Sedona Law 5 by Dave Daren (romantic novels in english .TXT) 📕

“I don’t know who would do this,” he mused, and then he furrowed his brows sharply. “Jerry was a piece of work, but murder?”

“I’ve got a feeling Jerry’s got a long list of enemies,” I murmured.

Alfred scoffed. “Tell me about it.”

“You have any idea?” I asked.

“I don’t know everyone,” he said with a shake of his head, “but I know there are quite a few people in this town who would love to get their hands on Jerry Steele.”

“Just remember, they are still investigating and can arrest you at any time,” I instructed him. “Don’t talk to them about anything unless I’m with you, even if you’re trying to be helpful. They can twist it and use it against you in court.”

He nodded, but said nothing.

We pulled up to Steele Productions and its now near empty lot. The warehouse was cordoned off with crime scene tape, but no one else was around.

I recognized Jerry’s black Ford truck still sitting in the front lot, and I sighed.

“I wonder what happens to that.” Alfred nodded in the direction of the vehicle.

“The police will notify his next of kin,” I said, “and they will take it from there.”

“I think he has a little boy who lives with his mother somewhere,” Alfred muttered as he opened the door. “It’s so sad for a boy to grow up without his father. It’s not the way the world should be.”

Alfred shook his head at the thought and found his car, and I watched him drive off.

After he left, I sat in the parking lot of Steele Productions for just a moment longer, and I tried to take it all in. This guy was gone, and over the coming months, the city of Sedona would sort through the wreckage of the grisly, cold blooded murder.

There was about to be a storm, and right now I stood on the outskirts of it. But, as my life tends to go, I was sure I would be dragged right into the middle of it.

I shook my head of the thoughts and drove home to Vicki.

Chapter 4

Monday morning, I stopped by Jitters on the way to work. Jitters was our go to coffee shop, a block away from our office. There are only a few things in Sedona I would swear by, but Jitters Coffee was one of them.

Incidentally, it was the first place I’d run into Jerry Steele.

I thought about that as I stood in line. I’d become business associates with Marvin Iakova, the man who owned most of the media in Arizona. He had some questionable political views, which I knew nothing about. But Jerry had accosted me in the middle of the coffee shop and shoved a camera in my face.

Now, I approached the counter, and the owner Rick Mullins was working the register.

“Hey,” I said, “low on baristas, huh?”

Rick shook his head. “What can I say? It’s the Geia Festival, and I employ about half of this town’s college students. You do the math.”

“The what?” I asked in confusion.

He frowned. “Geia Fest? You haven’t heard of that?”

“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “What’s that?”

He laughed. “It’s apparently the new Coachella. Coachella’s old news, and everyone that’s anyone goes to, or plays, the Geia Festival. It’s in Death Valley, and half my staff’s out there.”

“I did not know that,” I admitted.

In my teen years out here, I was definitely the stereotypical music snob, and I knew all the music festivals in the area. This one, however, I hadn’t heard of.

“I’m surprised,” Rick whistled.

“Have we gotten to that age,” I sighed, “where we don’t know what’s cool anymore?”

Rick laughed. “Dude, I’ve been that age. In fact, I think I’ve always been that age. I’m just okay with it now.”

I laughed and gave him my order.

“So, uh, it’s nuts about the film, man,” I said as I handed him my cash.

Rick was cast as Paul Revere, and given his long dark hair and youthful energy, he probably would have been perfect for the part.

Rick shook his head as he gave me my change. “Shit man, have you heard anything from the art league about that?” he asked.

“No,” I said, “I just assumed they were dropping the project. I don’t see them keeping it going, do you?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “There were rumors they could trim it down, and turn it into a stage production.”

“I didn’t hear that,” I said. “I don’t think I’d do it anyway.”

“I wouldn’t either,” he replied. “Things weren’t going well with the film before … I couldn’t imagine going on with it now. Do you know any more about what happened?”

“No,” I lied. “I only know what everyone knows.”

Rick laughed. “You know more than that. You’re just sworn to secrecy. I heard you were representing The Count.”

“Geez,” I said dryly as I sipped my coffee. “Maybe I should work in a coffee shop. You guys hear everything.”

He laughed and gestured behind the near empty counter. “Hey, I’ve got plenty of openings.”

I sipped my coffee and snorted. “You couldn’t handle me. I’m high maintenance.”

“I’ll bet you are, Henry,” he chuckled as the next customer approached the counter. “I’ll bet you are.”

I left Jitters and drove the block to the office. On the corner was the same street musician who was there the day Jerry followed me down the sidewalk. I shook my head and couldn’t believe I was actually grieving this guy.

Vicki and AJ were on the phone when I walked in. They were both working on an incorporation for this new graphic design firm called “420 Design,” which was made up of a bunch of Sedona hipsters.

It had been my experience in life