Read Believed Violent for Free Online Page B

I’ll have that one. Please be quick . . . I’m in a hurry.”
    On the other side of the store, Tom Friendly, the store detective, sat on a packing case, resting his throbbing corns. He knew he should be on the floor. His job was to be constantly circling, keeping his eyes open for light fingered customers, but the noise, the heat and the fact he had been on his feet now for four hours persuaded him he should take a little rest.
    He was dozing happily when a hard finger tapped his fat shoulder. He started up guiltily and stared at the tall man bending over him. This man had a glass eye and a scar running down the side of his face.
    “You the dick here?” the tall man asked. That’s me . . . what’s up?” Friendly asked, trying to gather his wits together.
    There’s a girl out there who’s helping herself,” the tall man said. “I thought you’d be interested. She’s just visited the costume jewellery counter. She has a nice, smooth action.”
    The hell she has!” Friendly exclaimed. “Where is she?”
    “At the bacon counter,” the tall man said. “You can’t miss her. A red-head wearing a white dust coat over a blue dress.”
    “You come along and point her out,” Friendly said. “You’ll be needed as a witness. You saw her take the stuff.”
    The tall man smiled.
    “And what were you doing? No . . . you saw her take the stuff. That way you get the credit,” and turning, he walked away, quickly mingling with the crowd.
    Friendly hesitated, then made his way as fast as his flat feet could take him to the bacon counter.
    Nona had completed her shopping. She went through the turnstile, paying for what she had bought, then carrying her purchases in two big paper sacks, she half walked, half ran to her car.
    As she was putting the sacks on the back seat, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked around, startled.
    She found herself looking at Tom Friendly’s red, beery face. His little eyes were cop hard. Her startled expression gave him the impression of guilty fear.
    “Let’s go back to the store, miss,” he said and put a hot, sweaty hand on her arm.
    Indignant, Nona tried to shake off his grip, but he tightened it.
    “Let go of me!” she exclaimed. “Let go at once!”
    “I’m the store detective, miss,” Friendly said. “Do you come quietly or do I call a cop?”
    Patrolman Tom O’Brien had walked into the car park for his usual look around. There was an automatic Coke machine just inside the parking lot which he patronized around this time. O’Brien, a hefty, elderly Irishman, found sidewalk-pounding a thirsty job. He reckoned to consume fifteen Cokes on his beat, and this stop would be his tenth. He saw Friendly talking to a red-head, his hand on her arm and he decided to see what it was all about. He and Friendly got along well together. It looked as if Friendly had picked up yet another shop-lifter.
    What’s going on?” he boomed as he came to a halt before Nona.
    “Tell this man to let go of me!” Nona exclaimed. In spite of her anger, she was beginning to feel a little scared.
    “The old business, Tim,” Friendly said. “She’s been helping herself. Let’s get her inside.”
    “Come on, baby,” O’Brien said, “and we’ll get it all sorted out.”
    “I’m in a hurry . . . I can’t . . . I . . .” Nona stammered. “You’ve no right . . .”
    “I said come on,” O’Brien growled. “Let’s go.”
    Her face flushed, her eyes flashing, Nona hesitated, then walked with the patrolman and Friendly back to the store. She saw people were staring at her and she became flustered and embarrassed. She would sue them! she told herself. She would make them sorry for this! She would sue and sue and sue!
    The manager of the store was a thin, sour faced man who regarded her with bored indifference.
    “Seen taking goods from the costume jewellery counter,” Friendly announced.
    The manager regarded Friendly with a jaundiced eye. He was far from satisfied with Friendly’s