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Back Dead of Winter Save as PDF
Chapters (42)
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Detective Aswan took out one of his cards and handed it to me. He told me it might be a couple weeks before my weapons were tested and possibly returned. I told him I didn’t care about the Glock. But my father’s service weapon was important to me. Then, donning a ridiculous noir-along-the-Seine trench coat, he started for the door. He stopped, turned back to me and said, “Why would you do that, Mr. Snow? Why would you ‘intimidate’ Vic Bronson at his office?”

“Because I believe he is taking a less-than-legal approach to buying property on the cheap in Mexicantown,” I said. “That or he’s being used. People are getting hurt. Even killed. And I’d like to know why.”

Detective Aswan nodded. “So, do I have your word you will not bother Mr. Bronson at his office again?”

“You have my word I will not bother Mr. Bronson at his office again, Detective.”

He smiled. “Why doesn’t that fill me with confidence?”

I lifted my cup of coffee to him. “I think you’re going to be an outstanding detective, Detective.”

He left.

“Everyone seems to either love you or want you dead,” Tatina said.

“Which side are you coming down on?” I said.

“Let’s take it day by day,” she said, pouring two freezing cold tumblers of Long Road Distillers’ aquavit, which I had turned her on to the year before.

“I could have sworn you tossed all my booze, lady,” I said.

“I did,” she said. “I bought this today because I know you can handle your drink. If you moderate it. And I knew there would be a reason to celebrate.”

“And that reason is?”

“I’m young, pretty, smart and have a doctorate degree in cultural anthropology,” she said.

“Nothing involving me?”

“And you have good taste in women.” She lifted her glass. “Cheers!”

I suggested, since I was still dressed to the nines from my visit to Hunter Enterprises, that we have a swanky dinner. Maybe Republic. Or Vertical. She said she didn’t have anything swanky to wear. I said she’d look like royalty in a burlap sack. She said I looked fabulous in my suit. I said I knew that. She said she wanted to see me without a stitch on.

We ordered a pizza a couple hours later.

At 3:30 a.m. I gave her a light kiss on the forehead and dressed in tactical black for an early morning’s work.

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