Free Rejection: Publishing Murder Mystery (Lou Drake Mysteries) by Thomas K. Matthews Page A

he had seen in Franny’s eyes. After a moment’s reflection, he realized her furtive look spoke of the same emotion that filled the whole place — desperation.

C HAPTER T WELVE

    DRAKE CONTINUED WORKING on his new novel. Two weeks after beginning he was up to five thousand words, fleshing out a story about a cop much like himself and using the two murder cases as inspiration. He placed the story in San Diego and enjoyed learning about the climate, people and details of the city. He found himself longing for the sunny climate, since October had brought clouds and rain to New York and the last of the autumn leaves now covered the ground like Mardi Gras confetti.
    He made good use of the reports Serena had dug up for him, and he was also hungry for more information. His imagination and years of experience helped him craft a realistic story, but he believed there was no substitute for details from the actual cases. So Drake casually asked around about the murder cases. Most of the cops shrugged in ignorance or simply blew him off when he asked. Collins, however, had a stronger reaction. The two happened to be standing outside the door to the men’s room when Drake asked him what was up with the investigations.
    Collins stared at him for a moment with a distinctly unhappy expression on his face. Drake was about to tell him to forget it when Collins abruptly grabbed the front of his uniform and pushed him inside.
    Drake shoved Collins away from him. “What the hell?”
    “Look Drake,” Collins said, pointing his finger. “You’re poking your short-time nose into places that don’t concern you.”
    “Hey, I was there when it started and—”
    “And you fucked up, remember?”
    “Yeah, like I’m gonna forget that.”
    “You should be thanking me instead of getting in my way. The only reason Andrade cut you some slack was because I asked him to.”
    The rest room door opened and Thibido walked in. “Hey guys, don’t mind me. Keep on with whatever you were doing before I got here. I won’t tell anybody you’re queer for each other.”
    “Shut up, asshole,” Collins growled.
    Thibido shrugged and headed for a urinal.
    Collins turned back to Drake. “We need to finish this conversation. Meet me at Molly’s Saturday morning at 10:30.”
    “Hey, we’re here now. Say what you’ve got to say.”
    Collins glanced in Thibido’s direction and then glared at Drake again. “Saturday,” he said. “Be there.”
    Collins ripped open the door and stalked out.
    Thibido chuckled as he started washing his hands. “Aw, are you girls having a fight?”
    “Go do your mother,” Drake spat and followed Collins out the door.
    Back in the cage Drake fumed. He was so obviously steamed that the three ladies gave him his space.
    He couldn’t wait to be out of there. Five more months and he’d be able to write full time. Hopefully he’d publish a bestseller and show everyone here that he could be a success.
    Drake’s internal tirade was interrupted when Chief of Detectives Henry Smythe came through the Station door. The Chief was medium height and dressed smartly. Drake thought he carried himself with the grace of a man you expected to have a British accent. Smythe paused a moment to look around and then approached the counter.
    “It’s Drake, right?”
    For a moment Drake was at a loss for words. He certainly knew who the Chief was, but he wouldn’t have expected the man to remember him. It had been since before his demotion that he could remember the two of them meeting.
    “Yes sir,” Drake said. “I’m honored you remember me.”
    “I’m here to see Captain Andrade. You happen to know if he’s in his office?”
    “He’s not back from lunch, Chief, but he’s usually back about this time. You want some coffee while you wait?”
    “No thanks. I’m early, so I’ll just hang out.
    “Very good sir.”
    “What are you reading back there?”
    Smythe pointed at the paperback beside Drake’s computer