And Then There She Was

By Carl Lawrence Knauf

Hard boiled crime in the Land of Enchantment. Paddy Costello must solve a murder to save his life. Only problem is, he's working for the man who wants him dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Universal Butterfly Publishing
• Release date: Aug 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9780990548454

Book preview

And Then There She Was

AND THEN THERE SHE WAS

a short

Carl Lawrence Knauf

Universal Butterfly

Rio Rancho, New Mexico

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, with the exception of quotations and citing, without prior written permission of Universal Butterfly. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of this work should be submitted to Universal Butterfly.

Cover Design by Carl Lawrence Knauf

Copyright © 2018 Carl Lawrence Knauf

All Rights Reserved

Paddy Costello Series: 1

Edition: 1

ISBN: 978-0-9905484-5-4

AND THEN THERE SHE WAS

1

Smoke blocked my view; I couldn’t tell if it was a desperate plea from my last dying cigarette or the haziness from regaining consciousness—and I wasn’t sure if I should have been more upset that I was out of smokes or still alive.

A man in a black suit and black shirt buttoned to the collar stood still through the blur. There wasn’t a hair on his head and he clutched a briefcase as if chained to his wrist. I could tell he was staring at me, but couldn’t place his intentions—though, by the look of it, it didn’t appear promising.

The fogginess subsided and I observed, Ya dress funny.

No response; just ominous pacing in my direction.

I asked, Aren’t ya a little too business-like to look like a Goth—too prim and proper, eh, Siouxsie?

The man stopped and placed his briefcase on the floor. I looked down and another body was spread out, bloody and cold. The click of the latches resonated through my head; I winced from the throbbing pain. Damn hangover.

Keep it down, will ya? Or at least make yourself useful and fetch me my flask from my coat pocket.

The man ignored my order and began to examine the corpse. I noticed my very carafe was resting next to the dead body, opened with the spout hovering over a sticky puddle of regrets. I raised my hand to rub the confusion off my face and search for a recollection, but it wouldn’t budge. My wrists were tightly bound to the legs of the chair that I didn’t remember claiming.

What the fuck? Did ya do this? Untie me.

Only if you’re willing to cooperate, detective, the man said without making eye contact.

Ah, so it does have a voice. I was beginnin’ to think ya were one of them mutes, Siouxsie.

He stood and towered over me; he was taller than I anticipated, but I had only seen him from across the room or in a squatting position.

I asked, Why don’t ya have any eyebrows? Ya look like a cock.

He folded his hands at the small of his back. I’m The Dealer.

As in death is to be dealt? Clever. Strangely, I don’t believe that’s your real name. Did ya kill that man there who stole my flask?

No, Detective Costello, you did.

The hell I did. I’m the one who’s tied up, ain’t I? How ya gonna explain that one, Siouxsie?

Maybe you had an accomplice who stabbed you in the back.

My back is fine; I work alone. How do ya know who I am by the way?

"Everyone knows the famed