Today’s
excerpt is from Horace Goes Home, Book #2 of the Bader Trilogy. Elmer makes arrangements for more of the
people—including his new female partner—helping him on the mob case to move to
his friend’s ranch for safety. Enjoy and
have a wonderful day.
m.j.
Elmer sighed,
“Go get Bert, Maine.” When she headed
for the door, he took out his phone to call Red.
Red answered,
“Don’t be calling me to get you out of trouble.
Actually, Ruth is having a good laugh about the situation. She knows if a new detective has to be
trained there, you’re the best there is.”
“I know Ruth
will be okay with this deal. What I’m
calling about is how about feeding three more at the ranch? I’m thinking Bert and his wife need to come
out. They could stay with Julie and
John. Hold it…got another idea. Four more to feed.”
Red interrupted,
“However many—sure, bring ‘em on. We’ll
figure out where everyone sleeps when you get here. Worried about their safety?”
“Yeah…except
one. I think…wait—may be only
three. I’ll call you back.”
“Never mind…just
come on with however many you want.”
While he was
thinking about the number of new guests for the ranch, Bert, Alan, and Maine
came back into the office. Elmer looked
at Bert. “You and Edna are moving to Red
Grassi’s ranch tonight. This thing with
Prudi is getting ugly—I want you safe.
If they’re watching us, they’ve seen you with Alan. Alan, since you chose to come in here, nosing
around when I told Maine to gather Bert, you take him home right now. Pack them up, then head for the ranch. Any problem with that, Bert?’
“Not when you
put it that way. I saw the big stinking
sniper rifle that guy had.”
Elmer
laughed. When Bert and Alan left the
office, he called Greg. “Is Chuck
married?”
“No, why?”
“How about
talking to him and John about him staying with John, until this is over? My thinking is they can come back and forth
together, with Bert—who’s moving to the ranch tonight—and Alan can ride
together. I can ride with my new
partner. She’s moving to the ranch
tonight, also.”
“She? Nice-looking?
Ruth should really like this.”
“Naw—ugly,
skinny thing Reggie pawned off on me.”
Maine put her
hand on her hip and rolled her eyes, but kept quiet, as Elmer continued to talk
to Greg. Before he got off the phone,
John and Chuck had agreed to the idea, then Greg brought Elmer up-to-date on
the total lack of success he and his team had encountered during the day, on
coming up with a way to find Sgroi and Mosello.
Finally, Elmer looked at Reggie.
“Done. Got any more easy cases?”
“Got no more
cases—get me the paperwork on the one you just solved.”
Elmer stood up
and nodded, “Come along, partner.”
When they got
back to Elmer’s desk, Maine asked, “What if I don’t want to live on this
ranch?”
“Then you get a
new partner right now.”
“I’m in. They got horses?”
“Yup.”
“Then I’m really in. I need to get a few things.”
“Figured you
would. Let me get the paperwork Reggie
wants, then we’ll go pack you up. But
I’m not helping you pack any damn vibrators.”
“Oh, that’s
funny.”
“I thought it
was. Now hush, so I can do this
paperwork. Coffee, please.”
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