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    The Maltese Moon Rock: A Scott Drayco Novelette
    The Maltese Moon Rock: A Scott Drayco Novelette
    The Maltese Moon Rock: A Scott Drayco Novelette
    Ebook80 pages1 hour

    The Maltese Moon Rock: A Scott Drayco Novelette

    By BV Lawson

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    About this ebook

    In this prequel novelette to the novel Elegy in Scarlet, crime consultant Scott Drayco and “the world’s most diminutive defense attorney” Benny Baskin find themselves on the Eastern Shore of Virginia fighting for the innocence of Baskin's client, who's jailed for the murder of his business partner. Against the backdrop of the Wallops Island rocket launch facility, Drayco soon discovers that the motive for the man's murder might just be out of this world.

    The Scott Drayco mystery series has been honored by the American Independent Writers, Maryland Writers Association, named Best Mystery in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and been a finalist for the Shamus and Silver Falchion Awards.

    The complete chronology of the Scott Drayco novel series for those who enjoy reading in order is:

    Played to Death
    Requiem for Innocence
    Dies Irae
    Elegy in Scarlet

    Sign up for BV Lawson’s Mysteries in Crimetime newsletter at bvlawson.com and receive a FREE ebook plus BV book updates, crime fiction news, giveaways, and more!

    PRAISE FOR BV LAWSON’S SCOTT DRAYCO SERIES:

    “BV Lawson has created a memorable character in Drayco, a concert pianist turned FBI agent, turned crime consultant. He also has the fascinating condition of synesthesia, which not only adds a mysterious depth to his character it is integral to the plot.” - Big Als Books & Pals

    “The storyline here is nicely structured, and creatively ties together two murder mysteries, which occurred decades apart. The small town setting is ideal, the lead character engaging, and the supporting cast interesting and diverse. Overall, a solid start to this series.” - Omimystery News

    “... Kept me guessing until the very end. I’d recommend this book to experienced mystery readers who enjoy wrestling with skillfully placed hints that don’t easily reveal their secrets.” - Long and Short Reviews

    “Lawson’s book was so good, I read it twice from beginning to end...The citizens of Cape Unity are as diverse and multi-layered as any person living in the large cities, and Lawson portrayed them splendidly.” - Reader's Favorite Reviews

    “Now this story was close to brilliance ... The writing was fluent and the story intriguing, and I loved the end.” - IHeartReading Reviews

    “A nice tight mystery in a realistic setting. Totally enjoyable.” - Terrie Farley Moran, author of the Read ’Em and Eat Mysteries

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBV Lawson
    Release dateNov 16, 2016
    ISBN9780997534726
    The Maltese Moon Rock: A Scott Drayco Novelette
    Author

    BV Lawson

    Past career hats BV Lawson tried on include maid, super-speedy typist, classical musician, radio announcer, being in TV commercials (for all of one day), research assistant, TV features writer and working for the Discovery Channel. Now a full-time freelance writer, she's penned articles for various publications and won awards for her many published stories and poems.Thanks to the influence of library genes handed down from her mother, she created the blog In Reference to Murder which contains over 3,000 links for mystery readers and writers. She's working on a series of crime fiction novels set in various locations in and around the mid-Atlantic, and when time permits, BV and her husband enjoy flying over Northern Virginia and the Chesapeake in a little putt-putt plane. Visit BV via her web site, bvlawson.com. No ticket required

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      Book preview

      The Maltese Moon Rock - BV Lawson

      THE MALTESE MOON ROCK

      A Scott Drayco Mystery Novella

      by

      BV Lawson

      Crimetime Press

      The Maltese Moon Rock is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, places, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      For information, contact:

      Crimetime Press

      6312 Seven Corners Center, Box 257

      Falls Church, VA 22044

      at BVLawson.com

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      PART I

      PART II

      PART III

      PART IV

      PART V

      PART VI

      PART VII

      TO MY READERS

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      PART I

      In the crime scene photo Scott Drayco held in his hand, the corpse looked like a cheesy haunted house prop—stuffed into a long, cardboard shipping box, surrounded by bloodied Styrofoam packing peanuts and bags of dry ice. He studied the other photos. One, showing the back of the victim’s skull bashed in, screamed of blunt force trauma.

      There was something incredibly sad about the macabre little tableau. A living, breathing human reduced to a sick cartoonish joke. That alone was enough to make Drayco want to take on the case, to give the victim a shred of the dignity denied him in death.

      His gaze turned to the turkey vultures out the window as they hitched a ride on a thermal and soared in circles higher and higher into the sky. He counted at least four. The Pocomoke Indians who once lived on Virginia’s Eastern Shore believed vultures were an omen of danger.

      Not that Drayco believed in omens. No, there was nothing superstitious or paranormal about this murder case that led him to fly over from the District an hour ago. Even so, as he’d piloted the little Cessna over the Chesapeake, he had plenty of time to think about how luck played a role in whether you lived a long life or died from disease, disaster, or some other devil.

      Drayco turned to his companion, You say the victim also had a broken arm?

      Broken ulna. But that’s all the interesting stuff. Except that note in his pocket. Benny Baskin, Esquire, handed Drayco a piece of paper. Here’s a copy. Just like I told you over the phone. ‘17th Star of Apollo. 36-26-36.’ Guess he had a thing for heavenly bodies.

      Drayco didn’t crack a smile at Baskin’s lame joke. As many times as they’d worked together, he should be used to Baskin’s humor. But between the corpse, the photos, and the cramping in his right arm, he wasn’t in the mood. "I’m beginning to understand why that law reporter in the Post called you a pint-sized peacock attorney."

      That’s my job. I crack wise. Besides, my young crime consultant guru, you’re the brainy, sensitive, and cultured half of our illustrious partnership.

      Speaking of illustrious … Drayco pointed to the detailed artwork on the ceiling of the victim’s office where they were seated. Up there, we have a painting of the night sky with constellations. Leo, Sagittarius, Aquila. He waved his hand toward the floor. And on the wooden floorboards, a depiction of the solar system. It’s a safe bet Pless was an astronomy buff, if not a letch.

      Well, then, boy-o, you two have something in common. The astronomy bit, anyway. Baskin grinned. Wha’cha think that note means?

      Drayco studied the paper. Star of Apollo was the Egyptian name for the planet Mercury. It also represents fame and fortune if you’re into palmistry.

      You telling me we gotta look for fortune tellers? Goody. I’ll ask them about my stock portfolio. Hell, maybe I’ll go undercover as a fortuneteller. More than one opposing counsel told me I belong in a circus. Baskin thrust a finger behind his eye patch and rubbed the scar underneath.

      Drayco felt some of the tension in his shoulders relax. I could see you under the big top, Benny, maybe as a lion tamer. Right next to the bearded ladies and the hoochie coochie dancing girls.

      He stuffed the paper and photos back into their folder and handed it back to Baskin, who smiled wistfully, Always did want to do one of those acrobatty thingies on the swings.

      As Baskin flipped through the papers in the folder, Drayco looked out the window of the second-floor office. He could see across the Chincoteague Channel out to Marsh Island, not far from the wildlife refuge. They’d flown over this very spot when he piloted the little plane from Manassas to the Accomack airport this morning. The glassy serenity of the Channel waters lay in stark contrast to the brutal crime scene photos. As if mirroring his thoughts, a lone turkey vulture flapped its huge wings directly in front of the window.

      Drayco checked his watch. Fifteen minutes since Hazel Labarr had greeted them, ushered them into the office of murder victim Arnold Pless, and disappeared to deal with an important call. Having taken in the broad details of the room from where he was seated,

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