CHAPTER TWELVE: Don’t Touch Gerome
Gerome Elderberry always reacted on instinct. He knew the death of Zipper down would most likely be treated as an accident or suicide. He had a gut feeling that a murder had taken place. He was going to explore every possible clue. He loved to create suspicion. His first stop would be Apocalypse Records.
Benny was still trying to call Nick with no luck. He called the police headquarters to see if new information had been found on Zipper’s death. Nothing else was released. His phone rang just as he hung up with the police.
“Benny Myers here,” he answered in his always-professional voice.
“Benny, there’s some weird guy here asking questions about that Zipper dude,” said Kristi Love, the ex-centerfold model who was now the receptionist at Apocalypse. Nick kept that issue in his archives.
Benny’s first thought was Kat. “Try to keep him occupied ‘till I get down there,” he said. He didn’t want the police to find about Kat just yet.”
“How do I do that?” she asked.
“Sweetheart, there’s not a man in the world you couldn’t keep occupied.”
“Oh, yeah. I guess you’re right.” Kristi got up from behind the desk and walked over to Elderberry, who was questioning others. Her bleached-blonde hair was flowing over her shoulders. She was wearing a sheer cotton blazer with a silk camisole peeking out over the top. It was low enough to show ample cleavage, which she displayed so well. She had only two inches of skirt hanging below her jacket, revealing a pair of well-toned legs. Her five-inch stiletto heels also helped bring attention to them. She grabbed Gerome’s arm with a sexy touch.
“Why don’t you let me get you some – coffee?” She purred, giving him a seductive smile that would melt the coldest of hearts.
He looked at her and smiled. “Honey, you are the second person to put their hands on me today. I don’t like people touching me. So if you don’t take that pretty little hand off me right now, sister, I’ll take it and put it where the sun don’t shine. Get the damn hell away from me.”
“What seems to be the problem?” said Mr. Levon, as he came to see about all the commotion.
“This man is an asshole,” said Kristi.
“I’m Lieutenant Gerome Elderberry with Metro homicide,” he said, as he flipped out his badge. “And you would be?”
“I don’t care who you are. You don’t come here disrupting my business and my people,” said a livid Mr. Levon.
“Oh - your business and your people,” said Elderberry. “Well – Mr. Levon, I presume – I’ve done my homework and it seems like your business is in the process of being bought out. I have a possible homicide involving a victim, who was under contract of your record company, so I suggest you move your big fat ass out my way and let me do my job.”
Benny ran up just in time to grab Mr. Levon’s arm, as it was about to swing towards Elderberry’s face.
“Can I be of some assistance here?” asked Benny.
“And you are?” asked Gerome.
“Ben Myers. I’m in charge of Zipper Down’s contract.” He turned to Mr. Levon. “I’ll take it from here, sir.”
Mr. Levon took several deep breaths, and then gave Elderberry one last dirty look. His red face was a sharp contrast against his white hair. As he walked away, they could hear him mutter, “Pansy-ass, son-of-a-bitch.”
“So how can I help you?” asked Benny.
“Well, for one thing, you can make me feel more at home here than these other two idiots I’ve come in contact with,” said Elderberry.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“That would be wonderful. Cream and four sugars.”
“Kristi, would you mind getting this gentleman some coffee, please?”
Kristi looked at Benny. “For one thing, don’t use the word gentleman to describe this person – and second, get the damn coffee yourself. I quit.” She grabbed her purse and left.
“I’m seeing a lot of that today,” said Gerome. “Must be the horrible weather. By the way, was she at the party Saturday night?”
“I do believe she was,” said Benny.
“I may need to question her later. I need a list of people who were at the party.”
“May I ask why?”
“Since you’re the only one who’s shown me some respect, I’ll let you in on something. I don’t think Zipper Down, which I might add is quite a clever name, died accidentally.”
“And you think somebody with Apocalypse may be involved?”
“I just want to check out all my avenues. I heard from a couple of your people I just questioned that Mr. Down presumably left the party rather early with a certain young lady. I’d like to question her, if I may.”
“I think Kat’s at lunch.”
Elderberry smiled. “I never said her name.”
Benny was stuck. “No, it’s just, uh, Kat – Kat is the girl who saw Zipper leaving with someone. She would be the one who would help you find her. But – you know – like I said, she’s at lunch.” He was feeling like a complete fool for protecting her.
“Why are you sweating?” Benny was sweating profusely, but had a cover.
“My car caught on fire this morning and I was out in the rain, and…”
“You’re the poor idiot?” Gerome was in hysterics.
“I don’t think it’s very amusing, sir, if you don’t mind.”
“I may be wrong,” said Elderberry, between chuckles, “but maybe Zipper Down did commit suicide. If I were him and I was under contract with a bunch of stupid idiots like you, I sure would.”
Benny reached his limit. “Officer, would you…”
“That’s Lieutenant - Lieutenant Gerome Elderberry. You can call me Sir”
“Uh, Sir, would you please come back another time? We’re really busy.”
“Sounds like you have something to hide, Myers. I’ll be back to talk to this Kat person. I also want to talk to Nicholas Pel-tire. See you real soon. Forget about the coffee. I’d be afraid to drink anything from this place.” He took a handkerchief from his pocket, and then grabbed a pencil from Kristi’s desk with it. “I’ll bring it back - promise.” He slithered his way to the elevator.
Benny needed to talk to Kat. He was shaking as he walked to the small office housing the graphic arts department. Kat’s desk was empty – she really was at lunch. He went back to his office to call Nick’s apartment one more time. Still, no one picked up the phone.
The Devil's in My Bathroom Page 13