Maybe Bricks and Lotts had drinks together, maybe they didn't. But neither one of them wore lipstick the exact shade of Cara's, the shade he had seen on one of the glasses. In the days since, Studs Fedora had seen that shade of lipstick many times...up close. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #lego #legotown #humor

Studs recognized the two thugs at the graveyard, and later realized they had been at the hotel. But somehow the thugs were waiting for them--how had they known where to find Studs and Cara? Then there was the little matter of the hotel itself... Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #legotown #lego #humor

The scowl on Cara's face hurt Studs Fedora more than a bullet ever could...except physically. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #legotown #lego #humor

The police had it all: Bricks Bennett, his hired thugs, the real estate deal gone wrong. There was only one piece missing from this set--Bricks' accomplice and partner in crime. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #legotown #lego #humor

She burst through the door and flew into his arms, but the music didn't swell and the audience didn't applaud. Studs Fedora pushed Cara away and told her about Bricks Bennett's arrest...and how he had admitted everything. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #noir #studsfedora #legotown #lego #humor #snapjudgment

After leaving Bricks Bennett, Studs Fedora went back to his office. He wanted a drink; in fact, he wanted many drinks. But he needed to keep a clear head. Or did he want a clear head and need many drinks? He couldn't decide. Cara Lotts was coming soon, and they had unfinished business. After that he would have a drink. Studs looked at the door, then at the bottle. Then at the door, then at the bottle. Next Chapter #studsfedora #snapjudgment #legotown #lego #mystery #murder #h

Bricks Bennett fell to pieces in the face of Studs Fedora's questioning. He confessed that it had happened just the way Studs figured. Then he had contacted the two hard cases from his construction company to help him clean up. But Bricks never expected that Studs would be on the case. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #studsfedora #noir #legotown #lego

However it happened, Merton Lotts went out the window. Maybe his last view was of property he owned, or maybe it was of the squalid alley where he would soon meet his end. Studs Fedora figured it didn't matter either way, because the story wasn't over yet. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #studsfedora #noir #lego #legotown

Studs Fedora speculated that Bennett and Lotts met to discuss the real estate deal over cocktails--but the conversation went sour somehow. Maybe Lotts refused to sell, and maybe Bennett got a little more emphatic than he intended... Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #studsfedora #legotown #lego #noir

Studs recalled the properties Lotts had bought up before his death. He described the plot plan in the city archives, for a huge rebuilding project...and how it had Bricks Bennett's name all over it. M.T. Lotts' lots meant lots and lots...of money. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #studsfedora #noir #legotown #lego

Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #bricksbennet #legotown #lego

In an office the polar opposite of Studs Fedora's, the high-priced receptionist gave him the cold shoulder. Studs proffered his business card and insisted she take it to the man in charge. After all, he and Studs were old buddies. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #bricksbennet #legotown #lego

An hour later Studs Fedora marched through the doors of the downtown office building where the rich and powerful made the deals that shaped the lives of everyone else. Overhead, the pediments glowered down at him in disapproval. Studs glared right back and passed them by, on his way to confront a killer. Next Chapter #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #noir #studsfedora #bricksbennet #legotown #lego

Bloch, the police detective in charge of the Lotts case, listened with a patient expression, clearly waiting for Studs Fedora to run out of breath. So Studs simply kept talking until Bloch surrendered and led the way to the video terminal. Next Chapter #studsfedora #snapjudgment #lego #legotown #mystery #murder #noir #humor

The next day when Cara went out, Studs Fedora did too. He eased gingerly into his suit and made his way to one of his least favorite places. Studs saw himself reflected in the mirrored sunglasses of the patrolman leaving the station, and he paused to get his head on straight. Then he took a deep breath, went inside, and asked to see a detective. Next Chapter #studsfedora #snapjudgment #lego #legotown #murder #mystery #noir #humor

Even drowning in Cara's embrace, Studs Fedora's mind was racing. The pieces simply would not fit. But then, like a ton of building bricks, it hit him...and he knew what he had to do. Next Chapter #studsfedora #legotown #noir #murder #snapjudgment #lego #mystery #humor

Cara told him to forget it. She said she cared about Studs, not the money, and then she showed him how much she cared. Studs Fedora promised to forget all about it...but he couldn't. Next Chapter #studsfedora #legotown #noir #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #lego #humor

The days crept by as Studs Fedora tried to put himself back together. Cara nursed him, and he nursed a bottle. And all the while he wondered...where had he seen those guys before...? Next Chapter #studsfedora #legotown #noir #murder #mystery #snapjudgment #humor #lego

Studs tried to rise, and nearly screamed in agony. Al, good old Al, told him to be still and offered him a slug of bourbon. Studs accepted, glad to have a barber who was once a medical corpsman in the Navy. Next Chapter #studsfedora #snapjudgment #lego #noir

He lay, heavily bandaged, on the billiard table of the pool hall in his building. Studs Fedora vaguely remembered being stabbed and staggering away on Cara's arm, trying to reach his office. After that, nothing, though the blood and medical debris covering the table argued that he had not quite made it. Next Chapter #snapjudgment #studsfedora #noir #legotown #lego