Lou Mason Mystery - 02 - The Last Witness by Joel Goldman

Author:Joel Goldman [Goldman, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, FICTION / Thrillers
ISBN: 9781463773489
Google: O3g0ygAACAAJ
Amazon: B005D9PEJ0
Goodreads: 1257939
Publisher: Joel Goldman
Published: 2002-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Mason left the drawer gaping open and did as he was told. A cop aimed his service revolver at Mason from the doorway. Mason could see Shirley Parker peering around the cop, her eyes drawn in beady satisfaction.

“I’m unarmed.”

There was no point in telling the cop that this was all a misunderstanding, that he hadn’t really done what he’d so clearly done. He expected to be arrested and was more interested in not getting shot.

“Up against the wall, legs and arms spread wide.”

Mason complied again, flinching as the cop ran one hand down his sides, up his legs to his crotch, under his jacket, and around his middle.

“Okay. You can turn around now.”

The cop was tall, square shouldered, and vaguely familiar until Mason read the name beneath his badge, James Toland. He was the cop Blues had decked when Toland had tried to put cuffs on him, Mason understanding the impulse. He waited for Toland to pull out his handcuffs, read him his rights, and end his career. None of which happened.

Shirley Parker stepped past them and into the closet, conducting a quick inventory. Toland broke the silence.

“Do you want to press charges, Miss Parker?”

“There doesn’t seem to be anything missing. You can let Mr. Mason go.”

Toland looked like a kid whose Christmas had been canceled. “Must be your lucky day, pal.”

Mason felt his blood start circulating again as he realized why Shirley had granted him a reprieve. He might have been guilty of breaking and entering, but she was sitting on the mother lode of blackmail, which would make her the next front-page defendant. Whatever Shirley intended to do with the files, exposing their existence wasn’t an option.

She stepped back into the room, her face bleak and ashen. She knew she was in over her head. She had gone through life doing what Jack Cullan had told her to do, maybe nursing a quiet love that was never noticed or returned, resigned to her life at his side, loyal and lonely. She’d been angry and afraid enough at Mason’s intrusion to call the cops, but she’d outsmarted herself and could only let him go.

Mason had more questions for her that he was certain she wouldn’t answer, but he couldn’t resist the most obvious.

“How did you know I was here?”

“There’s a motion detector on the stairs. Satisfied, Mr. Mason?”

“Completely. I’ll be back in the morning with a subpoena for those files, so take very good care of them tonight. You’ve got enough problems without adding a charge for obstruction of justice.”

Mason hurried back up the street to the Egg House Diner, checking over his shoulder to see when Shirley Parker and Toland left the building. He’d just slid into his booth when they emerged. Shirley locked the door, pulling a steel bar across it that he hadn’t noticed before.

Toland watched her cross the street back to the People’s Savings & Loan Building before climbing into his squad car and driving away. Mason waved as Toland passed the diner, pleased with his escape and happy for Toland to know that he was still keeping his eye on the files.

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