Free Cold Hard Steele (Daggers & Steele Book 2) by Alex P. Berg Page A

astute.”
    “Ok,” Jjade said, tapping her fingers on the counter. “Well, strictly speaking, no, I don’t know anything about that. But you could inquire at that shop over on Marlowe. The replica weapons place. I don’t remember the name, but it’s got a sign. Should be pretty obvious.”
    I lifted a brow. “A replica weapons shop? That sounds kind of illegal.”
    Jjade shrugged. “Beats me. You’re the cop. But the owners are pretty blatant about what their business is. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t have been shut down by now if they were gaming the system.”
    “Hmm,” I said. “Alright. Might be worth looking into. Thanks.”
    I took a last draught of beer, tossed some coins on the counter, and made to get up.
    Jjade squinted her eyes at me. “Wait—you’re only having one brew? And nothing fried to eat? What’s going on? Are you feeling ok?”
    “What? I’m fine. I just want to get home, that’s all.”
    Jjade’s eyes widened. “Dear gods…you really are going to bed at seven-thirty, aren’t you?”
    I chuckled. “It’s not that. It’s this.” I reached into my coat and produced the book I’d poached from Williams and Sons. “It’s the latest Rex Winters novel. Pinched it earlier today from a book binder. Claimed it was evidence. One of the perks of the job.”
    Jjade looked at me blankly.
    “ Seriously? Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Rex Winters, either? Honestly, am I the only one who recognizes great literature when I see it?”
    My barkeeper friend shrugged.
    I sighed. “Whatever. You man the gates and make sure these jazz-addled beatniks don’t rob you blind. I’m going home to delve into the secrets of this untapped literary gem.”
     

15
    I stifled a yawn as I padded down Schumacher Avenue. As I neared the station, my buddy Tolek spotted me and tried to engage me in polite conversation—as well as sell me a bag full of kolaches—but I turned him down. I was running late enough as it was. I hoped no one at the precinct would notice, but they’re observant chaps. They’re detectives for a reason.
    “Daggers,” said Steele as I reached my desk. “Where’ve you been? It’s like a quarter till ten.”
    Today my partner wore a sleek black V-neck top, and her hair shot out from a tight ponytail that sat high on the back of her head. It was her choice of leggings that caught me by surprise.
    “You’re wearing shorts?” I said.
    “Just because you insist on wearing that coat every day regardless of the weather doesn’t mean we should all suffer the same fate,” said Shay. “Besides, they’re chinos. They’re knee length. They’re work appropriate.”
    “What if it gets chilly?” I asked. “What if we have to visit a machine shop, or a laboratory?”
    My partner shot me a sideways look. “Who are you, my dad? If we visit a lab, I’ll throw on a lab coat, and in the highly unlikely event a cold front blows in today, I’ll suck it up and deal with it. But that’s beside the point. Don’t try to change the subject on me. Why are you so late?”
    “I, uhh…was busy,” I said.
    Shay crossed her arms.
    “I mean, my shoes…broke. I had to get new ones.”
    She raised her eyebrows.
    “Ok, fine. I stayed up late and overslept, if you must know. But I had a good reason.” I reached into my coat and pulled out Rex Winters in Double Blind Danger .
    “Seriously?” said Steele. “You’re late because you stayed up reading some dopey crime novel?”
    I settled into my chair. “Look, I’ll let that comment slide because you’re one of the uninitiated, but I thought I made it clear to you yesterday. These aren’t some dopey crime novels. They’re the dopey crime novels. And this one in particular is awesome! It starts out with Rex yachting in the bay with a sultry seductress, when all of a sudden they hear a thump. Rex looks overboard, and who does he see? None other than the mayor of the city! Well, his lifeless corpse, anyway. He tries to wrestle