Post Pattern (Burnside Mystery 1) by David Chill

shook my head. "It's too dangerous and the pay is
lousy."
    We sipped some more latte and I debated ordering a
second sandwich. "Dick tells me you're a private investigator. And that
you used to be on the police force."
    "True on both counts," I said. "You've
done some homework."
    "Girl scouts are always prepared," she teased.
    "Just what did Dick tell you?"
    "Oh, a few things," she laughed. "I understand
you're working on an interesting case."
    "You know about it?" I asked warily.
    "Robbie Freeman, right?"
    I nodded. Dick could be a little too chatty at times.
"Just what do you know about the Freemans?"
    "More than you might think. I went out on a date
with Norman a few years ago."
    I smiled at the thought of it. "Norman certainly
has an eye for good looking women. How long did you see him?"
    "One date. It took me about fifteen minutes to
realize it was a mistake."
    "I'll bet Norman never caught on."
    She smiled slightly and leaned forward towards me.
"He called me a few more times before the message sunk in that I wasn't
interested. Nice enough guy, but no spark there. He’s also too young."
    "He's gonna come into a lot of money one day,"
I teased. "You missed your golden opportunity."
    "Not all women have dollar signs in their eyes. I'm
more impressed with how a man carries himself, how he treats me, what his
outlook on life is. I try not to look too closely at things like that. Or even
a guy’s age. Maybe I'm different."
    "Different, perhaps. But it sounds like a far more
healthy way to think. As opposed to the girl who seems to have roped the
lad."
    Gail frowned. "You mean that Ashley?"
    "You know her."
    "I know a lot about what happens on campus. I see
Ashley working out at the gym a lot. She and Norman are well known. They
actually make a good pair."
    "How so?" I asked.
    Gail shrugged. "Norman needs someone to tell him
what to do. She seems to fill the role well. Not my idea of a healthy
relationship, though."
    "Indeed. What's your impression of Robbie?"
    "I think men like you would refer to him as a
regular guy. One of the boys. I didn't know him well but I hear he had a thing
for women. Certain types of women I mean."
    "Such as?"
    "Not the type you'd bring home to meet the family.
Tough girls. The kind you might run into on Hollywood Boulevard. Been around
the block and then some."
    "Professionals?"
    "Maybe. Like I say, this is only scuttlebutt."
    "Every little bit helps," I said, finishing
the last of my drink. It was so good I almost chewed on a few ice cubes before
proper decorum invoked itself.
    "I hope you didn't ask me out to just talk
shop," she said, those pouty lips sending spears into my chest.
    I shook my head as vehemently as I could. Any harder and
something might have started to rattle. "No," I said. "My
intentions are social. But for me, business always gets thrown in. It's my
life. I can't deny it."
    She nodded pleasantly. "I admire that. But maybe I
could at least get another iced coffee?"
    I was on my way to the counter. Another pout just then
and my heart might not have withstood the tremor.

Chapter
10
    We talked for a while longer before Gail retired for the
night. I gallantly offered to spare her the half mile walk home but she gave me
a hug and said some other time. I drove to my apartment on a soft cloud,
feeling lighthearted and carefree until I thought of Danielle once more and my
emotions went on a roller coaster ride. Feeling enraptured and mournful at the
same time was very perplexing. Once I climbed into bed it took forever to fall
asleep, different emotions tugging at me.
    When I reached the office the next morning I called Juan
Saavedra at the Purdue precinct and learned, as I suspected, that Curt and his
two cronies had their alibis in line. The three goons had gone to lunch
together and confirmed each other's whereabouts even though it was merely
sandwiches at one of the guys' nearby apartments. Danielle had disappeared
mysteriously after she had arrived at work, and was next found