Read Online On The Beat (Goosey Larsen Book 3) by James Vachowski - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James Vachowski
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involuntarily, either from the disgusting mental picture or because my blood sugar levels were still plummeting, but seeing as how the conversation was helping keep my mind off imminent death from starvation, I did my best to play along. “Yeah right, Katie! You know better than that, hon.” The Toyota’s suspension creaked in protest as I steered my little car down the maze of exit ramps and out towards the street. “But what’s up?”
“Well…” she said, trying her best to sound as if she hadn’t rehearsed her lines at least a dozen times before dialing my number, “I’m just finishing up with a late autopsy here…”
I just had to butt in. “Anything good? Gunshot victim, suicide jumper maybe?”
She laughed again. “No such luck, just an elderly guy whose time had come. Natural causes, nothing exciting.”
I let out a loud groan as my attention shifted back to driving my finicky car. Dodging all the potholes on Cumberland Street without stalling out was a little like playing a real-life game of pinball.
The girl didn’t seem to catch my lack of enthusiasm, and just kept right on yammering. “Disappointing, I know. But as I was saying, things were so crazy around here tonight that I had to work straight through dinner.”
The very mention of food set my stomach to complaining loudly. Even though my own miseries normally took rightful precedence over anyone else’s, I had to wince out of sympathy. Katie was a full-figured gal and for her, skipping a meal was a genuine hardship. “I feel your pain. If it’s any consolation, it’s been no picnic downtown either. Practically non-stop action all night long.” A matching pair of intoxicated frat boys in pastel-colored golf shirts stumbled into the road ahead of me, and I had to ease up off the gas in order to let them pass safely. I swear, all those underage drunk kids were really becoming a public safety concern.
I could almost picture Katie’s wide smile as she worked up her nerves on the other end of the line. “So, uh…if you haven’t had the chance to eat yet either, why don’t I pick up some takeout and swing by your place? There’s that Chinese buffet you love, The Great Wall? I think they should still be open, right?”
I tried to think of a reason to blow her off, but it was no use. Shortly after we’d started dating, Katie had discovered that Chinese buffets were my one true weakness. Ever since then, that girl never missed an opportunity to weaken my defenses with that delicious, MSG-flavored kryptonite. But as much as I hated the thought of seeing my steady girl twice in the same week, I was pretty far down the road to starvation and my will to survive won out over common sense. With a single strong gulp, I swallowed my pride and managed to keep it down. “Sounds good, babe” I said. “I’ll meet you there in about ten minutes.”
FRIDAY
The sun was rising slowly over the Battery, its warm rays reflecting down the length of East Bay Street . The narrow, scenic road ran a straight northerly route from the multi-million dollar mansions along the Ashley River up into the neglected housing projects of the East Side. The bright sunlight cast dark, bumpy shadows down into the refined sidewalks of intersecting Broad Street, where the cobblestoned walkways were still slick with dew. In the quiet hours of the morning, the loudest sound came from the soft echoes of Duke Regan’s well-polished shoes as they tapped along the sidewalk. His fitted brown lace-ups slid nimbly across the uneven surface, neatly avoiding the narrow cracks which had claimed a number of high-heeled shoes the night before . It was a walk that Duke had made many times , and today he moved with a purpose.
A soft electronic chime announced his entry through the front door of the National Bank of South Carolina. It was just now eight -thirty and as usual, he was the first customer inside . Before he could take more than five steps into the lobby, a bank manager
“Well…” she said, trying her best to sound as if she hadn’t rehearsed her lines at least a dozen times before dialing my number, “I’m just finishing up with a late autopsy here…”
I just had to butt in. “Anything good? Gunshot victim, suicide jumper maybe?”
She laughed again. “No such luck, just an elderly guy whose time had come. Natural causes, nothing exciting.”
I let out a loud groan as my attention shifted back to driving my finicky car. Dodging all the potholes on Cumberland Street without stalling out was a little like playing a real-life game of pinball.
The girl didn’t seem to catch my lack of enthusiasm, and just kept right on yammering. “Disappointing, I know. But as I was saying, things were so crazy around here tonight that I had to work straight through dinner.”
The very mention of food set my stomach to complaining loudly. Even though my own miseries normally took rightful precedence over anyone else’s, I had to wince out of sympathy. Katie was a full-figured gal and for her, skipping a meal was a genuine hardship. “I feel your pain. If it’s any consolation, it’s been no picnic downtown either. Practically non-stop action all night long.” A matching pair of intoxicated frat boys in pastel-colored golf shirts stumbled into the road ahead of me, and I had to ease up off the gas in order to let them pass safely. I swear, all those underage drunk kids were really becoming a public safety concern.
I could almost picture Katie’s wide smile as she worked up her nerves on the other end of the line. “So, uh…if you haven’t had the chance to eat yet either, why don’t I pick up some takeout and swing by your place? There’s that Chinese buffet you love, The Great Wall? I think they should still be open, right?”
I tried to think of a reason to blow her off, but it was no use. Shortly after we’d started dating, Katie had discovered that Chinese buffets were my one true weakness. Ever since then, that girl never missed an opportunity to weaken my defenses with that delicious, MSG-flavored kryptonite. But as much as I hated the thought of seeing my steady girl twice in the same week, I was pretty far down the road to starvation and my will to survive won out over common sense. With a single strong gulp, I swallowed my pride and managed to keep it down. “Sounds good, babe” I said. “I’ll meet you there in about ten minutes.”
FRIDAY
The sun was rising slowly over the Battery, its warm rays reflecting down the length of East Bay Street . The narrow, scenic road ran a straight northerly route from the multi-million dollar mansions along the Ashley River up into the neglected housing projects of the East Side. The bright sunlight cast dark, bumpy shadows down into the refined sidewalks of intersecting Broad Street, where the cobblestoned walkways were still slick with dew. In the quiet hours of the morning, the loudest sound came from the soft echoes of Duke Regan’s well-polished shoes as they tapped along the sidewalk. His fitted brown lace-ups slid nimbly across the uneven surface, neatly avoiding the narrow cracks which had claimed a number of high-heeled shoes the night before . It was a walk that Duke had made many times , and today he moved with a purpose.
A soft electronic chime announced his entry through the front door of the National Bank of South Carolina. It was just now eight -thirty and as usual, he was the first customer inside . Before he could take more than five steps into the lobby, a bank manager
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