SHORT STORIES
Pretty City Murder protagonists, Inspectors Hieu Trang and Larry Leahy, are back, proving that nothing stops crime from happening and police officers have an important place in society. One truth we can agree upon is that the police are "never wanted, always needed."
The following stories are meant to be read in succession.
Deaf
In Deaf, Trang and Leahy read a blog following a tip from Anonymous. The blogger, Rachel Spillane, is deaf, and her boyfriend, Brock Rocket, is a local radio personality. Anonymous asks the blogger how her boyfriend could be traveling during COVID-19, and Trang suspects he’s not traveling and may be the dead man found in San Francisco Bay. Trang discovers the ugly truth not spoken out loud, and Leahy comments on how being deaf amplifies fear. Published 5-18-20
Anonymous
In Anonymous, Trang and Leahy follow up on information obtained in the murder of the radio personality in “Deaf” by interviewing his brother, Terry Rocket. Trang suspects the murderer had help moving the radioman's body to the edge of San Francisco Bay. Trang gets himself into some trouble but perseveres and trails his suspect all the way to the truth, causing Leahy to remark that an ugly dream can be a source of self-knowing or self-loathing. Published 6-16-20
Isolated
In Isolated, Trang and Leahy face another COVID-19 tragedy. Trick Doyle’s wealthy San Francisco parents are dead, his mother killed by COVID-19, his father murdered five days later. Terry Rocket from “Anonymous” informed Trang and Leahy that one of Rachel Spillane’s clients had committed a murder. Trick's sister, Lafayette, cares more about money, forcing brother to turn against sister. Someone is in Rachel’s little black book. Who could it be? The solution comes fast, obliging Leahy to congratulate Trang on a job well done. Published 7-19-20
The following stories should be read independently of the stories above.
Apartment 19
In Apartment 19, Leahy and Trang have double trouble on their hands when Milo’s fraternal twin brother, Marlowe, is found dead on a roof at San Francisco’s China Beach. Leahy’s instincts tell him this is no suicide, but his captain says it is and tells him to quit the case. Leahy goes solo without Hieu this time and looks for a killer among lovers. One of them is a scientist from abroad who claims to be researching a vaccine. Coronavirus, suicide, or murder? Try to figure it out before Leahy does. Published 7-31-20
Letters
In Letters, Leahy and Trang seek the help of a forensic linguist to solve the death of Madeline Mingst. Her boyfriend, Big Red Hill, says, “It was a suicide,” and his son, Jake Hill, a San Quentin inmate, won't cooperate. Forensic linguist Candy Hart identifies the author of a significant letter. Carole Chaski is the real-life linguist who allowed her system, ALIAS, to be placed into the hands of Candy Hart. ALIAS is not handwriting analysis. It analyzes letters or documents according to style and content, which is just what Leahy needs to catch a killer. Published 9-26-20
Phantasmal
In Phantasmal, Leahy and Trang investigate a Halloween 2020 ghost. Hugo Miller is a squatter in a San Francisco mansion, and his guest, Sara Darío, falls down the decaying staircase. Hugo thinks he sees her ghost under a Blue Moon and calls on Father Johnny Baba, an exorcist, for help. Bats, an Alaskan Malamute, and a black cat round out the cast. Is an exorcism needed, or is this a case of phantasmal fright? Follow Leahy as he enters the house and discovers what secrets underlie human frailty. Published 10-31-20
Two-Faced Crime
***find this story on wattpad.com under Robert E. Dunn***
In Two-Faced Crime, Leahy and Trang investigate the theory that every king needs a queen. A principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet is falling in love with a dancer from Australia, but she is ice-cold, and he has a secret. How does he win her over? Does she trust him? In this Romance Crime, a death, a stolen hair comb, and principal dancer Timothy Sweeny force Leahy to tie the pieces together and solve the mystery. What are the connections? Published 1-12-21
Citizen
***find this story on wattpad.com under Robert E. Dunn***
In Citizen, Leahy and Trang face a unique challenge in an action story about a San Francisco cop who performs a heroic act at the scene of a gang massacre...based on a true story. An SFPD officer edited for accuracy. Fictional Officer Guy Del Toro is charged with being a racist after the first police action, and more: does he have PTSD and is he hiding his sexuality? Despite the mental torment the charges cause, can he prove his fitness for the job and the oath he took to protect and defend? Will Leahy find the truth? Published 3-27-21
Copyright to all stories held by, and all rights reserved to, Robert E. Dunn Publishing, 2021.
Publisher's Note: The stories are works of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No ownership of the pictures is claimed; they belong to their respective owners.
Real addresses were used, but current or past residents have no connection to the events described in these stories.
The stories are suitable for readers 16 years of age and above.
The following stories are meant to be read in succession.
Deaf
In Deaf, Trang and Leahy read a blog following a tip from Anonymous. The blogger, Rachel Spillane, is deaf, and her boyfriend, Brock Rocket, is a local radio personality. Anonymous asks the blogger how her boyfriend could be traveling during COVID-19, and Trang suspects he’s not traveling and may be the dead man found in San Francisco Bay. Trang discovers the ugly truth not spoken out loud, and Leahy comments on how being deaf amplifies fear. Published 5-18-20
Anonymous
In Anonymous, Trang and Leahy follow up on information obtained in the murder of the radio personality in “Deaf” by interviewing his brother, Terry Rocket. Trang suspects the murderer had help moving the radioman's body to the edge of San Francisco Bay. Trang gets himself into some trouble but perseveres and trails his suspect all the way to the truth, causing Leahy to remark that an ugly dream can be a source of self-knowing or self-loathing. Published 6-16-20
Isolated
In Isolated, Trang and Leahy face another COVID-19 tragedy. Trick Doyle’s wealthy San Francisco parents are dead, his mother killed by COVID-19, his father murdered five days later. Terry Rocket from “Anonymous” informed Trang and Leahy that one of Rachel Spillane’s clients had committed a murder. Trick's sister, Lafayette, cares more about money, forcing brother to turn against sister. Someone is in Rachel’s little black book. Who could it be? The solution comes fast, obliging Leahy to congratulate Trang on a job well done. Published 7-19-20
The following stories should be read independently of the stories above.
Apartment 19
In Apartment 19, Leahy and Trang have double trouble on their hands when Milo’s fraternal twin brother, Marlowe, is found dead on a roof at San Francisco’s China Beach. Leahy’s instincts tell him this is no suicide, but his captain says it is and tells him to quit the case. Leahy goes solo without Hieu this time and looks for a killer among lovers. One of them is a scientist from abroad who claims to be researching a vaccine. Coronavirus, suicide, or murder? Try to figure it out before Leahy does. Published 7-31-20
Letters
In Letters, Leahy and Trang seek the help of a forensic linguist to solve the death of Madeline Mingst. Her boyfriend, Big Red Hill, says, “It was a suicide,” and his son, Jake Hill, a San Quentin inmate, won't cooperate. Forensic linguist Candy Hart identifies the author of a significant letter. Carole Chaski is the real-life linguist who allowed her system, ALIAS, to be placed into the hands of Candy Hart. ALIAS is not handwriting analysis. It analyzes letters or documents according to style and content, which is just what Leahy needs to catch a killer. Published 9-26-20
Phantasmal
In Phantasmal, Leahy and Trang investigate a Halloween 2020 ghost. Hugo Miller is a squatter in a San Francisco mansion, and his guest, Sara Darío, falls down the decaying staircase. Hugo thinks he sees her ghost under a Blue Moon and calls on Father Johnny Baba, an exorcist, for help. Bats, an Alaskan Malamute, and a black cat round out the cast. Is an exorcism needed, or is this a case of phantasmal fright? Follow Leahy as he enters the house and discovers what secrets underlie human frailty. Published 10-31-20
Two-Faced Crime
***find this story on wattpad.com under Robert E. Dunn***
In Two-Faced Crime, Leahy and Trang investigate the theory that every king needs a queen. A principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet is falling in love with a dancer from Australia, but she is ice-cold, and he has a secret. How does he win her over? Does she trust him? In this Romance Crime, a death, a stolen hair comb, and principal dancer Timothy Sweeny force Leahy to tie the pieces together and solve the mystery. What are the connections? Published 1-12-21
Citizen
***find this story on wattpad.com under Robert E. Dunn***
In Citizen, Leahy and Trang face a unique challenge in an action story about a San Francisco cop who performs a heroic act at the scene of a gang massacre...based on a true story. An SFPD officer edited for accuracy. Fictional Officer Guy Del Toro is charged with being a racist after the first police action, and more: does he have PTSD and is he hiding his sexuality? Despite the mental torment the charges cause, can he prove his fitness for the job and the oath he took to protect and defend? Will Leahy find the truth? Published 3-27-21
Copyright to all stories held by, and all rights reserved to, Robert E. Dunn Publishing, 2021.
Publisher's Note: The stories are works of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No ownership of the pictures is claimed; they belong to their respective owners.
Real addresses were used, but current or past residents have no connection to the events described in these stories.
The stories are suitable for readers 16 years of age and above.
