Christine Everson
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Jun-22-2009 17:54
It was early evening as I headed home. I was tired, having just finished a case earlier that day. I'd debated on whether to go to the Tricky Mister for a drink first, but the need for sleep won over. Getting a paper from a newsboy, as the day had kept me quite busy, I paused beneath a street lamp and scanned the front page for a moment. Apparently there had been a robbery at some well-to-do's place, and the owner had been killed in the process. Sounded interesting.
Tucking the paper underneath my arm, I continued home, deciding to check things out once I had some sleep.
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Sister Rosetta
Red-Nosed
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Jun-24-2009 21:31
Lydia nodded. “I see. Well, what can I say? Betty’s a go-getter. She loves her establishment, and the money just keeps flowing into her arms. Dependable woman, but harebrained.”
“What sort of establishment is the Rabbit Ear?” I asked inquisitively.
“Hmm? You didn’t know? It’s a burlesque house.”
Surprisingly, the fact didn’t seem to faze me.
“So... do you know where we could find the place?” I asked.
Lydia laughed. “Of course I do. My, Christine, your friend doesn’t seem at the top of her game today.”
I blushed. Two stupid questions in a day. I really was on a roll.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The Rabbit Ear Club looked like a modest place. Anyone could have mistaken it for an innocent bar. When we ventured closer to the entrance, however, the atmosphere became bawdy and rather unpleasant. A bouncer looked at us with interest but said nothing. We went inside and asked a girl in a frilly dress for Bunny Betty.
“Wanna see Miss Betty, do ya now? Well, I guess I can take ya dames to her.”
She led us up a flight of stairs to a secluded little room where a woman sat in a chair, smoking a cigarette.
“Some dames askin’ for ya, Miss Betty.”
Bunny Betty eyed us thoughtfully, and nodded to the girl. She left us without another word.
“So, ladies. How can I help you?”
Her voice was rough and jarring. I deduced that she was a chain smoker.
“Hello Miss Betty. My name is Christine Everson, and this is my associate, Sister Rosetta. We’re detectives investigating the murder of Nathaniel Lexington and the theft of a priceless treasure of his. Apparently a suspect of ours, one Rubber Evans, was with you on the night of the 18th of June. Could you corroborate his alibi?”
Betty took a drag of her cigarette. “Yeah, Rubber Evans was with me. He was an... interesting fellow if I ever saw one.”
Something she said sounded off. I hit upon it in a matter of seconds.
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Sister Rosetta
Red-Nosed
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Jun-24-2009 21:32
“Excuse me, Miss Betty. Just now you referred to Rubber Evans in the past tense. But Miss Everson here didn’t give any indication that he had died.”
Bunny Betty’s expression reminded me of a scared little rabbit caught in a trap. I was interested in hearing what she had to say for herself.
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