Jake Randolph, Private Investigator Pt. 39

I passed the cigar shop and stopped in front of Simon's Department Store, ducking behind a hat rack that stood just outside the doors. The man inside, presumably Simon, looked at me like I was an escapee from a mental institution, and I didn't really blame him. I was crouched behind some pork pie hats, for God's sake!

The two thugs I was trailing had looked back briefly, but I didn't think they had spotted me. When Simon wasn't looking I borrowed a Louisville Slugger baseball bat that was leaning up outside the store. I left the catcher's mitt, though...