This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Austin S. Camacho will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Reporter Irma Andrews, helped Hannibal Jones unravel a series of murders that caused a lot of collateral damage among the families of the victims. So when Irma asked for an interview he didn’t see how he could say no.
Here’s the way the piece ran:
I met with private investigator Hannibal Jones in his office in the Anacostia section of Washington. He offered me an excellent cup of coffee, which he said was made from Costa Rican beans, and sat at his desk with the sunlight pouring in through large front windows. The office was small and Spartan, sparely furnished but warm and bright. Significantly, while I took notes during the interview, so did Mr. Jones.
Irma Andrews: Thank you for speaking with me today. You are listed as a private investigator but your card describes you as a troubleshooter. How would you describe what you do, and why is it different from what most P.I.’s do?
Hannibal Jones: Most private investigators do employment vetting, matrimonial and divorce work, insurance claims and that kind of stuff. My work is a lot more focused. My clientele is individuals, not corporations. I work with people who are in trouble and don’t know where to get help.
IA: But you do bodyguard work.
HJ: Sometimes.
IA: And solve mysteries like any detective.
HJ: On occasion.
IA: And if a person has been threatened?
HJ: Look, I do whatever’s necessary to help somebody who’s gotten themselves into a jam. I don’t think much about what that might be, going in.
IA: What qualifies you to do this sort of work? What is your professional background?
HJ: As soon as I was old enough I moved to the States and joined the New York City police force.
IA: You weren’t born in the United States?
HJ: No. I was raised in Germany. My dad was an MP in the army. My mom was a German national. We lost Dad in Vietnam. Anyway, I came to the U.S. to be a cop and I was going to bring Mama over as soon as I was settled but she passed.
IA: While you were away.
HJ: (pause.) Yes. While I was away.
IA: I’m sorry. So, you became a policeman…
HJ: Three years on the force to make detective J.G. Then three more as a detective. Then I passed the Secret Service entry exam. I spent seven years as a special agent for the Treasury Department, in the protective service.
IA: But after seven years, you resigned.
HJ: Yeah, well, stuff happened. I should have been one of the uniforms instead of going to the protective service. You see, in the protective service, they expect you to not only protect your principal’s life but his reputation too. I didn’t think my duty should include covering up a politician’s stupid actions. My boss disagreed.
IA: Any politician in particular?
HJ: Not going to go there.
IA: A national figure? Executive branch or…
HJ: I’m not going to go there.
IA: So why this whole troubleshooter concept? How did you get into this business?
HJ: I guess in a way I did it for Mama. She always wanted me to follow my dad’s example. He was always there for people, always looking out for the little guy. Here in Washington, it seemed like there was an overabundance of little guys that needed looking out for.
IA: What kind of job will you do?
HJ: All kinds. Well, no matrimonial stuff, or spying on people waiting for them to do wrong. But I do personal protection, missing persons, sometimes get hired to prove an accused person innocent. I’ll chase a bad element away like I did here, keep drug dealers away from kids or a pimp away from a hooker who wants to quit. Negotiate with loan sharks. Basically, if you have to deal with the bad guys and don’t want the police involved, I’ll usually handle it.
IA: Interesting. How would you describe your relationship with the police?
HJ: I’d call it mutual grudging respect. I don’t mess with them. They don’t mess with me.
IA: How would you describe your personal relationship with Cindy Santiago?
HJ: I would describe it as personal.
IA: What have you learned doing this?
HJ: I’ve learned that most people are sheep. They’re not looking for trouble and they’ll do the right thing if you let them. A few people are wolves. They prey on the sheep, and they’re going to do wrong no matter what you do. They need to be shut out or put down hard.
IA: And you? Where do you fit in?
HJ: Me? I guess I’m the sheepdog.
Hannibal stepped inside and closed the door behind himself. A quick scan showed Sands to be a good housekeeper for a bachelor. There was a place for everything. The blinds were set to let the maximum amount of sunlight into the front room. Small knickknacks and figurines stood on display on bookcases and the end tables bracketing the leather sofa. A scattering of tiny roses made the wallpaper seem feminine, but the framed paintings of Civil War combat scenes counterbalanced that. The neatness was almost jarring under the circumstances. The only thing out of place in the front room was Quentin himself. He lay spread eagled on the hardwood floor. And with no carpet to absorb liquid, the pool of blood beneath him had spread quite a distance.
Lying face up, Quentin looked more startled than pained. Hannibal stepped as close to the body as he could without touching the blood pool. There was no need to check for a pulse. The pencil-sized hole just above his left eyebrow was pretty definitive. Hannibal knew the picture would not be nearly as neat on the other side, and he had no desire to see it. Powder burns and stippling on the man’s forehead told Hannibal that this shooting was done up close. Despite Quentin’s final facial expression, he had to have seen it coming.
So, what was your crime, Hannibal silently asked the corpse. Did you get too close to Connie for some other man’s comfort?
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Kind-Hannibal-Jones-Mystery/dp/1940758971/
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting me!! It's fun to interview your own characters. Never know what they'll say.
ReplyDeleteMy family loves reading so hearing about another great book I appreciate. Thanks for sharing and also for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, James. I hope you win!! (And hope you give THe Wrong Kind a try. :-)
DeleteDo you have any New Year's Resolutions?
ReplyDeleteMy only professional resolution is to write every day. Of course there are others... get my 10,000 steps every day, read at least one book every month, choose kindness whenever possible.
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteFun character interview!
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed following the tour and can't wait to check out The Wrong Kind. Thanks for sharing all of the great posts along the way.
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