Transitory by J. M. Redmann

Author:J. M. Redmann [Redmann, J. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: 1636792510
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-09-11T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The rain had cleared and it was a beautiful day, sunny with the hint of cooler temperatures. Coffee, a decent breakfast of avocado toast, and I headed to my office.

On the way up the stairs, I handed the two names to the computer grannies. “See what you can dig up. Possible suspects in a bar robbery.” I was calling it a robbery because that seemed the best shorthand. Only a key was stolen, but it was stolen for a purpose that didn’t seem altruistic.

Then up to my office, with coffee put on to supplement the cup I’d had at home.

Now what?

I could contact Detective Thompson, give him the name of another victim. And possibly mention seeing the cars again. But the latter seemed too tenuous. I wanted more, to catch them again, get the license plate or at least a partial. Not close enough to evidence. It could take days to get through all the security tapes. Even then, a blink or a moment of inattention and I could miss it.

Or I could move on. Not my case, not my job to chase down all the dead ends.

Torbin and Rob both knew Stella.

I sighed, poured a big mug of coffee, and sat down at my computer screen.

It was almost lunchtime before I saw something that made me stop and review. What’s-his-name was there again. The big guy cadging Mrs. D’Marchant for her booze. Chatting with the bartender who looked like Hugh Melancon, aka Ex-Employee. Seeing them together triggered my memory of the third man with him and grandson Brice. A quick memory and a not great security tape, but they looked alike. What the hell?

I wrote down his name and went downstairs to the computer grannies to add it to the list. I don’t like coincidences. They either mean something or they’re a messy distraction.

I went back upstairs to my office and reran the tape in real time. The big guy came into the bar, ordered a drink from the bartender, one I was guessing was his friend. They chatted for less than a minute, then Ex-Employee had to take care of other customers. This went on for about half an hour, a brief chat interrupted by other customers. It seemed open and free, no leaning in to whisper; at one point another customer made a comment. They could have been talking about the latest Saints game or the weather.

Oh, wait, curiouser and curiouser. Mr. Big Shot PI joined them. Greetings and friendly handshakes all around. He only stayed long enough to get a drink, then drifted to a back table and the woman there. She was tall and blond and seemed happy for his company. Or for the drink he bought her. It was hard to tell if he just knew her in passing or if they were friends.

Then the big guy left. He didn’t pay for his drink.

Nothing criminal, nothing suspicious. Except not paying for his drink.

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