The Death Card: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Read Free Page B

the side of the road and
took the call.
    “Hey, Ratface. Got any hot
tips for me?” he asked.
    “Only hot tip I got for
you is to tell you one last time you better get the money to me, or there won’t
be any more tips for you. Ever. This is the last time I’m asking you for the
five grand you owe me. No more playing the ponies with me if I don’t have it by
tonight. Understand?”
    “Look, Ratface, I’ve got a
sure thing goin’ this afternoon,” Leroy pleaded. “I’ll be able to pay you, no
problem. This thing I have goin’ should make me a lot of money. Guy gave me a
tip on a horse. He’s guaranteed me I can’t lose. Give me until tomorrow night.
Once I win I’ll have to go into San Francisco to pick up the money. Horse is
running at Golden Gate Fields. I’ll get the money to you as soon as I get it.
Promise.” He held his breath waiting for Ratface’s answer.
    “This is your last chance,
policeman. If I don’t have the money by tomorrow evening, you won’t ever have
to worry about making a bet again, because you won’t be alive to make it. Do I
make myself clear?
    “Very. You’ll have the
money by then.”
    After he ended the call,
he sat for a moment, his heart pounding so loudly in his chest he could barely
hear the traffic as it passed by his car. His thoughts were a jumble, trying to
figure out how he could get the money. He’d told Ratface he had a sure bet, but
what he didn’t tell him was that he needed the five thousand dollars to pay
Madame Dika for her information, and he couldn’t use it to bet on the sure
thing horse at Golden Gate Fields. As he was sitting in his car frantically
trying to think of a solution he remembered being notified awhile ago that Tom
Rice was on parole. An idea began to form in his mind, a way to not only get
rid of his debt to Ratface but to get rid of Ratface himself. He was desperate
to get out from under the debt he owed Ratface, and if he had to take some
risky chances, so be it.
    A few minutes later he
pulled into the police station parking lot and walked down the hall to his office.
He turned on his computer and pulled up the file on Tom Rice. He remembered it
as if it had happened yesterday. He and Tom had made an agreement. Tom told him
when Leroy arrested him for beating his wife that if he didn’t tell anyone
about the narcotics Leroy found in his trailer, the amount of which made it
apparent that Tom had been dealing drugs, he would do any favor Leroy needed
once he got out of prison. Leroy decided it was time to take him up on his
offer.
    He found the contact
information in the file the parole officer had sent to him. Tom was living in
San Francisco and had found work on the docks. He was a big man and big men
were always welcome at the port. It was Saturday around noon, and he hoped Tom
wasn’t working and was at home.
    Leroy pressed Tom’s number
into his cell phone so there wouldn’t be a record of it on the police station’s
phone. In a moment a deep voice answered, “Tom Rice here.”
    “Tom, it’s been a few
years. This is Leroy Moore. You probably remember me. I was the policeman who
arrested you for beating up your wife a few years ago. You might also remember
that I didn’t mention the drugs I found in your trailer. At the time you tol’
me you’d be happy to help me when you got out. Matter of fact, I ‘member you
said you owed me one. Well, think I need to collect on it.”
    “Yeah, I remember. Just
out of curiosity, how did you find me?”
    “Your parole officer sent
me the information after you were released from prison. I kind of forgot ‘bout
it ‘til now. I need you to take care of somethin’ for me. You won’t need to
travel very far. What I need done is right there in Frisco.”
    “All right. Tell me what
it is. A deal’s a deal, and since you kept your end of it, I’ll keep mine.”
    Leroy told him he wanted
Ratface to go away. He didn’t care how Tom did it, he just wanted Ratface out
of his life