LITMIR.BIZ

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rain.

      The town struck him as less segregated than New Brunswick, where the rich hung out in the restaurant and theater districts, the poor stayed north of the theaters, and the students kept mostly on campus. Montclair seemed integrated and more modern. Or maybe he was just cynical about his own city.

      He stepped under the purple canopy of Carter’s, its name written along the sides in script, and knocked on the glass door. They wouldn’t open for lunch for another ten minutes, but he hoped Franklin was there.

      Instead, a short blonde who didn’t look a day over twenty pushed the door open. She wore a white button-down shirt, black dress pants, and a name tag that read “Kate.”

      “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t open until noon.”

      Donne checked his watch. “Well, it’s almost noon, Kate.”

      Hearing her name threw her off for a second, but she put on a great condescending smile and said, “Almost isn’t noon. I’m sorry, sir.”

      Kate started to close the door, but he put his hand in and pulled it from her hand. The condescending smile set him off.

      “Hey,” she said. “You can’t do that.”

      “I’m looking for Franklin Carter. Is he in?”

      “No,” she said, trying—but failing—to pull the door closed. Donne now had his foot stuck between the door and the jamb. “He won’t be in until after noon.”

      “Well,” he said, grabbing the door again. He pulled it wide open. “I guess I’ll just have to wait for him.”

      “You can’t—” Kate said as Donne stepped past her into the restaurant. “Who the hell are you?”

      “That’s not very professional.”

      He walked toward the hostess table, noticing the dark maroon wallpaper with dark mahogany-trimmed walls. The tables in the middle of the restaurant were wooden as well, all set with paper napkins and silverware.

      “I don’t care how professional it is. You can’t just come barging in here.”

      Donne took a seat at one of the tables. Not very comfortable. The wooden back of the chair was solid and straight. He couldn’t settle into it. They probably wanted the customers uncomfortable so as to move them in and out quickly when the place was busy.

      “I’m working for Mr. Carter,” Donne said. Then he gave her his best condescending smile. “And I’m his brother-in-law.”

      He was pretty sure someone put the air-conditioning on at that moment. Kate’s stare could have frozen fire.

      “Oh,” she said. “You.”

      “Yep, me. Do you think I could get lunch?” He glanced at his watch again. “It is noon now.”

      Kate’s face flushed. “Can I get you something to drink?”

      “Beer?”

      “We don’t have a liquor license. Most of Montclair is bring your own.”

      “I see. I’ll just take an iced tea, then.”

      “Very well,” Kate said. “Your waitress will be right with you.”

      “You’re not my waitress?”

      “I’m just the hostess, sir.”

      “That’s a shame.”

      She disappeared through a curtain into the kitchen. Through the front window he watched the rain splatter and traffic pass. A few people with umbrellas stopped and checked the menu, then moved on.

      A tall brunette, dressed the same as Kate but with a name tag that read “Lauren,” put a glass of iced tea in front of him and asked if he was ready to order. He told her he’d have a steak sandwich. She gave him a more genuine smile than Kate had and also disappeared into the kitchen.

      Framed on the walls were news reviews of Carter’s, autographed pictures of a few B-list celebrities who’d frequented the place, and one picture of Franklin Carter standing around a bunch of waitresses posed as if it were a family portrait. He looked happy as hell. Donne had never seen him that way.

      “Hey, Lauren,” he called.

      She poked her head out through the kitchen door. “Yeah?”

      “Has Franklin been in today at all?”

      She walked over to his table, leaned over, and spoke in a whisper. “He was here this morning but left to grab some coffee when somebody annoyed him.” She crooked her head back to the kitchen as she spoke.

      He couldn’t imagine Kate annoying anyone.

      “He’ll be back soon, I’m sure,” Lauren said. “Your food will be right out.”

      “Thanks.”

      She started back toward the kitchen, but he stopped her.

      “So,” he said. “What’s the buzz on what happened in New York?”

      “I don’t know anything about that.”

      “Come on,” he said. “I’m sure Kate told you that I’m working for Franklin. That I’m kind of a detective. How am I going to figure anything out if I don’t ask and you don’t tell?”

      “Kate said you were working for Franklin’s wife. Something about her mother.”

      Jeez, word got around quick. He wondered what other gossip Franklin had let drop in the past two days.

      “Well, you never know what might be related,” he said.

      “I honestly don’t know anything except what’s been said on the news.”

      “Has Franklin been acting strange lately?”

      “Nothing more than usual. A few arguments with Kate, but that happens all the time when you have co-owners. There’s always restaurant drama. I hate this place.”

      “Well, listen, if you hear anything, give me a call. I like drama.” Donne dropped his old business card on the table. Other than the location of his now-defunct office, the information was up to date.

      She picked it up and said, “Let me get your sandwich.”

      The front door opened and Carter stepped inside. He was soaking wet and looked pale. He made eye contact with Donne. Donne didn’t think it was possible, but Carter went even more white.

      “Hi, Franklin,” Donne said. “I was hoping we could talk.”

      “More talk is the last thing I need,” he said.

      ***

      Carlos took the gun down to the alleyway across the street from Rutt’s. Now that the rain had stopped, he could finally get outside to try the thing. The cars from Route 3 would be loud enough to cover the sounds of the gun, he thought. He wanted to fire it in the alleyway, just to see what it was like. That would be so fucking gangsta.

      He stood like they did in the movies. The bad guys, not the cops, relaxed with the gun held sideways, and leanin’ back like Fat Joe in that video. He pulled the trigger and the thing went off. It sounded like thunder, and his ears were ringing. The recoil from the gun knocked him on his ass. He didn’t expect that.

      It was fucking cool, though. Too bad school was out. “What the hell was that?” he heard someone yell.

      Shit. Route 3 was nowhere near as loud as he needed it to be. He shoved the gun into the waistband of his jeans and ran up Delawanna.

Chapter 10

      Franklin Carter rubbed his face in his hands. He sat across from Donne and refused to make eye contact. Droplets of water soaked into his

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