Julius Katz Mysteries by Dave Zeltserman Read Free Book Online Page A

grin to Cramer’s lips. “Is that so? I have a court warrant that says otherwise, smart guy.”
    “I couldn’t care less,” Julius said. “This isn’t a police state. You have no justification for this harassment—”
    “No justification?” Cramer sputtered, almost choking on his words. He lifted a thick index finger as if he were going to poke Julius in the chest with it, which would’ve been a mistake unless he wanted to be wearing a cast on his hand for the next two months. Somehow he controlled himself.
    “Norma Brewer, who was a client of yours, was murdered this afternoon. So far you’ve refused to cooperate with an ongoing police investigation and, as far as I’m concerned, you have been withholding evidence dealing with the crime.”
    “That is utter rubbish,” Julius said. “I have no knowledge of Miss Brewer’s murder other than what was reported on the six o’clock news and you have no legitimate reason to think otherwise. I spent the evening at Le Che Cru entertaining a date, and am just arriving home now. Until my assistant tracked me down a short while ago, I had no idea you or any other police official wished to talk to me.”
    Cramer was beside himself. “No idea, huh?” He jerked a thumb towards Henry Zack. “That’s why you dragged your lawyer down here at this hour. I’ve heard all about you, Katz, and I’m not about to put up with your nonsense!”
    Henry started to object, but Julius put up a hand to stop him.
    “Once Archie tracked me down and relayed your message, I decided to take the proper precautions.” Julius smiled thinly at the detective. “Now this is very simple. If you arrest me, you won’t get a single word out of me. Not now, not ever. I will, however, seek every avenue of recourse that the courts allow. On the other hand, if you agree to act in a civil fashion, I will invite you and only you—not this mob of yours that you’ve gathered at my doorstep—into my home to discuss what I know pertaining to Norma Brewer’s murder. Your decision.”
    Cramer didn’t like it. I could tell he wanted nothing more than to cuff Julius and drag him into a police cruiser. He wanted to do that—that much was evident, but instead he stood shaking his head and muttering about the gall of Julius to keep a murder investigation on hold for hours and then to think he could make demands. It was for show, though. A defeated look had already dropped like a veil over his eyes, and it was clear he was going to give in. After a minute or so, his muttering died down. He nodded, almost embarrassed, and said, “What the hell, we’ll do it your way.”
    Julius graciously kept a straight face and escorted Detective Cramer and Henry Zack into his home and to his kitchen. He asked if either of them wanted coffee. Henry accepted, Cramer declined.
    “Would you prefer a French roast, or maybe try a new Tanzanian blend that I’ve recently discovered. It’s really quite good, showing subtle black currant and citrus flavors.”
    “French roast would be fine,” Henry said.
    “Are you sure?” Julius asked, not making any attempt to hide his disappointment.
    Cramer sat propped up on a bar stool by the center island, and he was stewing. Finally he exploded, ordering Julius to forget about the damn coffee and tell him what he knew about Norma Brewer’s murder.
    Julius measured and grinded the proper amount of coffee beans before telling Cramer that he knew nothing about the murder.
    Cramer nearly swallowed his tongue, “Your suspicions, then,” he forced out.
    “I don’t have any. Why would you think I would?”
    “Why? Maybe because you were hired three days ago by a woman who was just murdered! How’s that?” Cramer grunted derisively. “You’ve been working for her for three days now. You must’ve come across something suspicious.”
    “I’ve mostly been loafing since Miss Brewer hired me,” Julius admitted with a halfhearted shrug. “I met with her the day after she hired me,