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.
I park the car on the corner of 12th and W, just barely legal. I make sure everything is secured in my pack and exit. Tap the key fob to lock it up and walk. There is something soothing about the cicadas at this time of the evening, when the sun begins to set, like gentle waves seeping into the sand after they hit the shore.
I hear the rumble of a car’s big engine behind me, and when I turn I notice the marked patrol cruiser easing up to the curb and stopping. It’s gotta be someone I know. But then the emergency lights go on and the driver’s-side spotlight is directed at my face, blinding me, so I have to look down and shield my eyes.
What the fuck is this?
I’m thinking it’s all over, but then I realize no, it’s just one vehicle. If it had to do with the homicide, they sure as hell wouldn’t come at me with one patrol car. I hear the car door open.
“Please place the backpack slowly on the ground behind you.”
“What the hell is this about?” I ask with authority.
I move my head away from the direct light, shield it with my right hand so it doesn’t blind me so much. I see a young officer, looks like he’s fresh out of the academy, standing behind the open passenger door of the cruiser with his gun pointed at me. The strobing lights catch my attention, but only for a millisecond.
Fuck, I love those lights.
“I want to see your hands.”
“They’re right here and empty, Officer. Tell me what’s going on. My house is right down the street.”
“Turn around and lace your fingers over your head. Slowly step backwards toward the car.”
“I’m a retired DC police detective. Check my wallet.”
I hear him mumbling something to the driver.
“Now!” he commands.
I don’t think now is the time to tell him I’m armed. I slowly raise my hands over my head and lace my fingers.
“Now slowly walk back toward me until I say stop.”
I’m not about to argue with this fucking rookie, so I obey.
“You’re making a big mistake, Officer. I know most of the officials at 3D. Who is your supervisor?”
“Stop there!”
I hear him talking to the driver again.
“My name is Frank Marr. I know Fulton. He’s a captain at 3D. Hit him up on the radio.”
More talking.
Then: “Now get on your knees.”
Fuckin’ shit.
“You have me mistaken for someone else. Have the driver step out. I probably know him.”
I hear the driver say something unintelligible.
“On your knees, sir.”