Four Ways To Midnight (An Anthony Carrick Short Story Collection Book 1) by Blacker Jason

Author:Blacker, Jason [Blacker, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: hardboiled detective mystery, good mystery novel, crime mystery novel, crime suspense, private investigator murder mystery, hardboiled detective novel, mystery novel, private investigator mystery series, police procedural mysteries, hard boiled mystery, who did it, crime thriller, Murder Mystery, hardboiled murder mystery, whodunit, p.i. mystery, mystery, crime novel, noir crime, hardboiled detective fiction
Publisher: Lemon Tree Publishing
Published: 2013-11-16T05:00:00+00:00

All In: Chapter Four

"If she just got off shift when she left with Hartley, why is she back here?"

"They'll often come back here if they've forgotten their things," offered Bill.

I looked at him.

"She left with just her handbag," he said, pointing to the video of her leaving with Hartley. "Employees have lockers here and they'll often keep a change of clothes. She probably came back to change."

"And it takes her that long?"

Bill smiled at me indulgently, like I was an infant who needed coddling.

"She's probably waiting for Ms. Rodrigues to get off shift. They're friends and they often carpool together."

"Thanks," said Roberts. "There you go, Anthony. Your conspiracy is a dud."

Dardan walked back into the video room where we were all waiting. Roberts and I were watching the activity below us on the gaming floor. Little ants collecting and tossing away small brightly colored chips. I was bored to tears. I turned to see Dardan walk back in and wondered where Ruby was. She appeared from behind him like a rabbit from a hat.

She was an unnatural blonde, and I didn't hold it against her. Her skin was tanned and warm and it sparkled. Must have been the lotion she had on. She wore black yoga pants and a pink top to match her sandals. She was dolled up and painted like a Barbie doll.

"Ruby?" asked Roberts.

She nodded and bit her lower lip. It might have been cute on a five year old getting into trouble for tearing the head off her doll, but on a thirty-something woman it made me cringe for her. It had the opposite affect on Roberts. He walked up to her like a protective father and offered her his limp hand.

"I'm Captain Roberts from homicide."

"Oh dear," she said, blinking her false eyelashes at him.

She ignored me completely, moving closer to Roberts than was necessary. I could smell her cheap perfume from across the room. She'd probably bathed in it.

"That's Anthony Carrick," he said, nodding in my direction. She didn't look away from him.

"Has something bad happened, Captain?" she asked Roberts, gently touching his forearm. I was rolling my eyes so much I started feeling sick. I moved up to be closer to both of them. I started to pull out my phone and show her the picture of her dead John. Roberts put his arm out, and said it wasn't necessary.

"Can you tell me about your evening with Mr. Hartley?"

Ruby put her hand to her mouth.

"Did something happen to him?" she asked, wide-eyed as a doe staring down the barrel of a hunter.

"I'm afraid so, Ms. Aponte..."

"Please call me Ruby," she said, batting her eyes at him as if they were delicate butterflies.

"Mr. Hartley was murdered tonight," said Roberts as solemnly as he could muster.

"Dear God," said Ruby, "poor Mars."

She batted her eyes and turned on the waterworks. I had a feeling it was all for show, but maybe she did genuinely feel bad for the guy. Roberts put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said like a caring uncle, "but I need to ask you some questions.

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