A Place of Fog and Murder by T.E. MacArthur
Author:T.E. MacArthur
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Hard-boiled Woman Detective, Dieselpunk, Alt-history 1930s, Noir Mystery, Mystery-SciFi Mashup, 1930s San Francisco
Publisher: T.E. MacArthur
Published: 2023-10-25T00:00:00+00:00
âNOBODY GETS KILLED and doesnât feel it. I suppose asking if she suffered would be the dumbest question I could ask,â he said bluntly. âNot that the policeman who called me would answer if I did ask. They had a suspect but no verifiable motive or proof of opportunity. But that officer, detective, was absolutely certain they had their man.â
Elliott Lockwood sat in his hotel living room, on a leather couch, cigarette in his hands, head lowered.
Iâd taken the overstuffed chair across from him. I had no idea how he was going to react, and I figured giving him some space might be wise.
âBut, Iâm asking. Did she?â
I couldnât tell him everything; not the glassy, terrified look on her face, or the garroting marks on her skin. âNot much.â I was lying. Nobody gets strangled and doesnât feel it.
Damn it, I had no words to say. Gosh, sorry about the stepdaughter you don't like, she got slaughtered, and oops, it looks like you actually do care? Those words werenât passing out of the lips of Mrs. Tannerâs well-bred daughter.
He wouldnât look at me. That was a habit of his. One that I would forgive tonight.
âMr. Lockwood, I think ââ
âElliott.â He corrected, taking a drag, focus still fixated on the carpet.
âNot during this conversation. This is business. You need to know that this isnât over yet. Mr. Lockwood, you have too much to do now. The police will want to talk to you again.â
âNo, I donât think so.â He regarded me after a moment. âDetective Somer â something.â
âSomerset. Milton Somerset.â
âHeâs convinced he has the killer locked up. Evidence be damned. All he wanted to do was tell me and ask me when I want to collect the body.â His voice warbled a little. Who could blame him? âIrenie, apparently, went into hysterics and is sedated for the immediate future.â Another long drag. âI thought I was helping Frannie, maybe find a future â get herself together before she was in too deep with the wrong people. Now I get to bury her.â
âI think itâs odd that no autopsy is being done. This is clearly a homicide. Cause of death may be obvious at first, but the proper approach is essential. Something could be missed. Mr. Lockwood, please insist they do a full autopsy before releasing her body.â Chapter 39: Bodies, Morgues, and Medical Examinations came to mind instantly.
He stood up abruptly to go stand by the cabinet radio and a big mirror. He kept trying to decide whether to put out his cigarette or to move the ashtray another four inches to the right, then the left, then center again. Shaking his head, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. âYou did very well. You found her. And you did more. You made sure the police had the right girl. Iâm not sure how Iâd handle a visit to the morgue, to identify someoneâs corpse.â
âFirst, you go down to the morgue and do what must be done. Then, you go across the street to the Blue Fox and try to drown your sorrows.
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