He walked out of his building, still pondering the case. Hannah hadn't given him a lot to go on, but he had plenty to think about. The buildings of the city looked miniature in this light. The streets were uncrowded for ten o'clock on a Friday. He watched a Tesla Roadster swerve to avoid a Mazda 6 as it danced by. What a flake, he thought. Across the street a researcher wearing a tuxedo came out of a bookstore. You don't see that very often anymore. His first stop was at a novelty shop to pick up a fish bowl. No luck; they were sold out. Well, no time like the present to stop by the art gallery and pay Brad a visit. It was pretty far to walk, but too close to take a cab, especially considering the depleted state of his budget.
The sky had a tinge of khaki. There might be a storm brewing, he thought briskly. He walked past a plump man carrying a mysterious spider. A bit unusual, but it probably meant nothing. As he walked, he felt other people staring at him. He glanced at the faces. If they knew he was a detective, they'd probably think he leads an exciting life, jetting to Lithuania or South Sudan, meeting glamorous and pert people, pulling out his crossbow and whacking anyone who got in his way. Sorry to disappoint them; his worst problem was boredom.
He arrived at the art gallery a bit late...
Next Chapter