A Hamburger Christmas: A Heartwarming Crime and Mystery Novella for the Holidays (Detectives Daniels and Remalla) by J. T. Bishop

Author:J. T. Bishop [Bishop, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eudoran Press LLC
Published: 2022-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Nobody said a word, but they all glanced toward the front room. Gary kept the gun on Rem, but he cursed and whispered. “Who the hell is that?”

Grateful for the interruption, Rem wondered the same thing. Maybe one of Chico’s friends? A neighbor? “I’m not sure. Maybe somebody my cousin knows.”

“This time of the morning? On Christmas Day?” asked Gary.

Rem shrugged. “My cousin knows weird people.”

Indecision clouded Gary’s features. “Si, go check the peephole.”

Simon, his eyes wide, took quiet steps toward the door.

Rem didn’t know what to think. Should he try to alert whoever was there to his presence and risk more lives in the process or keep his mouth shut and potentially get shot in the next few minutes? Neither option was great.

Simon returned. “It’s a tall blond guy holding something.”

Rem frowned just as the knock came again and a voice traveled from outside. “C’mon, Rem. I know you’re in there. Your car’s outside. Get your lazy butt up and come get your gift.”

Rem cursed to himself. It was Daniels.

“Who is that?” asked Gary.

Rem stammered. “Uhm…well…it’s my friend.”

“Your friend?” asked Simon.

Rem nodded. “He’s checking in on me. It is Christmas morning, in case you two forgot.”

“Shit,” said Gary. “Is he a cop, too?”

Rem chose to be honest. “He’s my partner.”

The knock came again. “Rise and shine.”

Tense, Gary watched the door.

“He’s not going anywhere,” said Rem.

Gary waved the gun at Rem with a dour expression. “Answer it and get rid of him. He comes in here and you both die.” Holding the gun on Rem, he headed toward the front. “Come with me, Si.”

Simon followed Gary until they were standing behind the door. Rem walked up to it, wondering what he was going to say. Should he try and warn Daniels? In the past, they’d discussed certain words to use in case one of them was in trouble but if Rem warned Daniels, Daniels would call in the whole damn squad. Rem wasn’t sure if that was the best response for this situation and certainly not for Gary and Simon. No matter how tenuous Gary’s state of mind was, Rem was holding out hope that he could get himself and Gary and Simon out of this mess with minimal damage.

Daniels knocked again. “You know I’m not leaving until you—”

Rem opened the door. Daniels stood on the porch looking relaxed in jeans and a t-shirt, with a bag hooked over his wrist, holding a plate of something in one hand and a coffee in another. “There you are,” he said. “Merry Christmas.”

Seeing the coffee, he was halfway tempted to let Daniels in just for that alone. “Merry Christmas.”

“Now don’t get mad. I know I’m popping in and probably woke you.” He looked Rem over. “Were you already up?”

Rem looked down at his wrinkled clothes. “Yeah.”

Daniels studied him. “Did you sleep last night?”

“A little. Listen—”

Before he could say anything, Daniels walked up to the door. “I know you’re going to say you’re fine, but I’m on to you, partner. I bumped into Chico yesterday morning.

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