Read Online The Big Mitt (A Detective Harm Queen Novel Book 1) by Erik Rivenes - Free Book Online
Authors: Erik Rivenes
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heard Ames meant to make him his personal bodyguard. Looks like it’s true, he thought. It was hard to question his choice. Connor was a crack cop, a pugilist, and not someone to tussle with lightly. Everyone knew the old man was well protected with Fred Connor.
Doc Ames sat behind his desk, smoking a cigar, and chatting with his brother, who was sitting in a chair next to his. The mayor stood up to greet Queen when he entered.
“Hello, my boy! What a night it is, what a night!”
Ames spread a handsome, weathered smile under a thick gray mustache and heartily extended his hand, pumping Queen’s arm half off with enthusiasm. “So much work to do, Harm. Choosing men for a police force is challenging work. But,” he inhaled deeply, contentment on his face, “We must pick the best, brightest and strongest! No more mucking around with second-rate men, I say.”
Colonel Ames rose and also held out his hand. “Hello, Detective Queen. Thank you for making it down here tonight. I know you’re busy doing important city work.”
“I would never turn down an invitation from the most popular Republican in Minneapolis.”
He knew how to humor the old sawbones. Doc Ames threw his head back and chortled gleefully at that. “Three terms as a Democrat, and the fourth a Republican! Never would I have dreamt of a victory snatched from within the ranks of the enemy party!”
Colonel Ames had a drawn, thin, clean-shaven face with pointed features. He wore a blue sack coat with three stars on its collar, which he brushed absently with his hand. “And we now have the opportunity to do great things for this city and for your legacy. A last, beautiful dance that will ignite the sentiments of the people of Minneapolis.”
“What hyperbole, Fred,” Doc said. I’m most pleased to have firmly stuck a pin in that bloated head of ol’ Mayor Gray. Trouncing him has been a veritable highlight of my career, I say.”
“You must be excited about the inauguration tomorrow night, sir,” Queen said.
“Excited? I suppose so. That daft idiot Gray certainly made things difficult for me.” His face turned dark. “You must have read about it in the rags, Harm. As a mayor elected by the people, I thought it only appropriate that the inaugural ceremony’s venue should be large enough to hold the throngs of well-wishers.”
“I agree with you, sir,” Queen said.
“The owner of the Bijou Theater tendered us the use of his building, but Gray put an end to that,” the colonel explained. “Despite the Republican caucus of the new City Council agreeing to it.”
“That begrudging little dolt!” Doc was seething now, his face tight and red. Queen had seen this transformation more times than he could remember. One minute an affable gentleman, the next a bellowing boob. “The joists in the third floor have shrunk! The damn building is thirty years old! Too many people on the council floor will spring the joists out of place and the whole floor will cave in. It’ll send a hundred people to their deaths!”
“Alonzo,” his brother said. “The city engineer did an inspection of the floor and determined it safe.”
“But even so, I have thousands of well-wishers who will be denied an opportunity to see me sworn in! The Bijou auditorium is much more spacious and comfortable.”
Colonel Ames nodded in agreement. “And unfortunately the city side of the new City Hall and County Courthouse is still unfinished. We must make do with what we have.”
“Christ, I’m looking forward to getting rid of the lot of them.”
Queen took that as an opportunity to speak. “Can I expect to continue on the force as well, Mayor Ames? Seeing as how you are cleaning the house.”
The mayor looked amusedly at Queen. “You’re never much fun without some scotch in your belly, Harm. Help yourself to some.” He motioned to a bottle labeled Dimple Pinch Blended Scotch Whiskey and a glass on his desk, and Queen poured himself some. He took the barest
Doc Ames sat behind his desk, smoking a cigar, and chatting with his brother, who was sitting in a chair next to his. The mayor stood up to greet Queen when he entered.
“Hello, my boy! What a night it is, what a night!”
Ames spread a handsome, weathered smile under a thick gray mustache and heartily extended his hand, pumping Queen’s arm half off with enthusiasm. “So much work to do, Harm. Choosing men for a police force is challenging work. But,” he inhaled deeply, contentment on his face, “We must pick the best, brightest and strongest! No more mucking around with second-rate men, I say.”
Colonel Ames rose and also held out his hand. “Hello, Detective Queen. Thank you for making it down here tonight. I know you’re busy doing important city work.”
“I would never turn down an invitation from the most popular Republican in Minneapolis.”
He knew how to humor the old sawbones. Doc Ames threw his head back and chortled gleefully at that. “Three terms as a Democrat, and the fourth a Republican! Never would I have dreamt of a victory snatched from within the ranks of the enemy party!”
Colonel Ames had a drawn, thin, clean-shaven face with pointed features. He wore a blue sack coat with three stars on its collar, which he brushed absently with his hand. “And we now have the opportunity to do great things for this city and for your legacy. A last, beautiful dance that will ignite the sentiments of the people of Minneapolis.”
“What hyperbole, Fred,” Doc said. I’m most pleased to have firmly stuck a pin in that bloated head of ol’ Mayor Gray. Trouncing him has been a veritable highlight of my career, I say.”
“You must be excited about the inauguration tomorrow night, sir,” Queen said.
“Excited? I suppose so. That daft idiot Gray certainly made things difficult for me.” His face turned dark. “You must have read about it in the rags, Harm. As a mayor elected by the people, I thought it only appropriate that the inaugural ceremony’s venue should be large enough to hold the throngs of well-wishers.”
“I agree with you, sir,” Queen said.
“The owner of the Bijou Theater tendered us the use of his building, but Gray put an end to that,” the colonel explained. “Despite the Republican caucus of the new City Council agreeing to it.”
“That begrudging little dolt!” Doc was seething now, his face tight and red. Queen had seen this transformation more times than he could remember. One minute an affable gentleman, the next a bellowing boob. “The joists in the third floor have shrunk! The damn building is thirty years old! Too many people on the council floor will spring the joists out of place and the whole floor will cave in. It’ll send a hundred people to their deaths!”
“Alonzo,” his brother said. “The city engineer did an inspection of the floor and determined it safe.”
“But even so, I have thousands of well-wishers who will be denied an opportunity to see me sworn in! The Bijou auditorium is much more spacious and comfortable.”
Colonel Ames nodded in agreement. “And unfortunately the city side of the new City Hall and County Courthouse is still unfinished. We must make do with what we have.”
“Christ, I’m looking forward to getting rid of the lot of them.”
Queen took that as an opportunity to speak. “Can I expect to continue on the force as well, Mayor Ames? Seeing as how you are cleaning the house.”
The mayor looked amusedly at Queen. “You’re never much fun without some scotch in your belly, Harm. Help yourself to some.” He motioned to a bottle labeled Dimple Pinch Blended Scotch Whiskey and a glass on his desk, and Queen poured himself some. He took the barest
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