Arrest, Search and Séance : Book 1 of the Fringe Society R.D. Hunter (pride and prejudice read .TXT) 📖

only place in Atlanta that the Fringe could go, hang out and talk shop. The ‘gentleman caller’ he was referring to was Jack Dobbs, my ex-boyfriend of nearly two years go. Gramps had made it no secret he thought we were ‘destined’ for each other.

“This isn’t just a ploy to get me to talk to Jack, is it? Because I really don’t have the time right now, Gramps.” He put a hand to his heart, as if mortally wounded that I would insinuate such a thing.

“Of course not, my Dear. I would never do such an underhanded thing. Why, I don’t even know of he is working today.” I walked him out to the parking lot. Linda shot a sour look at us as we passed, to which my grandpa simply inclined his head politely.

“Okay, I’ll check out the Candle,” I said. “Odds are good someone there knew her or something about her. Can I give you a lift to Mrs. Purnsley’s?” He shook his head.

“No thank you, my Dear. That’s completely out of your way. I’ll find my own way there.” Which meant he would wait around until circumstances carried him to Mrs. Purnsley’s doorstep. I sighed.

“Gramps, the universe isn’t going to call you a taxi. You might as well…” I was interrupted by a red convertible being driven by a young man in a business suit roaring into the parking lot and stopping in front of us.

“Hey, I’m really sorry,” the man said urgently, “but could either of you tell me where Martin’s Clinic is? My wife is there right now having an ultrasound and I promised I’d be there. It’s our first one so if I’m late she will absolutely have my hide.” Gramps arched an eyebrow and glanced at me, causing me to roll my eyes.

Martin’s Clinic was right across the street from Mrs. Purnsley’s apartment building, and it looked like my grandpa was going to get there in record time and in style. The universe provides again.

“Young man, you’re in luck,” Gramps said, walking forward. “I’m headed that way myself and can show you the quickest and easiest route there. With any luck whatsoever, we’ll be there before your wife has finished filling out the paperwork.” He got in the passenger seat without waiting for an invitation and quickly availed himself of a spare set of sunglasses he found in the console. “Hit it.”

There was a squeal of tires as the man and my grandpa pealed out and I watched them leave with a wry smile. I loved my grandpa more than anyone else in the world, but he certainly had his ways.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

I went back inside and gave Linda an apologetic smile. She returned it in kind.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize he was your grandfather. I was just trying to follow the rules.” It was true. Linda was a sweet woman who was like a second mother to everyone in the building. She didn’t do anything out of spite.

“Forget about it,” I said kindly. “He already has.” We both laughed.

“He’s certainly a character. Is he from your mom’s or dad’s side of the family?” I stopped smiling and blinked several times in confusion.

“He…I’m sorry, what?”

“Is he your mom’s or dad’s father?” she asked again. For some reason, I couldn’t wrap my head around the question.

“I…uh…” I was saved from having to answer by the timely arrival of Bill coming out of the elevator. “What’ve you got?” I sighed in relief.

“I talked to the guys,” he said. “They’re going to move your stuff back to your desk. Most of them didn’t have anything to do with it and the few that did didn’t know Calloway was behind it.”

“Screw it. I’ll take care of it later. What else?”

“I was going over the canvas interviews the officers turned in. Apparently, one of the neighbors noticed a strange, black Lexus with heavily tinted windows in the area, three mornings in a row. It was just circling the block well before sunup, never stopped, never pulled in anywhere.”

“They get the license plate?” He gave me a look.

“You wish. If only things were that easy.” I took a deep breath and considered my next move.

“Okay, call the local detailers. See if any of them remember tinting a car like that. It’s a long shot, but find out what you can.” He nodded.

“What about you?”

“I got a lead on some possible associates of the victim. I’ll check it out and see if they can tell me anything.”

“You sure you don’t want me to come along?” I shook my head.

“No, it’s fine. I’m just going to ask around and see what turns up. Keep me informed.”

I could tell Bill didn’t like letting me go off into an unknown situation on a murder investigation without any backup. Truth be told, I wasn’t crazy about it myself. But the Lit Candle had a strict ‘No Violence’ policy among its clientele. The few customers who decided to violate that had experience…uncomfortable consequences. I’d be safe inside.

Now, all I had to do was gain entry. Easier said than done.

The Lit Candle was not the kind of place you find on Google Maps. It didn’t have a website or a sign out front and there are no Yelp reviews for it. You either knew where it was or you had no business going in, plain and simple. No one was really sure who owned it, but they kept top-shelf booze in stock and paid their employees fairly and on time, so no one complained.

The club itself was wasn’t much to look at from the outside. It was just a quiet, nondescript brick building in a sea of identical brick buildings situated in the lower-midsection of the city. There was no sanitation rating, no minimum drinking age,