Least Wanted by Debbi Mack

Author:Debbi Mack [Mack, Debbi]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: mystery, hardboiled mystery, suspense, noir, female sleuth, thriller, legal mystery, crime fiction, girl gangs, embezzlement, Maryland, DC, women protagonists, private investigation
Publisher: Renegade Press
Published: 2010-12-21T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

With no client meetings or court appearances, I wore jeans and an old long-sleeve pullover to the office the next day. Casual dress seemed in order for a trip to the ’hood. Though I had other work to do, my thoughts were stuck on Little D’s promise to take me that afternoon to meet Narsh at a local bar serving as his office. My cases kept me occupied, but anticipation charged through me.

For the umpteenth time, I called Hirschbeck and got his voice mail. I left another message for him to arrange an audit and check the company's computers for tampering. I was beginning to feel like a parrot.

The deeper I got into the Higgins embezzlement case, the more certain I was that our client was getting hosed. I had no clue what to do about it. Brad Higgins hadn't been fired, so we couldn't sue for wrongful termination. And, as an “at-will” employee, I didn't see how we could sue Kozmik even if they let Higgins go. Still, I had to do something. For the moment, that “something” was to stay on Hirschbeck like a yellow jacket on a picnicker.

Walt called to tell me Higgins was a free man, for the time being. The police seemed suspicious, he said, due to Brad's appearance on the security video. Walt thought the cops might try to get a warrant to search Brad's condo. I updated Walt on my conversation with Little D—the records he'd found and our plan to see Narsh. I also told him about hiring Alex Kramer to find Cooper while Duvall was out of town.

“Maybe Cooper knows something about the pawn shop connection,” Walt said.

“I hope so.” I thought back to my conversation with the lovely Elva McKutcheon. “There was also a black man in a blue jumpsuit looking for Cooper in Philadelphia. Maybe it was Narsh or Fisher.”

“Whoever it was may be able to identify the real embezzler.”

“I hope to find out more from Narsh today.”

“Good luck,” Walt said. “I'll keep you posted on Brad's situation.”

I hung up and went to meet Little D out front. The weather was still mild. A breeze showered colorful leaves onto the ground and sent them scampering down the street. I found their rustling soothing, like the patter of gentle rain.

I'd been in bad neighborhoods before—my childhood home in Bed-Stuy being the worst by far—but times had changed. Today's ’hoods made those of the past look pretty tame. Having Little D as a guide would help, but even he couldn't guarantee safe passage through the war zone shared by D.C. and P.G. County. The area had a reputation for harboring perps who evaded the law by crossing to the other jurisdiction. Cooperative enforcement was a work in progress.

Despite the risks, I won't delegate some work, like questioning people for information that might make or break my cases. I had to question Narsh face-to-face and judge his answers for myself.

At a couple minutes past three, Little D pulled up, his green Lexus sparkling, chrome wheels spinning and shining.

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