The Case of the Ice Man by Shannon D. Wells

Author:Shannon D. Wells [Wells, Shannon D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pearl Handle Press

12

“When did you start working here?” I asked Kitty over our cups of soup. She had quickly found a cigarette girl to take her spot at the desk after we recognized each other.

“Oh, a couple weeks ago, I guess.”

I took a spoonful of soup into my mouth and wondered what she’d done with the cash she’d been given. It was a gift, I reminded myself. She could have done anything she wanted with it. “That’s nice.”

“Yeah, I moved out of Miss Toogie’s place into a real nice hotel, made some new friends, and then got a job here!” She was enthusiastic and happy, I’d give her that. Last time I had seen her, I was dropping off a cash gift from her “boyfriend.” It was out of my share of the spoils of some unpleasantness.

“That’s wonderful, Kitty. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks! Why are are you here? This doesn’t seem like someplace you’d sneak into. And where’s your... husband?” She looked at me, bright-eyed and eager, and still looking all of sixteen. I didn’t want to find out what her real age was.

“I’m working a case right now, is why I came.”

“I’m glad you’re here anyway. I’ve been wracking my brains with what I’m going to do. My boyfriend’s in some trouble.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice.

“Oh, is he?” I said, wondering who this boyfriend was and hoping there wasn’t a dead body involved.

“Yes. Well, it’s all a mess. I’m not sure what to do.”

“I have a question for you, before you go too far into your story,” I interrupted. “Were you working here on Saturday night?”

“Yes, how did you know? That’s part of what I wanted to talk about!” She looked amazed. I sighed. Oh lord. I’d spent the better part of a day chasing a goose named Kitty, it seemed.

“It’s part of my case then. What happened on Saturday?” She looked down at her cooling soup and then watched the waiter speeding by the door to the kitchen.

“Well, it’s complicated.”

I waited. The flecks of some green leafy garnish were starting to stick to the oily surface of the soup. She finally started again.

“I met an older man on Saturday night who says he’s my father.”

I squeaked.

“I know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it either.” She frowned now and picked at the green garnish.

“Why don’t you tell me everything that happened Saturday night.” I succeeded at sounding calm, I thought, and signaled the waiter for coffee.

He looked at Kitty and said, “Shouldn’t you be doing something?”

“Taking a break, lay off me, why don’t ya.”

He growled at her and left.

“I don’t know, some older couple and a sour puss came in on Saturday night, nothing seemed wrong. The guy though, he looked at me like he’d seen a ghost. Every time I looked up, he was staring at me. His wife didn’t seem too happy. She kept talking too loud to the old chubby guy with them, but kept her eye on him and me. I figured him for a creep, but then he came and found me a little later.

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