Jordan Gray - Stolen (Blackpool Mysteries)

The bandits obviously robbed the train seventy years ago for the fortune carried aboard it. Very few of those stolen goods have ever shown up, and the gold bullion never did. He paused. Some say that treasure has never left Blackpool.

Maybe, ladies and gentlemen, maybe well be the ones to find out what happened to all those valuables seventy years ago. Maybe well find out who robbed that train and killed those people so callously.

The double doors leading into the theater suddenly banged open. A rectangle of fluorescent light from the lobby fell into the room. A woman stood silhouetted in the doorway.

Inspector Paddington!

Here. Paddington heaved himself up and whipped a torch from his equipment belt. He snapped it on and a bright blue-white beam shot out.

The woman in the doorway flinched, shielding her eyes with one hand. The inspectors light revealed the blood spread across her fingers and wrist. Come quick. Theres been a murder.

Cast of Characters

Michael and Molly Graham The young couple have come to Blackpool for a simpler lifeonly things in the small town are anything but simple.

Iris Dunstead The elderly housekeeper knows everyone and everything that happens in town. But with so many pokers in the fire, is she in for a bad burn?

DCI Paddington The stolid inspector has a laid-back approach to investigationso laid-back that its fueled rumors hes only in Blackpool to bide his time until retirement.

Simon Wineguard The recent behavior of the director of Mollys documentary suggests he could be the subject of an expos himself.

Synthia Roderick With the nickname of Syn and the lifestyle to support it, her sudden appearance in a small coastal town is very suspicious.

Joyce Abernathy The responsible and organized assistant of Simon Wineguard, her motto seems to be always the assistant, never motto seems to be always the assistant, never the bride. It doesnt seem to bother heror does it?

The Crowes The members of the Crowe family are reputed to have more secrets than they have money. And they keep both very well.

The Sterlings Another wealthy family whose name keeps coming up around the train robbery. The family lost a fortune and a child that day. Seventy years later, justice has yet to be served.

Greed, jealousy, betrayal, trickery, murder
Blackpool is a town built on secrets and danger.

Stolen

A BLACKPOOL MYSTERY

Jordan Gray

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

L OOKS LIKE EVERYONE IN TOWN showed up. Michael Graham peered through the tinted window of his vintage limousine at the crowd gathered in front of the Magic Lantern Theatre. Chinese-style lanterns in bright colors hung over the marquee that announced, Special Announcement Plus Showing of Peter Pan 2: Return to Neverland.

That was the point. Molly leaned in over her husbands shoulder.

For a moment, Michael grew distracted by her perfume and the heat of her body pressing against his. Theyd been married three years, but her sheer physical presence still made a tremendous impact on his senses. He knew that would never change, and he was glad for it. He grinned in spite of himself and kissed the back of her neck.

Molly shivered, as he knew she would, and pulled back. She held up a forefinger in warning. Dont even think about that.

Michael laughed, but he let her have her space and returned his attention to the festivities filling downtown Blackpool. His newly adopted town was still fascinating to him and constantly inspired his creative juices. The mixture of old and new strewn throughout the hills and up to the cliffs overlooking the sea enthralled him.

Normally on a Friday night, Blackpools streets remained relatively desolate. Truly there wasnt much to do in town. Most of the action took place out on the sea, or on the beaches where the teens met up to drink out of sight of their parents.

But tonight the throng gathered all along the police barricade in front of the movie house, filling the thoroughfare and making traffic all but impossible. A few people slapped the limousine or waved as it passed. Not everyone in Blackpool knew the Grahams, but all of them had heard of them.

And even without the limo they would have stood out. Most Blackpoolers walked or biked as the narrow streets downtown and twisty switchbacks up the hills made driving impractical. Tourists and visitors usually arrived by boat and tied up in the harbor.

But the limo had come with the house theyd purchased when moving to Blackpool, and Irwin Jaegerthe house-manhad come with both. They seldom used the car, which often disappointed Irwin.

Tonight the black night was fought off by more streetlights than normal, illuminating the squat stone-and-wood buildings in the town square. The brightness seemed out of place amid warehouses and shops more than a century old.

Still focused on her iPhone, Molly Graham shot Michael a quick glance. Im glad to see youre finally back among the living and not off robbing crypts or fighting orcs or goblins.

Chagrined, Michael set aside his small netbook. Partially drafted monsters filled the tiny screen. A pang of guilt twisted within him. Sorry, love. Didnt mean to go away on you these past few days right before your event.

I cant blame you. Molly glanced through the window and frowned. I was distracted by last-minute details. Her dark auburn hair curled under and swept her bare shoulders. The understated black dress showed off her petite figure but maintained an air of professionalism. A black onyx set in a silver pendant hung at the hollow of her throat from a fine silver chain.

Michael understood her distraction. His profession as a video and computer game designer demanded unwavering focus, as well. Mollys work in public relations and grant writing consumed her from time to time, as well, especially since she assumed responsibilities on her project for beyond what was required, or what she got credit for. She didnt hold back, and that passion was only one of the reasons he loved her so much.

Of course you do.

Molly lifted an arched brow. You were distracted by mermaids.

Michael chuckled. No more than usual. And, in my defense, mermaids can be quite distracting.

Ive seen the drawings of mermaids your illustrator friend, Keith, sent you. Not exactly Disney, I must say.

Michael chuckled. Well, Keiths a naughty boy. And it gets toned down for the market.

Molly leaned in and kissed him. Her warm lips lingered on his for a moment and tasted like cherries. She drew back and looked directly at him. The netbook stays in the car when we go inside.

Michael grimaced. Molly straightened the collar and lapels of his thigh-length black leather jacket. I need you to be yourself tonight.

Im always myself.

True, but tonight I need the emphasis put on the wonderful and adorable self.

Michael rolled his eyes in mock reproach. You want arm candy.

You can let people know you have a brain.

Ah. Thank God for that.

The limousine rolled a few more feet toward the theater, mired in the crowd. On the other side of the privacy screen, Irwin Jaeger shook his head. He thumbed a button that rolled the glass down and glanced in the rearview mirror.

My apologies. It appears we wont get any closer tonight despite my best efforts.

Neatly cut iron-gray hair lay under the chauffeurs cap hed put on for fun and a bushy mustache covered his upper lip. Thick bifocal lenses made his muddy-brown eyes look larger than normal. The tailored livery fit his thin frame exactly.