Detective Z Searches for Karma: The Metaphysical Detective 1

It was a dark and stormy night, the kind that made you want to stay indoors, where it was warm and safe. Rain lashed against the windows, and the wind howled like a pack of wild dogs.

I’m a gumshoe, a P.I. My name is Zachariassen, but I’ve always been called Z. Nowadays, it’s Detective Z.

I’ve seen some kooky things in my time. But this case was screwball. This time, I was investigating whether Karma exists.

A businessman walked into my office, by his dress — tweed suit, silk tie, wool pants, expensive loafers — an Ivy League grad. I recognized him after a minute. He was a guy who had made a fortune, but he was starting to fear that Karma was about to bite him. He wanted me to find out if Karma was real, and if so, how he could avoid it.

I accepted the case, knowing it wouldn’t be easy. I started looking into the businessman, trying to find specific instances of bad deeds that might have come back to haunt him.

The businessman had done some truly terrible things in his life. Shady deals and underhanded schemes that left people homeless and penniless. Yet, he seemed to be doing just fine. I couldn’t understand it. Was Karma real, or was it just a myth?

I was starting to think I was chasing a ghost. But then, I started investigating the people who knew the businessman. I spoke to his employees, his associates, his family, and his wife. That’s when things started to get interesting.

His employees were turning against him, whispering about leaving for a competitor. His kids were becoming addicted to drugs, spending their nights in seedy clubs. His wife had started an affair with one of his associates, a man who was waiting for the right moment to pounce on the business.

Perhaps the universe was finally balancing the scales, and the businessman was starting to pay for all the bad things he had done.

The more I dug, the more I found. It seemed like every corner of his life was crumbling. Deals were falling through, and trusted allies were turning into bitter enemies. It was like watching a slow-motion train wreck.

One rainy evening, I found myself at the edge of the city, where the businessman had his mansion. I watched as he sat alone in his grand study, surrounded by all the trappings of success that now seemed like a mockery of his downfall.

I decided it was time to pay him a visit. I knocked on the door, and a weary butler let me in. The businessman looked up, his eyes fearful.

Although I wasn’t sure, I told him that Karma does indeed exist, and it’s something that no one can escape. I advised him to make amends to all the people he had harmed, to start spending some quality time with his family, and to reconsider his life choices.

He stared at me, his face a mix of anger and resignation. Maybe he’ll change. Maybe he won’t. That’s his problem, not mine.

I pocketed my fee and walked out into the stormy night, the rain soaking my trench coat. As I stepped into the street, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Maybe the universe does have a way of righting wrongs, and I was had been the guy who nudged it along.

I lit a cigarette and took a long drag, the smoke curling up into the night. The city was full of mysteries, and I was ready to uncover the next one. Another case, another mystery, another fee.

Bill Lauritzen’s website is www.earth360.com