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    Unleashed: Case of the Shepherd's Pie
    Unleashed: Case of the Shepherd's Pie
    Unleashed: Case of the Shepherd's Pie
    Ebook176 pages3 hours

    Unleashed: Case of the Shepherd's Pie

    By Erik Schubach

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    About this ebook

    Finnegan Temperance McLeary-May, dog walker extraordinaire has had an eventful time in Manhattan since she first moved to New York City. Her unique profession and quirky, bubbly personality endear her to everyone who meets her.

    Finnegan and her personal NYPD Detective and wife, Jane, adjust to the realities of adjusting their lives to accommodate the two daughters they have adopted. One teen, Bri, and one tween, Luce.

    After Brianne's graduation, Finnegan finds herself embroiled in a case involving the underworld of crime and drugs in New York City when she goes to rescue a dog in an abandoned part of a building.

    Jane learns as she is racing against the clock to save her trouble magnet wife again, that Luce is more like Finnegan than they thought when she goes missing as well.

    The clock is ticking as their family collectively holds their breath.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherErik Schubach
    Release dateOct 26, 2019
    ISBN9780463570227
    Unleashed: Case of the Shepherd's Pie
    Author

    Erik Schubach

    I got my start writing romance novels by accident. I have always been drawn to strong female characters in books, like Honor Harrington. And I also believe that there is a lack of LGBT characters in media. So one day I came up with a story idea that combines the two... two days later I completed the manuscript for Music of the Soul.My writing style may not be the most professional nor grammatically correct, but I never profess to be an English major, just a person that wants to share a story. I maintain that my primary language is sarcasm.Each of my books features strong likeable female characters that are flawed. I think that flaws and emotional or physical scars make us human and give us more character than simply conforming to some "social norm".I have also started a SciFi series, The Valkyrie Chronicles which features a Valkyrie, Kara, who was left behind on Earth five thousand years ago to help the Asgard race escape the onslaught of the Ragnarok horde. With the aid of a human, Kate, she holds the line in battle to herald the return of the Asgard!If you like magic, paranormal romance and witches, then my new series Fracture might tickle your fancy. In the first book Fracture: Divergence, Alex King must stop magic from destroying reality. The problem is that Alex must solve the case in parallel universes where in one Alex is male and female in the other.There is even a modern shapeshifter paranormal series, Drakon. Featuring a fiery Irish woman with a sharp wit and sharper temper who finds out she is a dragon of legend.

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      Book preview

      Unleashed - Erik Schubach

      Chapter 1 – Shenanigans

      Damn, what had she gotten herself into now? I checked my hair bun in my reflection of the school doors and growled at the errant locks that had worked their way free. My long wavy locks always had a mind of their own and I was trying to exude an air of professionalism here. At least the dark-rimmed glasses which I really didn't need to wear, gave me a more intelligent and sophisticated look.

      I smoothed down my business skirt and took a deep breath to steel myself, satisfied with how I and my personal assistant, who was looking much calmer and relaxed at my side, looked. I pulled open the door and we strode into the chaos of the last week of school. Children were rummaging through their lockers, running and shouting down the halls as they rushed to the school buses and parental pickup areas on either side of the block which the Harrison Jackson Middle School took up here in Manhattan.

      Two overly rambunctious boys with woefully baggy pants drooping, were darting through the mass of kids at an unsafe rate, and I called out to them, No running in the halls!

      They turned to look at me then slowed to a more human, and less Road Runner on his fifth cup of coffee pace, one saying on reflex, Yes ma'am.

      And pull up your pants. They again did as they were told on reflex, looking put out that they actually wear their pants at their waist instead of drooping halfway down. Did they really think it made them look cool? Oh lord, I was becoming my mom, wasn't I?

      I noted how my personal assistant drew a lot of attention. It was understandable, he was strikingly handsome. I told him, I think you have some admirers, Cal.

      Stopping short in the hall, I had to adjust some end of school year celebration banners, which were fastened to the walls with painter's tape. Once they were perfectly straight, I did the same for all the fliers and extracurricular sign-up forms pinned to the bulletin board. Arranging them by date and size and making sure they were perfectly straight by using two pins in each instead of one, where they could hang all willy-nilly.

      I had pride in the school, so everything had to be perfect. I may be slightly obsessive-compulsive at times, but organization just made good sense. Some others I know may say I have OCD, but those particular others will have me to contend with if I hear them saying it.

      The teachers I passed, all inclined their heads in acknowledgment as I strode right up to the main office. I said, Hi Kiko, to the office secretary, who just smiled at Cal and I as I strode right up to the door marked Principal on the brass and black plaque. I smiled at it and then rubbed a fingerprint off the shining brass.

      What? Principal? Me? Oh no no no... I guess I should introduce myself, the name is Finnegan Temperance McLeary-May, dog walker extraordinaire, at your service. No really, at your service, you can hire me online in the Manhattan area at FinneganWalks.com. Though there is a substantial waiting list. I'd strike a pose for you, but people are looking.

      I looked down to my fuzzy lieutenant, my Border Collie, Sir Calvin Cornelius Fluffytoes and sighed while he looked up at me expectantly, his feathery tail swishing behind him. I raised a hand to knock and hesitated, looked back to Kiko and asked, How bad is it?

      The scrunched faced apology and a sheepish smile on the woman's lips told the whole story. That bad huh? Well then, wish me luck. She crossed her fingers and I rolled my eyes then did the same then knocked.

      A battle-hardened, yet still melodious alto called out, Enter.

      I stepped into the office, and Calvin loped over to my adoptive daughter, Luce, who was sitting in one of the chairs arranged around Principal Fernandez's desk. The immense Irish Wolfhound in a working dog bib laying at Luce's feet looked over at me, her big goofy tongue lolling out as she got up to properly greet Calvin, who was getting a head patting from Luce who still hadn't had the courage to look up at me as she straightened Calvin's own working dog bib.

      I studied the people all looking at me in expectation, besides Principal Alejandra Fernandez, there was the vice principal in all his shiny headed glory standing behind her, a man and woman I didn't know seated with a boy in sweats, who was glaring at Luce, then Miss Randall, Luce's homeroom teacher.

      The principal said, Mrs. McLeary-May, as she made a motion toward the open seat beside Luce. Ok, this was more serious than the last three times I was called into an after school meeting with the principal if she wasn't using my first name as I had insisted.

      I inclined my head and greeted her, Alejandra. I looked up at the vice-principal. Vince. Then trying to be as innocent as I could, I leaned over to kiss the top of my girl's curly red head to let her know everything was going to be ok. It would take her a minute to get over her embarrassment of me being called in again before she was her normal firecracker self. I asked, To what do I owe the pleasure of your invitation today?

      Vince's left eye was twitching, telling me he was not amused. It used to do that back in grade school too. He was from Liberty like I was, and was one of the boys who teased me all the time, just to be... dissuaded... of the behavior by my twin brother Garrett. It truly was nice to see that the boy had grown into a respectable man. He was fast-tracking to be a principal of his own school soon from what I hear, and at such a young age.

      Alejandra sighed and made introductions. Finnegan McLeary-May, this is James and Chelsea McAlister. McAlister... why did I know that name? They didn't take my offered hand.

      It seems that Luce had super-glued the McAlister 's son, Thomas, to his chair in English class. The school nurse used up all the acetone he had to free the boy, his pants were ruined. The boy's parents were currently trying to simultaneously burn holes through both me and Luce with their eyes.

      Ah, Thomas... Tommy, the boy who has been bullying Richard and Lisa at lunch. The entire story was crystallizing in front of my eyes.

      The principal went on. As you know, Mrs. McLeary-May, we have a zero-tolerance rule about bullying in...

      Luce blurted, her Irish accent thicker with emotion, What? Are ya a complete gobshite or somethin'? You know that's just lip service, kids like Tommy are bullyin' kids all the feckin' time and you lot do nothin'.

      I blurted out, Luce! as the principal snapped, Language Miss O'Connor! While the boy said, I didn't do nuttin.

      The man said before Alejandra could continue, Everyone knows the girl has something wrong with her, just because she's special needs doesn't...

      I stood up from my seat in a shot, my eyes glaring, Calvin caught my rage and moved beside me, curling back his upper lip without making a single noise. I was speaking in a cold tone I hated to hear from myself, There is nothing wrong with my daughter, she is exactly the person she is meant to be. I expect the next words you utter to be an apology for verbally attacking a child. We're supposed to be the adults here. It is bullying precisely like that which is why we're all here today is it not?

      Alejandra had stepped around her desk to lay a hand on my arm to calm me. Mrs... Finnegan, please, sit back down. I looked at her then back at Luce who was tugging on my skirt, her no-nonsense look on her face giving me a moment to calm myself.

      I nodded, smoothed my skirt, then sat, Luce, moved her face close to mine, muttering under her breath, Sorry. Then she added to the room in general, Rules are there for a reason, it only makes good sense, and they only work if everyone follows them.

      The principal cocked an expectant eyebrow. My girl deflated and made a conscious effort to seal her lips. The effort looking cute on her overly freckled face. Then Alejandra tugged the hem of her blouse straight as she went back around her desk to sit down.

      I locked eyes with Mr. McAlister as the Principal said with firm authority, Mrs. McLeary-May is correct, I will not abide demeaning comments about any of the students in this school.

      Mrs. McAlister shook her husband's arm then he exhaled in frustration and I could see where his son's attitude came from. He looked at me and said in a measured tone, I apologize.

      I shook my head. Not to me... her.

      He looked at my daughter and said in a very stilted manner, I apologize.

      Tosser.

      Luce!

      Miss O'Conner!

      Sorry.

      I said, And I apologize for my daughter's terseness. We're working on it. I pointed at Luce before she could add to my words. I was wise to my girl after only the first few months of living with her. Secretly I was proud that she didn't take any shit and didn't suffer fools. She just had to be a little less... verbal about it, especially when it comes to authority figures.

      She's a lot like I was at her age. Everyone keeps telling me that, but I never saw it for the longest time, and I can see a lot of similarities now. She's on the spectrum with her Asperger's and even though I've never been tested, even I have to admit that I'm likely on the spectrum too, slightly below her.

      She pursed her lips, visibly fighting the urge to say something, and I smiled at her. She started rubbing the back of her hand furiously on her chin, and I just held a hand out, wiggling my fingers as Buttons laid her huge head in Luce's lap. One hand automatically grabbed a fistful of Buttons' fur the other one took my hand. It had taken almost two months before Luce felt comfortable touching more than just pinkies. But now she viewed the contact the same way I did, as a sharing our strength with each other.

      Alejandra leaned back in her chair and exhaled and said as she spread her hands, We're just trying to understand how and why this occurred, so we can weigh the disciplinary actions we...

      Mr. McAlister blurted, We know what happened and we want that girl expelled according to your zero-tolerance rules. We...

      Mrs. McAlister placed her hand on his arm. James, please, let's hear the principal out.

      I looked at the principal, then Tommy as I went into what my wife, Jane, calls my overprotective maternal mode. I will not apologize for the need to defend my baby girl, and Jane feels exactly the same and she knows it. She just lets me voice it for the two of us so she can look the calm, cool, and collected one.

      I keyed in on the implication that the school staff doesn't know what happened, so it really came down to the fact that they can't do anything with their apparently broken zero-tolerance rules if staff doesn't witness it otherwise Tommy would have been expelled long ago. I didn't approve of Luce's scorched earth approach to protecting her classmates, but I admit I have temper flare-ups too. My friends and family don't call me a serial toe stomper for nothing.

      Shut up and stop smirking.

      This all came down to Tommy's word against Luce's in the eyes of the school. While I was quite sure that Luce did indeed superglue this boy to his chair, the causal string of events that led up to it is something that needed to be brought to light as well. I'm not making excuses for my girl, but by all accounts, this boy is terrorizing his classmates and knows how to play the system so he is never held accountable. I don't think he expected the wrath of a redheaded Irish girl, just like nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

      I placed a warning hand on Luce's shoulder, she was quick, maybe too quick, and would hopefully key into what I was doing. How many witnesses stepped forward to indicate Luce had applied the glue to Tommy's chair?

      To my surprise, it was Vince who spoke up, an eye on the boy. The teacher and the teaching assistant didn't see anything, and were only called over when Thomas started yelling. The look on his face told me he was watching the boy. I know many children and a couple parents have reported the bullying of their kids by Tommy, so I could see that Vince has had an eye on him.

      Hmm... I guess it takes a former bully to recognize a bully. But it also shows that even a bully can reform.

      I nodded and said, So the reason I am here is that my daughter admitted to the offense? I looked at Luce with a cocked brow.

      She was way ahead of me as she said in the tone she got when she felt people were just being stupid, I'm not an eejit... Mum.

      I stood and said, Then I guess we'll be going if...

      Tommy stood and blurted angrily as he jabbed a finger sharply toward Luce, It was her! She threatened me, saying she'd get even for... He trailed off as he realized what he almost said. Then he noticed Buttons was standing with Cal and both of them had their ears flattened to their heads. He sat quickly and so did they.

      Principal Fernandez perked up. "Get even for what,

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