Killer Toast: A Bayside City Book, #5
By James Dargan
()
About this ebook
KILLER TOAST, A BAYSIDE CITY BOOK, EPISODE FIVE
Only the strong will survive in this city in turmoil!
The election for a new mayor is getting nearer, and Ralph Dickerson is in a confident mood: he thinks he's got the votes in the bag, but has he? Meanwhile Detective Raymond Chuck has joined Devereux's cause. As usual, things are as violent and corrupt as ever in the Bayside City underworld, with murders and backstabbing galore.
Will Massimo Bertoni and Avi Baumshinsky get their just deserts? Read on in this, the fifth instalment of the Bayside City series of hardboiled noir crime fiction books.
James Dargan
James Dargan was born in Birmingham, England, in 1974. Coming from an Irish background, he frequently writes about that experience. As well as England, he has also lived in the United States, Ireland, and - for the best part of fifteen years - in Warsaw, Poland, his home from home from home.
Read more from James Dargan
Transatlantic, The Ballad of Thomas Fox Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAlmost the Best Pun and Joke Book Ever Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShanghailand Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIrish Puns & Jokes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Panda, Chinese Pulp Fiction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn the Dole-Drums Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFat Cat: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFat Cat & Gun Smoke: Two Neo-Noir Crime Thrillers: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMushroom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Legend of Montpelier Hill Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOut of the Cage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPapyrus Comic Hobo Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPig Killer: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsButcher Boy: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOld Man Blues Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFender Bender: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMojo Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZombiana Europa, A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSputnik Baby: A Neo-Noir Crime Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Killer Toast
Titles in the series (7)
Dead Soprano: A Bayside City Book, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPurple Haze: A Bayside City Book, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRed Magic: A Bayside City Book, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHoney Bee: A Bayside City Book, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKiller Toast: A Bayside City Book, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTiger Dawn: A Bayside City Book, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBullet City: A Bayside City Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
Honor Avenged Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Simple Hearts Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Honey Bee: A Bayside City Book, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Marriage Profile Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCatalyst! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSamson & Delilah's Haunted B & B Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPulling The Trigger Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNever Been Good: A Bad Boys Gone Good Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder is a Hate Crime: A Hannah Kline Mystery, #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings459: Framed in Red - Book #2 in the Mike Montego Series Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGhost Kicker Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Siberian Candidate Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhisper My Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Abaddon's Locusts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDirty Devil: JJ Graves, #9 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death to America: Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers, #4 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Benedict and Brazos 32: A Man Called Diablo Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Street Illuminati: Genesis of Monsters: The Street Illuminati Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScene of the Crime: Means and Motive Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Addressed To Kill: The Inspector Stark novels, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Valentine Hostage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Angel Lake Murders: A Jess & Fiona Mystery, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Kind of Guy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJodie's Little Secrets Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTess, re: Archer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Samurai Conspiracy: A Story of Revenge by the Author of "The Junkyard Dog." Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvulsion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvulsion: Tales of Mighty Men, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBetter Never than Late - The Wedding: Det. Lt. Nick Storie Mysteries, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCold Case Cover-Up Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Action & Adventure Fiction For You
The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crime and Punishment Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Last Kingdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wool: Book One of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Invasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Learn German! Lerne Englisch! ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND: In German and English Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Billy Summers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outlawed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: by V.E. Schwab - A Comprehensive Summary Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Darkness That Comes Before Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Serpent: A Novel from the NUMA files Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Count of Monte Cristo Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Huckleberry Finn Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The End of the World Running Club Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5River God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shantaram: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Golden Notebook: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dust: Book Three of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Grace of Kings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Postman Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shift: Book Two of the Silo Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The King Must Die: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Most Dangerous Game Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Termination Shock: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swamp Story: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Learn Italian! Impara l'Inglese! ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND: In Italian and English Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prodigal Summer: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Killer Toast
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Killer Toast - James Dargan
INDIAN SUMMER
––––––––
The hot and sweaty days of Bayside City's summer have passed and it's already late September. Police Commissioner Patrick Manning has just finished supper with his family plus his mother-in-law and is now in the backyard smoking a post-meal cigarette with a whiskey in his hand. Things have been unusually quiet as far as the Bertoni-Baumshinsky war goes and it's making him feel uncomfortable. There's still no sign of Devereux and that's another concern. He hasn't heard from George Drago either in months so the Romanian's either killed him or is still hunting the ex-cop. Manning's promises to God have come to nothing since he prayed to the Big Man in the park when Moishe Katz kidnapped his son. But that's the way Manning is – the world's greatest sinner wouldn't be a bad description of the man, in fact.
Are you coming in, dear?
Manning's wife asks him.
In a minute.
The cop sighs - being married to the woman is such a drag. He'd leave her if it wasn't for the kids.
Manning goes back inside.
Patrick, do you have to drink so much?
Manning's mother-in-law says, as usual complaining at him.
It's the first one,
he says, raising his glass in sarcasm before he necks it.
You're a disgrace,
his mother-in-law says.
Oh, mother, will you please leave Pat alone,
Manning's wife says.
Manning's mother-in-law has her suspicions about her son-in-law's infidelity towards her daughter, but she's never been able to prove it. That doesn't stop her hating him, though.
Manning goes into his study to get some respite from his mother-in-law and the pressures of the job: the mayoral election is approaching. It's almost certain Ralph Dickerson will sweep the votes for a second term, helped by his own political and mob connections in town. Manning's played his part too. And doesn't he know it – but he wants something back when it happens. More influence and power than he has now. Immunity from indictment if it ever comes to that for the crimes he's committed while being in office: Murder. Corruption. Rape. Or maybe rape doesn't count if it's a lowly secretary or a whore from the street?
THE GANGSTER SQUAD
Dick Devereux and his woman Joan have turned into a mean killing machine of guns and anger over the summer: six hours a day, seven days a week of shooting practice and planning. They're the Bonnie and Clyde of goodness, ready and waiting to give the mob elements of Bayside City some of their own medicine when the time comes. Phillip Randall, Devereux's good friend and ex-partner and source of finances, is back in Arizona with his family but will return to the East Coast as soon as Devereux needs him. The three are ready for war. The Jews and Italians won't know what's hit them when it hits them. The Irish and Polaks, too, if they feel like going against them. Manning: he's a marked man for either jail or death.
Joan's moved into Devereux's apartment in North Philly. Since he's met Honey Bee, the ex-cop has changed so much that even Randall's smiling: it reminds him of the way his friend was before the tragic and untimely death of his family, when there were jokes and laughter – slowly that man is coming back.
You all right, baby?
Joan asks Devereux as he's sharpening the knife he's been doing for the last hour at the kitchen table.
Yeah. Just making sure the sonofabitch's sharp enough.
It was sharp enough thirty minutes ago.
Just making sure, sweety.
Come into me.
Later.
Joan goes back into the living room.
Devereux's promised Randall that after they've dealt with the Bayside City underworld, they'll go into business with a private detective agency in Tucson. Randall wants to call it Randall & Devereux Investigations but Devereux thinks his name should be first as alphabetically it is correct. Either way, the ex-cops are looking forward to working with each other again.
Devereux doesn't like to admit it to himself but he's falling in love with Joan – and how could he not? She's a wonderful woman. She treats him well. Cooks him nice food. Gives him a massage when his muscles are aching and prepares his baths for him. But most of all she's a woman with a man's soul, dangerous with a gun and at the moment that's something Devereux appreciates. He doesn't want to put his Honey Bee in any danger, but if she's willing and able then he'll just have to accept it.
After he's finished sharpening the knife, Devereux joins Joan in the living room. She's