Chapters (95)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by David Swinson
- Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.
“You’re not rational. It’s like we’re having the same conversation we had months ago when you brought the kidnapped girl to my office instead of to the police. But this is far worse, Frank. You brought this shit into my house.”
“I’m going to take it to Hurley. Don’t worry.”
“I said I don’t want to hear any more. Good God, Frankie.” She cradles her head, and I wonder if she’s going to break down and cry. She looks back at me. No tears. “I’ve noticed a change in your behavior over the past few months. I mean, is it the alcohol or is it something more, like that shit in your backpack? I’ve had my suspicions. I’m not stupid. I mean, cocaine test kits? Why the hell would you need those? You’re retired. You don’t work narcotics anymore.”
“I’ve had those vials forever.”
“Really? So why did you feel it was necessary to test that coke?”
“Force of habit.”
“Fuck you.”
I hesitate before saying, “Give me a break.” Which is all those defense-attorney ex-cop eyes have to see. Hesitation. I know it. I know she knows it, but still, I can’t admit that to her. Ever. “Why the hell would you search through my shit anyway?”
“You said you had clean clothes in the bag. You smelled bad, so I was going to get them out for you. I didn’t expect that kind of laundry.”
“You might be in danger, Leslie.”
“That’s bullshit, Frank, and you know it. Right now, you’re the only one who makes me feel threatened. Besides, I can take care of myself, whatever it is you got yourself—and maybe me—into.”
I know she can, probably better than I could.
“Damn. I’m sorry, Leslie. Really. I mean it. It’s not what you think, though. Stupid drunk is all. I blacked out. I’m not some low-life criminal. Fuck. I don’t even know if you’re in danger or if I dreamed it.”
“You need to leave, Frank. Turn that shit over to the police. Dump it. I really don’t care, but you have to take it now and go.”
“I can’t leave like this, Les. I…” I want to say I love her, but I can’t. But I do. Love her.
“Get dressed and go. Please.”
“Can we talk later? When my head is more together and I can explain it better? I can’t even remember all that happened.”
“No. I don’t see how. You’re not who…you’re dangerous, Frank. Stay away.”
“What are you going to do?” I ask like a paranoid dope. It’s the last thing I should ask her.
“You don’t have to worry.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Les.”
“This never happened, Frank, because we never happened.”
Shit.
Sixty
Sixty
Fuck, is this broken. All of it.