DEAD GONE a gripping crime thriller full of twists
Page 29
Tom glanced around the condo. He’d been here alone since Charlene had left the night before. The thought of going back out there, dealing with reporters and court rooms and cops and people was unpleasant. Walking out that front door and back into the world, this time a world where Nick did not exist, that was worse.
Tom stood up. “Let’s go,” he said. “I just need to get changed.”
The women rose as he walked out of the room.
“Help yourself to some coffee.”
In his bedroom, he dressed at the bureau, looking at the picture of him and Nick as kids. Tom with that slightly pensive look, Nick’s wide grin. Both of them bare-chested, standing with their arms around each other’s shoulders.
When Tom returned downstairs, Machado and Mills were quietly talking in the kitchen, with mugs of coffee. They set down their drinks and smiled as he entered, fixing his tie. Machado glanced at the tie, then approached him. “May I?”
Tom let her redo the knot.
“I want to open a case on the dog track in Bonita Springs.”
Machado stepped back and admired her work, and brushed some lint from Tom’s shoulders. “That’s a good idea.”
Mills said goodbye outside and left in her own car. Tom and Machado got settled in her unmarked Ford Taurus. Tom glanced at the garage. The door was left open. The space was empty.
“You need to get your department-issued vehicle,” Machado said.
“Yeah. I do.”
THE END
TJB
3/23/16 – 10/28/16
Etown & Naples
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank the following people for contributing to this book in all the best ways. Jenifer Bulkley, my sister and a former Sheriff’s Deputy; Steve Buzzell, my stepfather and a criminal defense attorney; Geoff Pierce, my friend and writing ally; Kristy Wilson, my cousin and a New York state trooper; Dava, my supportive wife and voice of reason; James, my father, who is a retired probation officer living in Naples, Florida, where the story is set. Thank you.
Thank you to Jasper Joffe, and everyone at the amazing Joffe Books. And my gratitude to Emma Clements, a fantastic editor whose insight and precision sharpened the story.
Special thanks to Lee Clark Smith and her husband Sergeant Andrew Smith, aka “Smitty.” Lee’s keen eye and cop knowledge helped pull the book together in its late stages, and Smitty contributed his experience pertaining to police surveillance, drug crime, and Southwest Florida weather.
It is to their credit any technical accuracy in the book must be given — any faults in police or legal procedure are my own.
It has also been my intention, while remaining accurate in the depiction of police procedure, to exercise restraint when detailing certain police tactics — Smitty would not like it one bit if this book helped educate the bad guys about what the good guys are doing.
Thank you for reading this book. If you enjoyed it please leave feedback on Amazon, and if there is anything we missed or you have a question about then please get in touch. The author and publishing team appreciate your feedback and time reading this book.
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Table of Contents
Acronyms used in the book
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
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