Beyond Blue by Austin S. Camacho Read Free Book Online Page A

predicted. Ruby’s hair rolled across her head in natural ringlets, and hung just past her shoulders. Her smooth skin reminded him of the sweet shell of a Dove bar. Her waist was as slim as Chastity’s, but she was more robust in the areas where a woman should be robust. Her eyes teased every man they touched, inviting him to try, at the same time telling him he didn’t stand a chance. Only a blind man would fail to turn as Ruby walked past.
    At the table, Ruby stood beside the chair with its back to the corner, facing the door. Gorman followed, but pulled out the chair on the other side of the table, waved toward it, and waited.
    Ruby seemed to weigh her options. Finally, she said, “I keep forgetting that you used to be a cop too,” and moved so he could push her chair in.
    â€œGirl, I was a cop when you were still spitting up your baby formula. Now you get comfortable. I’ll watch the door.”
    â€œOh, yeah,” Ruby said. “I feel all safe now, I got you watching me.”
    A waitress sauntered over and Gorman ordered cappuccino and biscotti for them both. He liked this place. The background chatter was loud enough to insure privacy, yet low enough that they didn’t have to shout.
    â€œSo, you’re meeting the mark,” he said while they waited. “Not sure I like it, but I understand the need. What do we know?”
    Ruby planted an elbow on the table, and planted her chin on the back of her hand. “I know I got the man. Rafael Sandoval, sure as shit. Colombian immigrant who meets other people coming into the country a couple times a week.”
    â€œSo you got yourself in as a baggage handler,” Gorman said. “If this man’s bringing in contraband, there must be an inside man getting his bags through the inspection points. And you said his brother is a security inspector. Is he involved?”
    â€œNot on my shift, sugar,” Ruby said. “Anything I see come in from South America, I make sure they get the full treatment. Got to be coke, right? But the dogs don’t catch it, and nothing shows on the scopes. You know, I could just accidentally drop one and bust it open.”
    â€œBut that won’t serve our client’s purpose,” Gorman said as the coffee arrived. The aroma of this cappuccino was rich and dark, not like that weak imitation they sell at the designer coffee shops. “You bust open a suitcase without probable cause and even if it’s full of heroin, the judges will toss the case. Do they use the same dogs every day?”
    â€œYeah, why?”
    â€œCould be the dogs are ringers, brought in by the smugglers, but with damaged senses or something,” Gorman said.
    â€œAin’t no smuggler that smart.”
    â€œWell the stuff’s coming through that airport somehow,” Gorman said. “We need to stop this guy from bringing that poison in.”
    â€œNot to worry. I told you I got the hook up. While he’s romancing me, I’ll get the inside dope on this dope, about the dope.”
    â€œYou’re sure he’s under your spell?”
    â€œI got him by the short hairs, baby,” Ruby said, gracing him with a smile. Ruby’s smile was sharp and sudden, like a cool tropical shower on a muggy day.
    Gorman sipped his coffee. For a moment he was in heaven, enjoying that fresh roasted flavor and watching Ruby’s bright, full lips.
    â€œThis case is practically done,” Ruby said. “So, I think it’s time you stopped shitting on me and gave me a decent raise.”
    Gorman almost spit out his coffee. The trapdoor opened, dropping him out of heaven and right back into Manhattan.
    â€œEvery time I talk to you, you ask me for a raise. You operatives are the highest paid P.I.s in the city already. The answer is no. No now, no tomorrow, and no the day after tomorrow. So don’t ask.”
    â€œIt never hurts to ask,” Ruby said, her voice rising to that high,