Colts Neck
or
Murder in the Mane
A story by Graystone
The clerk was bored as usual, and played Solitaire on her computer, idling shifting the Ace of Hearts up. Business was slow, and she had hours to kill. As the man came up to the counter, she noticed something different about him, she would only recall that later.
He asked about a mid size car, and the rates for rental as he fiddled his wallet out of his coat pocket. "I will need it for three days." he said, "I'll be back Wednesday night."
She checked the register and offered him a choice, he took the gray Dodge. When she asked his destination, he replied "Tennessee", she asked "Will you be the only one driving?"
"Yes"
"Would you like the optional insurance coverage in case anything happens to the car ?"
"Yes"
He parked the car near the front doorway and going around to the trunk, he opened it.
He went up the stairs and knocked as he entered the house, "Hey, I'm here." he announced.
"All set I see" he said, when he found his travelling companion dressed and ready to go. Instead of answering, his companion indicated the dining room table, covered in paperwork.
"Look, I got everything laid out for you, right here." he said "Let's go over some of this stuff, so you can get a feel for it. It's easy, once you know what you are doing."
The two men were interrupted by the purr of an arriving engine.
"You go let'm in."
Perhaps Lehmann was followed to the estate ? The open trunk is vexing is it not. Ahh, of such simple stuff... The <familiar man> (the Killer) would not have left the trunk open. A killer would be furtive and would likely do nothing suspicious, like leaving a car trunk open. Don't most modern cars have lights that come on when you open the trunk ? (Hey, that ruins the dark maw line anyway. Did they have booster cables ?)
Maybe the trip to Tennessee being planned for the next day was all a ruse, they seemed ready to leave.
And how about supper ?
When and where did the men eat last ?
And yes, the dogs, Spike and Sophia, where are they while all this goes on ?
Nobody who wanted to be innocuous would drive a Bentley to Tennessee, would they ?
I am still trying to get a suitcase full of cash into this somehow, any suggestions ?
Some ponies would be the living end.
I wonder where he was when he rented the car, NJ or NY.
Did the clerk win her solitaire game ? |
