Books,Murder,and Coffee
an excerpt

“It seems he did a fender-bender in the parking lot, pulling in;so he pulled back out and headed east. The woman upstairs, there, said he wasn’t himself.
She could tell by his eyes. But he was swearing under his breath about a bookstore.
Well his is gone, so…you don’t think, in broad daylight with all that foot traffic…Lets GO! This time they used the siren, while Scianna got on the radio for back- up and a bomb squad. Giase had told Kit about rear parking, and they pulled in behind the store, off the alley. Newman, have them block any cars but ours, going through this alley, and the street out front. Try to keep people away from this block. I know it’ll be like herding cats, but try.
Scianna rang the bell; and the owner answered, about five shades paler than usual, and sweating profusely. He told them, haltingly, that they weren’t needed, and everything was ok. As if his face hadn’t already told them all they needed to know, he gestured with his hands a bomb exploding, in low pantomime, unseen from behind the door. Are you working alone, today, or do you have staff on?
No staff, he croaked, wife at her job. then pantomimed praying hands, as if to say,”Thank God!” While newman was talking to him, Scianna, orchestrated the back-up from the radio and his cell phone. When he knew everyone was in place, he walked up to Mr. Giase. and pulled him out of the store, turning him over to a patrol car, with orders to go to a waiting ambulance to be checked out. They closed the back door, and locked it, walking to the front through the neighboring business. Mr. Johnson, Steve,
you’re not well…it’s not you, it’s the medication the Russian gave you. He’s
not licensed in this country for several very good reasons. You don’t want to end it here. Too many people will be hurt, you included. Steve, you don’t want to waste all that education.
“What about Comfrey? You can’t execute a man twice, you know.I did that.
He had already been clubbed and stabbed; I’m not sure the bomb killed him.
You’re not responsible for the hit and run, either. The Russian will go down for that, when we catch him. Steve, he’s already responsible for at least two deaths… are you gonna let him get you, too? You want to cut your prison time? I’m not gonna lie to you-you will do time…but if you help us catch him, it will go a long way toward reducing your sentence..
All these little guys, think they could be a contender ...they’ll never catch up with us! Scavenger and Carrion, the store of the future!
So why did you bomb it, Steve?
Comfrey, laughed, wouldn’t see me promoted because I’m black. Talked to someone upstairs, who agreed. Said I’d never be more than an assistant.
Hated him, that store; too much soap-opera goin’on Too hard to think…
But Steve, if you do this, you won’t be around to see it much less help or enjoy it …If you pull that pin, you won’t see the future! Steve, if it matters so much to you, stick around! Give me the pineapple…ok..right…ok..slowly
Thanks, Steve..Scianna pushed through the door with one hand, while the grenade sat tin the other. He handed it to the waiting bomb squad, and went back through the door. Steve was on the floor. Scianna barked into the radio,
‘Ambulance now!” and bent over him. The pulse under the fingers on his neck. jumped and raced, too fast for him to count, but there was a pulse, and breathing though also quick and shallow. His color, too ebbed and flowed ; now pale, now beet red under his dark complexion. As they filed in, his body did one sharp jerk, then lay still. The Zoll pads were on and attached.
“Clear! The pattern on the screen went from a wiggly line to rapid peaks and
valleys.
Atropine…! slower peaks and valleys, and as the litany of meds went on, the picture clarified and settled into a rythmic pattern.
Ok, lets travel, people!
Where you headed?
U med Center
Tell Dr. Williams, if he’s on, this guys been on steroids,etc. He can take it from there.
Sir the grenade’s defused and b&A ready to go
How’s the owner. Oh, he’ll be fine. A live grenade isn’t the best way to end the day.
Tell me about it!
Just then, Newman walked in with a cup of coffee. Compliments of the house they said! Whenever you’re here they said!
Who said?
the Venetian café! Let’s see if I can remember.. oh yes,’I think your going to have to suffer an award ceremony. That looked a lot like heroism back there’…or words to that effect. Well, at least I won’t be alone…Thanks,Captain