Private Dick Casefile 01 - Lily White Rose Red

you that?” I taunted. I had an idea that he was trying to get me to deny things he hadn’t even accused me of so he could trap me. But apparently he didn’t share that idea. He balled up his Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
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    hand into a ham-like fist again. His idea was that if he hit me enough, eventually I’d give him what he wanted to get him to stop. It had some merit. I just hoped he’d wear out first.
    He hit me again in the same spot, sending me crashing over my chair and onto the floor. I didn’t make a sound other than my huffing and puffing to catch my breath; I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
    When I could talk again, I said, “Was that you parked across the street?”
    Big Billy flicked a quick glance at Lieutenant Steele, but the lieutenant was too savvy to reveal any reaction to my jibe, even though I’m sure he was intrigued. He didn’t miss much, but he didn’t give it away, either.
    “Listen, I know you were there. You took something out of that apartment, and I want it back,” Big Billy said softly, his eyes narrowed.
    “If it was evidence, why didn’t you bag it when your boys first searched the place?” I asked. “Or maybe it wasn’t there yet for them to find.”
    He stepped over, grabbed my shirt, hauled me to my feet, and punched me again, sending me flying into the file cabinet this time. I hoped the impact wouldn’t dislodge the pendant from under the card, and my luck held. Maybe he was thinking the third time would be the charm, but I wished he’d find another spot. He was good with his hands, I’d give him that, always landing his right on the same spot, but I’d had worse.
    I saw Reggie’s fists clench and shook my head slightly at him before taunting Big Billy. “Was that you under the bed, then?” I gasped.
    Big Billy frowned, and I thought he was going to pound me again or maybe even kick me. I think he thought so too, but Lieutenant Steele intervened.
    “Someone called in a tip, Randall. Said there was a B and E at the Saint-Ville apartment. We went down to check it out.”
    “And you found me inside?”

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    CATT FORD

    Lieutenant Steele growled at me. “Of course not, you moron, you’d be in jail if we had!”
    “So this same little bird also told you if you came down to my office you would find a nice surprise waiting for you here instead?”
    “Maybe we should take you in and give you a going-over to help your memory!” Big Billy said.
    “No, Captain. If there was evidence in that apartment, it’s useless now that it’s been removed,” Lieutenant Steele said. “Let’s give him some rope.”
    I could see the wheels turning in Captain Woods’s head again, trying to find a way to turn this to his advantage. Or maybe just coming up with another angle. He glared at the lieutenant, and it was clear they had differing points of view on police procedure.
    “Right, men. We’re done here. Let’s go.” Captain Woods kicked the trashcan over as he turned to go, which was just petty, because it didn’t harm me other than that I’d have to pick up all the balled up paper and put it back in. It struck me that he was pretty damn confident that I hadn’t made any notes, or he’d be looking through the trash. And maybe the file cabinet too. In fact, he didn’t seem to be too interested in anything else I might have had hidden on the premises in his urgency to get his hands on the pendant.
    “Thanks for coming, call ahead next time and I’ll have it catered,” I said from my spot on the floor where I lay gasping, and I raised a limp hand to wave goodbye.
    “You’d clown on your way to your own funeral!” Lieutenant Steele sounded irritated, but his lips twitched like he thought I was actually pretty funny.
    Reggie and Garrett marched out behind Captain Woods, staring rigidly ahead.
    But Lieutenant Steele stayed behind. “Look, peeper, we’ve been on the case since it happened. Did you talk to the apartment manager while you were there?”
    I shook my head. “Incognito. Besides, you know how they are.
    Most of them won’t give a private dick the time of day.” Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
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    “Interesting thing. Marguerite Saint-Ville never paid her rent.”
    “So why didn’t they kick her out?”
    “I didn’t say the rent wasn’t paid, but so far we don’t have a whiff of whoever was keeping her. Manager says she never had boyfriends up to her