Crime & Counterpoint Read Online Free PDF Page A

followed her. “She’s into you.”
    “I don’t have time.”
    “You have nothing but time. That’s why I’m getting ulcers.”
    Zach picked up the stein and raised it towards Carter. “Well maybe you should quit drinking.”
    Carter hit the solid table with a fist. “Damn it! That swaggering bullshit doesn’t work with me.” He stabbed a finger at Zach. “Just accept the fact that someone gives a damn about you, and –” Groaning, he sat back and shook his head in defeat. “Ah forget it, just drink your damn beer.”
    Complying, Zach took a swig of the biting, cold brew and felt it snake all the way down his esophagus. It both cooled and warmed, settling comfortably in his gut. His broad shoulders released a smidgen of their tension – just enough for his neck to catch a break.
    When he sat back, he found Carter’s eyes on him and read a world of knowing amusement in them.
    “Better?” Carter inquired.
    In answer, Zach drank lustily, taking several long gulps until there was only a shallow burnt amber pool at the bottom. Then, he gripped the handle of his stein tightly, thinking. “Cervenka’s been smuggling narcotics into this country, paying for them with illegal arms that he’s getting from who knows where. And that shithole today? Where do you think those girls came from?”
    “Oh, so now you wanna tack on human trafficking, too? If no one else has been able to figure out who the Red Fisher is or find any legitimate dirt on Cervenka, what makes you think you can?”
    Zach glared. “With or without you, I am going to continue investigating him.”
    Nodding as if he knew this already, Carter exhaled in defeat. “I’ll think about it. But not tonight, huh? I’ve got a hearing in the morning. Need to go over my opening statement. Though I gotta say… it’s my best yet.” He grinned and rapped his fist on the table before scooting out of the booth.
    A vague smile tugged at Zach’s mouth. Carter’s usual braggart confidence was in full swing – entertaining at the very least.
    Carter shrugged into his tan trenchcoat, smile still in place. “You gonna be okay?”
    “I don’t need a babysitter, Carter.”
    “You need something.” He adjusted his collar over his navy Ralph Lauren suit. “Happy birthday, man.”
    Zach barely smirked and dropped his gaze. “Thanks,” he said quietly. Carter gripped his beefy shoulder encouragingly and left.
    Alone, Zach just stared vacantly at the empty seat, thoughts beginning to attack already. But a moment later, his phone buzzed with a text, beating away the demons. Hoping to God it wasn’t his dad, he took it out.
    Sender: Unknown.
    Message: Black Orpheus Shipping. Harlem River. Container 23-875-1c.
    His body tingled. Warily, he looked around, senses on high-alert. Ready to lunge out of the gate, he stood and trekked out, morbid eagerness to his step. No reason in leaving a perfectly good tip waiting.

5
    Shelley exited the echoic chamber of her building’s stairwell and ambled towards apartment 2C, key in hand. Unlocking the door, she hesitated in the hallway for a moment, neither inclined nor disinclined to enter. The tepid, half-hearted air that lazed across the threshold didn’t help. It was familiar, but that was all. A cold comfort.
    She stepped inside and shut the door, oblivious to the grungy state of her living quarters. It had been in a mess for a while now, but she’d become numb to the disorder, not caring enough to do anything about it. If the apartment wanted to look like an indolent street beggar, far be it from her to get on a platform about it.
    Moral decay aside, however, it was really quite an attractive, spacious, two-bedroom flat. Amazing for an Upper West Side residence, especially since she wasn’t the one footing the bill. Polished, wooden floors, an entire wall of windows, and an open kitchen with modern appliances and honey oak cupboards. French doors in the back of the living room led out to a small but cozy balcony where