What Doesn't Kill Us--A McKenzie Novel by David Housewright (best books for 7th graders TXT) 📕

“Mr. Schroeder?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Identification, please.”

He showed it to her.

“Just a moment, please.”

Schroeder nodded as she left her post and disappeared behind a secured door on his right. There was another on his left. The elevator had closed behind him, of course, leaving Schroeder with the impression that he was sealed inside a bandit trap. He wasn’t going anywhere. After several moments, the door on his right opened and both the woman and Bobby Dunston stepped out. The woman went behind her desk. Bobby moved directly to where Schroeder was standing. Schroeder immediately offered his hand.

“Commander,” he said.

“Mr. Schroeder.”

Bobby had thought long and hard before he made the call. Greg Schroeder was correct when he told Nina that the police and private investigators often worked together. Not side by side, of course. More like a PI might go to the cops and ask for information on a case the cops weren’t actively working; maybe even something in their cold files. In return, the PI would be ready, willing, and able to assist the police should ever the need arrive. In fact, he had better be. If word got out that a PI wasn’t playing nice, he might as well set up practice in North Dakota for all the help he was going to get in the Cities. Bobby finally called Schroeder Private Investigations to see if he was willing to play nice. He identified himself and asked to speak to Greg. Gloria, the receptionist, said that Mr. Schroeder wasn’t in, would Bobby care to leave a message. Bobby said that he was sure that Gloria could contact him.

“Do so immediately,” he said. “Tell him to call me at the Griffin Building. Tell him I’ll be waiting.”

He waited exactly six minutes before Schroeder returned his call and arranged a meeting.

Bobby shook Schroeder’s hand and, without speaking, ushered him through the doorway and down a corridor until they reached the large room where the investigators working in the Homicide and Robbery Unit were located. Bobby led Schroeder into the room and past several desks toward his cramped office. Detective Shipman stood as they approached.

“Boss,” she said.

“In a moment,” Bobby said.

He gestured for Schroeder to enter his office. After he did, Bobby closed the door behind them.

“Have a seat, Greg.” Bobby circled his desk while Schroeder took the chair directly in front of it. “I’m going to call you Greg because I know we’re going to be friends.”

“We are?”

“You’re working the McKenzie shooting, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Who are you working for?”

“Myself.”

“Don’t lie to me again.”

Schroeder lifted his hand and let it fall.

“What I’m trying to decide is if we’re both on the same side, Greg,” Bobby said. “You’re off to a bad start.”

“McKenzie is a friend of mine. We’ve worked together in the past. He even hired me a couple of times to keep watch on his lady love.”

“You say ‘worked together.’ I remember him telling me a story about a case you were both involved in concerning Riley Muehlenhaus, ’cept you were hired by the grandfather, Walter, and he had been working for Riley. How did that play out, by the way?”

“She’s alive and for the record, she doesn’t use the name Muehlenhaus. It’s Riley Brodin-Mulally now.”

“Nina Truhler told me the same thing,” Bobby said.

“When?”

“About an hour ago.”

“Ah. Well, if you already knew who I was working for why did you ask?”

“It was a test to see how forthcoming you were going to be.”

“I’ll tell you everything I can as long as it doesn’t compromise my client,” Schroeder said.

“Fair enough. Go ’head.”

“McKenzie’s friend, Dave Deese?”

“My friend, too.”

“He’s clean.”

“I kinda knew that.”

“I didn’t,” Schroeder said.

“What else?”

“I’ve only been working the case for a couple of hours.”

“You will tell me if you learn anything that I don’t already know, though, right?”

“Quid pro quo; isn’t that how it works? I give you something and you give me something in return?”

“I can play that game,” Bobby said. “About an hour ago a man entered Rickie’s and threatened Nina Truhler with bodily harm if she and McKenzie didn’t learn to keep their big mouths shut. She responded by punching him in his big mouth.”

“Is she okay?”

“Shaken, but not stirred.”

“Should I tell you a secret, Commander? I’ve always liked her.”

“Me, too.”

“She’s way too good for McKenzie.”

“We at least agree on one thing.”

“I offered her protection,” Schroeder said. “She turned it down.”

“Offer again.”

“No, I think I’ll do what McKenzie had me do the last time. Send guys to keep an eye out and not tell her. Can she identify the man who threatened her?”

“No.”

“What is it she and McKenzie are supposed to keep quiet about?”

“She doesn’t know,” Bobby said. “I told her next time she should gather more intel before she hits the guy.”

“McKenzie was shot because of something he knew. That’s apparent now. It would be nice if he woke up and told us what it was.”

“From your lips to God’s ear.”

“Anything else, Commander?”

“That covers it for now.”

“For now?”

“It’s possible that I might reach out to you again. It depends on how the situation evolves. McKenzie might wake up in five minutes and tell us everything.”

“Or he might not, in which case…”

“Don’t be unpleasant,” Bobby said.

“You’ll want to get a jump on this. What is it they say about the first forty-eight hours?”

“I have a detective tracing his movements for the past few days.”

“The pretty little thing who stood up when we passed her desk?”

“Oh, please, go out there and call her that, but only after I’ve had time to get some popcorn so I can enjoy the show.”

Schroeder started laughing, I don’t know why.

“Greg, if you learn anything you had better tell me and to hell with the quo,” Bobby said.

“Yes, Commander.”

“Don’t mess with me. Please. Not over this. Absolutely not over this.”

“We’re good,” Schroeder said.

The two men rose and shook hands. Bobby went to the door and opened it. He stood in his doorway and watched Schroeder leave. Once Schroeder had exited the large room he glanced at Shipman and gave her a come-hither gesture.

“Boss,” she said when she