Black Oil, Red Blood

Chapter 5



The phone in Delmont’s chambers rang.

It was about time. Delmont was sick of waiting around. Sick of waiting for a call that he shouldn’t have had to wait for in the first place. Taylor and Nash must have really been talking it up. He was gonna be late for the poker game, at this rate. His wife had been nagging him to host one of their bi-weekly poker sessions at his house for years, and he’d never given in until tonight. If he showed up late, he’d never hear the end of it.

These losers had really screwed up. They couldn’t have offed the guy at a worse time. Not only did it look bad in light of the docket schedule, they had to go and do it right when Nash was sure to be assigned to the case. Delmont knew Nash’s history, and he knew Nash couldn’t be bought off. If these screw-ups had consulted him first, as they had discussed, they wouldn’t be in the pickle they were in now. Delmont would love to get his hands on the guy with the happy trigger finger.

He picked up the phone. “Talk to me.”

“They’re en route. Maybe five minutes.”

Delmont slammed the phone down, not bothering to say “thanks” or “goodbye.”

Immediately, he picked it back up and dialed another number.

The call connected. “Chief Scott,” barked the voice on the other end.

Delmont said, “Five minutes. What’s your status?”

Chief Scott hesitated. “I’m sorry. Best I can tell, she was squeaky clean before today.”

Delmont swore. “Clear out. We’re late for the game, anyway. My wife is gonna have my hide.”

“You shouldn’t have let her talk you into hosting in the first place.”

“I know, but a man can only take so much nagging before he gives in.”

“She’s not gonna play, is she?”

“Course not. But I gotta warn you, she’s been buying all kinds of ridiculous paraphernalia for weeks. Just put it on and humor her, all right?”

“All right, then.”

The line went dead.