Pilate's Blood by J Alexander Greenwood

Author:J Alexander Greenwood [Greenwood, J Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781798047620
Publisher: Caroline Street Press
Published: 2014-10-29T22:00:00+00:00

Pilate showed Taters the highlights, starting with the Cross College library. Pilate hadn’t spent much time inside it since he was nearly murdered there by the librarian last year, and he didn’t plan to today; standing outside would do.

“So this is where you had it out with that Crawling fella?”

“Krall,” Pilate said, his voice low. “Derek Krall, and yes, this is where it happened,” Pilate said, recalling his recent conversation with Parker Nemec.

The carillon went off, playing “If I Were A Rich Man.”

Taters pointed up at the bell tower in the library. “And that’s where you waited out the storm before you trudged through all that snow to get to a radio?”

Pilate nodded. “Seems so long ago.”

“Hell, our little adventure on the high seas in the Gulf seems like ages ago to me,” Taters said.

“Lotta water under the bridge.”

“John Pilate? Hey!” Dean Felix said, walking from the library door to where the men stood.

“Hello, Dean,” Pilate said. “Dean Don Felix, this is my friend, Taters Malley.”

“Taters?” He extended a hand. “How do you do?”

“Just fine, thank you,” Taters said, shaking the Dean’s hand.

“New in town?”

“Just visiting,” Taters answered. “Dean, is it?”

“Don.” He chuckled. “Don the dean.”

“Don, it’s a pleasure.”

“John was just showing me around the prettiest campus in Iowa,” Taters said.

“Nebraska,” Pilate said.

“Close en—”

“Yeah, we’re pretty proud of our campus. It’s an officially recognized arboretum site.”

“Impressive,” Taters said.

“Well, where you from, Mr., uh…Taters?”

“Malley. My last name’s Malley. Taters is a nickname.”

“Oh, I see. Well, welcome. What brings you here, to Nebraska, I mean?”

“Just visiting my old buddy,” he said, elbowing Pilate in the ribs.

“We love John,” Felix said, hitching his pants up on his hips; his belt needed help.

“Oh go on,” Simon said. “No, really. Go on, you annoying little man.”

“He really put Cross College on the map,” Felix said, wiggling his eyebrows. “So, Mr. Malley, what do you do?”

“Taters is a charter boat captain, Don,” Pilate said, irritation creeping in. “Don’t worry. He’s not a reporter.”

Taters burst out laughing. “Far from it!”

All color flushed from Felix’s face. “Am I that transparent?”

“Not at all,” Pilate said, his voice dry as a Hawkeye Pierce martini.

“Well, again,” the dean said, clearing his throat, “welcome, Taters.”

Taters nodded and smiled.

“So, John, I hear you’re the town constable now,” Felix said.

“Yep. Only temporary, but I’ve got bills to pay.”

“Well, I can’t think of a better guy. Hey, maybe you can teach a section of criminal justice next semester.” Felix laughed, a little too hard.

“You’ll be lucky if he does,” Taters said, matching the laugh with one of his own.

“Well played,” Simon said.

“You’re 100 percent right,” Felix said. “Well, John,” he said, turning back to Pilate, “could we talk about coordinating campus security with your efforts sometime?”

“Sure, Don,” Pilate said. He wanted to add that he was only working the job for a few more months, but he saw no point. “Call my office tomorrow, and we’ll set something up.”

“You bet. Well, I’d better get to a meeting. Taters, it’s been a pleasure.”

“All mine,” Taters said.

“John.”

Pilate nodded as the man took his leave, hurrying up the sidewalk to the administration building.

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