Car Noir

By Darryl Hicks

Former Denver homicide cop Michael Ferris hunts for the murderer of a car salesman. Sequel to Upside Down. The Michael Ferris mysteries feature fictional Colorado characters with liberal viewpoints, the conversations are food for thought, not necessarily the author's true beliefs. The story is set in 2013. The 1/1/2014 publish date commemorates Colorado's historic milestone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darryl Hicks
• Release date: Jan 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310224089

Darryl Hicks

Watch for 'Confiscation Blues', my new novel. Eric has the confiscation blues. He left the Colorado protective cocoon and a neighboring state confiscated his car. His Denver apartment was raided and all of his electronic devices were confiscated. They said he smuggled weed, but the evidence was planted. They said his electronic devices were purchased with money from an illegal enterprise, but his only illegal enterprise was streaming bootleg movies from Aquarium. Hey, lock him up for that, he's clearly a bad person. Eric loses his Denver job, due to testing positive for weed. What's up with that, it's Colorado, eh? Eric moves to western Colorado, new job, different problems. Eric is a common man, he just wants happiness and yummy chocolate doughnuts, why are they trying to kill him?

Book preview

Car Noir

by Darryl Hicks

Published by Darryl Hicks at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Darryl Hicks

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

This ebook is a work of fiction. Events, names, and characters in the eBook, are likewise fictional.

Car Noir is recommended for mature persons only. Implied acceptance of an alternative lifestyle may be inappropriate for minors and conservatives.

This is the second Mike Ferris eBook. Former homicide cop Mike Ferris consults on unusual murders. A weird crime scene drags Mike into the murky car industry.

The Mike Ferris mysteries are set in Denver Colorado. The genre is humorous noir.

But, enough of this. My new eBook starts now.

* * * *

Car Noir

When Ben’s text ring tone played, I was lying on my back, lifting weights.

I said, Dude, read me that text.

It can wait, said Dude. His real name was Dudley, but everybody called him Dude.

I put the barbell on the hooks and sat up.

You quit early.

Nope, I did the whole 40 reps.

I only counted 31.

Damn you’re good, Dude. You always get the count right.

Hey, I’m a personal trainer. I count reps in my sleep. Every client tries to cheat on the reps.

* * * *

Ben's text was a web site url. I fired up my home computer and browsed the web site.

Dude said, What the hell?

The web site was a video feed of a man’s prostrate body.

* * * *

I called Ben. He's a Denver PD homicide cop.

Ben said, Hey Mike.

What’s up with this web site? I replied.

Are you watching it?

Yep, for like 5 minutes. Guy hasn’t moved.

We think he’s dead, said Ben.

Damn thing shouldn’t be on the internet. Can’t you shut it down?

Yes, but first we need to find the source of the broadcast. For now, we’re leaving the web site up to facilitate the trace.

Ben paused, then said, Somebody just walked in. Chill a sec gumshoe, ...

I drank some water.

Ben came back on the line and said, Sorry about that. The trace just spit out an address. I’ll text it to you. Meet me there.

* * * *

I talked Dude into giving me a ride to the meet with Ben. Dude didn’t want to do it, but $50 convinced him otherwise.

As he drove, Dude confessed, I’m strapped for cash. All my buddies are personal trainers for hot rich chicks. What do I get? A limp dick ex-cop who browses dead guys on his computer.

I can hook you up with a regular gig that pays good, I said.

What kind of gig?

Security. Interested?

What kind of pay are we talking?

I spun some numbers. Dude was interested.

* * * *

The crime scene was a garage. The victim was on the floor, behind a sedan