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Contest of Wills
(2008)(The fourth book in the Frank Cole Mystery series)
A novel by Vincent H O'Neil
When background-checker Frank Cole takes a new job at a Tallahassee law firm, he has no idea what's in store for him. The firm's lead investigator, brash Jimmy Hanigan, takes him under his wing right away. A little later, the firm's owner tells them that his old friend and client Chester Pratt has died under mysterious circumstances - and that Pratt's will is missing.
As Frank and Jimmy dig into the case, they learn that Pratt's death may have indeed been an accident, that no one in his family seems to want his fortune, and that an old nemesis from Frank's first case is dogging their steps. In no time at all, it's a true contest of wills in sunny Florida.
Excerpt
Thomas Pratt, wearing an unbottoned dress shirt over a dark pair of trousers, greeted us at the door with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a large black revolver in the other. His eyes were wild, and he appeared to have been crying. He didn't remember us at first, but that might have been better than what happened when he did.
"Well hello!" he muttered in a low, throaty voice which scared me much more than if he had shouted. "Looks like my good friends from my Pop's law firm. The guys who were only trying to help.
"Well have a look!" he raised his voice only slightly as he waved the bottle behind him. We could only see down a short hallway from where we were standing, but that didn't seem to matter to him. "Yep, the place is empty! Ya wanna know why?
"So my kids wouldn't have to see their daddy getting arrested. That's right! I sent 'em away with their mother. Can you beat that? The cops think I killed my own father, and that means I have to send my family away."
He stopped himself then, and took a lurching step deeper into the hall before beckoning with the gun. "But where are my manners? Come in, come in, do come in! Heck, you invited yourselves here the other day, so why not come in?"
He was backing away now, a bit more certain in his footing, and the gun was pointed right at us. I honestly expected Jimmy to say we wouldn't be joining him, so it was a bit of a surprise when he walked past me. I was downright shocked when I followed, looking at my feet and wondering why they were moving.
And you could have knocked me over with a feather when I reached out and shut the door behind us.
Genre: Mystery
As Frank and Jimmy dig into the case, they learn that Pratt's death may have indeed been an accident, that no one in his family seems to want his fortune, and that an old nemesis from Frank's first case is dogging their steps. In no time at all, it's a true contest of wills in sunny Florida.
Excerpt
Thomas Pratt, wearing an unbottoned dress shirt over a dark pair of trousers, greeted us at the door with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a large black revolver in the other. His eyes were wild, and he appeared to have been crying. He didn't remember us at first, but that might have been better than what happened when he did.
"Well hello!" he muttered in a low, throaty voice which scared me much more than if he had shouted. "Looks like my good friends from my Pop's law firm. The guys who were only trying to help.
"Well have a look!" he raised his voice only slightly as he waved the bottle behind him. We could only see down a short hallway from where we were standing, but that didn't seem to matter to him. "Yep, the place is empty! Ya wanna know why?
"So my kids wouldn't have to see their daddy getting arrested. That's right! I sent 'em away with their mother. Can you beat that? The cops think I killed my own father, and that means I have to send my family away."
He stopped himself then, and took a lurching step deeper into the hall before beckoning with the gun. "But where are my manners? Come in, come in, do come in! Heck, you invited yourselves here the other day, so why not come in?"
He was backing away now, a bit more certain in his footing, and the gun was pointed right at us. I honestly expected Jimmy to say we wouldn't be joining him, so it was a bit of a surprise when he walked past me. I was downright shocked when I followed, looking at my feet and wondering why they were moving.
And you could have knocked me over with a feather when I reached out and shut the door behind us.
Genre: Mystery
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Used availability for Vincent H O'Neil's Contest of Wills