Notes

Seeing the World in Black & White

It started on a day like any other. I was tying up loose ends on a nasty espionage case, when a rich nightclub owner showed himself in, like he owned the place.
„They say you’re a pretty good private detective, Lawrence.“
„Some say I’m the best, pal.“
„Some say you were the best.“
„Well, some say.... Okay we could do this all day. Get to the point.“ „There was a jewelry heist at my nightclub. Since I’d rather not have the cops involved, I want you on the case.“
„I know you and your nightclub, Mr. Wayne. I’m not interested in the case.“
„A P.I. turning down a case? Not something you see every day.“
„Yeah, well, I got my reasons. There’s not a damn thing you can do to change my mind.“
„We’ll see about that. Barry, get in here! Tout de suite![very quickly, rapidly]“
„Sorry, sir. I didn’t hear you at first.“
„Get a hearing aid. Please change the gentleman’s mind.“
„Oh, yeah,“ Barry said while emptying a bag full of $100 bills on my desk.
„Where’s your mind at now, Lawrence?“
I examined the bills briefly. „Nice plate of greens is good for a man’s diet... I’m on the case.“
As always I started interviewing people, since the victim of the heist was already here I begun with him to get a grip on the situation.
„That Purple Diamond is priceless. It’s my baby.. I want you to nab the thief and return Kendra to me.“
I looked at him bizarrely, when he mensioned a name.
„It’s what i call the diamond,“ he explained quickly.
„Oh, so you put the diamond in the safe in your office, then the power goes out, and a minute later Kendra is gone.“
„I’ll bet my last bronze nickel it was the new busboy, Anthony, that stole it. He’s more suspicious than a three-legged cat, and he skipped town right after the robbery.“
„Well, it’s always an inside job... Except when it isn’t.“
„How much is your fee again?“
„I’ll ask the questions, Wayne. Such as, why’d you keep such a hot rock in your club instead of your home safe?“
„I don’t trust anybody there either.“
„Right.“