Courage Begins: A Ray Courage Mystery Novella (Ray Courage Private Investigator Series Book 1) by Mackey R. Scott

Author:Mackey, R. Scott [Mackey, R. Scott]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Big Hound Publishing
Published: 2015-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

ten

Instinctively, I believed Garrett Bate to be guilty of killing his wife. His alibi made that belief misguided, even foolish. The character of the man emerging during my brief investigation was of someone far from likeable. That didn’t make him a murderer.

Amanda Bate seemed like a good person to talk to if I was going to understand her son. Always a shameless hussy, I’d capitalize on the spark of attraction that seemed to fly from her when we met earlier. At least, I hoped it was a spark of attraction and not a post-menopausal hot flash.

Truth be told, I didn’t reveal to her I worked for Cal Farm Insurance, offering only that we’d met the day before in the parking lot, and I thought she might help with my real estate needs. Yes, I drew out the word “needs” to give it an extra syllable and a shot of throatiness. Like I said, hussy.

We agreed to meet at eight o’clock that evening at Arden Hills Tennis Club, where she had a regular weeknight match. She’d put my name on the guest list at the private club. I sat at a table in the bar and sipped a Bass Ale from a glass, waiting for her. The interior looked more like what you’d find at an upscale restaurant than a tennis club, the bar constructed of dark, heavy wood topped with white marble. Large original paintings adorned the walls, and every table featured a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers.

She arrived about a quarter past the hour, wearing a gray tennis skirt that fell well above mid-thigh and a short sleeved, sunset patterned top in which the zipper had been pulled down to her cleavage. Even at her age, she had a figure that would turn heads.

“Sorry I’m late. I was playing a challenge match for the club rankings and we had to go to tiebreaker. Took forever.”

“Did you win?”

She smiled at me and put a hand on my forearm sitting atop the table. “Darling, I always win.” She winked, a gesture suggesting she was either kidding or serious. I didn't know her enough to distinguish which. “I’m so glad you called.” She kept her hand on my arm.

After setting the date to meet her, I’d spent all day trying to figure out how to play it with her, coming up with no good ideas. “Can I get you something to drink?” That was as far as my planning had gone.

“Vodka gimlet, double, straight up. Just tell the bartender to pour my usual and he’ll know.”

I returned with the stemmed gimlet glass in hand.

She sucked down half of it in two swallows and turned her attention to me. “How do you know Garrett?”

“I don’t really. We ran into each other in the parking lot and started chatting. That’s when we saw you.”

“I remember.” She patted my forearm.

I smiled at her and drank some of my beer. “It was a shame what happened to his wife.”

Her face slowly dissolved from upbeat and flirtatious, to something else altogether.

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