The Dragon's Dollar by Phillip Wilson

Author:Phillip Wilson [Wilson, Phillip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-26T22:00:00+00:00

35

Day Six

December 31, 2015

Early the next morning, Brant pulled out of a parking garage adjacent to Reginald Steevers’s condo apartment and drove down a quiet street ensconced in the throes of an icy winter.

The Hyundai's back end fishtailed as he floored the gas and fought the steering wheel. He slotted a CD into the Hyundai's stereo system, turning the volume higher as Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band belted out the opening to ‘We Take Care of Our Own.’ He grimaced. New Springsteen. Not to his taste.

He turned on to Oak Street West and headed for Tremont.

He’d spent the night with Patricia Haynes at the hotel, waking early so he could get a start at searching the Steevers apartment for the letter she’d mentioned.

He’d thanked her with the promise that he’d call later in the day. They’d said their goodbyes and she’d delivered a chaste kiss on the cheek.

“For luck.”

“Luck?”

“I know you’ve got something going. I can see it in your eyes. Stay safe.”

“I could say the same. I know you don’t like staying in the hotel, but it’s just for a few days.”

Haynes had nodded. Her eyes seemed to roam the room, settling on a pile of brochures sitting atop the writing desk in the corner. She picked up one of the pamphlets. Lightness filled her movements.

“At least they have a yoga class at the YMCA next door. Okay if I attend, Detective Brant? Do I have the approval of the Boston Police Department?”

Brant had hugged her tight, lingering for a moment as he enjoyed the embrace of another human being.

“Just, I don’t know, watch yourself.”

She’d delivered a mock solute and pushed him out the door.

The search for the letter Haynes had mentioned had been futile. If Reginald Steevers had saved the letter, it was no longer in the apartment.

After flaming out at the apartment, Brant doubled back into the city to pick up Katy Malloy so they could head over to the nursing home to see Evelyn Steevers. He pressed gently on the accelerator, sending the Hyundai into the flow of traffic while his mind wandered with pleasant thoughts of the night before.

The insistent ringing of his cellphone broke his reverie. Brant pulled the car to the side of the road and checked the screen for the identity of the incoming caller.

“What’s up, Art?”

“Brant. You’re up early. Tried you at home on the landline.”

“I’m heading over to pick up Katy Malloy. Can this wait?”

Art Strobe hesitated.

“You still partnered with Clatterbuck, right?”

“It’s Clatterback, and yes. What of it?”

“Got a call about five minutes ago. Body pulled out of the Charles River along Soldiers Field Road. Early morning jogger found it. Suspicious circumstances.”

“Oh God. Clatterback?”

Brant shifted the handset.

“No.”

“Why you calling me?” Brant asked.

Strobe paused. Brant pictured the watch commander scratching at an itch or shifting his bulk in his cushy desk chair.

“You ain’t gonna believe this. Patrols at the scene called in forensics when they saw what they were dealing with. But here’s the interesting part. Forensics gets there and pulls a cellphone from the vic’s pocket.

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