Gregory Mcdonald - Fletch, Too

One of the best writers we have to the point and always original. The New York Times

Hes an investigative reporter whose methods are a little unorthodox. Currently hes living on the beach with the strung-out, trying to find the source of the drugs they live for. Hes taking more than a little flack from his editor, who doesnt appreciate his style. Or the expense account items hes racking up. Or his definition of the word deadline. Or the divorce lawyers who keep showing up at the office. So when multimillionaire Alan Stanwyk offers Fletch the job of a lifetime, which could be worth a fortune, hes intrigued and decides to do a little investigation. What he discovers is that the proposition is anything but what it seems.

Crime Fiction/0-375-71354-9

Fletchs trip to Brazil wasnt exactly planned. But he has plenty of money, thanks to a little arrangement made stateside. And it took him no time to hook up with the luscious Laura Soares. Fletch is beginning to relax, just a little. But between the American widow who seems to be following him and the Brazilian widow whos convinced that hes her long-dead husband, Fletch suddenly doesnt have much time to enjoy the present. A thirty-year-old unsolved murder, a more recent suicide, and an inconvenient heart attacksomehow Fletch is connected to all of them, and one of those connections might just shorten his own life.

Crime Fiction/0-375-71347-6

Confess, Fletch, 0-375-71348-4
Fletchs Fortune, 0-375-71355-7
Fletch Won, 0-375-/1352-2
Fletch and the Widow Bradley, 0-375-71351-4

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Gregory Mcdonald

FLETCH, TOO

Gregory Mcdonald is the author of twenty-five books, including nine Fletch novels and three Flynn mysteries. He has twice won the Mystery Writers of Americas prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Mystery Novel, and was the first author to win for both a novel and its sequel. He lives in Tennessee.

What astounded Fletch was that the letter written to him was signed Fletch.

Do you, Irwin Maurice Fletcher, promise to love, honor, serve, and support in all the ways a man can support a woman the Preacher shouted. Down the bluff the wind was whipping up whitecaps on the Pacific Ocean. A curtain of hard rain was visible a couple of miles offshore. cherish, respect, encourage, relinquish all interests and endeavors which do not serve the marriage, until death do you part?

Who wrote this? Fletch asked.

At his side, wind whipping her skirt, Barbara said, I did. You never gave me a chance to discuss it with you.

Lets discuss it now.

Behind them on the bluff overlooking the sea stood their wedding guests, coat collars up, holding on to their hats.

Be a good sport, Barbara said. Say you do. Well have plenty of time to discuss it.

Thats what Im afraid of.

Barbara said to the Preacher, He says, I do.

The Preacher looked at Fletch. Do you do?

I guess I do.

And do you, Barbara Ralston, promise to be a wife to this man, to the best of your abilities?

I do.

The Preacher then began to read interminably from some word-processor printout. Some rabbits built their hutch in a dell. Spring rains came, and the hutch got flooded out. They built a new hutch in a high place. The winds knocked it over

Watching the storm approaching from the sea, Fletch suspected the wedding party was going to get flooded out and blown over, too.

The wedding had been planned for two oclock Saturday afternoon. Fletch had gotten all his copy in by two oclock, shaved in the mens room at the newspaper, and had reached his wedding at two-forty.

Surprised to see you here, Fletch said to Frank Jaffe, the editor of the News-Tribune. Thought you pretend employees dont exist Saturdays.

Ive been standing in for you at various police stations and courts the last three days, Frank said. Thought I might have to stand in for you today at your wedding, too.

You almost did. Two pickup trucks with their tailgates down were parked across the field. In the bed of one truck, delicatessen food was laid out; in the bed of the other, plastic glasses, liquor, and ice. Are all the various charges against me dropped? Can I get through an airport without being arrested?

Frank tasted his drink. Good follow-up on that lawyers murder in this mornings edition. Got the big Sunday wrap-up in for tomorrow?

Yes, Frank.

How about the big expose of Ben Franklyn for tomorrow?

Ben Franklyn will be exposed in Sundays newspaper, Frank. Pages and pages of it. With pictures.

Youve been working day and night since Monday.

Very nearly.

You look half asleep.

Frank

Have a nice honeymoon. Frank smiled. You need the rest.

Alston Chambers said, Fletch, thanks for coming. Being best man at a wedding without a groom was becoming a real strain.

If you come across any hot stories on your honeymoon, Frank said, be sure and phone them in. We may have found your talent in investigative reporting.

Alston looked down at Fletchs jeans and sneakers. Didnt have time to change, uh?

Alston, Im here, I shaved, Im employed, I get to go on a honeymoon.

I mean avalanches. Mud slides. Frank finished his drink. Major earthquakes. Airplane crashes. Train wrecks.

Alston said, I left some clothes for you at the City Desk. Didnt they tell you?

No.

Frank continued, Mass murders. Acts of terrorism, like, you know, airport bombings.

Alston took Fletch by the elbow. Your bride, having noticed youre here, would like you to go over and stand next to her in front of the Preacher. Thats integral to the wedding.

Be sure and phone in, Frank said. If you get any good stuff.

Fletch said to his mother, Im surprised to see you here.

A long-stemmed flower bobbing from her hat hit Fletch in the eye as Josephine Fletcher leaned forward to kiss her son. I wouldnt miss your first wedding for anything.

This is the only wedding I have planned, Fletch said.

She waved airily. After this, youre on your own.

After this?

Josie scanned his clothes. I guess youre dressed appropriately for a picnic next to the sea.

She was dressed in watered silk.

Ive been working.

Barbaras mother was quite certain you wouldnt show up at all. She says you never do.