Wow, I don’t know what was up today, but when I got home from work I had nothing. It took me all evening to get this down. I think I just needed some sleep… hopefully. In any case, I’m behind again.
Idle Hands (working title) - Part 6
I had just about choked down my second cup of coffee and a plate of greasy bacon and runny eggs when my cell phone rang again. It was Derrick, hopefully he had something worthwhile.
“What’ve you got,” I growled as I answered.
“My, aren’t we a ray of sunshine. I thought you’d be in a better mood after a little breakfast.”
“I am in a better mood. Did you call just to chat?”
“Dever just faxed some stuff over. Looks like he made good, I’ve got copies of Gunn’s initial crime scene report, photos, sketches, both of our statements, a transcript of me calling it in, everything but detailed info on the evidence collected and of course lab results. Jeeze, Nick, these photos… I know I was there, but it was dark. It’s something else when they light it all up nice and clear like this.”
“Welcome to homicide investigations, kid. Just be glad we usually don’t do this, and be thankful there are people who do.”
“Yeah,” he hesitated a moment, then seemed to regain himself. “I don’t know if any of this is a revelation or anything, but it makes for an interesting read.”
“Good,” I said as I stood and dropped Wally’s sawbuck on the counter, “I’m on my way back, I’ve got one stop to make on the way but I’ll be there soon.”
I walked out the door and headed towards Bertha. It was still a few hours before sun up, but the clouds were starting to break up and for the most part Idle still slept. It was almost peaceful, and if my head wasn’t such a mess I might have enjoyed it a bit more.
As I rounded the mud spattered Jeep Wrangler I pulled up short. All four of Bertha’s tires had been slashed. Lovely.
“Derrick.”
“Yeah boss?”
“How many people know about Cheevers? Obviously the cops on the scene, and us, but is there anything in those reports about other witnesses, statements given to reporters, anything at all?”
“I don’t think so. Even if there was, it’s only four thirty, not much time for word to get around, at least through the media or anything like that. Why?”
“Because I just talked to someone who knows more than he should,” here the phone beeped at me, two sharp chirps. “I’ll tell you about it when I get there, my phone’s about to die on me and apparently I have to call a tow truck.”
I could almost hear him smiling. “You need a lift?”
The thought of having Derrick come and rescue me in that shiny new car of his made my stomach turn. He’d never let me live it down.
Or maybe that was the eggs.
“No, I’m going to walk. That stop I had to make is on the way, and it’s not that far from here. I could use the time to think a little.”
“Sure thing boss. Just… watch your back. There’s bad people out there tonight.”
“Tell me about it,” then I hung up.
I sighed, then took removed the only thing of any real value that I kept in Bertha - the Glock 36 that I kept in the glove compartment as a back up - then headed out into the darkness. It was brisk, but so long as I kept moving it wouldn’t be too bad, and I was only a mile or so outside of town. The opposite side of town from the office, but that wasn’t too big a deal. Idle village wasn’t very large by any standard.
Besides, I had a stop to make, and it was on the way.
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