by A. C. Fuller
19
Giving the Camry plenty of space, Warren followed until it pulled off at a small gas station—probably the last one in the park. He stopped at a turnaround on the other side of the highway.
“How’s our gas?” Cole asked.
“Still three-quarters of a tank.”
“So we just wait?”
Warren nodded. “I assume he’s headed for an airport. Tampa, or maybe Atlanta. We’re almost out of the park. Cell coverage will pick back up.”
* * *
De Santis started the pump and walked inside, checking the airport shuttle van in a window reflection as he walked in. No movement. He was being followed, but it didn’t matter much as long as they left him alone.
He used the restroom and bought a bottle of unsweetened iced tea. He checked the airport shuttle van through the window as he paid. It hadn’t moved.
He allowed himself a smile. Must be guys hired by his employers. More an escort than a tail. They probably wanted to make sure he got his money and left the state safely. This had been one of the best operations he’d ever worked for. He had no idea why they wanted Alvin Meyers or Ana Diaz dead—that was none of his business—but he’d been paid well and on time. Despite the nagging feeling about the woman he’d shot in the belly, he felt blessed that his last job had gone so well.
* * *
Warren pressed his hands into his cheeks and let out a long breath.
“Stressed?” Cole asked.
“I’ll feel better when we hear from the FBI and get the hell away from this guy.”
The Truffle Pig came out of the gas station. Sipping from a bottle, he strolled toward his car like he didn’t have a care in the world.
* * *
The hot sun warmed De Santis’s face as he crossed to the gas pumps. He crouched to pretend to tie his shoe, checking under his car just to be sure. No one.
He replaced the pump, wondering how soon he could safely return to Miami. He could almost taste the Bistec Empanizado. He’d ordered the dish from room service last night and it had forever changed the way he saw food.
His mother would roll over in her grave if she knew he’d eaten a deep-fried steak. Steak, she’d taught him, should be seared medium-rare and topped with a subtle sauce. White truffle butter, or a red wine demi. Tougher cuts of beef were to be braised. One never deep fried beef.
But the thinly-sliced sirloin, marinated in sour orange and doused with adobo, then breaded and fried, had been a revelation. And he couldn’t get enough fresh lime juice on it. The thought of it was enough to push away the lingering thoughts about the woman, the child in her belly, and what it said about him that he’d put an extra bullet through both of them.
One last look: the airport shuttle van hadn’t moved.
As he opened the door of the Camry, he caught his reflection in the tinted window of a large silver SUV that was pulling up to the pump opposite him. Before it had stopped, a man leapt from the back seat. De Santis’s hand dropped to his Beretta, but he was too late.
He knew it in an instant. Distracted by the airport shuttle van, the thoughts of food, and his reflections on the woman, he’d missed something.
The last thing he ever saw was a young man in a black suit holding a silenced Glock 19.
--End--
Author Notes, September 2019
Thanks for reading Episode 3 of The Crime Beat!
Response to Episodes 1 and 2 has been excellent, and I’m eager to get the rest of the series out to you. That’s why I’m locked away every morning, writing like a man possessed.
I’m working with a consultant on this series, a man named Gary Collins. I met Gary at the 20Books Writing Conference in November of 2018, and we hit it off right away. For The Crime Beat, Gary is providing important insights into weaponry, military life, and police work. He’s also a consistent sounding board and story fixer. Many of the coolest little nuggets in this series were his idea. In addition to having a military and law enforcement background I don’t have, Gary is the author of seven non-fiction books. Find out more about them, and about Gary, by flipping a few pages.
Now, some thanks…
Special thanks to everyone in the A.C. Fuller Fiction Fans Group on Facebook. Your interest in my work—plus your constant support and encouragement—keeps me going.
Thanks to the good people at Rocking Book Covers, who designed the art for all the books in The Crime Beat series.
Thanks to Chet Sandberg, who edited this book, to Noah Brand, who also edited it, and to Jennifer Karchmer, who proofread it. And thanks to Kay Vreeland and Nancy Swanton, who caught some typos at the last minute.
Thanks to my wife Amanda, who read multiple versions of this book and improved it in so many ways.
And to the readers who enjoy my books, thank you so much!
Over the next few months, The Crime Beat will be taking me all around the world. I hope you’ll come along for the ride!
A.C. Fuller
The Crime Beat: Complete Series List
Episode 1: New York
Episode 2: Washington, D.C
Episode 3: Miami
Episode 4: Las Vegas
Episode 5: London
Episode 6: Paris (Coming Soon)
Episode 7: Tokyo (Coming Soon)
Episode 8: San Francisco (Coming Soon)
Episode 9: Los Angeles (Coming Soon)
About the Author
Once a journalist in New York, A.C. Fuller now writes stories at the intersection of media, politics, and technology. He also teaches writing workshops around the country and internationally.
Before he began writing full time, he was an adjunct professor of journalism at NYU and an English teacher at Northwest Indian College.
He now lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs near Seattle. For a free copy of one of A.C.'s books, check out: www.acfuller.com/readerclub.
You can find out more at www.acfuller.com
Other Books By A.C. Fuller
THE ALEX VANE MEDIA THRILLERS
Follow journalist Alex Vane from 9/11 into the social media age in the breakout thriller series from A.C. Fuller.
The Cutline
(An Alex Vane Prequel Novella)—Available free, and only though my website
The Anonymous Source
(An Alex Vane Media Thriller, Book 1)
The Inverted Pyramid
(An Alex Vane Media Thriller, Book 2)
The Mockingbird Drive
(An Alex Vane Media Thriller, Book 3)
The Shadow File
(An Alex Vane Media Thriller, Book 4)
The Last Journalist
(An Alex Vane Media Thriller, Book 5)
AMERITOCRACY
The two-party system was broken, so Mia Rhodes created an alternative. Welcome to Ameritocracy, the new political series readers are calling "The West Wing meets Survivor" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for the social media age."
Open Primary
(Ameritocracy, Book 1)
Off Message
(Ameritocracy, Book 2)
Echo Chamber
(Ameritocracy, Book 3)
PRAISE FOR A.C. FULLER’S BOOKS:
"A talented new writer sure to do damage to the best-seller lists."
-Robert Dugoni, #1 Amazon and New York Times Bestselling Author of My Sister's Grave
"Elite Indie Reads anticipates that Fuller will soon be a household name."
-Elite Indie Reads
"An ode to American news served just the way I like it--fast, bloody, and utterly righteous."
-Roger Hobbs, New York Times Bestselling Author of Ghostman
About Gary Collins, Consultant on THE CRIME BEAT
Gary Collins has a unique background that includes military intelligence, Special Agent for the U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Gary’s background and expertise bring a much-needed perspective to the topics of
simple living, health, nutrition, entrepreneurship, self-help and self-reliance. He holds an AS degree in Exercise Science, a BS in Criminal Justice, and an MS in Forensic Science.
His website, www.thesimplelifenow.com, and The Simple Life book series (his total lifestyle reboot), blow the lid off of conventional life and wellness expectations, and are essential for every person seeking a simpler and happier life.
You can find all his books on Amazon here.
The Simple Life Guide To Financial Freedom: Free Yourself from the Chains of Debt and Find Financial Peace
The Simple Life Guide To Decluttering Your Life: The How-To Book of Doing More With Less and Focusing on the Things That Matter
The Simple Life Guide To RV Living: The Road to Freedom and the Mobile Lifestyle Revolution
The Simple Life Guide To Optimal Health: How to Get Healthy and Feel Better Than Ever
Living Off The Grid: What To Expect While Living the Life of Ultimate Freedom and Tranquility
Going Off The Grid: The How-To Book of Simple Living and Happiness
The Beginner’s Guide To Living Off The Grid: The DIY Workbook for Living the Life You Want