Jamie Quinn Cozy Mysteries Collection

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

"Then I guess you won't mind if I check out the lovely ladies?" Duke said, with a leer.

I snorted. "Like you weren't going to do that anyway."

When the bartender pointed at my empty glass, I nodded. I figured what the hell-- this was my biggest night out in months, even if I was spending it with Duke Broussard.

"Just out of curiosity," I said, "On the phone earlier, what offer did you think I was accepting?"

Duke gave me a look. "The one where I said, 'Hey Jamie, let's you and me go out and celebrate, I finally got away from my crazy wife.' What'd you think I meant?"

"Oh, I remembered a different offer," I said. "The one where you said, "Jamie, you rock! If you ever need my help for anything, just call.'"

"Yeah, I vaguely remember that," he said.

"You'd remember more if you weren't always soaking your brain in booze," I teased.

"What fun would that be?" He laughed, showing off his perfect teeth. "Well, where's that story you promised me?"

And so, with blues riffs as my backdrop, I told Duke the tale of the music store murder and its oddball cast of characters. I explained what I'd learned so far and how, despite Adam's strange confession, and his fingerprints on the didgeridoo, I would stake my life on his innocence.

"Damn, Jamie! This sounds like a made-for-TV movie. Count me in. What do you need me to do?"

I'd been holding my breath waiting for Duke's reaction and I finally let it escape into a sigh of relief. I pulled out Susan Doyle's list of questions and we began to strategize. Duke would run background checks on Spike, the band and everyone who worked in the music store. If that didn't turn up anything, he would also check out the students and their parents. When he started telling me how he could get cell phone and bank records, I put my fingers in my ears and chanted: "La La La."

Duke rolled his eyes at me. "Okay, I get it, need to know basis only."

I said I would meet with Marian Wolinsky and Adam's therapist. We were just about finished when company arrived. A pretty redhead in a skin-tight dress and stiletto heels marched over to us looking furious. She glared at Duke and then slapped him hard across the face. I don't know why I was surprised.

"You pig! I can't believe you're cheating on me with her!"

"But Darlin', it's not how it looks, this is business!" Duke jumped up and continued his patter of explanations, trying to catch a break.

I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. This was how I'd met Duke. His life seemed to be one long parade of angry women. I wondered if this one could afford a billboard…