Torpedo Juice полностью

The station cut to an older man behind an anchor desk. “We must remind our viewers that Eyewitness Five news brings you the best in live, unedited coverage and cannot be responsible for content….” He shuffled papers and turned to a second camera, so the station could show it had a second camera. “In other news, a suspected drug kingpin was found shot to death execution-style in his home on No Name Key. Police have sealed off the area, and aren’t commenting. However, sources close to the investigation, who are those same police officers, have told us that they’re closing in on the suspect as we speak…. In sports, more arrests…”

The screen door creaked open. A soaked Gaskin Fussels stuck his head inside.

The gang jumped off stools and ran to the door. “Get in here!”

They dragged him to a table and sat him down. Gaskin closed his eyes and began weeping. “He’s dead.”

“We know he’s dead,” said Sop Choppy. “It was just on TV.”

“What happened?”

“Did you kill him?”

Fussels shook his head emphatically. “I swear I didn’t! He was already dead! You gotta believe me!”

“We believe you,” said Bob the accountant. “But you have to tell us everything you saw.”

“I didn’t see anything. Just a big pool of blood and this butterfly chair facing the other way. So I crept around it and there he was, shot through the eyes!”

“They were sending a message,” said Sop Choppy.

“What kind of message?” asked Bud.

“I don’t remember the message code. But I think that’s a strong one.”

“All of you, shut up!” said Bob.

“What am I going to do?” pleaded Fussels.

“Just stay calm. We might be able to work this out. Is there any way they can connect you to this? Think hard! Did you leave any clues?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay, we need to get you out of town—”

“You mean like falling in the blood?”

“Yes, like falling in the blood. Did you get any on your hands?”

“Just the palms and fingertips.”

“But you didn’t touch anything….”

“No.”

“Good.”

“Does the desk count?”

“Yes.”

“Then the desk…. And the doorframe and the railing on the stairs, and the butterfly chair when I slipped again, and one of the legs of his pants pulling myself up, and on the ransom note that I dropped when I fell again and left behind in all the excitement….”

The gang got up and started backing away.

“What?” said Fussels.

The screen door opened again.

Deputies Gus and Walter came in. “Is there a Gaskin Fussels here?”

They all pointed.

Gus produced handcuffs. “Gaskin Fussels, you’re under arrest for the murder of Douglas Fernandez.”

33

Captain Florida’s log, star date 385.274