Overview:
The black-and-whites lay sprawled across my desktop: about two-dozen 8 x 10s, each taken through the grimy window of a cheap motel room, each depicting the unclad images of Mr. Ronald Hillard and his mistress—her long hair styled in thick braided cornrows. I glanced at the photos one last time and sighed. Mr. Hillard certainly has an unusual—some would say disturbing—style of lovemaking. Well, to each his own. My name is Cecelia Love but everyone calls me C. C. for short. I am a Private Investigator and solving crimes is my new profession.
Book Teaser:
Chapter One
The black and whites lay sprawled across my desktop: about two
dozen 8 x 1os, each taken through the grimy window of a cheap motel
room, each depicting the undad images of Mr. Ronald Hillard and his
mistress - her long hair styled in thick braided cornrows. I glanced
at the photos one last time and sighed. Mr. Hillard certainly has an
unusual - some would say disturbing - style of love making. Well, to
each his own.
I leand back in my brand new leather high-backed chair and gently
massaged the sides of my forehead. I had woken up that morning
with a splitting headache. I was out until four a.m., working on this ‘I
think my husband is cheating’ case. Well, I have to inform my client
she needs to think no more.
My name is Cecelia Love but everyone calls me C.C. for short.
I am a Private Investigator. I received my PI license along with my
permit to carry a gun six months ago, but I have always had the eye
to spy. A former boyfriend always said ‘remember what you tell her
because if you don’t, she will.’
Ido not have a clue why my mother named me Cecelia but I guess
it must be a Southern thing since my father and her were both born
and raised in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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[8]
After eighteen years in the railroad industry and finally receiving
my college degree, I decided that I wanted to become a PI. I’ve always
been a mystery and crime buff but with the creation of the television
series Crime Scene Investigation and others, my desire became greater.
So, I quit my well-paying job with full health benefits, took all my
savings minus my children's college funds, and started C.C. Love
Private Detective Agency, Inc
I am a single parent with two children, Alexis and Jason, both in
college. Not bad for a young, black girl from Chicago’s Robert Taylor
housing projects with big dreams and high hopes. My business is in the
basement of my home When I first purchased this home, the colors in
the rooms were horrendous. The kitchen was painted yellow and blue
and the living room was painted orange. I told my realtor, my first job will
be to paint the kitchen and living room. It literally took me a month to
paint my living room. The new trend is accent walls, sol have two accent
walls; belgium chocolate and bread basket. A picture says a thousand
words and my home reflects my music and my African heritage. I have
pictures of Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and African masks
from different tribes. My home is now a reflection of me and I love it.
My office has picture of various African masks and statues. My girlfriend
Lisa told me that my office makes her feel like she is in the Motherland.
It think that was a complaint. By having my business in my home it cuts
down on the overhead expenses. I’m also the secretary, accountant and
maid. Who knew I could wear so many hats?
Normally I would drive to the nearby Dunkin Donuts for my morning
coffee, but since I am now a business owner, I have to economize - a
beautiful way of saying “I can’t afford it.” So, it is store-bought coffee
and store-bought donuts, not to mention store-bought lunch. That
is the price of running your own show, I guess. After my third cup of
coffee I finished my notes on the Hillard case.
As I gathered the photos, I thought of my client LaVon Hillard,
Ronald's wife of thirty-two years. I’m usually not in the business of
breaking hearts, but in this case I did not have a choice.
LaVon and her husband have four children, several grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. When she called to inquire about my services,
I explained my fees were two-hundred dollars per day, plus expenses.
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