Cross-Over Murders by Frank F. Atanacio Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Thirty-Nine

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Trying not to think about Robert White, and trying not to let his capture overwhelm him O’Brien held two boxes of liquor as he pushed the door to the liquor store out with his body. He was followed out of the store by Nick Barnum.
“Two hundred and forty dollars,” Nick huffed. “Damn Janet is slick.”
“You’re the fool.”
Nick snarled.
“I got that door for you,” said a young attractive black female as she held the door open for Nick. She had curly brown hair, and thin red eye-glasses. She was wearing tight jeans, and a blue tee–shirt. Her face was slightly darker than almond, and her lips full. She was a very polite young woman.
“Thank you,” Nick said.
“No problem,” she replied. “Just waiting for my boyfriend, and I don’t have much else to do.”
“That was honest,” Nick said.
She smiled.
“Nick, stop trying to pick up girls,” said O’Brien.
“I’m just being nice,” Nick replied.
“He’s got good taste,” said the female.
“Yeah,” Nick looked sheepishly at her. “I have very good taste.”
“Yeah but you’re old,” O’Brien added. “And she’s young.”
“Age is a number, Pete.”
The young woman smiled.
“Oh come on,” said O’Brien as he looked at the young woman. “Don’t encourage him. Tell him the truth. Tell him that you wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole!”
“He’s cute.”
“You got to be kidding me!”
The girl laughed.
“He’s just jealous,” added the private eye.
She wink seductively.
“Oh no,” O’Brien suddenly turned red.

“What is it, Pete.”
“The captain!”
“Roque?”
O’Brien nodded.
“What is he doing here?” Nick asked.
“Maybe restocking his little stash.”
“Are you guys in trouble?” asked the young female.
“I’m not,” said Nick. “But looks like my friend is.”
“Pete, what are you doing here?” The captain asked.
“Helping Nick.”
“Why aren’t you working on the Cross-Over case?”
“Just took a break sir.”
Nick smiled.
Detective Peter O’Brien had visioned a few hours of tongue lashing as the captain put his hands on his hip in a parental sort of fashion. “Captain, I’ll get right on it as soon as I get back to Nick’s office. I left my cruiser there.”
The captain huffed. “Okay, but make it quick.”
“Thank you sir.”
“Hey, can we give you a lift?” Nick asked the young woman. “I don’t see your ride anywhere.”
“He’s coming,” she said. “But thanks.”
“We can’t give her a ride,” O’Brien shot toward Nick. “The captain says I have to hurry back to the cruiser.”
Nick winked at the captain.
A red pick-up truck drove into the parking area and was driving toward the large footwear store. He had to follow the traffic that way in order to turn back toward the liquor store. It had to be done in that fashion because the entrance from the Boston Avenue side was complicated. He should have entered from the Noble Avenue section. It would have given him easy access toward the liquor store.
“That’s my ride,” said the young woman.
“The painter’s truck?” Nick asked.
She nodded.
“He’s a contractor?”
She nodded again.
“Big company?”
“No,” she replied. “He picks up cheap labor from the North and Madison area.”
The captain’s eyes shot wide open.
“Red truck, black driver,” Nick almost whispered.
“Something against black drivers?” asked the female.
“No, not at all.”
“Just the way you said that,” she said.
“I’m sorry, that was rude.”
She smiled.
“He picks up cheap labor?” Asked the captain.
“Has to, he says it keeps cost down,” she replied. “But I haven’t seen him all that much lately. I’m gonna get him for that.”
“He’s the devil,” O’Brien said mostly to himself.
“You’re sort of right in a way, he is known as the devilish painter,” she smiled.
O’Brien dropped the box.
“Pete! Janet will kill me!”
O’Brien bent down and picked the box up without inspecting if any of the bottles were damaged.
“What do we do?” the captain whispered into Nick’s ear.
“We follow.”
The red truck stopped in front of the female.
“Take care boys,” she said as she hopped in.
Nick waved.
The truck sped off.
Nick and O’Brien dropped their loads and quickly rushed toward the private eye’s Ford Explorer with the captain following suit.
Two things shot through Nick’s head.
The Cross-Over Murderer!
Janet is going to kill me!