Broadway Trane (eBook)

Charlie Girard (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022 | 1. Auflage
212 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-6678-4043-7 (ISBN)

Infos

An unsolved murder on Broadway needs to be solved and Jack Trane is called into action. A high-profile Broadway producer has been found dead in a dumpster, and there is no shortage of suspects. Along with Trudy, his beautiful young associate, Jack uncovers clues and chases down several persons of interest. They uncover a conspiracy, a warehouse full of stolen goods, and a case of fraud. In the end they solve the crime, but not without costs. On Broadway Jack loses something very precious to him, but then gains something even more valuable than what he lost. There are plenty of colorful characters and plot twists. Come ride with Jack through the streets of New York, but fasten your seatbelt, it's a rough and tumble ride.

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Heinrich King, the most powerful man on Broadway has been found dead in a dumpster and the case has gone cold. The NYPD has hired Jack Trane as a consultant to close the case. From the very beginning it appears that everyone is a suspect. King's current wife is at the top of the list. After several interrogations, a conspiracy is uncovered, but this only leads to more unanswered questions. Through the course of the investigation, there are several attempts on Jack's life and unfortunately, he suffers a huge loss in the process. There are several unsavory characters trying to stop Jack's investigation, the Thin Man, Shaggy, and Grease Boy all try to stand in Jack's way. A police detective, Danny Watts doesn't want Jack to solve a case that he couldn't solve. Jack's long time assistant, Trudy, finally gets to come out into the field on this case. She finds that private investigations can be a pretty dangerous business. Jack enjoys an abundance of culinary delights throughout his investigation, and he tips everyone from security guards to taxi drivers. In the end not only will Jack solve the case, but he will also keep you guessing right until the end.

Textauszug

Chapter 1

The sky grew dark as the evening approached and the color of the buildings changed from pasty silver to ash gray in the night sky, but that’s when the lights on Broadway came to life. The stars always shined bright on that stretch of real estate that was known as Broadway between West 40th and West 54th street. This is the place where dreams were made and the place where they were crushed out like a smoldering cigarette in the gutter. Behind the scenes, young actors, and actresses alike, hopeful to get their shot at the bright lights, worked any menial task just to be part of a show that resided on Broadway. There was a pecking order on Broadway that defined the actor’s worth in the eyes of the adoring devotees of the theatre. The actors who were at the top of their craft, demanded all the lead parts and the best dressing rooms, they felt that they were intitled since they were the reason people flocked to their shows. The newbies would clean toilet bowls just to get on stage and say a line, just so they could confirm that they hadn’t just wasted half of their life on acting lessons or unremarkable community plays. And the old actors, the has bens, those who hadn’t seen the stage or screen in years, could often be seen pleading with a director or a producer just for the chance to walk on the stage to connect with an audience one last time.

Making it here was no less than a long shot, but the one man who could make dreams come true, stood in the path of every performer who put on makeup and stood on a stage anywhere on Broadway. His name was Heinrich King. But everyone knew him as “King Heini.” Heini was not much to look at. He was 54 years old with a grey combover. He stood about five feet nine inches tall with pasty white skin and a crooked smile. He weighed in at about 225 pounds. When he stood up and walked, he was a little hunched over, probably because of his large stomach. He liked to smoke cheap cigars and he smoked them wherever he wanted to. He didn’t care that the smoke offended mostly everyone within twenty feet of his presence. His wardrobe was what you might call vintage. But that description would be kind. His wardrobe consisted of polyester leisure suits dating from the 1970’s and it seemed that he had a closet full of them, all in bright 1970’s colors. There was a canary yellow suit, a bright green suit, a flaming red suit, and an orange suite that could best be described as Burger King orange. It didn’t really make sense why he wore these tacky suits because he was also a very wealthy man. No doubt it spoke volumes about his abrasive personality. Broadway had been very good to him. He had risen through the ranks of small-time promoter to the most influential man on Broadway. A show didn’t make it to Broadway without Heini’s approval. And that usually meant a little padding to Heini’s bankbook or a young starlet on his arm. A star did not become a star on Broadway without “King Heini” benefitting somehow before he gave his approval. The producers didn’t hire any actors unless “King Heini” gave them the OK. Maybe, that is why Heini seemed to have an abundance of questionable relationships with so many beautiful budding actresses. They were all looking for their big break in the business and they all had to go through “King Heini.” The fact is, that Heini had made a lot of influential friends over the years. He had a friendship with the mayor. The police commissioner was regularly seen at his afterparties. Several sports stars from Yankees, the Rangers and Knicks were all seen with Heini at one time are another. But for every friend he had made, he had also made at least two enemies. Not everyone got the parts that they were promised, and the producers were tired of dealing with “King Heini.” It seemed that sooner or later his self-indulgent narcissistic attitude would catch up with him, but he didn’t care. He always seemed to get what he wanted. He had the power, the wealth, and the fame that most men dream about, and he wielded them like a sharp sword.

The fact is that most men would not have the stamina to live like “King Heini” even for a week. To live life in Heini’s shoes would take a man who was arrogant. It would take a man who thought of himself as a demigod. And it would take a man who cared absolutely nothing for the feelings or concerns of anyone but himself. But if this was the price for success, Heini was willing to sell his grandmother to the highest bidder, and then ask for change. This was Heini’s life, and this past week typical of what it was to be “King Heini.”

On Monday Heini’s selfish and boorish behavior was on full display. Marie Robbin had been Heini’s assistant for the past 15 years. She had done everything that Heini had asked her to do, even things that made her skin crawl. She always went above and beyond what Heini demanded. Everything from buying his ties and making his coffee, to lying to clients and setting up pretty little actresses for interviews. She had often worked long hours into the nights, and she even worked most weekends with no extra pay. She did what she had to do. As a result, she did feel a certain security because of her loyalty to Heini and the promises that were made to her. She was dead wrong. On Monday morning Heini called Marie into his office. She was always well dressed, with a short skirt and a tight blouse. She usually wore jewelry around her neck and on her fingers. She represented Heinrich King, the most powerful man on Broadway. But Heini was as superficial as they come. He had noticed that Marie was on the other side of 45 years old and there were little lines forming at the sides of her eyes. In his mind he could better. He asked Marie to sit down in the chair in front of his desk. Marie thought that Heini was going to give her some dictation or ask her for another favor, so she sat down and crossed her legs. Just then a young and pretty woman about 26 years old entered the office. Her name was Kristen Monree. She had long dark hair and her makeup was impeccable. Her eyelashes were the kind you see in Maybelline ads, long and voluminous. She looked like a fashion model. She had no prior experience in the entertainment business, but she was good looking, and her perfume was fresh and sweet. That was good enough for “King Heini.” With his nose in the air and a smile on his face, Heini turned to Marie and said, “meet Kristen Monree, she is your replacement.” Marie sat expressionless in front of Heini. The color drained from her face. Then her face got beet red. She should have known that eventually this would be coming, down deep she knew who “King Heini” was, but still the shock left her speechless. Marie Robbin stood up and glared at Heinrich King with eyes like daggers. Marie was furious, she said, “After all that I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” Heini took a puff on his cigar and said, “Hey, that’ show business, honey.” Marie was just too upset to respond, so she muttered under her breath, “you just better watch your back Heini, I’ll get you for this.” Then she slowly walked out of the office and has not been seen since. Heini sat back in his chair, had a little chuckle and asked Kristen Monree to give him another his cigar. And she did.

On Tuesday, “King Heini” displayed another facet of his personality, lust. He invited a promising young dancer and singer who had auditioned for an upcoming part in a new play “Taking care of Business” up to his office. He told her that he thought that she had talent, she was going places and he wanted to interview her to get to know her better. Her name was Tori Pichettes. She was young and beautiful; her dark hair was pulled back, and she dressed with a particular panache. She was born in France but had been in New York for the past 5 years looking for her big break. She had heard about “King Heini” when she arrived on Broadway, and she was determined not to give into his demands. She came to Heini’s office at about 10:00 AM. Kristen Monree showed her into Heini’s office and left them alone. “King Heini” looked Tori up and down as only a dirty old man would do, and then he offered her a drink and asked her to come and sit next to him on the couch and get comfortable. Heini did his best to get his arms around Tori, but when she resisted his advances and crushed the cigar in Heini’s mouth, Tori Pichettes fate was sealed. Heini made sure that she didn’t get the part in the upcoming show. And from that point on, she was as good as blacklisted on Broadway.

Later that day Heini made a phone call to Siobhan Peison. She was a fashion designer and she had been in talks with the producer of one of the current shows on Broadway to provide all the costumes for an upcoming play. Siobhan knew that this would really put her designs on the map and would get her a place in the upcoming show in Paris. Heini asked her to come to his office to discuss the details of her new fashion line. Siobhan came prepared to discuss business. She was wearing a light grey business suit with a white scarf. She had shoulder length black hair and had an unassuming way about her. When she arrived at Heini’s office, Kristen Monree showed her in to see “King Heini.” Siobhan held her hand out to shake Heini’s hand, but instead he took her hand and kissed it. Then he looked up at Siobhan with a crooked smile. He invited her to come sit on the couch and get comfortable. Siobhan agreed and sat down. Siobhan had her fashion business on her mind. Heini had funny business on his. The meeting ended with Siobhan delivering a slap to ‘King Heini’s” face. As a result, she didn’t get the contract to develop...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 11.6.2022
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Krimi / Thriller / Horror
• ISBN-10: 1-6678-4043-6 / 1667840436
• ISBN-13: 978-1-6678-4043-7 / 9781667840437