by Frank Zafiro
“I know it was you,” he said.
I started to protest, but he raised his hands.
“Don’t. Just…don’t.” He took another long drink of his beer before continuing. “Lucky for you, the bullets recovered at the homicide scene do not match the gun you fired at the restaurant.”
I didn’t reply. I knew why.
“Lucky for all of us,” Shepard said more quietly. He took another drink, draining his glass. The waitress arrived moments later, taking his empty and replacing it with a fresh brew.
He pointed at my glass. “You’re behind.”
I looked down at the amber liquid. “I think I might need to keep my wits about me.”
Shepard laughed then, a grunting sound that was more cynical than mirthful. “Smart. Not necessary, but smart.” He lifted his glass. “Me, on the other hand? Well, there’s a reason why we’re having this discussion in Idaho and not in my home jurisdiction.”
I watched as he took another healthy pull. When he set his glass down again, he met my gaze. “Gus was more than just one of my cops,” he said.
I raised my eyebrows at him.
He scowled and shook his head. “No, not like that. Shit, get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Sorry. She was a nice-looking woman, that’s all.”
“Maybe,” Shepard conceded. “But she was one hell of a cop. She did great work. On the strength of that work, we made some great arrests. Maybe we even made a temporary dent in the sex trafficking business in this part of the country. That’s more than most cops can say about an entire career.”
“She was pretty cool under fire, too,” I said quietly.
“The girl had a knack for the work,” Shepard agreed. “More than most.” He looked up at me. “But the strangest part of all of this, Porter, is that she’s better off dead.”
I gave him a surprised look. “How the hell do you figure that?”
He shook his head and sighed. “Everything bad about this case is coming down on her. The only thing Anton is talking about, through his lawyer of course, is all the civil rights violations Gus committed during their dealings. From what I can tell, at least half of what he’s saying is true. Then you’ve got her going dark and heading down to Pasco. I could have maybe covered her on some of that, but once she busted into that house without a warrant, then traded shots there and at the gas station…” He shook his head. “Not once did she report any of it. And I’m pretty sure she wasn’t going to, either.”
“So the case is blown?”
“No. But she would have been facing some serious charges if she’d survived. Alive, she probably goes to prison. Alive, she hurts the case. Maybe destroys it. But killed in the line of duty? Slain by vicious thugs? Well, my friend, that is something the government prosecutors can work with.”
We were quiet for a while. Both of us sipped at our beer, lost in thought. When the song on the jukebox changed, so did the subject.
“I’ve got to meet her father tomorrow,” Shepard said.
“I’m sorry.”
He waved away my consolation. “It’s nothing to be sorry for. He’s a cop, too. From Seattle. He knows the score. But what he wants, what he really needs, is to know that his little girl was good.”
“She was,” I said.
“Damn straight she was,” Shepard agreed. “And when he’s sitting across from me, that is exactly what I will tell him. And he’ll take that to his grave, right along with every fucked up secret I share with him about this whole fucked up situation.”
I didn’t know how to answer that, so I took another drink of my beer, swallowing a large gulp.
“You and I are a lot alike in this,” Shepard said. “We’re both letting Gus take a ton of blame she doesn’t really deserve, dead or not. The dead part just makes it an easier decision. It shouldn’t, but it does.”
“Lots of things shouldn’t be,” I said.
“You got that right.” He spun the beer slowly on the table in front of him “I know what you’ve done, Porter. I know what you’re getting away with, and I’m letting it happen. I know why I’m doing it, too. It serves the greater good. It keeps my case clean. It puts people in jail who deserve it. That’s why I’m willing to let all of this get laid at Gus’ feet. It’s a trade-off.”
I knew what was coming next, but I waited for him to say it anyway.
“My question, Porter, is why are you? Is it selfish? You just don’t want to take responsibility for your own shit? Or is it something else? Why are you hanging Gus out to dry?”
I’d already thought about that a lot. I thought about it in the twenty minutes I had in the motor home while I waited to be questioned. I’ve thought a lot about it since. And in the end, the only answer that came to mind was Taylor’s smiling face, safe again at her kitchen table.
“I did it because nothing I could say or do would change the fact that she died,” I said. “I couldn’t do a thing for her. I couldn’t protect her. But I can protect my family.”
Shepard stared at me as if measuring my veracity. “Your family is safe,” he said.
“For now,” I agreed. “But we both know that there are plenty of monsters left in the world.”
He stared at me a while longer, then nodded slowly. “So there are.” He sighed, then repeated, “So there are.”
We didn’t talk any more after that. Instead, we sat in silence, letting the honest smells of the bar wash over us. The song on the jukebox ended and a slow crooning song about pain and loss filled the place.
I thought about telling him I was sorry. Or how it was a shitty trade-off, but that in the end, we do what we can with what we’re dealt. I even thought about telling how much Gus-Goose meant to me in that short time we shared. But instead, I just finished my beer, and left.
Some things are better left unsaid.
THE END
Dedications
To those lost in or recovering from this terrible industry that The Trade Off explores: I’m so sorry. My prayers are with you. May you find peace and comfort.
- Bonnie R. Paulson
This book is dedicated to the women and men who battle human trafficking in all its forms.
- Frank Zafiro
Acknowledgments
Bonnie would like to thank:
To Frank: “Thanks” is inadequate. I’ve learned a lot and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you. This story grew from such small ideas and I’m so proud of what it’s become. So, with all my gratitude, thanks for being a great partner. You’re more valuable than I can express. And you’re a pretty killer writer, too!
Frank would like to thank:
All the first readers who helped this book come to fruition: My always first reader, Kristi; Melanie Donaldson; Dave Mather; John Emery; Brian Triplett.
Bonnie, for suggesting we work together and for being such a great partner to write with.
About the Authors
Frank Zafiro was a police officer from 1993 to 2013. He is the author of numerous crime novels.
In addition to writing, Frank is an avid hockey fan and a tortured guitarist. He lives in Chattaroy, Washington, with his wife and youngest son.
You can keep up with him at http://frankzafiro.com.
Want a free book? If you’d like to review some of Frank’s titles, contact him at [email protected] for a free copy of the book you’d like to review. Kindle or ePub versions preferred.
Bonnie R. Paulson is all about survival. Do you have what it takes to turn the page?
Find Bonnie at
Twitter: @bonnierpaulson
Facebook: http://facebook.com/bonpaulson
www.bonniepaulson.com
[email protected]
Please join Bonnie’s mailing list so you’ll be aware of my latest releases.
Other Books by Frank Zafiro
River City Series (Crime Novels)
From Gray Dog Press
Under a Raging Moon
A violent robber is loose in River City. Meet
the cops that must take him down.
Stefan Kopriva, a young hotshot. Katie MacLeod, a woman in what is still mostly a man’s world. Karl Winter, about to retire but with one more good bust left in him. And Thomas Chisolm, a former Green Beret who knows how dangerous a man like the Scarface Robber can be.
These are the patrol officers of River City – that mythical thin blue line between society and anarchy. They must stop the robber, all the while juggling divorces, love affairs, internal politics, a hostile media, vengeful gang members and a civilian population that isn’t always understanding or even grateful.
Written by a real cop with real experience, Under a Raging Moon is like a paperback ride-along. Enjoy the ride.
Under a Raging Moon is the first River City novel.
“Engrossing, fast-paced, suspenseful…highly recommended.”
LJ Roberts, DorothyL Mystery List
“Gritty, profane, and compelling.”
Lawrence McMicking, curledup.com
“If you like McBain, or any gritty police procedural, then Zafiro is someone for you to pick up, enjoy, and then wait for the next book.”
PJ Coldren, Amazon.com review
“Under A Raging Moon is an extraordinary crime novel. Like Ed McBain’s Isola, River City is a combination of the best and worst of the human species, and its cops are as complex and haunted as the criminals they battle each day. Frank Zafiro has created a gritty, totally authentic world with believable characters, nonstop action, and snappy dialogue (think Hill Street Blues in Washington state). Don’t miss this book–It’ll keep you turning pages well into the moonlit night.”
John M. Floyd, award-winning author of Rainbow's End
“In Under a Raging Moon, Frank Zafiro doesn’t tell you about the mean streets, he takes you to them with clear, concise writing as solid as the asphalt beneath your feet. You feel the tension between those out there to prey and those there to protect. You feel the anxiety of knowing every routine traffic stop could turn into a killing, and every junkie and pusher you bust wants you dead. He also takes you deep behind the badge. His ensemble cast of cops have issues within themselves and with each other and can’t leave them at home any more than we can. You’ll be there with them in the squad room, in the patrol cars and in their favorite watering hole.
“Frank Zafiro has woven a powerful story with realistic, memorable characters, a suspenseful plot and a climax that will leave you breathless. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it would be like to put on the blue uniform, wear a badge and carry a gun, this one is highly recommended.”
Earl Staggs, Derringer Award-winning author
“Zafiro shows his readers some of the grim realities of law enforcement.”
Brian Triplett, Examiner.com
Heroes Often Fail
The men and women of the River City Police Department are sworn to protect and to serve. But when six-year-old girl is kidnapped off a residential street in broad daylight, each cop must rise to heroic levels. Detectives scramble to solve the kidnapping while patrol officers comb the streets looking for the missing girl. Racing against time, every cop on the job focuses on finding her. Before it is too late. Before they fail her.
Heroes Often Fail is the second River City Crime Novel
“[a] complex police procedural with multi layered characters, a rich setting, and plenty of action.”
Kevin Tipple, independent reviewer
“[An] affecting novel from a writer who knows not only the job, but the grueling toll certain cases can take on the victims and those charged with upholding law and order.”
Russel McLean, Crime Scene Scotland.
"Strap yourself in for this citizen’s ride-along! Frank Zafiro pits cop against perp in the race to save six-year-old kidnap victim Amy Dugger. The problem for the River City PD is that Amy’s abductor isn’t the only creep in town. Zafiro not only drops us right into the precinct during business hours, but he also succeeds at presenting the human side of cops. We come to know these men and women who risk everything to do their duty. We hope they become heroes. And we pray they do not fail."
Jill Maser, award-winning author of “Unspoken.”
“Heroes Often Fail is a riveting, intimate account of a parent’s worst nightmare and the men and women of the River City Police Department. The author skillfully portrays the protagonist’s inner conflict. Moving and real. Impossible not to get caught up in the emotional roller coaster crafted by this talented writer.”
T. Dawn Richard, author of the May List Mystery Series
“Heroes Often Fail delivers what we've come to expect from Frank Zafiro--sharp-edged dialogue, vivid characters, and an intimate knowledge of the way things work in an urban police department. A tense, frightening tale, and the best River City novel to date.”
John M. Floyd, award-winning author of Rainbow's End
“Heroes Often Fail could be one of the most authentic police procedurals I've read. The story appears deceptively simple--a six-year old girl snatched from the streets, but as it jumps around between the lives of the detectives and uniformed officers trying to find her, it adds a more layered, sophisticated texture. Written in short chapters and lean, muscular prose, this is an exceptionally satisfying and engrossing read, and a book that would've made Ed McBain proud!”
Dave Zeltserman, author of Bad Thoughts
“A standout amongst police procedurals, Frank Zafiro's Heroes Often Fail does the job of not only showing the nuances of police work, but also the effects of crime on the victims. In a literary world populated (and dulled) by shiny lab technicians and ridiculously elaborate set pieces, Mr. Zafiro never forgets the dirt under the nails approach and the heart of any great story - the characters. The writing is brutally dark and jolting in places, hopeful in others, not an easy balancing act that Mr. Zafiro pulls off seamlessly. A small(er) town offspring of Wambaugh and McBain, it stands amongst the greats and finds enough room to be completely on its own terms.”
Todd Robinson, editor of Thuglit
“A riveting, suspenseful novel in both the human condition as well as storyline. Excellent!”
Cynthia Lea Clark, FMAM Magazine
“[T]he book presents a realistic and depressing look at how crime affects both the victims and the police officers who try to protect the public.”
Brian Triplett, Examiner.com
Beneath a Weeping Sky
River City is plagued by a serial rapist. His attacks are becoming more brutal and Detective John Tower is sure that he’ll go from rape to murder if he isn’t stopped soon.
Meanwhile, the rapes stir up ghosts for both Officer Katie MacLeod and Officer Thomas Chisolm. Both struggle to put those haunted memories to rest even as they are drawn into the center of Tower’s investigation. When a series of mis-steps and near misses push the rapist even further, everyone involved must face their old fears…or be destroyed by them.
Beneath a Weeping Sky is the third River City novel.
"Frank Zafiro channels Ed McBain and Joesph Wambaugh in this taut and frightening thriller."
Simon Wood, author of Terminated
“Frank Zafiro's River City series succeeds where so many fail of late, in not only delivering whipcrack plotlines, but characters as real as the breath in your lungs. You feel with them, rage with them, and bleed alongside these cops. Mr. Zafiro's writing deserves more than comparison with the greats of the police procedural sect, it holds it's own amongst them.”
Todd Robinson, editor of Thuglit
And Every Man Has to Die
Every city has organized crime. But only River City has a Russian gangster like Valeriy. He's meticulous, cunning, and willing to sacrifice anything--and anyone--to see his conquest through.
In Val's way are the men and women of the River City Police Department, including rookie B.J. Carson. She's trying to fill the shoes of a legend while the pressures of patrol and her own past catch up to her. She and her colleagues must unite and work together with a former River Cit
y cop turned FBI agent to face down the single biggest organized crime threat River City has ever seen.
In this novel, Frank Zafiro explores what honor and courage mean on both sides of the law, weaving a complex and engrossing story of crime, justice, and relationships. There are plotters and detectives, usurpers and leaders. Plans within plans. And in the end the price of victory and justice can both be high... and every man has to die.
And Every Man Has to Die is the fourth River City novel.
“The novel has a complex plot...that Zafiro has woven together with seeming ease."
Debbi Mack, author of Identity Crisis and Least Wanted
"Possibly the most complicated and hard hitting novel in the series...Frank Zafiro has created another gem."
Kevin Tipple, independent reviewer
"...the crime genre prides itself on pacing, and this is where Zafiro delivers."
The Inlander
“I’ve always been amazed over how well Zafiro handles the female perspective in the past books--mostly through MacLeod’s point of view-- and in And Every Man Has to Die he proves that strong believable characters is definitely his forte, no matter which gender they are. If you like well written, fast paced novel with great characters, then the River City series is definitely for you.”
Asa Bradley, bark
“There are many wonderful things to savor in the novel.”