Read 01 - Playing with Poison for Free Online

stuff just for the two of them.”
    “We’re not being disrespectful to Stanley, sir.” Candy had turned to face Rye, and seemed to think he deserved even further explanation. “It’s just what Jessie and me drink is all.”
    Karen also jumped on the be-nice-to-Rye bandwagon. She patted the empty seat beside her and actually asked him to join us.
    I was contemplating a return to my cozy spot under the pool table, but Rye stepped away. He claimed he didn’t want to bother anyone, joined Densmore, and the two of them got lost in the crowd.
    I was really, really, ready to go, but Karen reminded me of the Jimmy Beak hazard, and Candy seemed content watching the pool game going on behind us. This seemed a pleasant enough diversion. I turned to watch the game, but also kept a wary eye on the cops.
    Densmore sat down with the Dibbles, but much to my chagrin, Rye had also gotten interested in the pool game. He stood in the back corner, and I noticed he had taken off his suit jacket and tie. Apparently, he had lost the gun also.
    Eventually, Kirby invited him to play. Kirby Cox is, by far, the worst pool player I have ever met. But what he lacks in skill, he more than makes up for in enthusiasm.
    No big surprise, Captain Rye won the game against Kirby. Then he played Gus and beat him also. He was looking around for another victim when Candy jumped up and pointed to me. I could have killed her.
    “Jessie’s real good, sir. Ask her to play!”
    I refused, as did Rye, but then Densmore appeared and whispered something to his boss. Rye stared at me while listening to the lieutenant and apparently changed his mind. In fact, he grinned from ear to ear and asked me to reconsider.
    The two of them probably had some plan to force a confession out of me in the middle of the game, but I decided to take my chances. After all, someone had to wipe that stupid grin off his face.
    I hopped off my barstool as Bryce produced my cue from behind the bar.
    That got Rye’s attention. “You mean you have your own cue stick?”
    We locked eyes as I screwed my cue together.
    “When she dies we’re gonna dip it in gold and hang it over the table,” Bryce told him.
    I chalked up and asked Kirby to rack the balls. Then I turned to my opponent. “Do you plan on arresting me when I win?”
    “When, Ms. Hewitt?” He kept grinning. “Don’t you mean if?”
    I repeated my question, verbatim, and gestured for him to break.
    “Oh, no,” he said, offering a false bow. “Ladies first, I insist.”
    “You’ll be sorry,” Karen sang from behind me.
    I approached the table.
    ***
    While Kirby stood at attention saluting, I broke, knocking the three ball into the left corner pocket while I was it. I scanned the table and enjoyed a bit of Jim Morrison singing “LA Woman” before continuing. The five and the two balls also fell easily, but the seven ball was going to be a challenge. I looked at where the cue ball had rolled and decided to bank it off the far bumper, clip the four and then pocket the seven.
    I walked over to where Rye was standing, stupefied and dumbfounded. He didn’t seem to notice he was in my way, so I tapped his chest with my index finger and asked him to please step back. He still looked perplexed, so I explained my plan for the seven ball.
    He glanced at the table. “No way,” he said. “No one can make that shot.”
    “Way.” I applied a bit more pressure with my index finger, and he finally moved.
    When the seven ball cooperated, Karen and Bryce high-fived each other across the bar, and Kirby saluted again, bless his heart. Candy bounced on her barstool and applauded, and even Densmore emitted a low whistle of appreciation. I smiled at the captain, who, I noticed, had suddenly ceased grinning.
    I smiled some more and returned to the table. But the cue ball hadn’t landed exactly where I had hoped, and I didn’t see much else to work with. I knocked a couple of balls into inconvenient spots and gave Rye his turn.
    While