Out of the Blues Read Online Free PDF Page A

from him.
    A: Not after I got grown.
    Q: Is there anything more you can tell me about illegal activity?
    A: That’s all I’ve got to say.
    Before closing the file, she turned to the back and Stone’s booking photo. In The Homes the faces of young men grew hard and sharp, calcified, their bones fixed like knives, a fearful hardening with things you could never know, things they didn’t even tell themselves. The scowly surfaces glistening in sunlight or streetlight. No bit of softness.
    Salt closed the file, stood, and put on the coat over her torn clothes.
    â€”
    H EAD LOWERED to the phone that he held in his left hand, Huff raised his eyes when Salt appeared in his office doorway. “Yes, I realize the pressure you must be facing, Councilwoman,” he said, swiping his free hand over his scalp and rolling his eyes up toward the ceiling.
    â€œThe press has been all over us, too.” He leaned his head back on his shoulders and closed his eyes, listening. “Detective Wills
is
one of our best . . .
    â€œNo, we are certain this case is not related to the Solquist murders. I realize they were your constituents . . .
    â€œOf course the neighborhood is upset. When a crime like this occurs, everyone wants to know it was not random . . .
    â€œNo, we don’t give out the detectives’ phone numbers to anyone. The chief is your best bet.” He held the handset away from his ear as an indistinguishable but loud woman’s voice emanated from the earpiece. He put the phone back to his ear. “I probably will enjoy walking a beat again.”
    Huff spoke to the loudly buzzing dial tone, “Thank you, Councilwoman Mars,” dropped the phone into its cradle, and looked up at Salt while slamming a desk drawer shut. The room smelled suspiciously of microwave popcorn. “Now, what can I do for you? I just love me some women in my business.” Most of the files stacked on his desk were bright green, while purple, blue, and yellow ones were piled on the floor, cabinets, and chair. There was no place to sit.
    â€œI guess you finished reading the file? You cold?” He pointed at her coat.
    â€œYou gave me a very cold case.” She stood in the doorway.
    â€œYou arrested Stone. You know The Homes. Your reputation preceded you, and around here no good deed goes unpunished.” Huff grinned.
    â€œThe limitations of any statute that could apply are up on everything but murder, so the feds don’t care about the rest, the child prostitution, the drugs?”
    â€œYou got it. They took the statement and handed it to us. They got bigger fish to fry.”
    â€œDid anyone even bother to find out who ‘John’ is?”
    â€œThe Shack is owned by an LLC—I don’t remember what name, but if you find the company it’s not likely you’ll find John’s name on the license. That’s why they now call you detective, Detective.”
    â€œYou also know Stone tried to kill me.”
    â€œAnd now you’ll be helping him by verifying the information he gave in the statement. You’re right. None of the accusations, except the murder, mean anything.”
    â€œHow much of his time will get cut if I can corroborate his information?”
    â€œOh, about the amount he’d do for assaulting a police officer. Interesting dilemma. I like a sense of humor in a detective.”
    â€œWhich of the other comedians will I be working with?”
    Huff stood up and stretched with his hands on his lower back. “You mean for a partner? Let’s see how you do alone first. Think of it as another chance to prove yourself. See if that dog luck holds.”
    Salt turned from the door just as a previously teetering stack of green files on his desk began a slow-motion slide to the floor.
    As Salt came out, Rosie hung up the phone, the paperback she’d been reading spread facedown on the desk. The cover illustration