The Dunes

No Tell Motel

Betty

His Secret Revealed

Her Father

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July 2024

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