Free 5 Tutti Frutti by Mike Faricy Page B

We already talked about this. My client…”
    “Miss Lawless?”
    “Yeah, Swindle is going to sue the guy or something. I just went to Rockett’s house to chat with him. You can ask that kid.”
    “David Kenn ey?” he asked, reading from the file in front of him.
    “If you say so, I didn’t get the kid’s name. He told me Rockett pays him to start his car every morning. I’m standing there minding my own business when Rockett sneaks into the car and speeds off. He’s the one you should be charging.”
    “So you were , what thinking citizen’s arrest or something?”
    “I just want ed to talk with the guy. I told you before about Joey Cazzo and my new client Swindle. You know all this stuff already, Manning. It’s not like I’m some sort of public enemy.”
    “Public nuisance might be more like it.”
    I didn’t respond for a moment. “Besides, what kind of guy has a kid start his car every morning and back it out of the garage?”
    “The kind of guy who’s worried about a car bomb and figures if everyone knows the kid starts his car they won’t place a bomb in there.”
    “No shit?” I said. It had never occurred to me.
    Manning just snapped his gum a number of times paging through the file. Eventually, he looked up at me. “Anything else you’d like to add?”
    “Only that I’d like to go home and take a shower.”
    “So noted, I think that would be an improvement, a shower I mean.” He wrinkled his nose. “Would you care to comment on impersonating an officer of the state?”
    “Impersonating? What are you talking about?”
    Manning flipped a number of sheets of paper back one by one. Then ran his finger down the page like he was looking for something. ”Oh yes, here it is,” he said and read out loud. “The guy said he worked for the Minnesota State Lottery and that Mister Rockett had a winning ticket.”
    “You got to be kidding,” I said. “So it makes sense to spend taxpayer’s money just to keep me locked up in here over night? Come on, l ook, you’ve had your little joke. Now how about letting me go home? You know there’s nothing there.”
    Manning look ed at me for a long moment then shook his head and closed the file. “One of your problems, Haskell, is that you just never learn. All right, go forth and sin no more.” With that he stood up, graciously bowed and grandly swept his hand toward the door.
    I picked up my cell phone and wallet at the property desk. I phoned Louie and had to leave a message. I phoned Heidi for a ride and left a nother message. Then I phoned Candi.
    “Hi , Dev. What’s up?”
    “You busy?”
    “Sort of, we’ve got to do some setup for the party tomorrow tonight. I heard you’re coming.”
    “Party?”
    “The victory party for Gino D’Angelo. I guess he’s going to have charges dropped or something, I don’t know, anyway, there’s going to be a big celebration. You’re coming aren’t you?”
    “Yeah, yeah , sure. Look, I’ve been busy the last day or so. Um, I’m wondering if I could hop a ride with you?”
    “That pimp mobile you drive finally die?” she giggled.
    “No just towed, I need to get it out of the impound lot before I get charged for another day.”
    “Where did you leave it parked?”
    “ It wasn’t exactly a parking offense. Can you break away and pick me up?”
    “ Yeah, I guess so. Just tell me where to meet you and I’m on my way.”
     
    Chapter Nineteen
    Candi drove me to the impound lot with the windows down. Apparently Manning wasn’t kidding; I really did need a shower. On the way over I explained to her how suddenly Swindle Lawless was my client and I had to get information on her former agent Dudley Rockett.
    She didn’t seem at all surprised.
    “ If I might offer a little warning here, let’s just say Swindle always has a number of issues on her plate at any given time and leave it at that. I’m sure whatever she’s gotten herself into this time will require more than one form of professional