Character Interview Number Nine – Tom Kendall, Private Detective

Tell Us About Yourself

Name (s): Tom Kendall, Private Detective –

Age: The right side of 40

Please tell us a little about yourself. So what do you want to know, where I was born, stuff like that? Well I was brought up in New York, on the east side. I went to Brook Street School. Miss Lacey, she was my teacher. She was small, but she was tough. You didn’t cross her. Discipline you see, that’s the answer, discipline. You don’t get that now. After school I had a few dead end jobs, working in a store, and then I joined the New York Police Department. I was 17. My father had been a Police Sergeant with the 22nd Precinct, and so had his father before him. Even my uncle had been a police officer in Chicago. Then about ten years ago I left the department and started up as a Private detective, and haven’t looked back since

Do you have a moral code? If so what is it? Sure I do. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. I don’t do no harm to anybody, and I give to charity … well occasionally I give to charity, especially children and animals.

What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses? Now that’s a question if ever there was. My strengths I suppose are I’m loyal, and determined. I never give up. Once I get an idea in my head you can’t shake it. Weaknesses, well I am rather partial to a double cheeseburger and onions, and I do like those little chocolate cookies you get, do you know the ones I mean.

Do you have any relationships you prize above others? Well I’ve got no family, not any more. Dad died back in 1990, and mum she left us about six years ago. I think I’ve got a cousin in Oregon, or somewhere, haven’t heard from her for years. Probably wouldn’t know her if I passed her in the street. So now apart from Mike, you know Mike’s Bar, the one relationship I value most must be Mollie, my business partner. Oh it’s not one of those sentimental relationships, and I tell you I would not admit this to her, so you keep it quiet. Truth be known I’d never manage without her. I mean not only does she make great coffee, and keep the office organised, we talk a lot, you know. And she comes up with all kinds of ideas. She lifts my spirit when I’m low. She is one good friend. There is one other special relationship, and that’s my friendship with John. He writes down all of my cases you know. It was my idea, and don’t let anyone tell you different, but I don’t have the time to record everything so John does it for me.

Do you like animals? Hey who doesn’t like animals? Anyone who doesn’t like animals is no friend of mine. We had dogs at home. It was always dogs. Gyp was the first that I remember. He was always up to mischief, investigating this and that. Then there was Lucy, she came from a rescue centre. When we first saw her she was so nervy. You know, skittish. But she turned out to be a terrific dog. Last was Katy. Poor old Katy, she had a lot of health problems. She had a cancer and lost her right leg. But she was still able to get around. But then she got another tumour and that was that. That was twelve years ago she went to sleep. Can’t believe it. Still miss her. Now it’s really not convenient. I live in an apartment and work takes me out at any time. It just wouldn’t be fair.

Tell Us About Your World

Does your world have religion or other spiritual beliefs? Well I suppose to be honest I’m not that spiritual. I mean I don’t go to Church or anything. Oh weddings, and funerals certainly, but I don’t do the Sunday morning thing. Mind you I do have a belief that there is a God. He’s saved my hide a few times I can tell you. I guess I should be more appreciative, maybe the occasional visit would be something I should consider.

Name and describe a food from your world. Well I’ve already touched on that. In my opinion one of the truly great things to come out of the US of A is the cheeseburger, with lashings of onions, and French fries. Now Mollie she’s always trying to get me to eat healthy. You know tuna salads, and grilled chicken, things like that. I’ve tried it. Yes it’s okay, but it’ll never take the place of real food.

Does your world have different races of people? If so do they get on with one another? In my world there are only two kinds of people, the good guys and the bad guys. It’s my job to catch the bad guys and put them away. Simple as that.

What is the technology level for your world? Look I can’t even spell the word. Sure we just got some computers in the office and slowly I’m getting the hang of it. We went the whole way, computers, external drives, scanners, the works. Even thinking of getting a web page done, once I figure out what needs doing. Up until a few weeks back I thought a hard drive was going from the office downtown during the rush hour. Mind you I have now got a smart phone. How it works I’ve yet to find out but I’ll get there. Remember what I said before, I’m determined. I never give up.

Does your world have any supernatural/mystical beings? There’s a lot of guys out there who have power and exert it for their own purposes. There are blackmailers, kidnappers, murderers, and all kinds of low life, but no supernatural or mystical beings. The ones I deal with are all pretty near mortal, they just think they have special powers.

Author notes:

Book(s) in which this character appears.

“The Mackenzie Dossier”, “The Marinski Affair”, “Epidemic”, and “A Killing In The City”

Author name

John Holt

Website/Blog/Author pages etc.

Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Holt-Author/553064201380567

Amazon Page – http://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Holt/e/B003ERI7SI/