Weed Whacked: Detective Steve Smiley Mystery by Bruce Hammack

Author:Bruce Hammack [Hammack, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jubilee Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

The next morning I called Ben Taub Hospital, hoping Julio Gomez would be in good enough shape to talk. The hospital’s operator directed me to the Charge Nurse in ICU.

Her words came in short, impatient bursts. “No. You can’t interview Mr. Gomez. His condition has not changed since he came out of surgery. He’s still in a medically-induced coma. So far this morning I’ve repeated the same thing to two attorneys, a private investigator and you’re the third policeman. Don’t you people ever talk to each other?”

It would have been so much easier to talk to Julio directly, but that wasn’t possible. I’d have to go about this some other way. I kissed Maggie goodbye and headed for FLIP YOUR LID, Julio and Sunshine’s store. I had to wait a few minutes for a thin young woman to open the crudely-repaired front door. I gave her time enough to get settled and do the things she needed to do to bring the shop to life.

The store looked different without smoke billowing in the air. Not having my mind addled also helped. The well-lit room and glass displays showed off merchandise that reminded me of a high-end jewelry store. I’d not noticed that. Like any other type of business, head shops differed in terms of cleanliness, attention to detail and merchandise carried. FLIP YOUR LID carried top-of-the-line products with prices to match, a marked contrast to BUCK’S BONGS AND MORE.

The clerk busied herself stocking a shelf. I took the opportunity to examine a section of the store dedicated to literature and photos. Pamphlets calling for the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana stuffed wire racks. One photo in particular, and the accompanying newspaper article, caught my eye. The headline read, “Gomez Enterprises Supports ACS.” The photo showed a couple in their late twenties handing an oversized check to a smiling woman wearing a smock emblazoned with American Cancer Society.

The article explained the images. “Entrepreneurs Julio and Sunshine Gomez put their money and their hair where their heart is.” I had to read the tongue-twisting sentence again to make sure it said what I thought it did. I continued on. “The natives of California give generously to the Houston branch of ACS. They also display solidarity with cancer patients by keeping their heads shaved. Julio Gomez said, ‘We both had hair down to our waists. That changed three years ago when our daughter, Dawn, was diagnosed with cancer and went through chemo.’”

A voice came from over my shoulder. “They didn’t print everything Julio said and didn’t quote Sunshine at all.”

I turned and stared at the clerk. She laughed as my mouth hinged open. Her bushy red mop of hair had disappeared. A beam of light from a recessed bulb bounced off her hairless head.

She rubbed her bald dome. “It’s required for the job. No big deal for me. I got used to it when I went through chemo. I save a ton on shampoo and not going to the beauty shop.”

She had a great smile.

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