The Heart of Darkness Club by Gary Reilly

Author:Gary Reilly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: humor, comic fiction, colorado, taxi, denver, cab, taxi driver, cab driver
Publisher: Gary Reilly

Chapter Fifteen

“Thanks for coming in, Murph,” Hogan said, as he stood up from his desk.

Duncan and Argyle had been seated on folding chairs, but they both stood up when I entered.

“Mister Murphy,” Duncan said with a nod. He remembered me. Cops are like that. But he didn’t know that I hated being called “Mister Murphy.” I hated it because it made me sound like Ensign Parker.

I walked up to the desk. It had been a long time since the three of us had spoken. Not long enough. The first time we had met, these two bloodhounds suspected me of kidnapping and murdering that eighteen-year-old girl. I won’t bore you with the details, except to say that they were mistaken. No reflection on the DPD of course, although it does say something positive about my character I suppose.

“I don’t believe I need to introduce you gentlemen,” Hogan said.

All three of us quickly shook our heads no. I liked that.

“Have a seat, Murph,” Hogan said. “Detectives Duncan and Argyle have a missing-person case they’re working on and they want to ask you a few questions.”

I sat down baffled. That was not unusual. I noticed a number of items on Hogan’s desk, including three trip-sheets. I knew right away who they belonged to. I have the unique ability to recognize my own handwriting.

The last time I had spoken with Duncan and Argyle they had remained standing while they interrogated me. In fact I would say they “hovered.” But this time they drew up folding chairs and sat on either side of me. The atmosphere was lighter than it had been during the missing girl case. I don’t know why people always think of me when girls turn up missing.

“I know you’re a busy man, Mister Murphy,” Duncan said, “so we’ll try to make this short and let you get back on the road.”

I lifted my chin and simultaneously raised an index finger. I do this to let people know that I want to say something. By “people” I mean cops. “Please, sir … call me Murph.”

He stuck out a lower lip and nodded. Lower lips are one of the most expressive parts of the human body, next to fingers.

“It’s this way, Murph,” Duncan said. “We received a report yesterday about a missing man, and we believe he may have been in your taxi some time during the past week.”

I felt a flood of relief. Duncan wasn’t glaring at me. The glare has the lower lip beat all hollow.

I raised my chin higher. “I understand,” I said, which I didn’t, but I was “going with the flow.”

Argyle reached out and picked up my trip-sheets. He held them up for me to see.

“Mister Hogan here was kind enough to pull your driving records from the files,” he said. “Now according to your handwritten account, last Monday you picked up a man at eight-fourteen Tremont.”

A chill crept up my spine. My heart skipped a beat. I don’t want to get grotesque here, but it reminded me of my first kiss.

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