Show Notes
What happens when the person who knows you best sits down to cross-examine your writing? The truth bleeds right onto the page. For twenty-five years, Chris Lengquist has been telling gritty, observant stories from his days in the investigative trenches. But with his debut novella, Notice of Assignment, launching this October, he’s stepping into the world of fiction. To break down how it all came together, Chris hands the microphone to his wife and real-life compass, Marie. In this intimate, b...
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What happens when a routine real estate photo shoot accidentally puts you in the crosshairs of a G7 security detail? In the fall of 1994, Chris Lengquist was transitioning out of the high-stakes world of surveillance to focus on delivering legal papers and building his photography chops. It was supposed to be a quick, productive afternoon in NW Washington, D.C.—nine house exteriors photographed, two summonses served, and just one more property to shoot in the elite, embassy-lined neighborhood...
The Invisible Paths: A 4th of July Escalation at Lake Missouri A missing child, a snap judgment, and the hard reality of what happens when a crowd turns its gaze on you. It’s the Fourth of July, 2026. Cal Brink is sitting on an eastern cove of Lake Missouri, surrounded by patriotic crowds, slow-rolling pontoons, and the smell of a neighborhood pig roast. It looks like a classic slice of Americana—until the frantic calls for a little girl named Ava begin to echo over the water. In a matter of ...
What happens when a standard, low-key daylight process service turns immediately hostile? You find out exactly how your body burns off adrenaline. It’s 1988 in Hyattsville, Maryland. A young process server executes a routine, non-confrontational delivery to an office building off Route 1. But a sudden pivot past a receptionist leads straight into a hostile office, a flash of movement in a desk drawer, and a loud gunshot echoing through the parking lot. Decades later, Chris breaks down the ana...
Part 2 of Chapter One: Blue Ink, Hidden Clues, and Real Estate Truths NOTE: I was traveling and the audio was recorded in the Thunderbird Lodge at Grand Canyon National Park. Sorry, but the audio isn't the best. In the world of real estate, a title closing table is where dreams are finalized. In a crime thriller, it’s exactly where the trap gets set. Today, we are heading right back into the manuscript engine room for the conclusion of Chapter One of the upcoming Cal B...
The Behavioral Tells of a Clumsy Delivery When a target vows he will never be caught, an investigator can't rely on brute force. You have to rely on human nature. It’s an early morning in Maryland, and a young process server is staring down a difficult assignment. The subject is a 235-pound corporate boss tucked behind a secure, three-story office building, and he has let everyone know he refuses to be served. Bypassing a locked back door and security guards means executing a classic piece of...