Midnight Diner 5.2 by D Leroy & David R. Matteri & Alisa Velaj & Karina Fabian & Maurice Broaddus

Author:D Leroy & David R. Matteri & Alisa Velaj & Karina Fabian & Maurice Broaddus [Leroy, D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ccPublishing NFP
Published: 2014-04-29T18:30:00+00:00

Good Intentions: From the Case Files of DragonEye, PI

(Part Two of Four)

Karina Fabian

Episode Two: Death and Politics

The October wind nipped at my scales like Jack Frost’s manic terrier, but no way was I going anywhere with Urist ready to fall on his knees and sob in grief or run the rest of the way to Damant’s house and murder him. Considering the dwarf lacked both his ax and his shoes, I had the feeling grief would win out, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

As my dwarf friend babbled incoherently about his beautiful Balga, her life cut from her like useless tailings1, and how he was going to get an ax and chop Damant down to size, one body part at a time, I heard the wail of sirens growing closer. Urist’s bare feet and pants printed with beer bottles finished the puzzle. The police already had their suspect in mind.

I didn’t have time to scold. “Slow down—or better yet, speed up but make sense. What happened?”

“I told you, he killed Balga! She…she went for a walk, but she never came home. She’s like that, you know, when she gets mad. Used to spend hours wandering the mines. There’s no reasoning with her like that, so I went to sleep. This morning, the police showed up, and they said…they said…”

He paused to wipe his eyes on his beard. “She shouldn’t have confronted Damant. We all know what he’s like. This time, he’s gone too far. When I find an ax, I’m going to start with his ankles!”

The police cruiser rounded the corner. Urist gave a start. I snagged him with my tail before he could run. “Listen to me. Stay still and trust me. We’ll get you out of this, and then we’ll find Balga’s killer.”

Damsels and Knights! Did I just take on a case—for free? My nun partner was rubbing off on me.

“I know who did it!” Urist protested.

“You think you know—and, it seems, the cops do, too. Now, be a good, cooperative suspect before you make things worse.”

The cruiser pulled up and the cops jumped out, weapons drawn. Officers Starkey and Hutchinson; humans, real go-getters on the force, aching to make detective, but by-the-book. I could work with that. Hutchinson had a bruise under his cheek that looked painful. Dwarves have mean upper-cuts.

Captain Santry was old enough to have watched 70s police shows. I know he paired them up just to make their lives miserable. How could I miss an opportunity to help out? I launched the opening salvo. “Hey, Starsky and Hutch! You guys are never going to make detective if you start arresting the grieving widowers instead of finding the real murderers.”

Ever the straight man, Starsky-Starkey replied, “He’s wanted for assaulting an officer, nothing more…yet. Please step away from the dwarf.”

“So you weren’t accused?” Now, I could scold.

He took on a stubborn pout, but Hutch-Hutchinson spoke up. “Officers on patrol found his wife’s body in a back alley off East 27th. We were dispatched to inform him and ask him to accompany us identify the body.

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