Read Online Hot Trick (A Detective Shelley Caldwell Novel) by Patricia Rosemoor - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Rosemoor
Ads: Link
behind him, next to an empty meter, and locked up. Ironic since, when he let me off later, I’d be close to home but wouldn’t have the chance to get there. I’d be working the homicide late into the night.
After climbing into his car and settling down, I said, “We have another complication.”
As Norelli took off, I explained about the attempted robbery earlier that evening, how the offenders had been taken off in a paddy wagon only to escape, with one showing up at the murder scene.
“You’re sure it was the same guy?”
“Hey, I would recognize Snake Eyes anywhere.”
“Good,” he said, turning west, “because chances are he has a record and we have his mug.”
“I figured I would take a look as soon as I got back to the office.”
“So the same guy who tried robbing the donations then shows up at a crime scene of a murder having a peculiar similarity to Sebastian’s escape?”
“It could be a coincidence.”
“What’s your gut tell you?”
“The same as yours. Not a chance in hell.”
“You got potential, Caldwell.”
As close to a compliment as I probably would ever get from Mike Norelli.
“This Sebastian guy…sounds like he’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
Uh-oh. “You don’t think he’s guilty though, right?” I didn’t think the escape and murder similarities were coincidence, but I also didn’t think that necessarily made Sebastian a murderer.
“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…”
I glanced at his profile. His features had hardened as if he’d convinced himself that Sebastian was indeed guilty. My stomach knotted.
What if Norelli looked at Silke as an accomplice?
Chapter Twelve
Five minutes later, we pulled up in front of the Humboldt Park address. The once commercial four-story building had been converted into living space. Still, not a fancy address for someone with such fame and money. The neighborhood was slowly being gentrified, but it was mostly occupied by working poor and students and artists. And gangs. Several buildings had been tagged.
Not Sebastian’s, though.
“C’mon, let’s nail the bastard,” Norelli said.
“Hey, wait a minute. I never meant Sebastian did anything himself. Just that there was a connection between his performance and the murder. He might know information of value, yes,” I agreed, “but let’s not leap blind and make assumptions about the guy.”
“Don’t get soft on me now, Caldwell. Let’s go.”
What could I do?
His mind was set.
Like a mule.
The good thing about Norelli was that he didn’t make an arrest unless he was certain he had a strong case that could be successfully prosecuted. That gave me some comfort.
We left the car double-parked and went inside the small lobby. No security guard, but I quickly noted we were on candid camera. I found Sebastian’s code on the directory, lifted the handset and dialed.
Two rings and he answered.
“Why, Shelley,” he said before I could speak, “to what do I owe this honor? Surely you’re not following up on the robbery attempt at…well, almost two in the morning.”
I spoke directly to the camera, the only possible way he’d known who was responsible for waking him up. “We have a different situation we need to talk to you about.”
“Yes, I see you’ve brought a friend.”
“This is Detective Norelli.”
“Come on up. I’m on three.”
He buzzed us in. A tiny, near-claustrophobic elevator sat opposite the entry door. Norelli was too close for my comfort, as if trying to read me. I feared that one of these days he would succeed.
“So it’s Shelley,” he said. “You and Sebastian Cole are on first-name terms.”
“That’s how Silke introduced me.” I couldn’t help sounding defensive.
A moment later, we were face-to-face with the man himself. Sebastian awaited us in his open doorway. Dressed in black jeans and a T-shirt, he was barefoot and his long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He wasn’t wearing stage
After climbing into his car and settling down, I said, “We have another complication.”
As Norelli took off, I explained about the attempted robbery earlier that evening, how the offenders had been taken off in a paddy wagon only to escape, with one showing up at the murder scene.
“You’re sure it was the same guy?”
“Hey, I would recognize Snake Eyes anywhere.”
“Good,” he said, turning west, “because chances are he has a record and we have his mug.”
“I figured I would take a look as soon as I got back to the office.”
“So the same guy who tried robbing the donations then shows up at a crime scene of a murder having a peculiar similarity to Sebastian’s escape?”
“It could be a coincidence.”
“What’s your gut tell you?”
“The same as yours. Not a chance in hell.”
“You got potential, Caldwell.”
As close to a compliment as I probably would ever get from Mike Norelli.
“This Sebastian guy…sounds like he’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
Uh-oh. “You don’t think he’s guilty though, right?” I didn’t think the escape and murder similarities were coincidence, but I also didn’t think that necessarily made Sebastian a murderer.
“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…”
I glanced at his profile. His features had hardened as if he’d convinced himself that Sebastian was indeed guilty. My stomach knotted.
What if Norelli looked at Silke as an accomplice?
Chapter Twelve
Five minutes later, we pulled up in front of the Humboldt Park address. The once commercial four-story building had been converted into living space. Still, not a fancy address for someone with such fame and money. The neighborhood was slowly being gentrified, but it was mostly occupied by working poor and students and artists. And gangs. Several buildings had been tagged.
Not Sebastian’s, though.
“C’mon, let’s nail the bastard,” Norelli said.
“Hey, wait a minute. I never meant Sebastian did anything himself. Just that there was a connection between his performance and the murder. He might know information of value, yes,” I agreed, “but let’s not leap blind and make assumptions about the guy.”
“Don’t get soft on me now, Caldwell. Let’s go.”
What could I do?
His mind was set.
Like a mule.
The good thing about Norelli was that he didn’t make an arrest unless he was certain he had a strong case that could be successfully prosecuted. That gave me some comfort.
We left the car double-parked and went inside the small lobby. No security guard, but I quickly noted we were on candid camera. I found Sebastian’s code on the directory, lifted the handset and dialed.
Two rings and he answered.
“Why, Shelley,” he said before I could speak, “to what do I owe this honor? Surely you’re not following up on the robbery attempt at…well, almost two in the morning.”
I spoke directly to the camera, the only possible way he’d known who was responsible for waking him up. “We have a different situation we need to talk to you about.”
“Yes, I see you’ve brought a friend.”
“This is Detective Norelli.”
“Come on up. I’m on three.”
He buzzed us in. A tiny, near-claustrophobic elevator sat opposite the entry door. Norelli was too close for my comfort, as if trying to read me. I feared that one of these days he would succeed.
“So it’s Shelley,” he said. “You and Sebastian Cole are on first-name terms.”
“That’s how Silke introduced me.” I couldn’t help sounding defensive.
A moment later, we were face-to-face with the man himself. Sebastian awaited us in his open doorway. Dressed in black jeans and a T-shirt, he was barefoot and his long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He wasn’t wearing stage
Similar Books
