The Starry Night of Death by Lawrence J. Epstein

Author:Lawrence J. Epstein [Epstein, Lawrence J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fig Hollow
Published: 2019-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ari Eilat, Betsy Revere, and I were in the Mall. I ordered a drink that would have caused my doctor to faint. It almost did the same to me after I drank it.

We sat by one of the big department stores on a bench. Betsy had gotten a call from her parents and was filling us in on the latest news.

Then we walked into a bookstore filled with what everyone else was reading. The experience was more a sociological study of the American reader than a chance to find an interesting book. Betsy compulsively read mysteries, so she bought two books by Robert B. Parker. Ari tended toward non-fiction, especially about his native country, Israel. But he couldn’t find a new book that he hadn’t already borrowed from the library. I read all I could and bought a book Betsy recommended to me.

We then went down to the food court. Ari volunteered to get us a variety of foods. We sat down and waited.

Betsy said, “You look like you’ve met someone, Danny.”

“Now how can you possibly see that?”

“There’s a rosy glow to your face.”

“Maybe it’s a disease.”

“You find it so easy to talk about romance. Now, come on, have you met someone?”

“I don’t know if I have. Maybe.”

“Ooh. Promise me you’ll keep me up to date.”

“I don’t have to. Take a look at me, and you’ll know before I do.”

Ari came with the food, and we ate. Or Ari and Betsy ate. I looked at the food, felt my stomach rocking back and forth from my drink, and sat for a few minutes.

Ari said, “So is there a way for us to help your father?”

“There has to be,” I said. “Only I don’t know for sure what it is.”

“We have the facts, Danny. We have the victim. We have the means. We have the time and place. We’re doing great.”

“Sure,” I said. Then I began eating and quickly stopped.

“Remind me never to have that drink again.”

“I’m sure your memory will kick in if you’re ever tempted.”

“Or I’ll always feel like this and not have to rely on my memory.”

“You’ll be better, Danny. Just sit for a few minutes. You’re a young man. You’re tough.”

I nodded, none too happy.

Then I said, “We’re not doing that great. We have all of what you said, Betsy. But we don’t have motive. And I’ve spoken to most of the suspects.”

“Any clues?” Ari asked.

I shrugged. “Buzzy Young, who is Jesse Spring’s law partner, lied to me about where he was the night of the murder. He said he was with Joni Burns, the paralegal, but she said she was alone in her apartment.”

“She’s the one with the crush on Spring, right?” Betsy asked.

“Wait a minute, Danny. Is this the case we’re working on or are you telling us about a soap opera you’re watching?” Ari asked.

“Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between life and melodrama,” I said. “But in this case it’s real life. And, yes, Joni is the one with the crush.”

“He’ll say he misspoke.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.