David Perlmutter [Perlmutter - Murder’s Not Cool

Murders Not Cool

By David Perlmutter

Copyright 2011 by David Perlmutter

Cover Copyright 2011 by Dara England and Untreed Reads Publishing

The author is hereby established as the sole holder of the copyright. Either the publisher (Untreed Reads) or author may enforce copyrights to the fullest extent.

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This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to the living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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Murders Not Cool

By David Perlmutter

Harry, Babs, Joyce and I were hanging out on the beach when it happened. Thats not too surprising, since the four of us usually hang out there together on the weekends. There isnt a whole lot for twelve-year-olds to do in a small Pacific coast town like Rock Cove. Hell, we have to go up north to British Columbia if we want to get up to any serious mischief, since most days there isnt too much of consequence that goes on around here. Or so youd think. But Im getting ahead of myself.

It was late in the afternoon when the whole deal went down. We had just finished our first round of Cokes and were preparing to return to the snack bar for more when we spotted the dead body. Or rather, I spotted itbobbing up and down in the water just across from us on the shoreline, in the waterand let the others know about it, mostly by the scared, stuttering reaction I usually exhibit when I see something creepy.

Whats the matter, Sheldon? Joyce asked me, but she figured it out right away as soon as she turned over my way and spotted the body herself. They dont call her Poindexter around the school for nothing!

What is it, Shel? added Babs. A politician? This latter remark was inspired by my supposedly irrational fear of this group of people.

It dont look like one, said Harry, viewing the body through his binoculars. Clothes arent expensive enough. Youre safe, Shel!

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Ha, ha! said Joyce sarcastically. All right, enough with the jokes! Theres a dead body in the water out there, and weve got to identify it!

Why have we got to do it? Babs whined.

You see anybody else around here? Joyce countered.

Harry, Babs and I shook our heads.

My point exactly!

We discarded our shoes and socks, rolled up our pant legs (all except Joyce, who was wearing a black skirt), and we each took hold of one limb and brought the body onto the shore. It was when we turned it over, face up, that we really got shocked.

The body was that of our friend and middle-school classmate Francy Goldenson!

I was so shocked that I came close to tearing out all of my brown hair. The color nearly drained out of Harrys black face. Joyce took off her glasses and started crying. Only Babs seemed to react without obvious emotion; she had her reputation as a tomboy to consider, after all. It was Joyce who spoke first.

Its Francy! she wailed. And shes dead !

Babs wouldnt have us wimp out like that. She stood between us and the body, her arms heavily muscled from her many athletic endeavors, and grunted for our attention as she shook her strawberry blonde hair in the wind.

Snap out of it, guys! she demanded. Theres nothing we can do about it. Shes gone!

Dont be mean, Babs! Joyce said, wiping her eyes and putting her glasses back on. Our friend is dead!

Sure, but that doesnt mean you three have to be weepy wimps about it! replied Babs. Im as upset as you are, but you dont see me cryin over spilt milk!

But there must be something we can do! said Harry, brushing a hand through his hair.

There is! I added solemnly. I can tell Mrs. Goldenson what happened. Besides, she might know something about this. I pointed to a pearl I had found in the water bobbing next to the body, quite obviously detached from what had once been a string around the bodys neck.

But, Sheldon Joyce protested.

What? I demanded. You saying I lack tact? Im the most diplomatic guy around! You guys know that! Besides, better Mrs. Goldenson hears about it from somebody shes actually acquainted with than some high-pressured, unemotional cop from out of town, dont you think?

Listen, Shel! said Babs. Ordinarily, Id say just go off and do the damn thing. But lets get one thing straight. Youre not going anywhere near Mrs. Goldenson without us going with you. Remember, Francy was as much our friend as she was yours ! She pointed one of her big, strong fingers at my weak chin. Harry and Joyce stared at me hard behind her.

Iwouldnt have it any other way! I answered nervously.

Are you quite sure it was Francy there?

Yes, Maam!

You checked the body?

Of course!

And it was just on the ground, like that?

Yeah. With her pants down to her ankles, just like that. Looks like some perv got to her.

We were now at the Goldensons, breaking the sad news to Mrs. Goldenson. I was the one who was answering her questions, as I had been delegated. It was difficult getting a clear answer from her since she was crying so badly. And that got even worse when I showed her the pearl, which she quite clearly recognized as part of a set that Francy had borrowed from her on the night that she died.

When you live in as small a town as Rock Cove, everybody pretty much knows everybody elses affairs. And the four of us, along with our parents and the rest of the town, knew a fair amount of the rather sordid problems that Mrs. G., Francy and Mrs. G.s estranged ex-husband had been going through recently. Francy had become the object of a tug-of-war between Mrs. G. and her former better half, with each of them trying to prove themselves the better parent by stabbing the other one in the back. I know how it is, cause my dad tried that stuff against my mom in court and it backfired big time, which is why I live full time with her now. Anyway, back to the point. Mrs. Goldensons stress level had been on high recently, as had Francys, and their relationship had taken a turn for the worse. We tried talking to Francy about it at school, but she would have none of it. So, obviously things were badbut we never expected this.

I only wish we could have been around to stop it, Mrs. Goldenson, I said. The four of us could have taken that perv easy!

Says you! said Harry.

Hey! said Babs. I could have taken him easyyou guys just wouldve watched !

Until you killed him! said Joyce. You always play too rough!

I had no idea where shed gone, Mrs. Goldenson said. She justran away and said she was going to getawayfrom Rock Cove. Turns out she got awayfrom a lot more than that!

We said our goodbyes and left. Joyce looked like she still wasnt satisfied with the completion of this task, which was why we confronted her on it right away.

I dont believe her! was what she said. Shes hiding something, and we need to find out about it!

You mean about Francys death? I asked.

Oh, come on! Harry cut in with a protest. You dont think Mrs. G. killed her, do you, J.?

It crossed my mind! said Joyce defensively. We need to investigate to figure out the truth!

Youre right about that, Joyce! I cut in, while I palmed the pearl I had found on the beach earlier.