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The Writer Solves a Mystery Series
Two Suspects
Too Many
by Paul R. Lloyd
Muscle Legs Mulligan was a professional collection agent for the kind of people who take kneecaps as collateral on extremely high interest loans. But as big as he was, he was no match for some debtor's .357 Magnum.
Police Lieutenant Lawson was trying to solve the Mulligan murder case in his usual way. First, he interviewed the suspects, and then he came around to my place above the Black Dingus so I could put the pieces of the puzzle together for him. If there was a murder, I knew Lawson would be calling. As a writer and not-so-private eye, I qualify to help since I specialize in words … and … well so maybe I’m not qualified, but Lawson doesn’t need to know that.
Lawson parked his carcass on the linoleum-top, battleship gray desk in my reception area and pulled several slips of paper out of the side pocket of his bargain basement suit jacket. He loosened his polyester necktie, unbuttoned the top button on his wrinkled white shirt and started in with the facts. "Lucky Lanigan claims he didn’t do it. He says he was with the sales clerk when the shots were fired and that I should check with the sales clerk to confirm his alibi.”
I poured us both a cup of joe. “What did the sales clerk say?”
“Sales clerk confirmed the story. They were together. Then the sales clerk said something interesting.”
“What was that?” I passed the sugar bowl to Lawson.
“Sales clerk said that the taxi driver and Debbie Dimples were spending a lot of time together, if you get my drift.” Lawson’s smirk reflected in his java.
“Yeah, I get it, a backseat caper. That everything, Lawson?”
“No, there’s something else. I talked to Benny Batton and he said he hasn’t been spending all that much time with the taxi driver. He prefers to hang out with the tech head.”
“That’s more than I need to know. After all, only one of these three suspects could have done it, right?”
Lawson spun a spoon of sugar in his coffee. “Yep. Had to be Lucky Lanigan, Debbie Dimples or Benny Batton.”
“Looks to me like you have two suspects too many, Lawson. The sales clerk and Lucky have provided an alibi for each other, right?”
“Yep. We checked up on their story. Louie the bartender at the Black Dingus remembers they were having drinks together at the time of the murder.” Lawson blew on the brown liquid gold and sipped.
“So that only leaves one suspect, right?”
Lawson smacked himself on the forehead with his free hand and spilled coffee all over himself with the other. “Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? The murderer has to be…”
Who done it?
| Hint | Lucky Lanigan | Debbie Dimples | Benny Batton |
Paul is available as a motivational speaker covering marketing communications and general business topics. He also is a workshop leader and speaker on creative writing. Call Paul for your business writing and marketing communications needs.
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