The Adventures of
Bert Strong, P.I.
Bert Strong, P.I.
Chapter 1 - Finding Andy
An excerpt from "When the Game Gets Real"
An excerpt from "When the Game Gets Real"
Bert left the security of his quiet, removed, wooded
domicile. He headed for the lights and action of the City.
Bert loved the City. For all the filth and dredge, he still saw
the beauty. He saw the architecture, and the history, much
of which was not good. But, it was his City. The City in
which he at least partially belonged.
He felt the hint of rain on his face. It would be wet and cold
in the City..... The rain was satisfying on his skin. It felt cool.
The kind of cool that's white hot. It would be that kind of
night!
domicile. He headed for the lights and action of the City.
Bert loved the City. For all the filth and dredge, he still saw
the beauty. He saw the architecture, and the history, much
of which was not good. But, it was his City. The City in
which he at least partially belonged.
He felt the hint of rain on his face. It would be wet and cold
in the City..... The rain was satisfying on his skin. It felt cool.
The kind of cool that's white hot. It would be that kind of
night!
In the course of Bert's profession, he had lost some kindness. Hardened to the cruel humanity
that he saw day in and day out, in the late nights and in what crawled back home in the
mornings. Bert saw it all. In particular, the Tenderloin was not a pretty place. One of the uglier
places, so close to where the high and the mighty, and the socialites played. This is what
initially brought Bert to San Francisco. Now, he was there because it was HIS City!
Bert was working on the Cabana murder. His well honed instinct was at work and brought him
to Russian Hill, and a nearby, high end restaurant. The famous chef-restaurateur was of
particular interest. Bert's instincts were legendary. His instinct was almost as well honed as
his arms, and his instinct told him this restaurateur was involved. This semi-celebrity Chef
knew how to clean a pheasant, but not a crime scene! And, his alibi just didn't hold muster!
The trail of fresh herbs and seasoning led here, to the dumpster. The Chef's garbage would
tell the story! The Chef may entertain the pretty people (including a well coiffed mayor ), but
not all dirt went out with the garbage or came out in the wash. It was time for the Chef to get
out from behind his apron and from his latest cookbook!
Gavin would certainly be disappointed to find the Chef had made his last foie gras, but
evidence told all! This was one revealing force fed dead duck!
that he saw day in and day out, in the late nights and in what crawled back home in the
mornings. Bert saw it all. In particular, the Tenderloin was not a pretty place. One of the uglier
places, so close to where the high and the mighty, and the socialites played. This is what
initially brought Bert to San Francisco. Now, he was there because it was HIS City!
Bert was working on the Cabana murder. His well honed instinct was at work and brought him
to Russian Hill, and a nearby, high end restaurant. The famous chef-restaurateur was of
particular interest. Bert's instincts were legendary. His instinct was almost as well honed as
his arms, and his instinct told him this restaurateur was involved. This semi-celebrity Chef
knew how to clean a pheasant, but not a crime scene! And, his alibi just didn't hold muster!
The trail of fresh herbs and seasoning led here, to the dumpster. The Chef's garbage would
tell the story! The Chef may entertain the pretty people (including a well coiffed mayor ), but
not all dirt went out with the garbage or came out in the wash. It was time for the Chef to get
out from behind his apron and from his latest cookbook!
Gavin would certainly be disappointed to find the Chef had made his last foie gras, but
evidence told all! This was one revealing force fed dead duck!
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Some called Bert a
Sleuth, some called
him a P.I, some called
him The Gum-Shoe,
but they all eventually
called him; the
politicians, the money
men, the pretty
socialites. They all
called. They called to
follow the money, the
mistress, the lost, the
found. They all called.
They called to find the
skeletons in the closet
and to bury them. But,
they all eventually
called. That's what
Bert did. Bert got the
dirt!
Sleuth, some called
him a P.I, some called
him The Gum-Shoe,
but they all eventually
called him; the
politicians, the money
men, the pretty
socialites. They all
called. They called to
follow the money, the
mistress, the lost, the
found. They all called.
They called to find the
skeletons in the closet
and to bury them. But,
they all eventually
called. That's what
Bert did. Bert got the
dirt!
"Andy!" He exclaimed! "Why Andy,
I thought you were dead!"
Andy quietly replied, "No. Just
hiding. Too many hands in my
pockets."
With that, Bert helped Andy out of
the dumpster, picked up his bag of
evidence, and headed to the office.
"Andy, do you need a place to
stay?"
"That would be good."
copyright 2009
Follow Link to preview book:
While lost in his
own musings,
and while sorting
garbage, Bert
came across a
startling find!
own musings,
and while sorting
garbage, Bert
came across a
startling find!
