Read Online You Make Me Feel So Dead by Robert Randisi - Free Book Online Page A

does it’s a forty-five.’
    â€˜You’re a mind-reader,’ I said. ‘You’d think that would make you a good detective, but …’
    That made Martin grin, but he hid it behind his hand. I figured Hargrove had another partner who didn’t like him much.
    â€˜Then why are you holding him?’ I asked.
    â€˜Like I said,’ Hargrove said. ‘He was there.’
    â€˜Did you find him with the body?’
    â€˜No,’ Martin said. ‘He was outside the building.’
    â€˜Why was he even grabbed?’
    â€˜This was an odd one,’ Martin said. ‘The uniforms said when they rolled up on the scene he stepped up and put his hands behind his head.’
    â€˜He gave up?’
    â€˜Yup.’
    â€˜Did he say anything?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Where’s the victim now?’
    â€˜The morgue.’
    â€˜Can I have a look?’
    Martin looked at Hargrove.
    â€˜Yeah, sure,’ he said. ‘I’ll call ahead and leave your name.’
    â€˜If you recognize him you’ll let us know, right?’ Martin asked.
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ Hargrove said, ‘sure.’ His phone rang at that moment. He picked it up, said, ‘Hargrove,’ listened, then said, ‘Yes, all right, send him back.’ He hung up and looked at Martin. ‘Epstein’s lawyer is here.’
    Martin nodded and stood up. ‘I’ll get him ready.’ He looked at me. ‘Nice to meet you.’
    â€˜Sure,’ I said, ‘same here.’

NINETEEN
    T he lawyer sent by Jack Entratter – Horace Daniels – walked Jerry and I out of the police station. The man was not only dwarfed by Jerry, but by me, as well. We were both able to look down at the bald spot on top of his head, barely covered by a comb-over.
    â€˜Mr Entratter wanted me to ask you boys not to kill anybody else this week,’ Daniels said.
    â€˜Mr G. ain’t killed nobody this week or any other week,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜It’s OK, Jerry,’ I said, ‘Jack’s just being funny. Horace, just tell Jack everything’s under control.’
    Horace adjusted his wire-framed glasses on his little button nose and said, ‘I hope so.’
    He walked down the street to a waiting limo.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Mr G.—’ Jerry started.
    â€˜I don’t know what you think you have to be sorry for, big guy,’ I said, ‘but let’s get in the Caddy and you can tell me about it.’
    As we drove I asked, ‘What’s Reynolds got to do with Penny, Jerry?’
    â€˜I don’t know, Mr G.,’ he said. ‘All I know is I followed her there. She went inside. Before I could do anything she come running out, right into me. I ain’t sure she recognized me, but she kept sayin’ she didn’t do it.’
    â€˜Then what?’
    â€˜I heard the sirens,’ he said. ‘Somebody musta called it in. The police cars pulled into the block, so I told her to go. When the patrol cars pulled up I did what I could to buy her some time.’
    â€˜You surrendered?’
    â€˜I put my hands on my head and waited,’ Jerry said. ‘I didn’t say a word.’
    â€˜That’s what probably saved you,’ I said. ‘All they had you for was being outside.’
    â€˜And Penny got away.’
    â€˜OK,’ I said. ‘Let’s go and find Penny and discover who the fuck William Reynolds was.’
    â€˜Billy Reynolds is – was – an old boyfriend who showed up unexpectedly,’ Penny said.
    Penny had gone right home when Jerry gave her the time to escape, and stayed there. When she opened the door and saw us standing there she fell into my arms, saying, ‘Oh, Eddie, I’m so sorry.’
    After we went inside she apologized profusely to Jerry, and thanked him at the same time.
    â€˜OK Penny,’ I said, ‘why don’t you tell us who this dead guy