Requiem for Mr. Busybody by JoshLanyon

Author:JoshLanyon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Disability, Suspense, LGBTQ romance
Publisher: JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

Len phoned about half an hour later.

“I just listened to your message. What exactly happened? I couldn’t quite—”

I explained in detail what exactly had happened. When he had heard the whole story, Len said in that calm, sincere way of his, “None of that should have ever happened. I apologize, Michael.”

And that was why he was so well-liked, occasionally even by people he arrested. Because of course he had nothing to apologize for. Nothing that had happened that entire afternoon was Len’s fault. But he always managed to make you feel heard and respected.

My indignance and outrage drained away. I said, “Not your fault. Sorry for unloading on you. And, in fairness, it’s not the patrol officers’ fault that Nico’s now dialing direct. He was eventually going to figure out I was the one pushing for police involvement in Maurice’s disappearance.”

Len muttered a soft but heartfelt, “Goddammit. This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.”

“I can’t say I’m thrilled,” I admitted. “But I really don’t think there’s much chance of his coming after me. What does he have to gain? I’ve already gone to the police. He knows I already told my story.”

Len made an unconvinced sound.

I couldn’t help the bitterness that crept into my voice. “The fact is, he’s right and he knows it. Without a body, there’s not a hell of a lot anyone can do.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

“Not without a mountain of forensic and circumstantial evidence, and Nico sounded pretty confident. Like he knows there isn’t anything to find.”

“He’s no criminal mastermind,” Len said. “I pulled his jacket. He’s got a slew of arrests for solicitation, assault, as well as one conviction for burglary.”

“What happened with the assault charges?”

“Dropped. Withdrawn.”

I swore.

Len said, “Granted, this was all over a decade ago. He seems to have kept his nose clean after doing two years at Rikers.”

“Why not, with Maurice supplying the silk hankies?”

“Which reminds me. Now that this is a homicide investigation, I need to officially interview you. The more you can tell me about Maurice and Nico and the last time you spoke to Maurice, the better.”

“Is this officially a homicide investigation?”

“Hell yes, it is,” Len said. “I don’t have any doubt Maurice is dead or that Nico killed him. And yes, that’s partly because I trust your instincts, but it’s also because that’s the way the evidence, circumstantial as it may be, is pointing.”

I let out a long breath. “That’s a relief. And honestly, more than I hoped for.”

“Okay, so…” Len’s voice dipped as though he’d turned from the phone. “How about we make this easy on you. What if I drop by tonight after work and take your statement?”

I felt an expected bloom of unfamiliar emotion in my chest. Excitement? Anticipation? Pleasure? I hadn’t expected to see him again. “Well, sure, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. In fact, why I don’t I bring something for dinner. I can grab some takeout. Do you still like—what do you like?”

“Anything, really.” I’m a horrible cook.

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