The Lurker at the Threshold : A Horror Mystery by Brandon Berntson (books under 200 pages .txt) 📗

said, sounding genuinely crestfallen.  “I guess I deserve it.”

“What?” Duke said.

“Nothing,” Macky said.  “Could we quit fooling around?  Tell me what you came down here for?”

“Do you think it’s safe to drink on duty, sir?” Newt asked.

“No one asked you, lieutenant, and the Captain’s on vacation.”

Newt nodded reassuringly at Macky.  “Captain’s on vacation, Dev.  It’s okay.”

Macky smiled.

Millie entered and set the bourbon in a short glass with ice on the desk.  Duke picked it up and swallowed it in one shot.

“That’s the last of the whiskey, Dev,” Millie said.

“I’ll try not to show an outward display of emotion,” Macky said.

“Do you need anything else?” Millie asked.

“No, Mill.  Thanks.”

“Anytime, fellas.  I’m in the other room if you need me.”

Duke took a deep breath.  “Now, then,” he said.  “Have you seen the morning edition today?”

“No.  I usually wait until the paperboy delivers it to Mr. Brodsky across the hall, and then I tiptoe over there and ste—I mean . . . no!”

Newt pulled a paper out from behind his back and handed it to Macky.  Macky took it and unfolded it.  The headline on the top read:

Man Slain in Shady District

“The scoop?” Macky asked.

“A wild animal,” Duke said.  “Or something like that.  His throat was torn open.  His body was found last night.  Around 7 p.m.  Press got word of it quickly.  We think it might be a wild animal.”

“Like a . . . dog, maybe?”  Cold sweat broke across Macky’s flesh.

“Sure,” Duke said. “Dog.  Even a wolf.”

“There aren’t any wolves in Innsport,” Macky said.

“No, there’s not,” Duke said.  “But there’s a lot of things in Innsport that shouldn’t be in Innsport.”

“Did you guys hear the howling last night?” Macky asked.

“I told you it was a good idea to talk to Macky, Duke,” Newt said, turning to his partner.

They all looked at one another.

“Did Millie hear it?” Duke asked.

“I don’t know,” Macky said.  “Millie!”

She poked her head in again.  “Third times a charm, Dev?”

“Did you hear a hound baying in the city last night?”

She stepped inside.  “I did not.  I told you that.  I went to bed early.”

“Have you seen the morning paper?”

“I don’t think Mr. Brodsky has gotten his yet . . . so, no.”

Duke raised his eyebrows.

“She likes to kid around,” Macky said.

Macky handed Millie the paper.  She took it and looked at the front page.  She shook her head.  “I knew it,” she said.

“You’re jumping to conclusions.”  Macky looked at Duke and Newt.  “She’s jumping to conclusions.  It could be a coincidence.”

“Am I jumping to conclusions?” Millie asked, raising one eyebrow.

“What are you talking about?” Duke asked.

“Did you tell the detective, Dev?” she said.  “Did you tell Newt?”

“I was just getting to that, Millie.”

“Would you two quit gallivanting around the subject, and tell me what’s going on?” Duke said.  His jowls were turning red.

“See what you did, Mill?” Macky said.  “The whole city’s gonna know now.”

“The whole city should know what’s going on, Dev, so they can protect themselves.”

“She’s a little sour this morning on account of the gift I tried to give her,” Macky said.

“Would you care to elaborate?” Duke asked.

Millie stood with her hand on her hip, eyebrow cocked.  Macky leaned back and rolled a cigarette.  He lit it.

“The Nec—what was it called, Mill?”

“The Necronomicon,” she said.  “It’s a book about the black earth.”

“Good heavens, here we go!” Duke said.  He rubbed his eyes with one hand.

“Hey, I thought it was a collector’s item,” Macky said.  “We don’t actually know if it’s connected to the death, or the hound, or . . .”

“You’ve done it now, Dev,” Duke said.

“Why is everybody ganging up on me?” he asked.

“That’s why we came to see you, Dev,” Newt said.  “You’re building a reputation.  We thought you might know something about it.

“Are you sure there’s no whiskey left, Mill?” he asked.

“Positive, Dev,” she said.

“This day’s going from bad to worse in a hurry,” he said.

—

“What’s the reason you’re showing me this again?”

“I just wanted to know—” Duke began.

“We,” Newt said.

“Huh?”

“We, chief,” Newt said.  “You keep leaving me out of everything.  I’m right here.  It’s not polite.”

“A sensitive detective has many flaws,” Duke said.

“It’s important to be inclusive, boss.”

“He’s right, Duke,” Millie said.

“You know how stubborn he can be, Dev,” Newt said.  “I tried to persuade him, but it took more than I thought.”

“Did you have to buy him dinner?” Macky asked.

“There’s that barbecue joint on eighty-second and Dartmouth.  They have good brats.”

“Savory Smoke,” Macky said.  “They make their own spicy mustard, too.  Why did you have to bribe him with that?”

“Because he’s spooked.”

“Am not!” Duke said.

“He is, Dev,” Newt said.  “Don’t let him fool you.  This murder has him spooked.  Got me spooked, too.  And we investigated all morning.”

“It looks like something along your line of work, Macky,” Duke said.  “That’s why we wanted to talk to you.”

“I’m flattered,” Macky said.

“Captain is willing to compensate, too,” Duke said.

“What did you do, call him in Bermuda?”

“Telegram,” Duke said.

“Paid by the police,” Macky said.  “There’s a change of pace.  But a motivator.  You might finally get paid, Mill.”

“I won’t hold my breath,” she said.

“So, what’s so different?” Macky asked.  “Rabid dog.  Should be easy enough to track.”

“That’s the problem,” Newt said.  “It isn’t.”

“How so?” Macky asked.

“You said something about a hound?” Newt said.

“The same night I got the book.”

“We’ve been trying to track it,” Newt said.  “At least all morning.  We’ve seen it, but—”

Macky looked at Millie.  She looked at him then at Newt and Duke.  She frowned.

“No whiskey, huh?” Macky asked.

“Dry as a bone,