The Private Haystack - Paperback

by Yolanda D. Logan (Author)

Southern Crest Police Department (SCPD) Detective II, Harriet ("Harri") Wilburn is currently assigned to work on a joint task force, along with a few other law enforcement agencies, including the renowned Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Ordinarily, she's recognized as a committed, clever, resilient, bold and brash officer. However, recently, she became legally separated from Riggs, her husband of twenty years, who happens to work for LAPD as a 'Watch Commander' at their Mission (Valley Bureau) Station. Due to such circumstances, she has become fairly insecure about her future prospects, and realized that switching teams isn't as easy as she first imagined. On day one, she unintentionally (I think), instigated a couple of ridiculous misunderstanding at the Hollywood Burbank Airport. Prior to her departure, she was also informed by Nathan ("Nate"), her twenty year old son that he has knocked up his selective amnesia girlfriend. Additionally, she's a tad concerned about Brock, her partner, regarding his latest quirky behavior. On the upside, the Wilburn family have a lovable and precocious black Labrador retriever named Grady. In any event, Harri and Brock traveled to the Bay Area, in order to extradite a dangerous suspect who fled their jurisdiction, and was later captured by the Oakland Police Department (OPD). Since she's from the noted region, she decided to have coffee with Carol ('Lil sister'), her younger sister, who resides in Rodeo, CA. During their discussion, she's convinced that Riggs is attempting to poison her with a mysterious can (yes, a can) of toothpaste. Moreover, Harriet also candidly revealed that she has dated several prospects from a virtually unknown website. Thus, she provided a subjective assessment of each one. In part, she half-jokingly described: "...Oh boy, and his sluggish manner of speaking reminded me of a Country Fried Steak. You don't mind having it as a meal once in a while, but you don't want to make a steady diet of it." Among several prospects, she decidedly chose number seven who was overwhelmingly a risky exception to an established industry policy. Despite receiving well-intended advice from Carol and Duke ('Mister Man'), a close friend, who also owns a popular arcade center, called "Far Out," located in Berkeley, CA she failed to consider dumping her secretive and scandalous lover. Notably, Carol who customarily leads a predictable married lifestyle, which includes raising two children, and working part-time at a medical rehabilitation clinic (featuring singing messenger "Choon Hee"), unexpectedly shared that she's also facing some tough family challenges (i.e. Mason and Bonnie, their biracial teenaged children, both have issues). Specifically, during one low point, she professed her deepest feelings about Eugene's (husband) infidelity, and the odds of finding a devoted mate: "...What a dirty little trick life has played on us. We're all futilely searching for true love, something that's scarcely obtainable..." Despite Duke going through a divorce, he doles out plenty of advice: "...and don't try to have a conversation when you're hotter than a flame thrower..." Incidentally, he was also under the false impression that all of his marital woes were managed, only to discover that he's not exactly out of the woods. Sometime later, the gabbing trio were rightfully banned from a trendy Bay Area café. Essentially, throughout the day, many revelations were uncovered. Lastly, a heartbreaking tragedy occurred, which promptly jolts Harri back into reality.