Six Crime Stories Read Online Free

Bobby Bocci and " cashstrologer " Silky Freedom , who were both cynical thieves , looked like they were buying into Starbulk ' s fantasy.
    I finally decided I ' d had enough and elbowed Dexter. " Be right back , folks , " I said , leading him out the door , but no one seemed to hear me. They were all busy listening to Starbulk talk about the eating habits of shape-shifting golems.
    " So who the hell is that guy , anyway? " said Dex on our way out of the building.
    " Some nut claims Q. Liz hired him to find Johnny , " I said as we stepped outside. We ' d gone from air-conditioned comfort to hot evening air so thick with moisture it was barely breathable...but it still felt great to be away from the claustrophobic scrutiny of the pissed-off ' Sociationers. " Calls himself Quinto Starbulk. Also claims he ' s my long-lost half-brother. "
    " Is he? " said Dex , pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his chinos.
    " Not a chance , " I said. " He ' s just a whackjob. "
    " So where ' s he comin ' up with all this dark forces , Tibetan lama , shape-shiftin ' monster bullshit? " said Dex.
    " Aw , I don ' t know , " I said , bumming a smoke. " Thinks he ' s some kinda action hero straight out of a comic book or pulp magazine or somethin ' . "
    " Dude ' s stoned , " said Dex. " The ' Sociation is , too , if they think Johnny Murder ' s come back. "
    " I saw him on tape at Harrah ' s , an ' he sure looks like Johnny , " I said , blowing out smoke , " but you ' re right. It can ' t be him. People don ' t come back from the dead , no matter what you do. "
    " I know , " said Dex , and from the way he dropped his voice , I knew he knew I was talking about Cherry. About what I did trying to bring her back...and the price I paid. " So who you think this lookalike is , then? "
    " Twin brother we don ' t know about? " I said , taking another puff on the cigarette. " Someone made up to look like Johnny? Could be that ' s why he was hangin ' around a makeover joint. "
    " But why would anyone want to impersonate that dead son of a bitch? " said Dex.
    " I don ' t know , " I said , " but the whole thing ' s givin ' me a bad case of déjà vu. People droppin ' dead an ' gettin ' beat around me , an ' I ' m lettin ' ' em down again. "
    Dex pointed his cigarette at my face. " That ' s bullshit an ' you know it , " he said angrily. " What happened before wasn ' t your fault. Johnny was one of us , an ' we all trusted him the same as you did. "
    " But I should ' ve known , " I said , flicking away my cigarette butt. " I should ' ve stopped him before he killed anyone. I sure as hell should ' ve been the one shootin ' him in the face instead of Father Sees-All after Cherry died. "
    " Maybe you would have if you hadn ' t been in custody , " said Dex. " If the cops hadn ' t been questionin ' you about Cherry ' s death. It ain ' t your fault you didn ' t get to blow Johnny ' s brains out personally. "
    " I should ' ve saved her , " I said quietly. " At least I should ' ve paid Johnny back for what he did. "
    " Listen , " said Dex , throwing an arm around my shoulders. " All that matters is Johnny ' s dead. This asshole makin ' the rounds ain ' t him. Don ' t let what happened before get in the way of bringin ' him down. "
    Suddenly , I felt another arm drop around my shoulders. The air filled with the smell of daffodils and antifreeze.
    " No worries on that count , my friend , " boomed Starbulk. " I assure you , nothing will stand in the way of our victory over the shape-shifter. "
    " Geez! " said Dexter , hopping out from under Starbulk ' s embrace. " Don ' t go sneakin ' up on people like that! "
    I turned and glared at Starbulk. " I ' ve been thinkin ' , " I said. " Why don ' t we split up , Quinto? That way , we can follow different leads an ' track down Johnny in half the time. "
    " Great idea , " said Starbulk.
    Immediately , my mood brightened.
    " However , " said Starbulk , " I think it best if we don ' t divide our forces just yet. "
    So much for the