Jamie Quinn Cozy Mysteries Collection

Chapter 25

When I got to The Big Easy, I saw a swarm of barflies flitting around the outside bar, mostly tourists, but no Duke. I marched inside, on a mission to rescue Duke from his demons, himself, or whatever. It was dark in there after the glare outside and I had to wait for my eyes to adjust. Then I saw him, hunched over the bar, where it looked like he"d been all night. Unshaven, he was wearing rumpled clothes and an air of despair

I touched him lightly on the shoulder. "Duke, you okay? Did something happen?"

He shook his head, too miserable to talk.

I sat down next to him. "Is there something I can do for you?" Not one lascivious suggestion came out of his mouth--and I"d given him the perfect set-up. Something was seriously wrong. I just sat with him for a while, neither of us saying anything. Brendan, the bartender, brought me a glass of water. After about fifteen minutes, Duke looked at me with tears in his eyes.

"I could"ve saved her, Jamie. That sweet girl told me she was scared, she said he"d try to kill her…but I said, "Don"t worry, you"ll be okay." And now she"s dead, Rosa"s dead! That jealous bastard killed her. Just like he killed Spike." Duke laid his head on the bar in defeat.

"Duke! It"s not your fault," I said, patting him gently on the back. "And Steve didn"t kill Spike."

Duke looked at me like I was crazy. "What the hell are you saying, Jamie?"

"It was Marian. She had a little jealousy problem herself."

"Damn, Jamie! These people are nuts!"

"That"s saying a lot, coming from you, Duke!" I laughed, and then he did, too.

"Why are you here, anyway?" he asked, perking up a little.

"I came here to save you. Well, most of you. Your liver is a lost cause, I"m afraid."

Even Brendan the bartender smiled at that.

"Actually," I said, "I came to tell you that Adam"s in the clear, but I still need your help. If we"re going to take Marian down, I need proof I can take to the state attorney, that smug little weasel. You in?"

"You bet I am, Darlin". But what do you say to some breakfast first? What are you havin", a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa?"