Relic by Bill Noel

Author:Bill Noel [Noel, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enigma House Press

Chapter Twenty-One

Charles and I agreed to meet for breakfast at the Dog, so I wasn’t surprised to see him at a table on the front patio when I arrived. I was glad he was there because the restaurant was packed. Plus, there was a couple accompanied by their collie waiting for an outdoor seat.

“Guess who called last night,” Charles said as soon as I sat.

“Mick Jagger,” I said then took a sip of water that he’d had the server leave for me.

“You suck at guessing.”

Amber was at the table before I could offer a second guess. She pointed her pen at me. “Found more bodies?”

“No. Good morning, Amber,” I said, practicing the lost art of politeness. “How are you this beautiful morning?”

She smiled. “You’re the first person who asked me that today. I’m fine.” She pointed her pen at the wall between the patio and the inside dining area. “Guess what he’s saying in there about Anthony’s death?”

“Who’s he?”

“Who’s your favorite councilmember who’s here nearly each day with another councilmember, the one who’d rather spread gossip than butter?”

Finally, a question I could answer. “Marc Salmon.”

“Bingo. Are you ready to hear what he’s saying?”

Two in a row I could answer. The day was looking up. “Yes.”

“Said Anthony was shot because he stumbled on a drug deal. According to Marc, drug dealers were bringing dope on shore out there because it’s isolated, nobody’d be there after dark. Something about Anthony being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

That made sense, but I wondered how Marc heard about it. “Who told Marc?”

Amber shrugged. “Didn’t ask. Needy customers keep interrupting his story. Want to me to find out?”

Charles said, “You bet.”

I added, “If you can without letting him know who’s asking.”

Amber saluted then asked if I was ready to order yogurt.

I said, “French toast,” to which she said, “Surprise, surprise.”

Charles watched her leave. “You ready for me to tell you?”

I’d forgotten what he was talking about. “Sure.”

He said, “Laurie.”

It was coming back to me. A call. “What’d she want?”

“Thought you’d never ask. She wants me to come see her.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t say.”

“Why do you think?”

“Get real, Chris. Who wouldn’t want this charming, handsome, wise, witty fellow to visit?”

I wanted to add delusional. Instead, I repeated, “Why do you think?”

“No idea.”

That was more like it.

“When?”

He looked at his wrist. “As soon as you’re done eating.”

I knew the answer to the next question before I asked. “Did she say she wanted me to come?”

“Not in those words.”

“How did she say it?”

“The last time we were there, she hadn’t mentioned you coming, yet she invited both of us in. See. she wants both of us.”

I was ready to point out the lack of logic in his thinking when Amber returned, refilled my cup, and whispered, “Captain Gant.”

“Gant told Marc about the drug deal gone bad.”

“Yep.” Amber grinned like she’d solved the Rubik’s Cube.

Charles said, “He say anything else?”

“Yep. He said, ‘Ready for the check.’ ” Her grin turned to a smile as she tapped the top of Charles’s head before walking away.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.