Stormwind (The Storm Chronicles Book 3) by Skye Knizley Page B

scent of tobacco and smoke.
    “Good evening to you,” the man said in an English accent. “You snuck in here right proper. What can I get you before security comes for a visit?”
    Raven raised her badge. “Are you Josef Diarmait?”
    “Yes, officer, I am. What is this about?” Diarmait replied.
    “Wade Franks was found murdered this morning,” Levac said. “Did you know Mr. Franks?”
    “Someone murdered Wade? Can you tell me what happened?” Diarmait asked.
    “I’m afraid we can’t divulge any details in an ongoing investigation,” Raven said. “Mr. Diarmait we’ve been told you and Mr. Franks were close. Do you know of anyone who may want to hurt Mr. Franks? Including yourself?”
    Diarmait spread his hands. “I never had any reason to hurt Wade, he was one of my best friends. He spotted me down at the gym, we worked out together. He did make enemies, though. It is hard not to when you’re the security guard escorting spoiled rich kids out into the street after they’ve had one too many. I know he received some threats, but he never took any of them seriously. Most of these guys have trouble opening pickle jars let alone taking a guy like Wade.”
    Levac scribbled in his pad making a scratching noise. “Do you think any of the people who threatened Mr. Franks might hire someone to hurt him? Maybe to get revenge on their behalf?”
    Diarmait paused and then stood, craning his neck to look out the window of the humidor. After a moment he pointed at a thin man in a shiny grey suit. The young man was drinking a cosmopolitan and laughing with a group of similar-looking young suits.
    “See that kid with the red hair? Wade threw him out a few weeks ago for getting fresh with a waitress. The skinny little pikey said he was going to tell his father and have Wade taught a lesson,” he said.
    Raven looked and made a note of the kid’s face. He looked familiar but she couldn’t place him. “Who is his father?”
    “John DiFronzo.”
    “No nose DiFronzo?” Raven asked in surprise.
    “The very same,” Diarmait replied.
    “Now that sounds like probable cause to me,” Levac said.
    “Thank you, Mr. Diarmait,” Raven said. “Rupe, time to have a chat with No Nose junior.”
    The pair exited the humidor and walked across the bar where the young DiFronzo was knocking back another cosmo. He looked up when Raven approached and whistled appreciatively.
    “What have we here? You’re a little under dressed, but I like that in a woman,” he said. “Can I buy you a drink?”
    “Francis DiFronzo?” Raven asked.
    The young man frowned. “Frank. Only my mom calls me Francis. Who are you?”
    Raven held up her badge for what felt like the millionth time. “Detectives Storm and Levac. We would like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind.”
    “I do mind,” DiFronzo replied, turning away. “Go bother someone else.”
    “Mr. DiFronzo, you can talk to us here in private or you can talk to us downtown,” Levac said. “We can bring you in for forty-eight hours.”
    “What for?” DiFronzo asked.
    “Drinking a cosmo and annoying me after a long day,” Raven said. “Talk to us now or in a nice clean interrogation room. It’s your choice.”
    “Fine. Let’s go outside,” DiFronzo said.
    Raven and Levac followed the young man out through the lobby and into the street. Afternoon had faded into a pink-lit twilight that made Raven’s palms itch and she glanced up at the rising moon. It looked like someone had painted it with pink camouflage; it wasn’t a good look. Raven frowned and returned her attention to DiFronzo.
    Once outside he pulled a cigarette case from his jacket pocket, retrieved a Camel and began tapping it against the case.
    “You got me out here, what is this all about?” he asked.
    Levac pulled Franks’ photo out of his notebook. “Do you know this man, sir?”
    DiFronzo looked at the picture and sneered. “Yeah he’s the so-called bouncer for this joint,”
    “Was,” Raven