The Gilded Madonna by Garrick Jones

Author:Garrick Jones [Jones, Garrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION: LGBTQ+ / Gay; Mystery & Detective / Historical; Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators; Thrillers / Crime
Publisher: MoshPit Publishing
Published: 2021-04-14T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Pull in here,” I said.

“Where?”

“This driveway, next to the police station, the one between it and the old lockup.”

Harry put his arm out of the car window and signalled a left-hand turn. He was pretty fastidious about hand signs. I usually just made vague gestures out of the car window as I turned left or right, invariably ending with a two-finger salute as the car behind me tooted its horn and the driver called out obscenities to the idiot who’d turned with little warning.

“Does this lead around to the back of the police station?”

“Nah, it’s the driveway to the forensic department entrance. There’s the doorway in which I was arguing with Dioli … remember? It’s where the photographer took the picture of him and me.”

“I see now. All the months I’ve been coming next door on a weekly basis and never bothered to look down here from the street.”

“Why should you? It’s just a driveway.”

“Why are we parking here, Clyde?”

“Because Vince’s note to me said what he wrote was secret—a surprise is the word he used—it’s a bit of a code to say no one else knows about my business card.”

“So, we’re going in the back door because …?”

“Because I really don’t want anyone to know I’m involved, Harry. It’s bad enough for Vince, who’s trying to establish some authority and run both the Silent Cop case and the Bishop abductions, but think of Dioli, who’s shop it is now. What’s it going to be like for those two if I turn up and seem to be taking charge of things? It would put them in terrible positions and make both of their jobs impossible. You’ve seen how the guys gravitate towards me in the pub. They still think of me as their boss. They even did after I left and while Sam was in charge. I can’t tell you how angry it made him.”

He rubbed my knee. “Sorry, Clyde. I’m too used to the army where rank counts, retired or active service. But I do understand. I’ll leave you to it if you don’t mind. I’ll pop in next door to see how Howard and Jeff are getting on with Greyson. Let you get on without me getting in the way.”

“I’d be happier if you stayed with me, Harry, and you won’t be in the way. I trust your instincts, and I’m far too close to this case … or should I say cases. Because now it seems what Vince suggested could be true, that the Bishop kidnapping and the Silent Cop murders are somehow connected and by one common denominator—me. I don’t like being that lynchpin, and I’d appreciate your tall manly looks at my side, steering me out of murky waters.”

“Aww …”

“Besides that, there’s your eye for detail and puzzle solving.”

“And there I was thinking—”

I glanced out of the back window and then kissed him, full on the lips. “And I need you there, okay?” I added. “Isn’t that enough? Remember the team thing, you and me?”

“You got me, Smith.

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