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    Kiss The Ladies Goodnight: (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1)
    Kiss The Ladies Goodnight: (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1)
    Kiss The Ladies Goodnight: (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1)
    Ebook82 pages1 hour

    Kiss The Ladies Goodnight: (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1)

    By Copper Smith

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Jake Legato was a cop. And now he stalks and kills strippers.

    At least, that's what the police think. Fired for putting a drug dealer's confiscated cash in his pocket, Legato has become the prime suspect in the grisly murders of a string of local strippers. With his life and freedom on the line, Legato has less than two days to find the real killer. Can he discover who's leaving the trail of bodies before getting snared into the real killer's elaborate trap?

    This noir thriller is filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the page until the stunning ending is reached. If you're a fan of private investigator mystery series, you'll want to check out Kiss the Ladies Goodnight (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1).

    Subscribe to Copper Smith to check out the next book in the trilogy: The Devil's Cheap Disguise. If you dare.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFrozen Tundra Publishing
    Release dateDec 5, 2016
    ISBN9781370181551
    Kiss The Ladies Goodnight: (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1)
    Author

    Copper Smith

    I write the Jake Legato private investigator series and other lurid tales of crime fiction. Sign up for updates and free stories at http://eepurl.com/bZ7mz9

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      Book preview

      Kiss The Ladies Goodnight - Copper Smith

      KISS THE LADIES GOODNIGHT

      COPPER SMITH

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2016 By Copper Smith All Rights Reserved

      No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of very brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

      Table of Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Bonus: Free preview

      Prologue

      Nice life you’ve made for yourself, Cassandra. Beautiful girl from a family that raised you well. You came from money, from educated people who taught you better. And this is what happens? Shaking your ass for a crowd of horny drunks at Bootsie’s?

      But that’s just your way, isn’t it? You do what you want. Always too wrapped up in your own needs to notice the hearts you break along the way. But that independent streak is going to cost you. Sooner than you think.

      You’re a smart girl, but there’s a lot they didn’t teach you in that upper crust prep school you went to. But don’t worry. I’ll teach you.

      I’ll teach you what happens when you break the wrong heart, Cassandra. I’ll teach you why it’s not a good idea to brush aside somebody who cares, somebody who’ll give everything for you. Kiss the world goodnight, sweetheart. Tonight your time is up.

      Guess who

      Chapter One

      Legato needed a job. That was his excuse for loitering outside Bootsie’s strip club at one-thirty in the morning.

      But first he needed a cigarette. So before stepping inside, he lit up and watched the circus of East Lake street unfold. Range Rovers bounced through red lights. Underfed hookers flagged down cars that belonged in safer neighborhoods. Winos howled wounded serenades to nobody. And it all made Legato’s life seem a little less shitty.

      Nothing left to do but gulp down his pride and step into Bootsie’s.

      Inside, the place throbbed like a migraine. But the threat was empty. No knife fights in progress, no menacing glares greeting him. Mostly men in tattered suits happy to gawk at bodies besides their wives.’

      Legato moved to the bar, took a seat and watched everything. The drowsy dancer on the main-stage, the frat boys wrestling on the floor. Nobody dangerous, just plenty of loud, drunken stupidity.

      He was scanning the place, detecting, forgetting for a second how hard he’d fallen: Detective days long gone. No more badge, no more job. And now this shit. Applying for a bouncer gig in a strip club.

      The bartender – bald brother, too cool for the room – bopped up to him. What we drinking tonight, doctor?

      I’m good. Not here for a drink.

      The bartender’s face warmed into an illicit grin. He leaned forward, a secret eating at him. Oh, we here to talk business? He jerked his head toward a dancer.

      Diamond’s on the menu tonight if you like brown sugar. If you dig redheads, you just missed Kitty, but if you need the digits, we can talk. She’s got a mouth like a motor, baby, hand on the heart. And since you a first time customer –

      Legato cut off the barkeep’s sales patter. Not here for that either. I’m looking for a Cicely. She told me to come in right before closing.

      The bartender nodded to a door down the hallway. Knock twice to let her know everything’s cool. She gets a little antsy past midnight. You here for the bouncer gig?

      He nodded.

      The bartender reached out, gave Legato’s fist a bump. A word to the wise, my man... He leaned forward, voice hushed. If you got anything in your past, keep it on the low. She’ll ask, but with the right sweet talk, you don’t have to answer.

      Legato smirked. What makes you think I have something in my past?

      The barkeep shrugged. Some cats just have that look. Like somebody who just walked in from a street fight.

      Stealing a glance in the mirror across the bar, Legato straightened his collar. I suppose I should stop into the can, wipe that street fight look off. With a fist bump, he stepped away. Name’s Legato, and you?

      They call me Big Trick. Good luck to you, doctor.

      After a quick stop in the men’s room, Legato found the office, knocked twice and heard an uneasy chirp. Yes?

      I’m here for the interview?

      Come on in, she said, voice relaxed now.

      The detective in Legato had Cicely pegged seconds after strolling inside. She was the girl every guy sat next to in high school but never noticed. A sweetheart, eager to please. Always does her homework and yours too if you ask nicely. Yearbook committee, school dance planner, honor roll. But you forgot her name days after graduation.

      He took a seat, gave her timid hand a shake. Jake Legato, nice to meet you

      I’m Cicely Russo, the manager here, she answered, eyes aimed at the desk. She forced a grin and asked, So, what do you think of Bootsie’s so far?

      I could handle working here, if that’s what you mean. Don’t know much about it.

      Not much to know, I suppose. It’s a… strip club, she said, kind of embarrassed by it all. I got in touch because Andy told me you needed a job.

      Yeah, tells me he’s had enough of Minnesota weather and would love to get back to San Diego.

      With Cicely reaching into a stack of resumes, Legato stole a glance. Her thick, jet-black eyebrows reminded him of the olive skinned Greek girls from Astoria he’d see working in

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