Page 105 of Lion & Lamb

A noise next to Janie snapped her out of her reverie—the legs of the next stool over scraping against the tile floor.

“Did you start with a dozen oysters or did you order only three?” Veena asked.

“When you hear what I’ve got, you’re going to buy me another dozen,” said Janie. “And a chilled lobster tail.”

Chapter112

JANIE SLIDthe slip of notebook paper to her employer. Veena lifted it from the counter, unfolded it, read the name and address Janie had scribbled on it.

“Who’s this?”

“Quite possibly the guy who killed Archie Hughes.”

“Some random guy from Kensington is now our lead suspect?”

Janie walked Veena through her conversation with Travis, the recovery specialist from the previous night. It had taken another two martinis, but Travis finally agreed to give Janie the name and address of the moron who claimed he had Archie Hughes’s Super Bowl ring and wallet.

Travis was convinced this was a dead lead; a man smart enough to evade every surveillance camera in the Museum of Art area wouldn’t go shooting his mouth off about having the missing ring.

“But the guy might not know thereisfootage,” Veena said.

“Exactly,” Janie replied. “Which made me think, what if thiswasjust a carjacking gone wrong?”

Veena started riffing. “This guy thinks he’s just boosting a fancy car but then sees who he’s robbing, freaks out, and shoots him.”

“He doesn’t want to go away empty-handed, so he takes what he can carry.”

“Archie’s wallet. And his Super Bowl ring.”

“It’s possible, right?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Veena pushed her stool back and prepared to leave. Janie grabbed her arm. “Wait.”

“Don’t worry, just put the tab on the company card,” Veena said. “Good work.”

“No, it’s not that. I don’t think you want to be going up to this guy’s apartment alone. That neighborhood is rough—I covered crime up there for two years. And with your painted nails, fancy shades, and expensive shoes, you’re kind of a target.”

Veena smiled. “Yesterday I shot and killed a professional hit man. I also threatened to put a bullet in an elderly man’s face. I don’t think I’ll have a problem.”

Janie started to laugh, but the sound died in her throat as she clocked Veena’s expression and realized she wasn’t joking. Before she could form a follow-up question—she had several—Veena was adjusting her shades and heading out the door.

Chapter113

WHEN CRAZYPercy Marshall had woken up this morning, he hadn’t thought he’d open his front door and find a gun pointed at his heart that afternoon. For one thing, he didn’t know that anyone knew (or cared) where he lived. Big difference from a week ago, when he thought his luck had changed. But now, as Crazy Percy looked at the pretty lady holding the tiny gun, he realized it was worse than ever. He sighed.

Transcript of conversation between Veena Lion and Percy Marshall

VEENA LION: May I come inside, Mr. Marshall?

PERCY MARSHALL: Can I just say no?

LION: No.

MARSHALL: Then, sure, make yourself at home. Want a beer?

LION: No, thank you. I’d like you to give me the Super Bowl ring and the wallet.

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