Killing a Snitch: The first of the Christopher Aiden Mysteries by Brian Bradford

Author:Brian Bradford [Bradford, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2021-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Aiden checked his watch and saw he only had three minutes before the 2pm drawing. He saw Gillespie apologizing to the councilmember, so he headed for his car. He crossed the middle of the four-lane street, stuck his key into his Ford and waited for traffic to allow him to open the door. Just as he started to open the driver’s side, he saw the bum stagger around the corner and reclaim his post.

He looked at his watch again. He looked in his car and then back at the bum. They made eye contact. Aiden cursed, got in his car and closed the door. The engine was barely on before he started pushing buttons. The broadband switched to AM and the second button tuned the car in to WOL. A commercial. He looked in the rearview mirror. The bum was watching him.

His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. When he pulled it out he read the caller’s name before answering. “Hey, I saw your call earlier and meant to call you back,” he lied.

“No problem. Did you listen to my message?”

“No, I’ve been behind the eight ball all day. I caught a big case. Did you see? Six Hands Johnson?”

“The boxer?”

“Yes.”

“I heard something about it. You’re on that case?”

“Yes, it’s the big news of the day.”

“Wow. Good luck. Dad, I really need that money.”

“I know. It’ll be there before Friday,” he said.

“I need it tomorrow, Dad.”

“Ok, it’ll be late tomorrow,” Aiden said.

“Ok, I’ll see what they say.”

Aiden hung up and immediately dialed another number. The line rang four times before a New Yorker answered and said, “What’s good, playboy?”

“Hey, today is the day. You need to shit or get off the pot,” Aiden said.

“Yeah, don’t rush me, dog.”

“I got another buyer who is ready now. What do you want to do?”

“How you doin’? I’m fine. Thanks for asking. How’s the weather down in DC?”

“The weather is nice, I’m not. Do you want it or should I let it go to this other guy?”

“You sound desperate. What's the number again?”

“The same its been all week. Stop playing with me. Are you joking?” Aiden said.

“Slow down, playboy. Damn,” the guy laughed. “Ok, so you want 40?”

“Yes.”

“How about I give you $35 in cash today?”

“Forty, cash, today or I sell it to somebody else,” Aiden said.

“Aiight, shit. You must need the bread,” the man said. “I’ll come tonight.”

Aiden hung up in time to hear the midday lottery numbers. When they were announced he balled up his tickets. “I guess I can’t quit this job right now,” he said. “Gotta wait at least until the night drawing.”

Aiden got out of the car and walked back to the corner store. The homeless man wasn’t sitting in front anymore. Aiden turned the corner and saw an empty street. He went inside and peered down each aisle. Back on the sidewalk, he wondered how far he could have staggered. Aiden looked in every direction to no avail. He made a mental note of how he could see the entire crime scene from the front of the corner store.

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