Naked Frame by Robert Burton Robinson Page A
Authors: Robert Burton Robinson
Tags: Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Crime, Deception, woman protagonist, murder mystery, mystery series, Betrayal, woman detective, whodunit, Texas—Fiction, framed for murder, dallas tx, texas authors
Ads: Link
where he lived in that Vermont Inn. You're not
much of a connoisseur of classic TV, are you, Dude?"
Larry was clearly an American. He spoke
English intelligently, and apparently grew up watching the TV Land
Network. But the two Darryls didn't appear to know what the hell he
was saying. "What can I do for you?"
"Wow, Man. You've got some fine automobiles
in here. I love this GTO." The three men walked around it, checking
out the interior, the chrome, and the engine. One of the Darryls
rubbed his hand across the smooth, shiny front fender.
"Please don't touch," said Calvin. "Do you
have a car that needs work?"
"No," said Larry. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, if you don't have work for me, why
are you here?"
"Because I'm thinking about buying a '69
Triumph Spitfire."
"I don't work on foreign cars."
"Why not? Are you prejudiced or
something?"
"Prejudiced?"
"Yeah. You hate what you don't understand,
Man."
"I don't hate people from other countries.
Is that what you're saying?"
"Yeah. For example, my two step-brothers
here. I'm American. But they're Mexican. You hate them, don't
you?"
"Of course not."
"I don't believe you, Man."
"Look, when you have an American car for me
to work on, come by and I'll add you to my waiting list."
"Oh, I see. I'm not good
enough for your regular list. You'd put me on your stupid waiting list."
" Everybody goes on the waiting
list."
"Yeah, I'll bet."
"Okay, I've had enough talk. I've got to get
back to work." Calvin began tightening the screw on the hose
clamp.
"Okay, Man. I get it. No hard feelings."
One of the Darryls took a set of gloves out
of his pocket and slipped them on. He picked up a large screwdriver
from the workbench and walked up behind Calvin.
Larry said, "So, have a good night,
Sir."
Calvin ignored him, hoping they would leave.
He never saw the long, sharp screwdriver Darryl was holding above
his back. And he had no chance to react when Darryl thrust it
downward with both hands, into Calvin's back, through his heart,
and out the front of his chest. As he fell forward, his forehead
slammed into the edge of the exposed carburetor.
"I really wanted this car." Larry looked at
Calvin's lifeless body lying across the front of the car, blood
dripping down the radiator and onto the concrete floor. "But not
anymore."
CHAPTER 27 - Tuesday, 7:57 p.m.
Gabby studied Rebecca, as they sat in his
car eating McDonald's ice cream sundaes and sipping coffee. She
looked so vulnerable. He loved it when she let her guard down. To
him, she was still the cute, innocent teenage girl he grew up
with.
Was that why he had such a strong urge to
kiss her cold, wet, ice cream lips? Or was it because of her
topless act at Café Nue? Or the excitement of the danger they were
in. Whatever the reason, he would resist. Gabby knew they could
never be more than friends. And he was okay with that. He was just
happy to have his best friend back in his life.
Rebecca's phone rang. She put it on
speaker.
"Megan, are you okay?"
"No."
Her voice sounded weak and hoarse, as though
she had been crying.
"What's the matter, Honey?"
"We went to Melvin's apartment and some man
showed up and started yelling at him. And I think he hit him too. I
was in the bathroom."
"Did he hurt you?"
"No. I climbed out the bathroom window. But
I don't know what happened to Melvin. Tell Gabby I'm sorry. I hope
his uncle is okay."
"I'm sure he's fine. Maybe a little roughed
up. Don't worry." She glanced at Gabby.
Gabby was very worried. He wished he hadn't
put his uncle's life in jeopardy.
"Where are you right now?"
"I don't know exactly. I'm outside some
coffee shop."
"Okay. I'm going to buy you an airline
ticket to Dallas. Do you have enough money for a taxi to JFK?"
"Yes."
"Good. Go back to the airport and I will
text you with your flight information. You can pick up your ticket
at the counter."
"Oh, thank you so much, Rebecca. I feel like
such a fool."
"It's going to be okay. But if you have
enough
much of a connoisseur of classic TV, are you, Dude?"
Larry was clearly an American. He spoke
English intelligently, and apparently grew up watching the TV Land
Network. But the two Darryls didn't appear to know what the hell he
was saying. "What can I do for you?"
"Wow, Man. You've got some fine automobiles
in here. I love this GTO." The three men walked around it, checking
out the interior, the chrome, and the engine. One of the Darryls
rubbed his hand across the smooth, shiny front fender.
"Please don't touch," said Calvin. "Do you
have a car that needs work?"
"No," said Larry. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, if you don't have work for me, why
are you here?"
"Because I'm thinking about buying a '69
Triumph Spitfire."
"I don't work on foreign cars."
"Why not? Are you prejudiced or
something?"
"Prejudiced?"
"Yeah. You hate what you don't understand,
Man."
"I don't hate people from other countries.
Is that what you're saying?"
"Yeah. For example, my two step-brothers
here. I'm American. But they're Mexican. You hate them, don't
you?"
"Of course not."
"I don't believe you, Man."
"Look, when you have an American car for me
to work on, come by and I'll add you to my waiting list."
"Oh, I see. I'm not good
enough for your regular list. You'd put me on your stupid waiting list."
" Everybody goes on the waiting
list."
"Yeah, I'll bet."
"Okay, I've had enough talk. I've got to get
back to work." Calvin began tightening the screw on the hose
clamp.
"Okay, Man. I get it. No hard feelings."
One of the Darryls took a set of gloves out
of his pocket and slipped them on. He picked up a large screwdriver
from the workbench and walked up behind Calvin.
Larry said, "So, have a good night,
Sir."
Calvin ignored him, hoping they would leave.
He never saw the long, sharp screwdriver Darryl was holding above
his back. And he had no chance to react when Darryl thrust it
downward with both hands, into Calvin's back, through his heart,
and out the front of his chest. As he fell forward, his forehead
slammed into the edge of the exposed carburetor.
"I really wanted this car." Larry looked at
Calvin's lifeless body lying across the front of the car, blood
dripping down the radiator and onto the concrete floor. "But not
anymore."
CHAPTER 27 - Tuesday, 7:57 p.m.
Gabby studied Rebecca, as they sat in his
car eating McDonald's ice cream sundaes and sipping coffee. She
looked so vulnerable. He loved it when she let her guard down. To
him, she was still the cute, innocent teenage girl he grew up
with.
Was that why he had such a strong urge to
kiss her cold, wet, ice cream lips? Or was it because of her
topless act at Café Nue? Or the excitement of the danger they were
in. Whatever the reason, he would resist. Gabby knew they could
never be more than friends. And he was okay with that. He was just
happy to have his best friend back in his life.
Rebecca's phone rang. She put it on
speaker.
"Megan, are you okay?"
"No."
Her voice sounded weak and hoarse, as though
she had been crying.
"What's the matter, Honey?"
"We went to Melvin's apartment and some man
showed up and started yelling at him. And I think he hit him too. I
was in the bathroom."
"Did he hurt you?"
"No. I climbed out the bathroom window. But
I don't know what happened to Melvin. Tell Gabby I'm sorry. I hope
his uncle is okay."
"I'm sure he's fine. Maybe a little roughed
up. Don't worry." She glanced at Gabby.
Gabby was very worried. He wished he hadn't
put his uncle's life in jeopardy.
"Where are you right now?"
"I don't know exactly. I'm outside some
coffee shop."
"Okay. I'm going to buy you an airline
ticket to Dallas. Do you have enough money for a taxi to JFK?"
"Yes."
"Good. Go back to the airport and I will
text you with your flight information. You can pick up your ticket
at the counter."
"Oh, thank you so much, Rebecca. I feel like
such a fool."
"It's going to be okay. But if you have
enough
Similar Books
