Private Dick Casefile 01 - Lily White Rose Red

about that in books, but she made it seem fabulous and exciting, not affected like an actress might do. “Not something bright, like an Easter egg. Something subtle, mysterious, sophisticated.” Well, no one had ever called me sophisticated before, but I was willing to learn. “I’m kind of busy—”
    “Not in that tie on my behalf,” Miss McIntyre said. She slipped her hand into the crook of my elbow and hung on tight. “Come along, darling. I can call you Grey, can’t I? And you must call me Lily.”
    “Miss McIntyre—”
    “We’re going to know each other quite well, Grey, darling. No formality between friends. And one day you’ll have to explain to me just how you came to own something so ugly.” She started dragging me inexorably toward the doors. “Think of this as your moll giving you the darb steer and putting you wise, shamus.”
    Her fur thing made my nose itch as she swept me along into the store. I didn’t want to actually hurt her making my escape, and maybe she did know what she was talking about with the ties, although purple—

    Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
    67

    Chapter 4: I Get My Man (Temporarily)

    I SMOOTHED my new tie and wondered if Reggie would appreciate it.
    Probably not. Philistine. He had to wear a department-issue dark blue tie, and my new one was a smoky blue and pure silk. I’d never had a silk tie before. Of course, he probably wouldn’t even notice how well it went with my charcoal grey suit once I started asking him questions about Barry Jazz Morgan.
    My suit had passed muster with Lily, although she had muttered once or twice about how could I pick out a nice suit and be blind to the kind of tie I wore. I was glad the suit passed muster, because as it was, she’d bought me three new ties and would have forcibly thrown away the one I was wearing if I hadn’t claimed it was borrowed and I had to return it. Which was true. Artie was going to be really happy to get it back.
    I waited for Reggie at a table in Nancy’s Diner, seeing as I didn’t have to sneak up on him this time. When I first came in, Nancy commented favorably on the tie too, so maybe Lily was right.
    Reggie sighed when he slid into his side of the booth. “Lieutenant Steele sent his love.”
    “Oh, give mine to him. And a kiss.”
    Reggie shivered. “Please. Only in my nightmares. Sorry about that, but you should have let Sergeant Thomas call back for me.” I shrugged. “Ask me what I did after I left?”
    “You went shopping.”
    Guess he did notice the tie after all. I couldn’t help giving it a stroke. Feely. “I went to the Jungle Room and talked to a girl who 68

    CATT FORD

    knew Miss Saint-Ville. She said that some guy was stalking her, obsessed with her.”
    “Yeah? Who?”
    “She didn’t know. Said the guy used to send her flowers and signed the card with the letter B.”
    Reggie looked a little wary but played it cool. “And that gets you where?”
    “I also drove around in blacktown today. Found out where Jazz hangs his horn.” I was watching him, but he was good. He wasn’t giving an inch. “Met a neighbor lady who told me his real name is Barry.”
    “I should have told you that.” Reggie didn’t say that apologetically.
    “Damn right you should have! What if he was the one sending her flowers?”
    “What if he did? What difference does it make?”
    “This guy sent her flowers every night, but no one ever saw him.”
    “So?” Reggie clenched his fists on the table and leaned forward menacingly.
    “So a black guy can’t afford to be seen slipping around with a white girl. She was seen getting into a car one night, and Jazz has a car, doesn’t he?”
    “Circumstantial.”
    “What kind of car does he have, Reggie?”
    “A Ford.”
    “The witness said this was a Ford. Black.” The next thing I knew, Reggie hauled off and pasted me one with a right hook.
    “Ooof!” I went down hard, flying out of the booth and landing on the floor with Reggie standing over me, clenching his fists.
    “You asshole,” I said, but I didn’t get up because if I did, I’d have to smack him one, and I’d promised Nancy not to break the china.

    Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
    69

    “Crap, I’m sorry.” Reggie held out a hand to me and hauled me to my feet. “I’m just….” His shoulders slumped, and he looked defeated.
    “It’s all right. Siddown.” I sat down myself and wiped my nose. It was bleeding. I