Tough Nuts

by Melodie Desmond

About the Author: Melodie Desmond is the pseudonym for two crime writing friends who love comedy and usually write on opposites sides of the law. Des Ryan, a career cop, is author of the Mike O'Shea police procedural series, and Melodie Campbell, author of The Goddaughter mob caper series, has found it impossible to leave her Sicilian heritage behind. This loopy story combines the characters of both series who, to their surprise, end up on the same side.

Excerpt

“I’m not driving back in this rain,” Mike said as they got into the unmarked car.

“So what do you want to do?” Ron asked, wiping the water off his fedora.

“I could use some dinner. There’s supposed to be a pretty good restaurant across the street.”

Mike turned on the car and set the windshield wipers on high.

“A good restaurant here?” Ron said with a sniff. “And since when do you know anything about The Hammer?”

“I don’t. I asked one of the doctors. Unlike you, I actually speak to people.”

“Highly overrated pastime.”

“Looks pretty nice,” Mike said, looking across the street from the hospital parking lot.

“If you want to eat with mobsters.”

“Why do you have to be like that?”

“Oh, come on! La Paloma. In Hamilton. Need I say more?”

“I’m hoping not.” Mike pulled across the street to a parking spot in front. “Are you coming in or are you going to keep six while I go into this den of iniquity?”

“Rule #1: Never leave your partner out to dry.” Ron made a dash from the car to the front door of the restaurant.

They were seated immediately, directly beside a man and a woman who did not look like they belonged together. Unless there were very big fees for equally discrete services being exchanged.

“You know you’re staring, right?” Mike said.

Story Comments