Summary

Sunny Alexander-Johnson and Henry James, writers for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine, are investigating the death of Richard Carlson, which they believe was not a suicide, and uncover a connection between Carlson and Sunny's father, Raymond Douglas Alexander, through a shared past in Vietnam and a business venture called Alexander Pharmaceuticals.

Abstract

In the latest installment of the Sunny Alexander-Johnson and Henry James series by P.G. & Sharon Barnett, the protagonists delve into the mysterious death of Richard Carlson. After consulting with detective Alvarez, they learn that Carlson did not commit suicide as initially believed. Seeking assistance, they reach out to Manny Hermanos and Robert Johnson, who in turn involve super-spy twins Donnie Martin and Rebecca Wu to conduct a thorough background check on Carlson. The investigation reveals that Carlson and Sunny's father, Raymond Douglas Alexander, served together in Vietnam and later co-founded Alexander Pharmaceuticals, with Sunny's mother, Cynthia Alexander, as the bookkeeper. The discovery prompts Sunny to confront her mother for more information about the family's past.

Opinions

Manny Hermanos is perceived as having a security routine that is inconvenient but necessary.
Sunny Alexander-Johnson has a close relationship with her husband, Robert Johnson, and values the comfort of hot chocolate to warm up after being out in the cold.
Henry James is seen as a persistent presence, likened to a bad rash, but also as an individual who grows on people over time.
Donnie Martin and Rebecca Wu are regarded as highly skilled in conducting deep background checks and are essential to the investigation.
The discovery of the connection between Richard Carlson and Sunny's father, Raymond Douglas Alexander, is met with shock and disbelief, leading to a need for further clarification from Sunny's mother, Cynthia Alexander.

FICTION

It Never Starts With A Body Part 5

A Sunny Alexander-Johnson And Henry James Series By P.G. & Sharon Barnett

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images on Pixabay

My name is Sunny Alexander-Johnson, and I’m Henry James, and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

As required by Manny Hermanos, we called him and Robert Johnson the minute we left the police headquarters parking lot. Although temperatures had warmed slightly, we had no plans of standing outside the door of their office, shivering in the cold while Manny went through his security routine.

After pulling into the parking lot of the strip center, we made our way to the heavily barred door, pushed the button, and waited. Although not necessarily a long wait, it was still long enough for the bone-chilling winds to force the feeling from our lips and cheeks.

When Manny finally opened the door we rushed in, instantly rewarded by the ambient warmth inside the offices.

“Damn dude, do you always have to keep us waiting like that before you open the freaking door?”

“Damn dude, do you guys always have to come to our offices without an appointment?”

“Manny Hermanos. I don’t need an appointment to see my husband. Besides, this is business. We need Donnie and Becca’s help.”

“So you said on the phone, Sunny. Robert’s in his office. You guys want some coffee?”

“Do you still have some of those chocolate packets? I’d love some hot chocolate. I need to get the chill out of my bones.”

“Yeap. We do. Henry? Coffee straight up?”

“Yeah, thanks, Manny.”

Robert stood when we entered his office, skirted his desk, and gave Sunny a peck on the cheek and a brief hug. After shedding our heavy coats, we got comfortable just as Manny returned with two styrofoam cups.

“Here ya go, you two. I’ve got a report I need to finish and a couple of calls to make. Robert? They’re all yours.”

We sipped our respective chocolate and coffee and watched the man trundle away.

“So how’s he working out?”

“Just fine, Henry. Why do you ask?”

“No particular reason. I mean, after his fall from grace with the FBI, I would have thought he’d lose those chips on his shoulders.”

“He only has those chips when he’s around you big brother. It’s like you’re his freaking kryptonite.”

“You should be nicer to him, Henry.”

“Whatever Shaundrika. Look, Robert, we need the super-spy twins to do a deep dive on this Richard Carlson dude.”

“What are you looking for?”

“Everything hon. We need to know everything they can drag up.”

“Shaundrika, why do you and Henry need to drill down on a dead guy? He lived. He blew his brains out in that warehouse. End of story.”

“You’re right, honey. He’s dead, but he didn’t kill himself.”

We took turns filling Robert in on the information we’d garnished from detective Alvarez. By the time we’d finished his expression shifted from one of skepticism to complete disbelief.

“Okay, so now you two are looking for a connection?”

“It’s what we do, baby. Connect the dots.”

Robert nodded his head, then punched the intercom button on his phone.

“Becca?”

“Yes sir.”

“Are you and Donnie in the middle of something right now?”

“We’re just finishing that internet scrape you and Manny asked for.”

“Okay, we need you two to do a deep dive on someone. A man named Richard Carlson.”

“Richard Eugene Carlson. Born December fifth, nineteen fifty.”

“Hey, Sunny.”

“Hey, Becca.”

“Is Henry with you?”

“When is he not? He’s like a bad rash that just won’t go away.”

“Bite me, Johnson.”

“Oh, he’s not that bad. Henry’s an acquired taste. The longer you’re around him the more he grows on you.”

“Thanks, Becca. I think.”

“So let me guess. You two need it like yesterday, right?”

“Wu, you’re a freaking genius.”

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Henry. Are you two going to hang around a bit?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, we’ll let you know what we come up with.”

Rebecca Wu broke the connection, so we helped ourselves to more hot chocolate and coffee. We lounged in Robert’s office, whiling away the time with conversations about Dante and Alicia, planned weekend get-togethers, PTA meetings, and social functions. When Becca’s voice blared on Robert’s phone, we shifted fluidly back to the business at hand.

“Robert? I think Henry and Sunny are going to want to see this.”

“Right, we’re on our way.”

With Robert Johnson in the lead, we walked past Manny’s office, turned right into a short hallway then entered the oversize office that had been converted into a computer room for Donnie Martin and Rebecca Wu. Both of them swiveled away from their computer screens when we stepped in.

“Hey, Donnie. Becca”

“How’s it going, Henry?”

“Best day ever, Donnie.”

“Okay, show us what you have, you two.”

“Donnie, can you put all this on the large display?”

“Sure, so what you’re looking at is the life of one Richard Eugene Carlson, born December fifth, nineteen fifty. Pretty innocuous, really. Army brat. His mom and dad traveled globally. By the time he graduated high school he’d learned several languages. Joined the Army immediately after high school. Did two tours in Vietnam one in sixty-eight and again in sixty-nine.”

“So, all this is great for an obituary, but what does it have to do with what Sunny and I need?”

“We’re getting to that Henry. Richard served as a medic. On his second tour, he hooked up with another medic. A man by the name of Ray. Raymond Alexander, to be precise.”

“Impossible. My father?”

“Sunny, was your father’s full name Raymond Douglas Alexander and did he serve in Vietnam in nineteen sixty-nine?”

“Oh, my God. Yes.”

“Then yes, it was your dad. This is where it really gets interesting. After they both got out, they were thick as thieves. In nineteen seventy, they decided to team up and go into business together. Your father was the organizer and the money man. Richard was the operations expert. And Cynthia Alexander was the bookkeeper. The name of the company? Alexander Pharmaceuticals.”

“Shit! Remember what mother said at the warehouse Henry?”

“Yeah, she knew who he was the minute she laid eyes on him.”

“There’s more.”

“You know what, Donnie? I think we need to hear the rest of this from my mother. I want to know why she’s not said a damn word about all this before.”

“You sure about that princess?”

“I am Henry. Come on, we’re going over to Alexander Investments right now. I want my mother to come clean about this. Donnie? Becca? Thank you. Robert, are you still planning on picking up Dante and Alica at three?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay I may be late, but I’ll see you at home tonight. Henry, let’s roll.”

Read On — It Never Starts With A Body Part 6

Let’s keep in touch: P.G. & Sharon Barnett