Mayhem Takes a Dare: The Second Marisa Adair Mystery Adventure (Marisa Adair Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free
“I did think his bladder and bowel contracted and relaxed in their final release of body fluids—”
“Ewwww.” The bartender, who had sprawled across the bar to better film the fallen man, dropped his cell phone.
“—but the brown fluid around his feet smells like whiskey—” The tall man craned his thin neck. “—leaking from that bottle upturned on the bar.” He knelt at Alex’s side, rubbed the wet, ripped shirt between his fingers, brought his hand to his face, and sniffed. “And although it is a nice shade of red, I’m afraid that’s not blood.”
Uniformed police pounded into the bar. They surrounded Brianna and the gun hanging loosely in her hands.
One of the grim officers grabbed the gun and wrenched it from Brianna’s limp fingers. “As reported on the 911 call, it’s a paintball gun.”
“Paintball!” Marisa and Tara spoke in unison. Their stunned faces turned to Alex.
He extended his stained hands. “I tried to tell you I was fine, but no one would listen to me!”
One hand grasping her sliding tube top, Carla pushed herself through the crowd of policemen to the hysterically crying woman. “Brianna, I’m here, baby.” With her free hand, she tried to cradle the wildly swinging head to her striped breast. “I’m coming with you.”
A law enforcement official firmly peeled her from the prisoner. “No, ma’am. If she chooses to use her one phone call to contact you, that’s her option.” He hauled Brianna toward the door. “Personally, I think she’s getting a one-way ticket to the psych ward, and there won’t be any visitors in her near future.”
* * * * *
After the police left, Marisa shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this place didn’t close.”
“Why would it? It’s not like it’s a real crime scene. The crazy woman was taken away to a hospital so she can get help, the fake gun was confiscated by the police, and the fake blood was cleaned up by the waitress, albeit begrudgingly. The only casualty was Alex’s shirt, and since he had a spare one in his car, no harm done. Plus, it was too late to call off the gathering.” Tara stopped peering around the room and turned to Marisa. “Where the heck is that guy?”
“What guy?”
“You know, the one who stopped Brianna from hitting Carla. I’m still trying to figure out where I’ve seen him.”
With a sigh, Marisa let go of her vision of a long soak in a hot bathtub. “He’s probably part of your online group. That looks like him, joining them over there—”
“I need to get another look at that guy.” Tara grabbed Marisa’s arm, and dragged her to the cluster of online group members.
Listening to the rising voices as they approached the milling group, Marisa realized they were discussing basketball. “I thought for sure they’d be discussing the murder of one of their own members, not to mention Brianna’s attempt to hold us up with a paintball gun!”
Tara snorted. “There should be a research grant to study the in-state rivalry between the University of Kentucky Wildcat fans and the University of Louisville Cardinal fans. Here we are, not far from the home base of the Cards, and just listen to those UK fans. They’re across the state from their home base in Lexington and giving the Cards fans hell!”
“UK fans do love references to the Big Blue Nation. Perhaps they think they’ve planted their blue flags in Louisville.” Based upon the set faces and clenched fists of several of the males and females, Marisa calculated it would take only one more round of drinks for violence to erupt between the Cards and Cats fans.
Oblivious to imminent violence, Tara continued along her theme. “A formal research study would find some shared characteristics between the two groups. For example, the Cats fans tend to be more aggressive and less patient than the Cards fans.”
“That’s because the Cards fans have to wait decades between their championship wins, while Cats fans know
“Ewwww.” The bartender, who had sprawled across the bar to better film the fallen man, dropped his cell phone.
“—but the brown fluid around his feet smells like whiskey—” The tall man craned his thin neck. “—leaking from that bottle upturned on the bar.” He knelt at Alex’s side, rubbed the wet, ripped shirt between his fingers, brought his hand to his face, and sniffed. “And although it is a nice shade of red, I’m afraid that’s not blood.”
Uniformed police pounded into the bar. They surrounded Brianna and the gun hanging loosely in her hands.
One of the grim officers grabbed the gun and wrenched it from Brianna’s limp fingers. “As reported on the 911 call, it’s a paintball gun.”
“Paintball!” Marisa and Tara spoke in unison. Their stunned faces turned to Alex.
He extended his stained hands. “I tried to tell you I was fine, but no one would listen to me!”
One hand grasping her sliding tube top, Carla pushed herself through the crowd of policemen to the hysterically crying woman. “Brianna, I’m here, baby.” With her free hand, she tried to cradle the wildly swinging head to her striped breast. “I’m coming with you.”
A law enforcement official firmly peeled her from the prisoner. “No, ma’am. If she chooses to use her one phone call to contact you, that’s her option.” He hauled Brianna toward the door. “Personally, I think she’s getting a one-way ticket to the psych ward, and there won’t be any visitors in her near future.”
* * * * *
After the police left, Marisa shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this place didn’t close.”
“Why would it? It’s not like it’s a real crime scene. The crazy woman was taken away to a hospital so she can get help, the fake gun was confiscated by the police, and the fake blood was cleaned up by the waitress, albeit begrudgingly. The only casualty was Alex’s shirt, and since he had a spare one in his car, no harm done. Plus, it was too late to call off the gathering.” Tara stopped peering around the room and turned to Marisa. “Where the heck is that guy?”
“What guy?”
“You know, the one who stopped Brianna from hitting Carla. I’m still trying to figure out where I’ve seen him.”
With a sigh, Marisa let go of her vision of a long soak in a hot bathtub. “He’s probably part of your online group. That looks like him, joining them over there—”
“I need to get another look at that guy.” Tara grabbed Marisa’s arm, and dragged her to the cluster of online group members.
Listening to the rising voices as they approached the milling group, Marisa realized they were discussing basketball. “I thought for sure they’d be discussing the murder of one of their own members, not to mention Brianna’s attempt to hold us up with a paintball gun!”
Tara snorted. “There should be a research grant to study the in-state rivalry between the University of Kentucky Wildcat fans and the University of Louisville Cardinal fans. Here we are, not far from the home base of the Cards, and just listen to those UK fans. They’re across the state from their home base in Lexington and giving the Cards fans hell!”
“UK fans do love references to the Big Blue Nation. Perhaps they think they’ve planted their blue flags in Louisville.” Based upon the set faces and clenched fists of several of the males and females, Marisa calculated it would take only one more round of drinks for violence to erupt between the Cards and Cats fans.
Oblivious to imminent violence, Tara continued along her theme. “A formal research study would find some shared characteristics between the two groups. For example, the Cats fans tend to be more aggressive and less patient than the Cards fans.”
“That’s because the Cards fans have to wait decades between their championship wins, while Cats fans know
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