Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 12 - Sex Stories

Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 12

... centuries. That was the reason for the bargain." "Can't you get another key made?" Tony laughs and Trudy joins him. He says, "Shall I tell him or will you?" "Let me. I don't often get the chance to teach him anything." "I hardly believe that, but go ahead." He grins broadly again. "The ancient puzzle boxes are constructed in such a way as to be disassembled for opening. The wood or metal is carved so that the pieces fit intricately together and if one does not have the key, the instructions on how to take them apart, the challenge is to figure it out. Some are so well done that only a few people have ever figured them out. This is apparently one of the better ones. May I try?" "Be my guest, but your coffee is getting cold. Shall I get you fresh?" "No, don't bother. I like it cool." She takes up the box and carefully turns it, studying the pattern. It appears to be made of ebony, mahogany and ivory with a delicate woven metal shell around sections of it. It stands on four stubby ivory legs. Carefully she pulls on a section of ebony on one corner while pressing down on it. It moves and clicks." Tony sighs and says, "That's as far as I've ever been able to get it. You found that quickly." Carefully she rotates the piece out from the box and pushes it in. Another click is heard. She then turns the box upside down and studies it some more. Taking her index finger she presses on an ivory section and it drops about a quarter inch with a click. Tony watches her closely. Mike ...

... realizes he's been holding his breath and takes a deep one. Tony glances at him and says, "I don't know how she does it. She seems to be opening it." He looks worried. She studies it and touches another ivory section. They hear a double click. She drops her shoulders and says, "Damn! A trap. We have to go back to step two. See, the ivory has popped back up and the ebony has popped back out." She turns it over and rotates the ebony back into place on the corner. She hands it to Tony and says, "I haven't time to try again. It’s quite fascinating." "I've learned the next two steps today. I'm impressed. You'll have to have Mike bring you down again when you have more time." "I'd love to. Will you bring me back, Mike?" "Some day, my love." He feels his neck getting hot when he realizes what he called her in front of Tony, but it's too late to change it. She calmly finishes her coffee and they leave. In the car she says, "He was in Vietnam, wasn't he?" "I think he was. Volunteered with the Americans, I think. At least that's what I heard around work." She starts mulling things in her head out loud, "He's covering for the Harrison’s and they're covering for him. We know where the Harrison’s actually were, but where was he the night of the murder. Hmmmm. Why would he want to kill Flo? Or was he doing something else that night that was completely illegal. The Harrisons would be glad of an alternate alibi so they don't have to divulge who they were with at the Harrison Motel, but why would ...