Eldritch Noir

Part IV

The business complex was built in the 1970s and hadn't been renovated since. The interior walls had wood paneling, and the carpet was once a light beige but had now turned to a dark brown. The lights in the halls were outdated wall sconces that cast a sick yellow light and flickered constantly.

The stairs creaked and sagged as Alaric ascended them, and he thought numbly that if next year's profit margin was better, he was going to move elsewhere—maybe closer to downtown, where all the fancy firms had set up shop. This was a pipe dream, and Alaric knew it. Independent firms didn't make that kind of money.

Alaric walked down the hall, passing by glass doors. Some belonged to construction companies, others were therapist offices, but most belonged to small claims lawyers. At the end of the hall was a wooden green door. In the center of it was a large rectangular window. The window was glossy with black letters spelling Hawthorne Investigations across it.

Alaric opened the door with a creek and slammed it shut behind him. The office space was the shape of a chunky cross. The vertical slant was the lobby. There was an indent on the left side where the kitchenette was, and across from it was Alaric's office. The lobby was a small rectangular space with the same carpet and walls as the hallway. At one end of the room was a small wooden desk with a laptop, a pink stapler, a pink coffee mug that read 'I hate Mondays', and various other pink office supplies. Behind the desk sat a woman in her mid-forties with brown hair. She wore an orange cardigan and a silver cross around her neck. Her dimples showed as she smiled, focusing on the project in her lap.

"Another Christ quilt?" Alaric asked, throwing his tussled jacket onto one of the orange chairs that faced Bethany's desk.

"A Jesus Jumper!" she announced excitedly. "I'm almost finished." She looked up at Alaric with wide maple eyes full of hope. "It would fit you perfectly..."

Alaric peeked over the desk and saw the jumper at a better angle. It was neon purple, and read Jesus Saves in big white letters.

"It's like you're trying to get fired," Alaric sighed before walking to the short kitchenette that used to be a storage closet. He poured himself a cup of coffee and started brewing a cup of Earle Grey for Bethany.

"Mr. Marlboro called," Bethany hummed as she knitted. "I told him you'd be in any minute, so he's on his way."

Alaric popped his head into the lobby.

"Did he say what for?"

"Nope! Just said it was urgent." She gently laid her current project on the desk. "I wasn't aware we were working on a new case."

"It just came in this morning," Alaric informed her as he walked to his office.

"Anything I can do?"

Alaric paused at his office door.

"Actually, yes. I need you to find out if there's any connection between John Romano and Cody Brant."

"Oh! I love John Romano! Did you ever see The Bigger They Are? Who am I kidding? You're too young, but it's such a sweet show; my sisters and I used to watch it every evening! Did you know John Romano was supposed to be in Gladiator, but he got snubbed by that dreadful Gerard Way?"

"Gerard Way? Do you mean Gerard Butler?"

"It's all the same, honey, but he could've made the movie so much better. He's such a talented actor... he's supposed to be in a new crime drama on Netflix!"

"Well, that will have to be postponed," Alaric informed her. "Romano was murdered last night."

Bethany covered her mouth with her hand.