The Thing About Killing

Philadelphia at sunrise....I love it!  Especially from the rooftop of the C.I.D. Building....It was cool out...I was drinking a tumbler of hot coffee...So was Lt. Sissy Van Buren of Homicide....

"You haven't been to see me in awhile Kevin." she said with a smile as I passed her a tumbler of coffee.

"I've been busy Sissy....but I'm never going to be that busy that I don't come to check up on my favorite Lieutenant of Homicide." I said with a smile...

"Awwwww." she said with a smile...

"The reason I'm here is I've got a closed murder case to drop in your lap." I said.

"A closed case? Which one?" she asked.

"Tyriq's case...The Vincent Delack murder." I said.

"He's been working that one hard...but he's run into a dead end.." she said.

"I have a client ...a client who was there, who witnessed the murder!!" I said.

"You do? Tyriq interviewed several people." she said.

"I know...He and I were criss crossing each other....Talking to the same folks...But my client was uh kind of with Vincent when he bought it if you get my drift?" I said.

"With him as in sexually?" asked Sissy, a wry smile on her face...

"Yes....I believe you recovered a pair of her undergarments at the scene..." I laughed.

Now it was Sissy's turn to laugh.....

''Why am I not surprised that the owner of those panties is your client?" she said ,still laughing.

"Problem is...She wears glasses that are coke bottle thick Sissy...Her glasses were off , amongst other things and she didn't get a good look at the killer...All she saw was a blur and it was dark and she hid and then high tailed it out of there." I said.

"So...how can she help us?" asked Sissy.

"The killer doesn't know that she really didn't see him....But since I now know who the killer is...I'm going to uh let's say...Give my client to him, wired of course and force a confession." I said.

"You're 100 percent sure you know who the killer is?" asked Sissy...

"I never was more sure about anything in my life..." I said.

"Okay Kevin...You've never steered us wrong before..." she said.

"I'm going to get everything set up...Tell Tyriq to hang tight...I'll be in touch soon." I said as I got ready to leave...

Sissy hugged me for a good long time....her body was so soft and warm and inviting...The kind that you never want to let go of...I personally didn't know how her boyfriend, Eddie C. could stand it!

"I missed you friend...Haven't had any visitors..." she said.

"Oh no? Lt. Cantrell hasn't been by?" I asked.

"Nooo, surprisingly he hasn't....I must be losing my appeal." she joked...

I smiled and looked Sissy up and down...

"No..You haven't lost a damn thing girl." I said.

"Oh hush up smarty and stop looking at me like that." she said blushing...

I laughed too and headed out!

II-

"You sure this will be safe ?" said Attorney ,Olivia Bennett...

"I'll be right there with her...My friend Peeping Tom is the best in the business....He used to be in the CIA...He'll wire her up real good...All she has to do is call our pigeon and make a deal...offer to meet him in your old office...The semi -empty one...Not only will I be there hiding...but the police won't be far behind...She'll be perfectly safe, I promise you." I said.

"Okay..I'll get in contact with her..She'll be relieved to finally be safe from a possible killer who thinks she's an eye-witness and or a possible murder charge." she said.

"Oh and Olivia...If I may ask...What is she to you? How is she paying for this?" I asked.

"She's the daughter of one of the lawyers who works with me in my soon to be former firm..He is not with the mother...Hasn't been for awhile...She went to him first and he called me...I'm somewhat of a fixer...You might say.." she said.

"Like that woman on that Television show." I said smiling...

"Better." she said.

"I hear that." I laughed.

"Sit tight baby...The fun is about to start." I said.

"I hear you're quite the roller coaster ride." she said laughing.

III-

As usual ,it was dark....Julie Hunt walked in the office and stood at the doorway...A shadowy figure stood in the aisle..From where I was hidden, I could smell the odor of scotch and human sweat....

"So..." came the gruff male voice..."I'm here...what did you want?" he said.

"I was in Vinnie Delack's apartment the night you shot him...I saw you.." she said.

''Oh Really? You saw me..??" he said.

"Vinnie and I were uh about to get kind of intimate and speaking of intimate...I was so scared ,I left and left an article of clothing behind...I believe they were blue with white lace.." she said.

"Yesssss....I suppose you were there." he said.

"The cops think I killed him.....But I didn't.. I was there...but you killed him." she said.

"Yes I did....so what of it." he said.

"You may have to pay for my silence." she said.

"Pay? Hahahahaha...This is not your day baby....I don't have any money." he laughed...

"Then you have a problem....because I'm not going to take a fall for you...and while the cops don't really have enough to make a case stick against me...Think of how much they'll have if I give them you?" she said...

"Now you see...There is where you have a problem...Since It's obvious you saw me and the cops don't have a clue I was involved...It would stand to reason that you have to go." he said.

"Huh?" she said.

I heard the click of a gun...

"See baby girl...That's the thing about killin...Once you get up the nerve to kill somebody...and you go through with it...Killin somebody else is not that much of a problem." he said...

"Is that how you see it Harry?" I said, pulling Julie out of harm's way...

Harry Jordan smiled and shook his head....

"Is that you Kevin?  I should have known...." he said.

"You just confessed to murder Harry....She's wearing a wire...We got you on tape...It's all over." I said.

"See, That's the thing about killin...Each additional body is of no consequence...You know I'm not going to let either of you out of here." he said and fired in our direction...

He had a big gun and it made a loud noise!  Julie grabbed my arm...

"Oh My God...He's got a gun...He's going to kill us Mr. Kevin..." she said.

"No He's Not...Stay down " I said... I pulled out my .38 smokeless and returned fire in the direction of his smell.. Julie and I crawled on the floor and moved behind some desks..

He fired again, hitting a water cooler...It exploded and glass and water went flying and splashing...

I returned fire...

"Give it up Harry...It's all over.." I said..

"Keep talkin...You're just leading me to you." he said.

All of a sudden , the lights switched on....

He winced...So Did Julie and I...

Standing behind us..Was Lt. Sissy Van Buren, Detective Tyriq Pile and Detective Carlotta Rodriguez-Wallace and five uniformed Philadelphia Policemen, with glocks aimed his way...

"Freeze Harry...It's all over...You're under arrest for First degree murder..." said Sissy..

Harry dropped his gun and put his hands up...

Tyriq handcuffed him and Carlotta read him his rights...

I walked over to him...

"Why did you do it Harry?" I asked.

"Same reason your girl over there was going to do it..Vinnie used my wife like a playtoy and then just discarded her...It was bad enough that he was screwing my wife , but he messed her up so bad that she was no good...irreparable...She was my life, my reason for living....He took that from me...I was never the same man after she killed herself...He robbed me of everything Kevin and for no reason...I did the world a favor...I don't feel no guilt at all....I never will." he said...

Tyriq looked at me...

"That enough for you Kev?" he asked..

"Yeah...That's enough for me....I almost hate that he's the one going to jail...I kinda feel for the guy..." I said.

Carlotta put her arms around me and hugged me...

"Kevin, I know just how you feel...I had a case just like this awhile ago...where the victim was so foul...I hated arresting the perp.." she said.

Tyriq laughed...

"You and Top...You two have great hearts...You're both good people...Oh and by the way...Thanks Kev...You gave me a perfect clearence rate for the week."he said.

"Hey ,I helped you." pouted Carlotta jokingly...

"You're my partner...Of course you did." laughed Tyriq hugging Carlotta..

"Thanks again Kevin." she said as She ,Tyriq and the officers took Harry Jordan out in handcuffs...

Sissy stood there just looking at me...

"You've done it again Kevin...You're a miracle worker." she said as she followed her detectives and officers out into the street..

"That's what they tell me." I laughed...Sissy looked back at me and winked...

I looked at Julie..

She smiled...

"Thank you Mr. Kevin...I'm so glad it's over."

"Me too...You hungry?" I asked.

''As a matter of fact I am." she said.

"I know a place..Jakes.." I said.

"They make the best Hot Dogs in the City." she said.

"That they do...Is it a date?" I said.

"It's a date!" she said smiling...

We smiled and walked arm and arm out of the office building into the Philadelphia Night.

EPILOUGE:

Harry Jordan was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder and sentenced to 15-25 years....Julie Hunt went back to modeling...

I met with Attorney Olivia Bennett in her office...She handed me another envelope with three thousand dollars in it...

"You are indeed a miracle worker...We didn't even have to go to court..." she said.

"I'm sure your lawyer friend was happy." I said.

"Oh he was...he was..He compensated me quite well..." she said.

"Guilt money?" I said.

"Of course...That's the best kind." she said... We both laughed...

"Kevin...Can I call on you again?  I'd like to keep you on retainer..." she said.

"Sure...I do investigative work for Robert Foxworth and his associates...I don't mind working for you too." I said and passed her a card.

"Thank you...You also help my old friend, ADA Keith Wallace too don't you? " she laughed...

"Yes..I'm pretty tight with him and his detectives at C.I.D." I said.

"He told me you really know your stuff...That's good to know." she said.

"When I'm not doing that I'm publishing magazines and newspapers and running a radio station..When you get your office set up..Maybe I can interest you in running a feed into your office,that is assuming you like classic R&;B, Smooth Jazz,Funk and Neo Soul music."I said.

"I love it...all of that...You really are a good friend to have." she said.

"That's what I'm told." I said.

She shook my hand...

"Friends?" she said.

"Friends" I said.

"Be Easy Kev." she said and winked.

I smiled and left her office and walked out into the Philadelphia day...