mg357
Absent Comrade
The Disabled Private Detective by Matthew George
June 9th 2011
Castle Texas a nice city but when the sun goes down its crime infested underbelly shows its ugly head.
26 year old Private Detective Charlie Marlowe is on his way to the only gun store in the City of Castle Texas to get his work guns cleaned by the store’s gunsmith Mr. Dave Daniels.
After safely getting through a terrible traffic jam he is able to reach his destination which is in one of the nicer more civilized parts of the city.
The young detective parks his work vehicle a fully restored WWII Jeep in one of the stores disabled parking places.
he shuts down the engine, unhooks his custom made and installed seat belt then he gets, his wheelchair out of the back of the vehicle gets it put together, then he grabs the gun case that contains his work guns out of the passenger seat, attaches it to his wheelchair seatbelt.
then he makes his way to the store’s front door. When he reached it Charlie pushed the automatic door button that operated the front door of the store.
After the door opens he goes inside and heads for the main gun section of the stores gun counter where the store’s Gunsmith Mr. Dave Daniels is waiting for him.
Charlie places the case on the counter then Dave opens it and reveals Charlie’s work guns an Auto-ordnance reproduction M1 Carbine
A S&W Model 686 .357 magnum revolver with a 4 inch barrel and a 6 shot cylinder
a S&W Model 649 chambered in .357 magnum
And last but not least a S&W Model 36 .38 caliber revolver.
After clearing the guns the nice well-mannered Gunsmith said to one of his best customers. “Charlie these guns are absolutely filthy what have you been doing with them.”
Charlie replied “I got into a gunfight with the husband of my latest clients apparently he did like it when I caught him and his mistress together. Unfortunately for him I was a better marksman than he was.”
Dave shook his head then he said to his dear friend and best customer “You should consider getting into a less dangerous line of work my friend. It’s going to take me quite a while to get these things cleaned up. “
“Take all the time you need Dave take all the time you need. By the way is Amy in the building?”
“Yes she is I will send her your way just as soon as I can. In a teasing tone of voice he said to the young lady. Amy your “Boyfriend” is here to see you.
A few seconds later the store’s most beautiful employee Miss Amy Webster walked over the counter where Charlie was sitting.
And the two old friends talked and walked around the store
“You know Amy this gun store is quite large and has a great selection of guns and gun accessories but the staff here is friendly and polite and they treat you as if you’re a member of their own family.”
Amy replied warmly “Thank you Charlie when Dave started the business years ago that is what he was aiming for, he wanted a large gun store but he wanted to make sure, that every customer that came in here was treated like a member of his family.”
A little while later Dave came out of the store’s back room with Charlie’s freshly cleaned M1 Carbine S&W model 686 model 649 Model.
“Alright you two “love birds” come back over here please I finally got your guns cleaned up Charlie”.
So the two “love birds” went back to counter so Charlie could pick up his guns after paying the small gun cleaning fee that Dave charged Charlie grabbed the case and headed for the exit.
He was about to push the automatic door button then he realized that he had something very important that he needed to ask Amy so Charlie turned his wheelchair around and pushed it back to the main gun section of the gun counter.
And he asked her this very important question “Amy we have been friends for many years and I have question for you, would you like to go out on a movie date on Friday night?”
Amy looked at Charlies handsome clean shaven face and she said to him “Charlie I would love to go to the movie’s with you on Friday night.”
Then she wrote down her home phone number and address on the piece of paper and handed it to Charlie They young detective took the piece of paper from Amy, opened the front pocket of his green fanny pack,
removed his wallet from it and put the piece of paper in the wallet.
After putting the wallet back into the fanny pack
he zipped it up told Amy good bye and left the store and he headed home.
When Friday night rolled around Charlie went over to his bed took off his jacket, Scott E Vest chest holster S&W Model 686 and fanny pack then he laid the stuff on the bed right next to his date clothes.
Then he got into the shower and he showered and shaved thoroughly very thoroughly.
After drying off he put on his date clothes, applied aftershave, put on his jacket put his EDC items into the Jacket pockets.
Then they young detective went out the door of his house got into his personal vehicle a 2001 ford F-150 Pickup truck and he drove to Amy’s house. When he got to her house
he parked his truck and pushed his wheelchair to her front door.
When he got to her front door he knocked politely very politely and he waited for his date. After a long wait Amy Came out of her house dressed beautifully.
After some brief small talk Charlie opened the passenger side down and Amy sat down on the seat and put on her seatbelt.
After getting the wheelchair into the truck bed he made his way to the driver side truck door opened it he got into the driver seat fastened his seatbelt, started the engine and off they went to the movies.
When they got to the movie theater Charlie parked his truck in a disabled parking spot shut down the truck’s engine, opened the driver side door and went to the
truck bed, and got his wheelchair out of the vehicle.
Then he went to the passenger side of his truck and opened the door for Amy Then the young couple left parking lot went into the movie theatre and they studied the movie Marquee.
After some back and forth debate they decided on the movie they were going to see after paying for the movie tickets and the movie snacks, they went into the theatre where their movie was playing and they watched it.
Three hours later the movie ended they exited the theatre and made their way to the lobby and they were about to head outside and go home when it started to rain heavily.
After finding a place to sit in the lobby of the movie theatre, Amy looked at Charlie and she said to him.
“Charlie it looks like we are going to be here for a while would you mind telling me about yourself? I know so little about you and you never talk about your family.”
Charlie cleared his throat then he began to tell his life story which unfortunately
“Amy my life is very boring, I am a Christian I go to church every Sunday, and I was born in an Army Hospital near Fort Bragg where my father Mr. Robert Marlowe was stationed as a member of the Special Forces as an intelligence sergeant.”
“I was raised in a little blue and white house near the base it was not much of a house but it was warm and it very nice. And my parents loved me a great deal and I loved them very much.”
“My Grandpa is a retired Baptist minister and factory worker my grandma is a retired nurse. My mom Mrs. Patricia Ripley and dad Mr. Robert Marlowe where both born in in Kentucky Kansas”
“She was a high school math teacher and she was loved by her students very much. In 1994 he retired from the Army after 20 years in the service. With the rank of Master Sergeant”
“Unfortunately 4 months after he retired from the service my dad and mom were killed in a car wreck I was 9 years old it was a pretty nasty wreck.”
“After they died I was sent to live with my mom’s parents Fred Ripley and Hallie Nance Ripley In the town of Kentucky Kansas.”
“Shortly after I moved in with my grandma and grandpa my uncle Charlie drove up from Texas to stay my grandparents and me for the summer.”
“He was my grandma’s brother and my favorite uncle you would have loved very much.”
“During this visit I asked him what he did for a living, and he told me he was a private detective.”
“When he told me that I asked me to teach him everything he could about his work as a private detective.”
“So for the next 9 years he taught everything he knew about being a private detective, and I mean everything.”
“Then shortly before my 18th birthday my uncle Charlie died of bone cancer and he left me his private detective business so I moved here to Texas to take it over.”
“The day I left Kansas to move to Texas my grandpa presented me with a couple of goodbye gifts.”
“My father’s M9 Beretta service pistol and grandpa’s 12 gauge shotgun I don’t fire these guns because their family heirlooms and they have great sentimental value to me, aside from my gun hobby I have many other hobbies and interests.”
“Amy a very simple man there is really nothing special about me at all. In fact some people would say that I am boring.”
While he talked about his family and his childhood Charlie pulled out his wallet and he showed Amy some pictures he had of his family inside of it wallet.
When he finished speaking Amy looked at him and she said to him sweetly “Wow you do have a very interesting life I don’t think that is boring.”
Then Amy told Charlie her own life story about growing up in the town of Martin Mississippi and Charlie quietly sat next to her and listened to her soft angelic voice, by the time Amy finished telling her life story to Charlie the rain storm finally stopped.
So the young couple quickly exited the movie theatre and he drove her home. After a few good night kisses Amy went inside her house Charlie got back into his truck and he drove straight home.
Once he was at home Charlie went straight to his bedroom changed clothes and then he went to sleep.
Over the next 2 years Charlie Marlowe and Amy Webster dated and got to know each other very well.
They even took a trip to Charlie’s adopted hometown of Kentucky Kansas and he introduced Amy to his grandparents and they loved her very much.
They also took a trip to Amy’s hometown in Martin Mississippi to meet her parents but unfortunately the trip did not go well. Amy’s Parents absolutely did not like Charlie or his occupation. They insulted him left right and side way’s Charlie did his best to defend himself, and Amy did her best to defend the man that she loved, but it did not help.
So they cut the trip short, when they were halfway between Mississippi and Texas the young couple stopped for gasoline, and something to eat, at a Gas station/Diner, after getting the gas tank filled up.
They went into the diner and were seated at the best table in the place and ordering something to eat after sitting for several minutes in total and complete silence, Amy took a few sips from her soda then she began to speak to her beloved Charlie.
“Charlie I am so sorry about how my family treated you, they can be rather cruel and mean you’re a good man a I love you very much and frankly I don’t care what they think or have to say about you.”
When Amy finished speaking Charlie looked at the woman he loved very much gently took a hold of her hands and he replied.
“Amy thanks for your kind words. It’s not your fault your family was not nice to me. Some people are not nice, but that is the way that the world work’s sometimes.”
Finally one day Charlie was out in the field doing some surveillance work for his newest client when he had a major epiphany. “I love Amy Webster and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
When his surveillance work was done he went home and he looked over his finances very carefully.
Then he made a few phones calls and made some appointments with the owners of every jewelry store in Castle Texas.
Then one by one he visited the jewelry stores where he had made the appointments after visiting the last jewelry store on his appointment list.
He got back into his truck and screamed very loudly “WHY CAN’T I FIND A SUITABLE ENGAGEMENT RING FOR MY BELOVED AMY?”
After he finished his screaming fit the young private detective went home and he had some lunch, and
For the 13 days and 13 nights he thought about his engagement ring situation, then one day this thought crossed his mind.
“Why not asks your grandma for her engagement ring?” then have a custom jeweler make an exact duplicate of her ring for Amy.”
So he contacted a custom jewelry designer in town and asked them if they could make a custom engagement ring based on his Grandma’s engagement ring.
The nice gentleman on the phone said yes they could do that but that it would be expensive but Charlie responded boldly.
“Sir I don’t care how much it costs I have a credit card with no limit and money is no object.”
When he finished his phone call he packed a bag got in his truck and he drove to Kentucky Kansas so he could see his grandparents.
After a very long tiring drive he arrived in the small town of Kentucky Kansas.
The town where he spent the school holidays and summers of his youth the town that adopted him after he was sent to live there in 1994 at the age of 9 after his parents were killed in a car wreck it was pretty nasty.
When he reached 3634 South Moon Pie Street Charlie turned left and he carefully parked his Blue 2001 Ford F-150 in their driveway.
He shut down the motor, got out of it, got into his wheelchair, and went to the front door of the house.
When he reached it he knocked politely, and waited for one of them to open the door.
A few moments later Charlie’s Grandma Hallie Nance Ripley came to the front door, looked at her favorite grandson and she said.
“Charlie what a pleasant surprise please come in you look hungry and thirsty.”
Then she looked over her shoulder and into the kitchen and she said
“Fred fix an extra of plate of food and a cup of coffee, Charlie is here to visit.”
So Grandpa fixed a plate of food and cup of coffee for his grandson.
Then Charlie came into the house and the 3 of them sat down said grace and then they ate.
Midway through the morning meal Charlies
Grandpa Fred Ripley looked at his favorite grandchild and he said to him.
“Charlie it’s really good to see you, so what brings you all the way here? Aren’t you busy with the business?”
Charlie looked at his grandpa and he said to him “I just wanted to see you and grandma no business is a little slow right now. I also came to ask a favor.”
Then the young detective took a few sips from his coffee and he began to speak.
“Grandma and Grandpa I have finally decided to propose to my girlfriend Amy and I have been trying to find a suitable engagement ring for her but I have not found one unfortunately.”
“So I contacted a custom jeweler and they can make a custom ring they just need an example ring to look at so that the jeweler can build it.”
“Which leads me to my favor Grandma may I borrow your engagement ring please? when I introduced you to Amy she just loved your engagement ring, and could not looking at it or talking about it.”
“An I was thinking that the custom jeweler could use your engagement ring and make and exact duplicate of it for her.”
Grandma looked at Charlie and she said to him “Charlie you can borrow my ring. All I ask is that you get back to me as soon as possible. It’s very special to me.”
Charlie looked at his Grandma and he replied
“Grandma thank you so much for doing this, you are the world’s greatest Grandma.”
When the ring business was taken care of they resumed eating and for the next few days Charlie enjoyed his visit with his Grandparents.
At the end of the visit Grandma gave her very precious engagement ring to him.
Charlie promised his grandma he would return it to her as soon as he could. Then he returned to Texas.
After making an appointment with Jimmy James the Custom jeweler they had a meeting at his jewelry store after some small talk they got down to business.
“Jimmy here is my Grandma’s engagement ring. I want you to make an exact duplicate of her ring but with one exception on the outside of the duplicate ring’s band.
I want you to engrave the words I love you Amy.”
“Can you do that? how long with it take to get the ring duplicated? and how much will it cost?”
Jimmy cleared his throat then he said to him.
“Charlie yes I can do it. It will take 9 weeks, to get the whole project completed from start to finish. and it will cost you 6 thousand dollars.
I wish it was less expensive. But it’s not I’m sorry about that.”
Charlie looked at Jimmy the custom Jeweler and he said to him confidently.
“Jimmy that’s fine I will pay whatever it costs, all I ask is that you not lose my Grandma’s engagement ring it’s very special if I lose it I am a dead man.”
9 weeks later Jimmy called Charlie and said to him that the ring work was done.
So he grabbed his keys and drove to the store as fast and as safely as he could.
When he got their Charlie parked the truck and went straight into the store.
Jimmy Presented him with two sterling silver ring boxes box number 1 had the name AMY engraved on it and contained her ring.
box number two had GRANDMA engraved on it and contained her engagement ring.
Charlie opened the AMY Box and examined the ring. After the examination he returned the ring to its box.
Then he looked at his Grandma’s ring and put it back into its box, and then he paid Jimmy for his work, with his emergency credit card. He put the two rings into the fanny pack; drove home packed and drove back to Kentucky Kansas.
When he got there he parked in his grandparent’s driveway and went to their front door, and he knocked politely. Grandma opened the saw her beloved grandson and she invited him into the house, after eating breakfast with his Grandparents.
Charlie gave his Grandma the Sterling silver ring box that held her engagement ring.
She opened the box took the ring out of it, and put it onto her finger.
Then they resumed eating after another nice visit the young man returned to Texas
4 Days later he was ready to propose to her So after work he put the small sterling silver ring box into his fanny pack grabbed his truck keys, and drove to Amy’s house after parking the truck.
Then he got out of his Vehicle and he pushed himself to her front door. When he got to it he knocked nervously.
Several nerve racking minutes later Amy came to the front door and let Charlie inside of her house
after some small talk Private Detective Charlie Marlowe got down to business.
“Amy you and I have been dating for a very long time now and I have something I want to ask you Miss Amy Webster will you marry me?”
“Now before you answer my proposals there are a few things that you should know.”
“I am not a rich man and I’m not a very handsome man I also have a lot of health problems and i work long hours at my job.”
“Also your family does not like me and if we get married your family will make your life miserable for the rest of your life they may even disown you. “
“But I love you and I want to love and raise lots of children with you I want us to have lots of grandchildren and I want to grow old with you.
When Charlie was done speaking Amy had tears flowing out of her eyes and then she said to him.
“Charlie my answer is yes I will marry you.” Then she took the ring and slipped it on her ring finger and then she kissed Charlie passionately very passionately.
EPILOGUE: After over a year of planning and preparation Charlie and Amy married in the Kentucky Kansas Baptist church the groom’s grandpa performed the ceremony, the grooms grandma served as maid of honor the grooms best friend/gunsmith served as best man.
After a brief honeymoon they returned to Texas Charlie and Amy went back to work they eventually adopted and raised 6 children 3 sons and a 3 daughters
Eventually these children grew up and raised families of their own and they blessed their parents with lots of grandchildren who were spoiled rotten by their grandparents.
Shortly after their 64th wedding anniversary Amy died in her sleep. Charlie grieved for Amy until the day of his own death 3 years and 9 days later and he was buried beside his bride of over 60 years 6 feet under the cold Texas ground.
Charles’s Weapon Collection
Firearms
Charter Arms .38 caliber revolver
Freedom arms single action revolver .357 Magnum
Colt Detective Special
Berretta model 950 .22 caliber pistol-
S&W Model 15 .38 special revolver round butt 2 inch barrel
M1 carbine
Ruger Mini14 rifle
Stoeger double defense 20 Gauge shotgun
S&W Model 442
S&W Model 649
Mossberg defender .410 shotgun
Browning hi-power 9mm pistol-
Colt 1908 .25 caliber pistol
Walther PP
Walther p38
Walther PPK
S&W Model 65 .357 magnum revolver 3 inch barrel
S&W Model 60-15 .357 magnum revolver 3 inch barrel
Sig Sauer 226 9mm pistol
Ruger .380 ACP semi-automatic pistol
Beretta 92FS 9MM pistol- inheritance from his dad who died when Charlie was 9 years old
12 gauge shotgun- gift from his grandpa
Walther TPH .22 Caliber
S&W Model 629 .44 magnum revolver
Colt Combat commander .45 ACP
Ruger mini14
S&W M&P AR-15 Carbine
FN 5.7 Semi-automatic pistol
Beretta 84 .380 ACP
Glock 17 9MM Pistol
Keltec 380 ACP
S&W Mode-10-14 .38 caliber revolver 4 inch heavy barrel-
Colt 1911 .45 Caliber Glock 26 9mm pistol
Ring Gun from his great great Great Grandfather who was a gambler and gun fighter in the old west
Colt 1911-a1 .45 caliber pistol
Auto-ordnance reproduction M1 Carbine
Auto-ordnance Paratrooper m1 carbine
S&W Model 686 4 inch barrel 6 shot cylinder
Glock Model 22 .40 caliber pistol
S&W Model 36 blued 2 inch barrel
S&W Model-617 .22 caliber revolver 4 inch barrel 10 shot cylinder
Knives collection
Push dagger-
Gerber Applegate –Fairbairn Combat folder
Bench made 710
Cadet Swiss Army knife-black grips
Cadet Swiss Army Knife-Silver grips
Bantam-Swiss Army Knife
Pioneer Swiss Army knife
Tinker Swiss Army Knife
Recruit Swiss Army Knife
Charlie’s everyday carry gear
Firearms Auto-ordnance M1 Carbine 3 15-round magazines one in the weapon 2 more in the buttock pouch
S&W Model 686 4 inch barrel 6 shot cylinder
Loaded with Federal brand .38 special 125 Grain Nyclad hollow point premium personal defense ammunition
Carried in a Diamond D custom Guide Choice Chest holster
Scott E vest
Right front pocket S&W 649 Bodyguard loaded with Federal brand .38 special 125 Grain Nyclad hollow point premium personal defense ammunition
Left front pocket S&W model 36 .38 caliber revolver also loaded with Federal Brand .38 special 125 Grain Nyclad hollow point personal defense ammunition.
Fanny pack contents
Spare ammunition for his revolvers
Wallet
Cell phone
Address book,
Recruit Swiss Army Knife & Leatherman Supertool 300 used for wheelchair repairs.
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June 9th 2011
Castle Texas a nice city but when the sun goes down its crime infested underbelly shows its ugly head.
26 year old Private Detective Charlie Marlowe is on his way to the only gun store in the City of Castle Texas to get his work guns cleaned by the store’s gunsmith Mr. Dave Daniels.
After safely getting through a terrible traffic jam he is able to reach his destination which is in one of the nicer more civilized parts of the city.
The young detective parks his work vehicle a fully restored WWII Jeep in one of the stores disabled parking places.
he shuts down the engine, unhooks his custom made and installed seat belt then he gets, his wheelchair out of the back of the vehicle gets it put together, then he grabs the gun case that contains his work guns out of the passenger seat, attaches it to his wheelchair seatbelt.
then he makes his way to the store’s front door. When he reached it Charlie pushed the automatic door button that operated the front door of the store.
After the door opens he goes inside and heads for the main gun section of the stores gun counter where the store’s Gunsmith Mr. Dave Daniels is waiting for him.
Charlie places the case on the counter then Dave opens it and reveals Charlie’s work guns an Auto-ordnance reproduction M1 Carbine
A S&W Model 686 .357 magnum revolver with a 4 inch barrel and a 6 shot cylinder
a S&W Model 649 chambered in .357 magnum
And last but not least a S&W Model 36 .38 caliber revolver.
After clearing the guns the nice well-mannered Gunsmith said to one of his best customers. “Charlie these guns are absolutely filthy what have you been doing with them.”
Charlie replied “I got into a gunfight with the husband of my latest clients apparently he did like it when I caught him and his mistress together. Unfortunately for him I was a better marksman than he was.”
Dave shook his head then he said to his dear friend and best customer “You should consider getting into a less dangerous line of work my friend. It’s going to take me quite a while to get these things cleaned up. “
“Take all the time you need Dave take all the time you need. By the way is Amy in the building?”
“Yes she is I will send her your way just as soon as I can. In a teasing tone of voice he said to the young lady. Amy your “Boyfriend” is here to see you.
A few seconds later the store’s most beautiful employee Miss Amy Webster walked over the counter where Charlie was sitting.
And the two old friends talked and walked around the store
“You know Amy this gun store is quite large and has a great selection of guns and gun accessories but the staff here is friendly and polite and they treat you as if you’re a member of their own family.”
Amy replied warmly “Thank you Charlie when Dave started the business years ago that is what he was aiming for, he wanted a large gun store but he wanted to make sure, that every customer that came in here was treated like a member of his family.”
A little while later Dave came out of the store’s back room with Charlie’s freshly cleaned M1 Carbine S&W model 686 model 649 Model.
“Alright you two “love birds” come back over here please I finally got your guns cleaned up Charlie”.
So the two “love birds” went back to counter so Charlie could pick up his guns after paying the small gun cleaning fee that Dave charged Charlie grabbed the case and headed for the exit.
He was about to push the automatic door button then he realized that he had something very important that he needed to ask Amy so Charlie turned his wheelchair around and pushed it back to the main gun section of the gun counter.
And he asked her this very important question “Amy we have been friends for many years and I have question for you, would you like to go out on a movie date on Friday night?”
Amy looked at Charlies handsome clean shaven face and she said to him “Charlie I would love to go to the movie’s with you on Friday night.”
Then she wrote down her home phone number and address on the piece of paper and handed it to Charlie They young detective took the piece of paper from Amy, opened the front pocket of his green fanny pack,
removed his wallet from it and put the piece of paper in the wallet.
After putting the wallet back into the fanny pack
he zipped it up told Amy good bye and left the store and he headed home.
When Friday night rolled around Charlie went over to his bed took off his jacket, Scott E Vest chest holster S&W Model 686 and fanny pack then he laid the stuff on the bed right next to his date clothes.
Then he got into the shower and he showered and shaved thoroughly very thoroughly.
After drying off he put on his date clothes, applied aftershave, put on his jacket put his EDC items into the Jacket pockets.
Then they young detective went out the door of his house got into his personal vehicle a 2001 ford F-150 Pickup truck and he drove to Amy’s house. When he got to her house
he parked his truck and pushed his wheelchair to her front door.
When he got to her front door he knocked politely very politely and he waited for his date. After a long wait Amy Came out of her house dressed beautifully.
After some brief small talk Charlie opened the passenger side down and Amy sat down on the seat and put on her seatbelt.
After getting the wheelchair into the truck bed he made his way to the driver side truck door opened it he got into the driver seat fastened his seatbelt, started the engine and off they went to the movies.
When they got to the movie theater Charlie parked his truck in a disabled parking spot shut down the truck’s engine, opened the driver side door and went to the
truck bed, and got his wheelchair out of the vehicle.
Then he went to the passenger side of his truck and opened the door for Amy Then the young couple left parking lot went into the movie theatre and they studied the movie Marquee.
After some back and forth debate they decided on the movie they were going to see after paying for the movie tickets and the movie snacks, they went into the theatre where their movie was playing and they watched it.
Three hours later the movie ended they exited the theatre and made their way to the lobby and they were about to head outside and go home when it started to rain heavily.
After finding a place to sit in the lobby of the movie theatre, Amy looked at Charlie and she said to him.
“Charlie it looks like we are going to be here for a while would you mind telling me about yourself? I know so little about you and you never talk about your family.”
Charlie cleared his throat then he began to tell his life story which unfortunately
“Amy my life is very boring, I am a Christian I go to church every Sunday, and I was born in an Army Hospital near Fort Bragg where my father Mr. Robert Marlowe was stationed as a member of the Special Forces as an intelligence sergeant.”
“I was raised in a little blue and white house near the base it was not much of a house but it was warm and it very nice. And my parents loved me a great deal and I loved them very much.”
“My Grandpa is a retired Baptist minister and factory worker my grandma is a retired nurse. My mom Mrs. Patricia Ripley and dad Mr. Robert Marlowe where both born in in Kentucky Kansas”
“She was a high school math teacher and she was loved by her students very much. In 1994 he retired from the Army after 20 years in the service. With the rank of Master Sergeant”
“Unfortunately 4 months after he retired from the service my dad and mom were killed in a car wreck I was 9 years old it was a pretty nasty wreck.”
“After they died I was sent to live with my mom’s parents Fred Ripley and Hallie Nance Ripley In the town of Kentucky Kansas.”
“Shortly after I moved in with my grandma and grandpa my uncle Charlie drove up from Texas to stay my grandparents and me for the summer.”
“He was my grandma’s brother and my favorite uncle you would have loved very much.”
“During this visit I asked him what he did for a living, and he told me he was a private detective.”
“When he told me that I asked me to teach him everything he could about his work as a private detective.”
“So for the next 9 years he taught everything he knew about being a private detective, and I mean everything.”
“Then shortly before my 18th birthday my uncle Charlie died of bone cancer and he left me his private detective business so I moved here to Texas to take it over.”
“The day I left Kansas to move to Texas my grandpa presented me with a couple of goodbye gifts.”
“My father’s M9 Beretta service pistol and grandpa’s 12 gauge shotgun I don’t fire these guns because their family heirlooms and they have great sentimental value to me, aside from my gun hobby I have many other hobbies and interests.”
“Amy a very simple man there is really nothing special about me at all. In fact some people would say that I am boring.”
While he talked about his family and his childhood Charlie pulled out his wallet and he showed Amy some pictures he had of his family inside of it wallet.
When he finished speaking Amy looked at him and she said to him sweetly “Wow you do have a very interesting life I don’t think that is boring.”
Then Amy told Charlie her own life story about growing up in the town of Martin Mississippi and Charlie quietly sat next to her and listened to her soft angelic voice, by the time Amy finished telling her life story to Charlie the rain storm finally stopped.
So the young couple quickly exited the movie theatre and he drove her home. After a few good night kisses Amy went inside her house Charlie got back into his truck and he drove straight home.
Once he was at home Charlie went straight to his bedroom changed clothes and then he went to sleep.
Over the next 2 years Charlie Marlowe and Amy Webster dated and got to know each other very well.
They even took a trip to Charlie’s adopted hometown of Kentucky Kansas and he introduced Amy to his grandparents and they loved her very much.
They also took a trip to Amy’s hometown in Martin Mississippi to meet her parents but unfortunately the trip did not go well. Amy’s Parents absolutely did not like Charlie or his occupation. They insulted him left right and side way’s Charlie did his best to defend himself, and Amy did her best to defend the man that she loved, but it did not help.
So they cut the trip short, when they were halfway between Mississippi and Texas the young couple stopped for gasoline, and something to eat, at a Gas station/Diner, after getting the gas tank filled up.
They went into the diner and were seated at the best table in the place and ordering something to eat after sitting for several minutes in total and complete silence, Amy took a few sips from her soda then she began to speak to her beloved Charlie.
“Charlie I am so sorry about how my family treated you, they can be rather cruel and mean you’re a good man a I love you very much and frankly I don’t care what they think or have to say about you.”
When Amy finished speaking Charlie looked at the woman he loved very much gently took a hold of her hands and he replied.
“Amy thanks for your kind words. It’s not your fault your family was not nice to me. Some people are not nice, but that is the way that the world work’s sometimes.”
Finally one day Charlie was out in the field doing some surveillance work for his newest client when he had a major epiphany. “I love Amy Webster and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
When his surveillance work was done he went home and he looked over his finances very carefully.
Then he made a few phones calls and made some appointments with the owners of every jewelry store in Castle Texas.
Then one by one he visited the jewelry stores where he had made the appointments after visiting the last jewelry store on his appointment list.
He got back into his truck and screamed very loudly “WHY CAN’T I FIND A SUITABLE ENGAGEMENT RING FOR MY BELOVED AMY?”
After he finished his screaming fit the young private detective went home and he had some lunch, and
For the 13 days and 13 nights he thought about his engagement ring situation, then one day this thought crossed his mind.
“Why not asks your grandma for her engagement ring?” then have a custom jeweler make an exact duplicate of her ring for Amy.”
So he contacted a custom jewelry designer in town and asked them if they could make a custom engagement ring based on his Grandma’s engagement ring.
The nice gentleman on the phone said yes they could do that but that it would be expensive but Charlie responded boldly.
“Sir I don’t care how much it costs I have a credit card with no limit and money is no object.”
When he finished his phone call he packed a bag got in his truck and he drove to Kentucky Kansas so he could see his grandparents.
After a very long tiring drive he arrived in the small town of Kentucky Kansas.
The town where he spent the school holidays and summers of his youth the town that adopted him after he was sent to live there in 1994 at the age of 9 after his parents were killed in a car wreck it was pretty nasty.
When he reached 3634 South Moon Pie Street Charlie turned left and he carefully parked his Blue 2001 Ford F-150 in their driveway.
He shut down the motor, got out of it, got into his wheelchair, and went to the front door of the house.
When he reached it he knocked politely, and waited for one of them to open the door.
A few moments later Charlie’s Grandma Hallie Nance Ripley came to the front door, looked at her favorite grandson and she said.
“Charlie what a pleasant surprise please come in you look hungry and thirsty.”
Then she looked over her shoulder and into the kitchen and she said
“Fred fix an extra of plate of food and a cup of coffee, Charlie is here to visit.”
So Grandpa fixed a plate of food and cup of coffee for his grandson.
Then Charlie came into the house and the 3 of them sat down said grace and then they ate.
Midway through the morning meal Charlies
Grandpa Fred Ripley looked at his favorite grandchild and he said to him.
“Charlie it’s really good to see you, so what brings you all the way here? Aren’t you busy with the business?”
Charlie looked at his grandpa and he said to him “I just wanted to see you and grandma no business is a little slow right now. I also came to ask a favor.”
Then the young detective took a few sips from his coffee and he began to speak.
“Grandma and Grandpa I have finally decided to propose to my girlfriend Amy and I have been trying to find a suitable engagement ring for her but I have not found one unfortunately.”
“So I contacted a custom jeweler and they can make a custom ring they just need an example ring to look at so that the jeweler can build it.”
“Which leads me to my favor Grandma may I borrow your engagement ring please? when I introduced you to Amy she just loved your engagement ring, and could not looking at it or talking about it.”
“An I was thinking that the custom jeweler could use your engagement ring and make and exact duplicate of it for her.”
Grandma looked at Charlie and she said to him “Charlie you can borrow my ring. All I ask is that you get back to me as soon as possible. It’s very special to me.”
Charlie looked at his Grandma and he replied
“Grandma thank you so much for doing this, you are the world’s greatest Grandma.”
When the ring business was taken care of they resumed eating and for the next few days Charlie enjoyed his visit with his Grandparents.
At the end of the visit Grandma gave her very precious engagement ring to him.
Charlie promised his grandma he would return it to her as soon as he could. Then he returned to Texas.
After making an appointment with Jimmy James the Custom jeweler they had a meeting at his jewelry store after some small talk they got down to business.
“Jimmy here is my Grandma’s engagement ring. I want you to make an exact duplicate of her ring but with one exception on the outside of the duplicate ring’s band.
I want you to engrave the words I love you Amy.”
“Can you do that? how long with it take to get the ring duplicated? and how much will it cost?”
Jimmy cleared his throat then he said to him.
“Charlie yes I can do it. It will take 9 weeks, to get the whole project completed from start to finish. and it will cost you 6 thousand dollars.
I wish it was less expensive. But it’s not I’m sorry about that.”
Charlie looked at Jimmy the custom Jeweler and he said to him confidently.
“Jimmy that’s fine I will pay whatever it costs, all I ask is that you not lose my Grandma’s engagement ring it’s very special if I lose it I am a dead man.”
9 weeks later Jimmy called Charlie and said to him that the ring work was done.
So he grabbed his keys and drove to the store as fast and as safely as he could.
When he got their Charlie parked the truck and went straight into the store.
Jimmy Presented him with two sterling silver ring boxes box number 1 had the name AMY engraved on it and contained her ring.
box number two had GRANDMA engraved on it and contained her engagement ring.
Charlie opened the AMY Box and examined the ring. After the examination he returned the ring to its box.
Then he looked at his Grandma’s ring and put it back into its box, and then he paid Jimmy for his work, with his emergency credit card. He put the two rings into the fanny pack; drove home packed and drove back to Kentucky Kansas.
When he got there he parked in his grandparent’s driveway and went to their front door, and he knocked politely. Grandma opened the saw her beloved grandson and she invited him into the house, after eating breakfast with his Grandparents.
Charlie gave his Grandma the Sterling silver ring box that held her engagement ring.
She opened the box took the ring out of it, and put it onto her finger.
Then they resumed eating after another nice visit the young man returned to Texas
4 Days later he was ready to propose to her So after work he put the small sterling silver ring box into his fanny pack grabbed his truck keys, and drove to Amy’s house after parking the truck.
Then he got out of his Vehicle and he pushed himself to her front door. When he got to it he knocked nervously.
Several nerve racking minutes later Amy came to the front door and let Charlie inside of her house
after some small talk Private Detective Charlie Marlowe got down to business.
“Amy you and I have been dating for a very long time now and I have something I want to ask you Miss Amy Webster will you marry me?”
“Now before you answer my proposals there are a few things that you should know.”
“I am not a rich man and I’m not a very handsome man I also have a lot of health problems and i work long hours at my job.”
“Also your family does not like me and if we get married your family will make your life miserable for the rest of your life they may even disown you. “
“But I love you and I want to love and raise lots of children with you I want us to have lots of grandchildren and I want to grow old with you.
When Charlie was done speaking Amy had tears flowing out of her eyes and then she said to him.
“Charlie my answer is yes I will marry you.” Then she took the ring and slipped it on her ring finger and then she kissed Charlie passionately very passionately.
EPILOGUE: After over a year of planning and preparation Charlie and Amy married in the Kentucky Kansas Baptist church the groom’s grandpa performed the ceremony, the grooms grandma served as maid of honor the grooms best friend/gunsmith served as best man.
After a brief honeymoon they returned to Texas Charlie and Amy went back to work they eventually adopted and raised 6 children 3 sons and a 3 daughters
Eventually these children grew up and raised families of their own and they blessed their parents with lots of grandchildren who were spoiled rotten by their grandparents.
Shortly after their 64th wedding anniversary Amy died in her sleep. Charlie grieved for Amy until the day of his own death 3 years and 9 days later and he was buried beside his bride of over 60 years 6 feet under the cold Texas ground.
Charles’s Weapon Collection
Firearms
Charter Arms .38 caliber revolver
Freedom arms single action revolver .357 Magnum
Colt Detective Special
Berretta model 950 .22 caliber pistol-
S&W Model 15 .38 special revolver round butt 2 inch barrel
M1 carbine
Ruger Mini14 rifle
Stoeger double defense 20 Gauge shotgun
S&W Model 442
S&W Model 649
Mossberg defender .410 shotgun
Browning hi-power 9mm pistol-
Colt 1908 .25 caliber pistol
Walther PP
Walther p38
Walther PPK
S&W Model 65 .357 magnum revolver 3 inch barrel
S&W Model 60-15 .357 magnum revolver 3 inch barrel
Sig Sauer 226 9mm pistol
Ruger .380 ACP semi-automatic pistol
Beretta 92FS 9MM pistol- inheritance from his dad who died when Charlie was 9 years old
12 gauge shotgun- gift from his grandpa
Walther TPH .22 Caliber
S&W Model 629 .44 magnum revolver
Colt Combat commander .45 ACP
Ruger mini14
S&W M&P AR-15 Carbine
FN 5.7 Semi-automatic pistol
Beretta 84 .380 ACP
Glock 17 9MM Pistol
Keltec 380 ACP
S&W Mode-10-14 .38 caliber revolver 4 inch heavy barrel-
Colt 1911 .45 Caliber Glock 26 9mm pistol
Ring Gun from his great great Great Grandfather who was a gambler and gun fighter in the old west
Colt 1911-a1 .45 caliber pistol
Auto-ordnance reproduction M1 Carbine
Auto-ordnance Paratrooper m1 carbine
S&W Model 686 4 inch barrel 6 shot cylinder
Glock Model 22 .40 caliber pistol
S&W Model 36 blued 2 inch barrel
S&W Model-617 .22 caliber revolver 4 inch barrel 10 shot cylinder
Knives collection
Push dagger-
Gerber Applegate –Fairbairn Combat folder
Bench made 710
Cadet Swiss Army knife-black grips
Cadet Swiss Army Knife-Silver grips
Bantam-Swiss Army Knife
Pioneer Swiss Army knife
Tinker Swiss Army Knife
Recruit Swiss Army Knife
Charlie’s everyday carry gear
Firearms Auto-ordnance M1 Carbine 3 15-round magazines one in the weapon 2 more in the buttock pouch
S&W Model 686 4 inch barrel 6 shot cylinder
Loaded with Federal brand .38 special 125 Grain Nyclad hollow point premium personal defense ammunition
Carried in a Diamond D custom Guide Choice Chest holster
Scott E vest
Right front pocket S&W 649 Bodyguard loaded with Federal brand .38 special 125 Grain Nyclad hollow point premium personal defense ammunition
Left front pocket S&W model 36 .38 caliber revolver also loaded with Federal Brand .38 special 125 Grain Nyclad hollow point personal defense ammunition.
Fanny pack contents
Spare ammunition for his revolvers
Wallet
Cell phone
Address book,
Recruit Swiss Army Knife & Leatherman Supertool 300 used for wheelchair repairs.
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