First Things First: Conclusions

Raymond Chandler once praised Erle Stanley Gardner’s writing by saying “Every page holds the hook for the next.”  This observation, I’m sure, can be extended to complete chapters as well, as each chapter must also hold the hook for the next.  But the unique challenge of the first chapter of any novel is to catch an audience and …

Where Hope Is Cold (34)

That next night, I was at the Hickory with Bess.  My face was still swollen from Benny’s gun and his fist, and the cuts he had left were fierce, red wounds.  Bess looked at me the way she did whenever I was hurt.  She touched my face, gently, but I winced, and she looked at me like I …

Where Hope Is Cold (33)

I was still sitting behind Blinder’s desk when Red walked in with Williams close behind.  Red looked down at Drakos, walked over to look at Blinder, and then crossed to Benny.  He stood there several long minutes.  Williams sat on one of the short bookcases stuffed with law books, stared at me for a while, then pulled a …

Where Hope Is Cold (32)

After some mumbling I couldn’t make out too clearly, Benny and Blinder walked down the hall to the study.  As they passed my little lookout, I saw Blinder wearing a brown homburg and his old overcoat, holding that walking stick of his.  They must have settled into the chairs because I could hear them talking.  I could …

Where Hope Is Cold (31)

Benny walked down the steps, and, after a bit, I could hear him rustling around in the kitchen.  Glasses rattled, a door closed, there were steps, and then water started running.  He was still singing to himself, but now it was a different song, one about a four-leaf clover.  I guess Benny listened to a lot of radio. …

Where Hope Is Cold (30)

“That’s right,” I smiled.  “Would you happen to have his telephone number and his address?” He wrote in a small notebook on his desk, tore out the page, and handed it to me. I looked at the paper, saw that the number was the one I already had and noted the address.  “Thank you.  I’ll just direct all …

Where Hope Is Cold (29)

I drove back towards downtown.  I was headed to the county library and that didn’t seem the kind of place anyone smart would try anything, so I didn’t bother playing any games getting there. It amazed me how much I could find at the library, and I had spent days amusing myself wandering through the stacks, …

Where Hope Is Cold (28)

After my alarm went off, I got up, showered, and looked through my suits to find the cleanest.  The double striped, dark brown job looked the best.  I didn’t see any obvious stains and it was still reasonably well pressed.  I picked out a light blue shirt with a soft collar and a dark blue tie and figured …

Where Hope Is Cold (27)

The ambulance arrived and the attendants came, loaded Detto onto a gurney, and took him away.  Wilson rode in the ambulance, and Roy and I stood in front of Louie’s to get away from the stink in the alley and talked a bit more.   I told him I wouldn’t press charges.  “The kid’s sick,” I said, “he …

Where Hope Is Cold (26)

I looked at the empty bottle of bourbon, picked it up, and put it in the trash bucket under my desk.  I was tired and hungry and wanted to go home.  But there was something else I needed to do.    I stood up, grabbed my hat, walked across the room, shut out the lights, and locked the …