The Stein & Candle Detective Agency, Vol. 2: Cold Wars (The Stein & Candle Detective Agency #2) Read Online Free Page B

seconds. I coughed and tried to remember how to breathe, then attempted to make sense out of everything around me.
    Selena was holding Tanya’s arm. “What was she doing, Morton?” she demanded. “What the hell was going on?”
    I pointed at Tanya. “She did it.” Weatherby offered me a hand, and I came to my feet. “She killed Pepperdine. That necklace – Big Joe Lono had one just like on his arm. She got friendly with him, stole his statues, and used them to kill her boss.”
    Tanya shrugged. “Big Joe was a sweet guy – but he’s one dumb darky. I told him about my plan, and he didn’t want any part of it. So I stole his idols and charms and escaped.”
    “And she tried to kill us,” I gasped. “The Kupua on the road. Trying to make it look like an accident.” I cleared my throat and reached for my pistols. “It’s over now, Tanya. Can I ask you why?”
    “He was gonna go back to his wife. Imagine — picking that old buzzard over me! And I wouldn’t get a cent out of the rube!” Tanya glared at Selena. “And then you and Gidget here started sniffing around.”
    “We can smell when something stinks,” I said. I turned to Weatherby. “Kiddo, you couldn’t have heard me getting my head yanked off by that octopus tentacle. Why’d you come in here?”
    “It’s Flynn,” Weatherby explained. “He’s coming to look for his money, him and several armed thugs. Mrs. Pepperdine has no idea of the whereabouts of the money owed to Flynn, and she fears a violent result. The island police are slow in responding. We decided to look for you and Selena suspected that you were in Tanya’s room.”
    “Oh no,” Tanya whispered. “Not Fancy Freddy. He’ll—he’ll kill me!”
    “And why would he want to kill you?” Selena asked.
    Tanya responded by slugging Selena in the face, then ramming her elbow into the woman’s throat and pinning her against the wall. She dashed back to her luggage, snapping open a round suitcase. I saw that it was full of money, with a Luger pistol on top. This was the dough owed to Fancy Freddy. Tanya had it, and she wanted to keep it.
    “Selena!” Weatherby ran to his sister, dashing past me – and running right near Tanya. He didn’t care for the pistol she held in her hand, or the pure madness in her pretty eyes. He just wanted to protect his sister. Tanya took full advantage of the opportunity.
    She swung the suitcase with the cash over her shoulder, then grabbed Weatherby’s hand and pulled him away from Selena. She pressed the pistol to the boy’s head. “Another step and I’ll blow out the brat’s brains!” Tanya ordered. “Stay back! I’m leaving this tropical dump!”
    “No! Please!” Selena cried, coming to her feet. I took a step towards them, but Tanya jabbed the pistol into Weatherby’s throat and I stopped moving. Selena didn’t move at all, just watching with wide, terrified eyes.
    My head was still light from being strangled by the octopus. I couldn’t stop Tanya as she went to the fire escape, then started heading down – with the cash and Weatherby. She closed the balcony door behind her, and pushed a deck chair in front of the doorknob. She gave me a grin as she started going down the fire escape. Weatherby was looking right at his sister, his mouth a grim line.
    Selena turned to me as soon as they were gone. “Mr. Candle, we have to—”
    “I know,” I said. “She wants out – that means a boat. There’s some docks near the hotel. That’s where she’s going.” I headed outside into the hall, pulling out both pistols. Selena stayed close to me. We made for the elevators. Taking the stairs down from the top floor would take too long, especially after Tanya had a head start.
    I punched the key on the elevator. That’s when I saw it was already coming up, straight to the top floor. “Fancy Freddy’s boys,” I said. “That must be them.” I stepped back and leveled my pistols at the doors. Soon as they opened, I planned to give