Read Online Harmless by Ernie Lindsey - Free Book Online Page B

lot to take in, here’s how we got there:
    By the time I’d stashed
the items Kerry stole underneath my bed (I’m unclear as to why I hid them
instead of putting them back in their rightful spots—maybe it simply felt like
the appropriate thing to do since I was slightly rushed and slightly panicked),
the first responding officers had arrived and begun cordoning off the area
around her body with yellow tape.  They told me repeatedly to stay back, and it
took a generous amount of shoving before I relented.  I wanted to see.  I had
to know.  I needed to help, because I was absolutely certain they were going to
screw something up.  They would miss a clue that I could find if only they’d
allow me the chance to take a closer look.
    Yes, I’m aware I’d
already been through the house.  No, I hadn’t examined everything closely
enough.
    Officer Planck pulled
up five minutes later—okay, you know what, I’m just going to call him Thomas
from here on out.  I’ve been given permission—in a sense—and it’s easier that
way.
    Okay, so Thomas shows
up, grabs me by the arm, and pulls me to the side, hard.
    Suggesting that he
should cut his fingernails more often led to deeper gouges in my bicep, but
really, his claws could’ve rivaled a gargoyle’s.  How anyone could ignore a
minor detail of personal hygiene so badly is beyond me—he’s forgiven, however,
because that’s what friends do.  Still, it’s gross.  Cut your fingernails. 
Three minutes of your time.  That’s all I’m asking.
    He said, “Leave them
alone, you hear me?  You’re a witness, nothing more.”
    “But they’re doing it
all wrong.”
    “Damn it, are you—is
this your house?”  He pointed toward my porch.
    “Yeah.”
    “Come with me.”  (The
fingernails again.)  Once we’d climbed up the steps, he picked up the chair I’d
knocked over earlier and sat me down like a toddler in timeout.  “Stay here. 
Do not get up.  Wait.  Schott and Berger will probably want to ask you some
questions when they’re done inside the house.  Pay attention—I’m serious here,
do not piss off Berger.  He’s a hothead with a chip on his shoulder.  You push
him in the wrong direction, you might find yourself with a court date.  Answer
whatever he asks, but don’t you dare pretend like you know something he
doesn’t.  Got me?”
    “What if I—”
    “Not another word.  Be
careful around him, that’s an order.  Just don’t be—Jesus, just don’t be you,
okay?”
    “Don’t be me ? 
What’s that supposed to mean?”
    He bent down and put
his face close to mine.  I could smell a sweet bitterness, like maybe a mixture
of toothpaste and coffee.  “You know damn well what I mean.  Sit ,
Steve.  Do not move.  They’ll come for you when they’re ready.”
    “Fine— fine ,
okay?  But will you please listen to me for a second?”
    He shook his head,
flared his nostrils, and shot out a blast of air. 
    Imagine flames flying
from a dragon’s nose.  That’s what it felt like on my cheeks.
    “What?”
    “I found some stuff
inside her house—stuff I don’t want them to know about.  I mean, like, things
that could get me in trouble.”
    “What kind of things?”
    “Are you on my side?”
    “Should I be?”
    His non-answer was
frustrating.  “Yes!  If you were ever my friend—”
    With a finger in my
face, nearly jabbing my nose, he said, “Let’s get one thing straight, champ.  I
don’t have the slightest clue what goes on inside that head of yours, but we
were never friends, and never will be.  Look at me.  Look!”  He pointed to his
right.  “There’s a dead woman over there.  Do you have any idea how serious
this is?”
    Wounded, yet again. 
Will it ever stop, this assault on the Pendragon Castle?  I had to press
forward, however, because he was my only option for an ally.  “She’d stolen
some of my things.  I found them in her bedroom.”
    He stood up and moved
back to the porch railing.