{"id":3322,"date":"2024-10-02T12:09:42","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T16:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/?page_id=3322"},"modified":"2024-10-02T12:17:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T16:17:37","slug":"the-case-of-the-runaway-orangutan-a-a-james-cartwright-p-i-mystery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/the-case-of-the-runaway-orangutan-a-a-james-cartwright-p-i-mystery\/","title":{"rendered":"The Case of the Runaway Orangutan, A James Cartwright P.I. Mystery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Case of the Runaway Orangutan, A James Cartwright P.I. Mystery, (Book 3 of 3)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Blurb:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cartwright\u2019s latest case starts off simple enough. Miss Stonewall, from the Mutual Trust Insurance Agency, wants him to track down a missing orangutan. The thing is, as Cartwright explains, he doesn\u2019t do orangutans. But when Stonewall offers him a large wad of cash for the job, Cartwright\u2019s suspicions are piqued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cartwright stumbles across a rare green diamond, setting off a chain of events that lands him in a tangled web of conspiracies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Dirty Wars and Death Squads of Argentina to the greatest diamond heist of the century, to a deadly virus that threatens to wipe out humanity, and to a cold-blooded assassin determined to fulfill his destiny\u2014Cartwright\u2019s confronted at every turn in his efforts to solve one of the most tangled and diabolical mysteries of his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Case of the Runaway Orangutan is a nuanced and artfully layered mystery brimming with non-stop action, fueled by twists and turns that will keep you guessing till the very end.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpencer\u2019s latest fast-paced thriller features James Cartwright, an ex-cop turned private eye from the backstreets of Detroit. You won\u2019t be disappointed. It has it all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Case of the Runaway Orangutan reads like a runaway freight train on the verge of derailing at every turn.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Excerpt:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Lasting change is a series of compromises. And compromise is all right, as long your values don\u2019t change<\/em> – Jane Goodall – <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

CHICAGO<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

01 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HE FELL DOWN HARD\u2014stone-cold dead, next to my feet. It didn\u2019t take much\u2014just a pull of the trigger. The way I figured, a bullet always had its way of settling things. It asked no questions. Just did what I was told. And I hadn\u2019t planned on resolving my disagreement with the Thin Man that way. But he left me no choice. He pulled his Luger, deciding that one of his .28s was the only way to resolve the issue. Trouble was, he missed. But a .22 from my Colt didn\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I called Lieutenant Ant over at the 3rd precinct to fill him in on the unfortunate turn of events. I told him where to find me, along with the stiff. I explained how I\u2019d been working on a case involving an embezzler I\u2019d been tracking for a client. How it didn\u2019t turn out so good for him. In his usual huff and puff manner, he told me to hold tight and he\u2019d be there in ten. It was more like an hour, plus another two for his relentless questions. But finally, he let me go, satisfied with my side of the story. By the time I got back to my office, I was spent and had planned to head home right after. But in my line of work, nothing was ever straightforward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found her seated in my office, her back to me in the chair reserved for potential clients. When it came to new clients, first impressions and a healthy dose of skepticism were always in order. Except, everything about this unexpected visitor was telling me to turn and run. But I couldn\u2019t. It may have had something to do with those long, slender, aquiline legs. The way they hung at a precarious and seductive angle from the edge of the wood-backed chair. Or her emerald, green eyes that had me transfixed, the way a tiger to its prey seconds before it\u2019s about to pounce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you James Cartwright, the private investigator,\u201d she asked. A hint of a southern drawl coloring her voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how does one go about hiring you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey tell me a story, and if I figure there\u2019s something to it, I go from there.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery well, Mr. Cartwright\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCall me James,\u201d I said, cutting in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d prefer to keep this formal. You know, so there\u2019s no misunderstanding,\u201d she retorted with a wry smile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, Miss\u2026.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMiss Stonewall,\u201d she threw out, not offering up her first name. She was serious about the formality. That was never a good sign. Experience told me she was hiding something\u2014either her actual name or the true reason for her visit. Again, the thought crossed my mind to get out while I still could. But I suffered from two major personality traits. One was curiosity, and the other was women. The combination of the two had gotten me in more hot water than I cared to remember. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll right, Miss Stonewall,\u201d emphasizing her last name, \u201chow can I help you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m sure you heard about the orangutan that escaped from the Chicago Zoo last week.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, it was all over the papers,\u201d I said, surprised and wondering what a missing orangutan had to do with me\u2014especially one that escaped from a zoo three-hundred miles away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI represent The Mutual Trust Insurance Company. We insured the orangutan,\u201d she explained, handing me a business card. I took it, giving it a once over. Her name and contact details were centred on the card in raised black ink. It still didn\u2019t mean she was legit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, what\u2019s this orangutan worth?\u201d I asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout a hundred thousand.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWow. That\u2019s one expensive ape.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, it is,\u201d she returned with a faint smile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny idea how and why it escaped?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe how, yes. The why, we still have no idea. The primatologist who cares for the orangutan discovered her escape route.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, the ape\u2019s female?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, her name\u2019s Samantha or Sam for short. And this wasn\u2019t the first time she tried to escape. She was good at it. But in every case, she wouldn\u2019t wander far. And she always returned.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExcept this time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExactly. No one\u2019s sure why.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I still don\u2019t get what this has to do with me. I usually take local cases, especially of the homo sapiens variety.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSam was last spotted near a local park right here in your city,\u201d she said, ignoring my rebuttal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a hell of a way to travel, even for an ape,\u201d I said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgreed. Which got me thinking.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? That she was kidnapped?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, why not? The zoo would pay a sizable fee to get her back. Sam\u2019s from the endangered Sumatran species. Less than eight thousand remain. It\u2019d be an arduous process replacing her. Also, the zoo recently acquired a four-year-old orangutan from the Basel Zoo. They hoped that Sam would act as its surrogate parent. The two seemed to bond well. Then Sam disappeared.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere exactly is this Basel Zoo,\u201d I asked, exposing my ignorance about zoos and geography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Switzerland, of course,\u201d she answered with a smug smile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight. But what if Sam and this youngster didn\u2019t bond as well as everyone thought? And Sam hightailed it out of there, hitching a ride on the first train out of Chicago.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnything is possible but highly unlikely.\u201d A twisted smirk followed her words at such an absurd suggestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhatever the case, I still don\u2019t figure out how I fit into all this. I track people, not animals. Besides, you\u2019re not sure if someone took her. It\u2019s only one of several possibilities.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch as?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d have to give it some thought.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis may help change your mind,\u201d she said, passing a plain white envelope across the desk toward me. I picked it up and had a peek inside. A quick count told me there were close to five thousand dollars in small bills held up in there. \u201cThere\u2019s another five once you find Sam,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see. But if I were to take this case, I\u2019d prefer payment by check.\u201d As I passed the envelope back toward her, I added, \u201cThat way, everything stays above board. As you pointed out earlier, there wouldn\u2019t be any chance for any misunderstandings.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI apologize if I\u2019ve offended you, Mr. Cartwright. But I was under the impression that you preferred this method of payment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yeah. By whom?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not important,\u201d she said, deflecting my question, \u201cbut finding Sam is. Will you take the case?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just say I\u2019ll look into it and let you know.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all I ask,\u201d she answered, offering one final intoxicating smile. Then pulling out her checkbook, she wrote me a personal check to replace the five thousand dollars in cash. I couldn\u2019t help wondering who suggested paying me off. I\u2019d hold back cashing the check until I could be sure she was on the level. Either way, she\u2019d piqued my curiosity. And once that happened, I was like a mad dog craving a bone\u2014nothing would stop me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Available on Amazon<\/a> and other fine book stores<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Publisher: \u200e Original Press (November 11, 2020) \/ Language: \u200e English \/ Paperback: \u200e 298 pages \/ ISBN-10: \u200e 1989577032 \/ ISBN-13: \u200e 978-1989577035 \/ Item Weight: \u200e 15.5 ounces \/ Dimensions: \u200e 6 x 0.75 x 9 inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Case of the Runaway Orangutan, A James Cartwright P.I. Mystery, (Book 3 of 3) Blurb: Cartwright\u2019s latest case starts off simple enough. Miss Stonewall, from the Mutual Trust Insurance Agency, wants him to track down a missing orangutan. The thing is, as Cartwright explains, he doesn\u2019t do orangutans. But when Stonewall offers him a … <\/p>\n

Read more “The Case of the Runaway Orangutan, A James Cartwright P.I. Mystery”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2662,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3322","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3322"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3322"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3336,"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3322\/revisions\/3336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naccarato.org\/Spencer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}