The Devil Kills for Quarters

An excerpt from The Devil Kills for Quarters

Nick pulled his Colt and went quietly thru the beach house. The sea breeze blew in thru an open window somewhere. He felt out of place in his dark suit. The shouting and the shot seemed to come from the living room; he went that way.

There was Sugar Harper, topless in a tiny Brazilian bikini, standing over Corniel's body, holding a smoking gun big enough for the both of them.

"Jesus, Sugar. You blasted him."

"He tore off my top, Nick. He was gonna rape me and then ice me."

Nick came in slowly, pistol ready. "Put down the cannon, baby."

"He had it comin', Nick. He's the son of a bitch that shot Lad and Cora. The bastard wanted their shares of the ship salvage."

"I know, honey. I figured it all out. Only I was gonna call the cops, not the coroner."

"Come on, Nicky. There's gotta be some way we can keep the cops outa this." She pulled the tie on her bikini bottom. "Maybe some wiseguy bumped him off."

Nick got a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach—just above his balls. "Well," the detective said, wetting his lips, "maybe for little while, Sugar."