Read Online Jason Deas - Benny James 03 - Brushed Away by Jason Deas - Free Book Online Page A

find a few customers scattered about the room. It was mid-day and usually a slow time. Benny picked his and Vernon’s favorite spot by the front window and sat down. After sitting, they spotted Angel emerging from the kitchen. As she eyed them her mouth widened into a devilish grin.
    “Whatever she says is a lie,” Benny quickly said to Vernon.
    Vernon shot him a confused look. “What?”
    “Hello officers,” Angel said in a singsong voice.
    Benny nodded and Vernon asked, “What’s with the evil smile?”
    “Mr. James didn’t tell you?”
    “Mr. James doesn’t give away his secrets easily.” 
    Angel looked at Benny playfully and raised her eyebrows.
    “OK,” Benny said. “I’ll spill. When I met Angel’s mother I fainted for the first time in my life. It was hot and bright and my senses were overwhelmed by some sort of rancid chemicals she had in a jar.”
    Vernon bent over in a fit of laughter. “The great FBI man faints. I’ll be damned.”
    “It was much less of a faint than a loss of my senses for a few moments.”
    “My mother said you were lying prostrate on the floor. I think she even said something about drool.”
    “She did not!”
    “I made that part up,” Angel admitted. “She did say you were awfully cute, though.”
    “She did not.”
    “Yeah, she really did. You should call her.”
    Benny was not used to blushing, but he did.
    “What can I get you guys?” Angel asked, changing the subject.
    “Two Buds.”
    “Two beers coming up.” Angel walked away from the table.
    “Don’t you dare say anything,” Benny warned.
    “About what? The fainting or Angel’s mom having the hots for you?”
    “Neither.”
    “What’s she look like?”
    “Don’t want to talk about it.”
    “It might help you forget Rachael.” Benny gave him a look. “OK. Let’s change the subject.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I was able to rustle up a good picture of our first victim,” Vernon said. He pulled the photo out of his pocket and showed it to Benny.
    “That looks like him all right, minus all the slashes I last saw him with. What do you know about him?”
    “He’s not from around here. I’m still working on the rest.”
    “Let me know when you uncover some more.”
    “So, how are we going to put the screws to Big E without the Chief knowing about it?”
    “We’ll have to be sneaky. We’ll have to lie to him about what we’re doing, and we’ll also have to make sure Big E doesn’t see us snooping around him or find out we’re checking him out.”
    “Why do you think he had mud on the front of his boat?”
    “Good question,” Benny said rubbing his chin.
    Angel arrived with two Budweiser bottles, set them on the table, and scurried off without a word.
    “I can’t picture Big E hopping out of a boat on one of the islands, can you?” Vernon asked.
    “I can’t imagine his fat ass hopping at all.”
    “Maybe it’s not his boat,” Vernon suggested.
    “Let’s find out. When you took the photo, did you get the identification number on the side of the boat?”
    “Yep.”
    “Run it when you get back to the office and we’ll go from there.”
    As both men were about to touch their bottles to their lips, Vernon’s cell phone rang and they both paused.
    “Officer Kearns,” he said and listened. “Dammit. On my way,” he said standing.
    Benny stood as well. “What?”
    “More bloody art.”
    “Where?”
    “The Police Department.”
     

Chapter 9
     
    Tilley’s Police Department was the size of a gas station—a small one. It had an office for Chief Neighbors, an oversized closet used as an interrogation room, another closet-sized room to store property, and one more small area with a long counter that separated a few desks and a waiting area.
    On top of the counter sat a welded compilation of rusted auto parts. The sculpture looked like a candle holder, but instead of a candle there was a finger. A single, bloody finger.
    “Chief!” Vernon yelled.
    “I’m in here,” Chief