Death on a High Floor by Charles Rosenberg Read Free Book Online Page A

and it pinched.
    Gwen returned with Spritz. I showed him to the corner seating area and offered him the couch while I took one of the chairs. Gwen offered him coffee or a soft drink, but he declined.
    We looked at each other. Yesterday—was it only yesterday—I had not registered his looks. Today I did. Tall, gangly, very thin, almost bald. He reminded me of no one so much as Ichabod Crane.
    We sat a moment, waiting to see who would speak first.
    “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Tarza.”
    “I wish I could say the same.”
    “Touchy, are we, huh?”
    “No, pissed.”
    “What about?”
    “Well, the picture in the paper, for one.”
    “I thought you looked kind of fetching in that windbreaker.”
    My reply stuck in my throat as Jenna charged into the office. And charged is exactly the right word. One moment she wasn’t there, and the next moment she was standing directly behind my chair, glaring at Spritz. I swiveled my head to get a better look at her. She didn’t actually have her hands on her hips, but she might as well have.
    “Detective Spritz, I’m Jenna James. Mr. Tarza’s attorney. I’m sure you didn’t know that he is represented by counsel, but now that you do know, I’d appreciate your scheduling any interviews through me.”
    Spritz leaned back and actually guffawed. “Now that is a howler. Perhaps you didn’t know it, Miss James, but you are a potential suspect in this case. But now that you know, I’m sure you’ll want to withdraw and help Mr. Tarza find other counsel. While you’re at it, you might want to find counsel for yourself, as well, huh?” He locked his hands behind his head and waited to see what would happen.
    “Get out.”
    “As you wish. But you’re passing up the opportunity to learn some things, you know. Far be it from me, though, to teach learned counsel how to do her job.”
    I said nothing. I was becoming more client-like every minute. Woof, woof.
    Spritz got up from the couch and headed for the door. Jenna followed. After they had gone, I got up and wandered around my office, enjoying its familiarity. Then I saw it. A small patch of fabric, maybe two inches square, had been cut out of one arm of my couch. I was about to yell for Gwen, to ask her about it, when Spritz and Jenna reentered. Jenna spoke before I could say anything.
    “Detective Spritz and I have had a little chat in the corridor and concluded that it’s in both his interest and yours for all of us to talk a little more. But we’ve agreed that he’s going to speak first, and you’ll talk only if I say it’s okay.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” I tried to say it with panache, but I’m not sure it came across that way. In any case, we all repaired back to the sitting area. Jenna took the couch while Spritz and I took the chairs. Meanwhile, I couldn’t take my eyes off the missing spot of fabric on the couch arm. But I couldn’t figure out any way to bring it to Jenna’s attention.
    Gwen popped in and again offered coffee or soft drinks to all. Spritz asked for a Diet Coke. Maybe he was worried about gaining weight. Jenna ordered her usual Orange Crush. I said no, I didn’t want anything, thanks. Truth is, what I really wanted was coffee. I didn’t ask for it because I was afraid my hand would shake again.
    Spritz picked up the Lucite cube with the Athenian tetradrachm in it and held it up. “You collect coins, huh?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “Any particular kind?” He rotated the cube so he could see the other side of the coin.
    “Well, truth is, I just collect coins I like. As long as they were coined before 400 A.D.”
    “Huh,” he said, and put the cube back on the table. “Do you also collect daggers, Mr. Tarza?”
    I looked over at Jenna. She nodded, and I answered. Although I don’t think she knew what was coming.
    “Once upon a time, I did.”
    Spritz took a tiny notepad out of the inner pocket of his suit coat and jotted something down.
    “Huh. Once upon how long a time ago, Mr.