Today’s excerpt is from Whodunit
Did It, the first of three Elmer Bader books. FBI, NCIS, LAPD Homicide Detective Elmer
Bader, and his partner have been working the case of a murdered Three-Star
Admiral (who had just been nominated to be the next Secretary of Homeland
Security) together until they are worn to the nub. Elmer’s Captain has a solution. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.
m.j.
Just then,
Captain Bergmann walked in all smiles and happiness, as he asked, “How’s my
crack crime-solving team doing today?”
Elmer groaned,
“Get the hell outta here, Gordo. Now is
no time.”
Gordon gave
Elmer a funny look, before he asked, “What did you say?”
Reggie, fearing
Elmer was about to go too far, butted in, “Another little snag, Gordon,” before
he explained about the Malibu, but what they were going to do about it.
“All right—this
does it. You’re all shot. You’re putting too much of yourselves into
this—including our FBI and NCIS friends.
This is Friday. I want everyone
in this room out of here in the next ten minutes. I want every last one of you not to think
about this case, discuss it, or even admit it exists until Monday at
eight. I’m not kidding about this. As shot as the bunch of you are, you’re not
gonna solve anything until you get away from it. Go find out what life outside this war
room—as you call it—is like.”
Elmer started to
explode, but remembered Ruth’s words of the previous night, not to become
obsessed with the case. He sighed,
“You’re right, Gordo. Pack up your gear,
folks. Alan, let’s take the girls deep
sea fishing.”
As soon as Elmer
gave in to the Captain’s comments so easily, everyone else in the room realized
Gordon was absolutely right. They had
been working this case until they were getting cross-eyed from it. Homer smiled, “I can’t tell you the last time
I had as much as ten hours off. Thanks,
Captain Bergmann. When you’re right,
you’re right. I’m gonna sleep for
seventy-two hours. See you all.”
Greg looked at
each of his other three agents, saw the bags under their eyes, and saw their
blank stares. “Come on gang…nothing
until Monday. Come back ready to slay
dragons then—but nothing until then.
Meet here at eight Monday.”
Even as he
spoke, Gordon left the room. By the time
Greg and his people were gone, and Elmer, Alan, and Reggie had stacked things
up a bit and were getting ready to leave, Gordon returned with some crime scene
tape. As soon as those three left the
room, he made a big ‘X’ across the door with the tape. He said in a loud voice, “Anybody sees anyone
going into this room before eight Monday morning, shoot them.”
Elmer laughed,
“A bit dramatic, Gordo…but you’re right.
We got the message. See you
Monday—unless you forget yourself, head into the room, and get shot.”
Gordon laughed
in spite of himself. He watched as his
three detectives followed the path taken to the door by the others. Elmer never even looked back as he followed
Reggie, with Alan right behind him.
Outside, Elmer and Alan shook hands with Reggie, wished him a nice long
weekend, then told him they would see him Monday. After he walked off, Alan asked, “Okay, we
really gonna do this?”
Elmer
nodded. “Yeah, we are. I got a plan.
Go get your bride. Meet me at my
place. Wear something suitable for going
to sea.”
“How the hell
are we gonna find a boat that won’t cost us a fortune?”
“I told you, I
got a plan. For a change, my mind is
clear and sharp. See you at my
place. Don’t dally along the way…no
screwing or anything.”
“You’re nuts—but
we’ll be there.”
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