* Editing notes: Chapter 3 -> reduce belt colour for Ninja Kit

** Personae dramatis

– Carleton “Cal” Clarke, lead investigator;
– Marilyn (maternity) and Phil (appendix), investigators on leave;
– Five legal beagles;
– Harrison Matthew James III, founder and senior partner in
– Lila Matthews, James’ assistant
– Haggerty (1950s), McCleod (1960s), other partners
– Maxwell Jennings, father, divorced
– Maria Jennings, mother, divorced
– William Clarke, Cal’s deceased father
– Melanie Jennings, daughter, deceased (car crash) and goddaughter to James
– Michael Jennings, son, missing
– Detective Daniel Moorcroft, detective, Bayport PD
– Jim Peterson, drunk boyfriend in car crash
– Chris “Kit” Markle, patrolwoman, Bayport PD

START CHAPTER 4:

Before I left the parking lot, I phoned a friend who works as an insurance investigator at Garrison Fidelity. His office is in New Jersey, but he travels around quite a bit. Today he was up in Boston. He’s a bit unconventional, and when I explained all I wanted was to get copies of unredacted police files, he said it didn’t even count as a favour. He took down the particulars and told me to check my email or he’d call me if there were any problems.

I was just about to head back to the office when I got a email alert from one of the senior associates at the firm.… Read the rest