Free Ticket To Nowhere: Chapter 1

A Stark Mystery

The name is Stark. My first name doesn’t matter, everyone calls me Stark. I am a private eye. A gumshoe. I have a fleabag office in a fleabag part of a fleabag town.

It was a day like any other day. I had just finished mopping up the cheap gin I spilled on my desk with a two-day-old donut. Here’s a tip, powdered sugar donuts soak up gin better than glazed. They taste better also.

Suddenly an envelope slid under my door.

I recently had a bad experience with a message slid under my door, so I was leery of opening the envelope. But I figured there was a slim chance it was a client payment. Not that I have had any clients for weeks, but I’m a cynical optimist. It was worth a look.

Inside was an airplane ticket to Miami and two sawbucks. Plus a note that said,

“There will be more money once you arrive. I need an investigator with your particular skill set.”

Well, they had me at “more money once you arrive,” but the “skill set” line was the icing on the cake.

Obviously, my reputation is making its way across the country. But why did it have to be Florida? I hate sweating. And alligators. And mosquitos.

Still, sitting here eating gin-soaked donuts won’t keep the landlord off my back, so I headed to my flat to pack a bag.

I landed in Miami airport with the plane still attached. As I exited the jetway, I saw a man with a sign that said, PI Stark. I walked over to him, and he said, “Welcome to Miami, Mr. Stark. Here is your next assignment.” Then he handed me two more sawbucks, another plane ticket, and an envelope. “Don’t open the envelope until you’re airborne.” Then he walked away.

I shouted, “Hey, Mac! What’s this all about?” He kept walking.

I looked at the ticket. Topeka Kansas! Great, Stark, you just got yourself a free ticket to nowhere.

Continues in Chapter 2:

I decided to get the ball rolling with another collaborative Private Eye Stark mystery. I am hoping the whole crew from Out Of Ideas, Out Of Time will join in on the fun. And hopefully some new writers will also try their hands at a chapter.

Lon Shapiro • Karen Fayeth • P.G. Barnett • Terrye Turpin • John K Adams • Dan Leicht

And now some hopefuls I am officially inviting to write a chapter or two (if you want to. It’s just for fun):

A Maguire • Stephen M. Tomic • Tommy Paley • Jeff Suwak • J.S. Lender

Actually, anyone is welcome to join in. I am just too lazy to tag everyone.

If you decide to participate, please use the Writer Schedule story link below and comment in the responses of that story what chapter you want to write so we can keep keep track. And if you are not a writer here yet, we will make you one.

I have created a separate story listing the chapters and who is scheduled to write them. Writers, please check it to see available chapters: