{ When it comes to crime fiction, Romeo Jones is my one stubborn passion. Even I’m not sure where the character or story is going. Romeo Jones, like that favorite screen adventurer, just rolls off the tongue, but his name is also given to inherent complications. Here is chapter two of his first novel, Blood Ties Die. }

© 2015 Craig S. Hartranft

Romeo Jones arrived late to the County Detective’s office. It was nearly three in the afternoon. He spent most of the most of the last six hours with the Trinity Police Department interviewing witnesses, filing reports, and giving testimony to his involvement in the Swifty robbery. In some shift of uncommon wisdom, Jones advised Chief Detective Henry Mullen that he would be late.

He held a cup of Swifty’s coffee, Jamaican mixed with Dark roast, as he approached Josie Reynolds’ desk. Rome waved politely, but kept moving to the detective’s room. Talking to her only meant asking for trouble, like more paper work.

“He wants to see you,” she said, turning away from her computer. Josie was the detectives’ secretary, a 40-something woman with short brown hair, a pointed nose, a slight scar over her left eye from a recent auto accident, and an athletic figure with large breasts she surrounded with tight sweaters. She was efficient and always to the point, but Jones still found her attractive.

Rome stopped and said, “You’ll have to be more specific.” He squinted and rubbed his eyes. He took sipped at his coffee.

“Your boss, Rome.”

“Which one?”

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