Death of a Jaded Samurai Read Online Free

something."
    "Good guess," Fabio said. "You happen to know who those somebodies might have been?"
    She bit her lower lip. "No."
    "Who stayed to train last night?" Fabio asked.
    Mick reappeared from his office, disheveled and upset, probably after overhearing every word she'd said. He ignored Thayer and shot Fabio a hard look that said more than her stunned brain could translate. He turned and focused his bloodshot eyes on her. "Gilda, honey, I'm going out for a few minutes. The others are meeting me at the coffee shop. I need to give them the bad news."
    She assumed "the others" were the black belts.
    Thayer raised a hand and narrowed the gap between him and Mick. "That's not a good idea. We'll interview them later. For now, we need to ask you a few questions, and I want you to take a seat so I can—"
    "Café Beanz?" Gilda asked. Mick's abrupt change of plans was nothing new. She was sure he had some sort of attention disorder, and nothing short of Thayer drawing his gun and handcuffing him to the doorknob would keep Mick there. Over the past couple years, she'd tried to learn to adapt.
    "Yeah. The police won't let them in here. Stick around until they're done. Don't lock up. I can't find my keys. Thanks. Fabio, Thayer, I'll be in touch." Mick flew out the door without waiting for an answer.
    Thayer sputtered and reached for his cuffs, but Fabio waved a hand. "He'll be back."
    Gilda frowned. Of course she'd stay. She didn't have much of a life anyway. Not since two years ago when she caught Thayer in several lies, then found him in a compromising position with a young, blonde barista from Café Beanz, Mick's current destination.
    Thayer grimaced. "Is he always like that?"
    "Impatient and in a rush? Ever since I've known him," Fabio said.
    "Yeah," Gilda said. "I don't think the caffeine and sugar he lives on helps."
    "Probably not. It never has before." Fabio sighed. "Since he's gone, maybe you can tell me who stayed late to train last night."
    She focused on the computer and typed in her passwords automatically. "Mick, Walter, and Razi, another one of our black belts. Mick wants to do a black belt grading in November. Razi and Walter wanted to go for their third level."
    "We need an officer to go after him and bring him back here for questioning," Thayer said.
    "He'll be back. His car keys are on the floor under his desk." Fabio turned back to the crime scene.
    Gilda had never thought to hide Mick's keys before to get his undivided attention for ten minutes. Tying him to a chair and gagging him, maybe.
    "Is everything okay, Gilda?" Thayer almost sounded like he cared, but she knew from experience the tone was purely professional. An act for his colleagues. He must be up for a promotion.
    "I'll get you a list of all our students." She grimaced.
    Unfortunately, time didn't wound all heels. After the breakup, while Thayer had hit the gym and thrived socially, Gilda became withdrawn and hid behind her job, her garden, and reading mystery novels while eating chocolate chunk ice cream. Starting to work for Mick was the catalyst to bringing her out of her shell. She wished she could crawl back into that shell now.
    "Both your students and all the instructors." He leaned on the counter and peered down on her. "You don't have to work in a place like this. There are jobs elsewhere, you know."
    "Jealous as always. You still hate me being around all the testosterone and chiseled jaws." Gilda nearly burst out laughing. Aside from Mick and Razi Mauli, no one even came close to that description. "I happen to like working here. If it wasn't for me, everyone would kill each other, and this place would fall apart." She stopped and covered her mouth with both hands. "I didn't mean it like that."
    He appeared amused. "First, I'm going to check on the others, and then you and I will sit down to discuss what you just said. I think you know a lot more than you're letting on. Maybe you're even the one who killed Walter. As a matter of fact, I