by G. K. Parks
Police clustered around, and I did what I could to answer their questions while my focus remained on Cross and what the paramedics were saying. They got him onto a backboard and carried him to the ambulance. Once he was in the rig, I got a better look at his injuries. He’d caught a graze, which had sliced across the side and front of his torso, but the bruises beneath it worried me far more. I’d only seen bruises like that once before.
Images of another explosion that claimed the life of my partner came to mind. My mouth tasted metallic, and everything dimmed. My heart pounded in my ears.
“You can’t let him die,” I said. Ignoring the police officers who’d been questioning me, I climbed into the rig beside the paramedics. “His car exploded. I’m not sure how close he was to the blast. But it threw him backward. He said his ears were ringing, and he had trouble hearing. That asshole kicked him in the jaw.”
“It’s all right, ma’am. We got this.” The paramedic checked the monitors. “He looks stable. We’ll get him to the hospital. A trauma team will check him out. Do you want to ride along?”
The last time I did, it had been catastrophic, but Cross stared at me with a helpless look I’d never seen before. “I’ll stay with him.”
“We’ll meet you there,” the police officer said, slamming the door and tapping it twice.
* * *
“You missed the morning meeting,” Cross said when I entered his hospital room. “You’ll do absolutely anything to avoid those, won’t you?”
“Shut up.” I put the drink carrier down on the tray table, watching as he tugged on a shirt. “I thought they wanted to keep you another day for observation.”
“If I need someone to observe me, I’ll handpick who’s going to do it.”
“You’re such a control freak.”
He stared at me from the corner of his eye. “And you’re not?”
“I brought you coffee with a shot of espresso. Justin called in the order, so it should be to your liking.” I looked around the room. “I’m surprised he’s not here.”
Cross picked up the cup and took a sip, carefully holding his side with his free hand. “Unlike you, he’s actually doing his job.”
“What do you want me to do? You had me pass my cases off. Renner’s handling them. And now that Knox is dead, Almeada asked me to stay on top of things at the police department.”
“Is there a problem?” Cross asked. “What did you say when you gave your statement?”
“The truth.”
“What the hell’s taking them so long? It’s been two days since the shooting. Knox is dead. My actions were reasonable. The case should be closed.”
“They had everything wrong. The victim. The crime. The suspects. Everything. They have to mop up the mess. That takes time.”
“And you’re helping?”
“Trying to,” I said.
“More like annoying us,” Heathcliff said, knocking gently against the door. “Glad to see you’re up and about. I heard you’re getting discharged. How are you feeling, Mr. Cross?”
“Fine, but I prefer hospitals when I’m not the patient,” Cross said. My boss did his best not to scowl at the detective. “Are you hoping to arrest me now that I’ve actually killed Knox?”
“No,” Heathcliff looked at me, but I picked up my coffee and sipped it slowly, “Alex corroborated everything you said that happened. And Officer Gallo has come forward regarding his knowledge of Knox’s illegal actions.”
“How’d you get that sycophant to talk?” Cross asked.
“We promised leniency for his crimes and the cover-up in exchange for details. Knox smuggled product in and out of the country for a lot of big players. Gallo’s intel helped us crack the ledger. We finally have names and dates. A lot of cases are moving forward. We have evidence on key players that we’ve never had before.” Heathcliff looked at me. “We’re coordinating with the OIO, FBI, DEA, and ATF on a lot of this.”
“Jablonsky told me,” I said.
Heathcliff nodded, turning his focus back to Cross. “None of that would have been possible without you. The commissioner wants to honor you.”
“He can go fuck himself,” Cross muttered.
Heathcliff snorted. “He’s right outside. I’ll let you tell him that. We’ll give you some privacy.” The detective stared at me. “Ms. Parker, I believe you have a prior commitment.”
“Don’t remind me.” But Heathcliff wouldn’t leave without me. “Do you need anything, Lucien?” Hopefully, he’d need me to stay.
Cross shook his head. “Tomorrow, I expect to see you at the morning meeting.”
“You’re going to work?”
“Yes. I’ll be there tomorrow to address everyone and answer questions. You better be there too. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sir.” I followed Heathcliff to the door, telling him to give me a minute. “Hey, Lucien, thanks for not dying.”
He gave me an odd look. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“I don’t think most people I know do, but it happens anyway.”
His expression softened. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Always.”
Heathcliff waited for me at the end of the hall. We went down the stairs, avoiding the elevator so he wouldn’t have to face an awkward encounter with the police commissioner. We didn’t speak about what happened. We’d already gone over every detail and every part of Knox’s confession ad nauseam.
He parked in front of the church and opened the car door. “Is Martin meeting us at the bar afterward?”
“No, he’s still in L.A. He should be getting home late tonight.”
“Did you tell him what happened?”
“I told him enough.”
“And he’s still pulling out of the deal with Cross Security?”
“I’m not sure. He wants more financing. Whether that means Cross is out and someone else is in, I don’t know. Why? You planning on buying stock or something?”
Heathcliff chuckled. “No.”
We went down the stairs, and I entered the room where the support group met. I didn’t have the energy to fight against it. I already hurt, but it was different. Cross didn’t die, and that had shifted things in my mind. It was like a do-over. Maybe Heathcliff, Cal, and everyone else were right. It wasn’t about the ones we lost; it was about the ones we saved.
Halfway through the session, the door in the back opened. I turned, surprised to find Martin sneaking inside. From the way he was dressed, he’d come straight from the airport. He smiled at me and found a seat near the door.
“Does anyone else want to share?” Cal asked.
The lull remained. Taking a shaky breath, I glanced back at Martin and stood up. It was time. “I want to say something.”
Note from the Author:
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. I wrote and rewrote this book a few times in order to make it as entertaining as possible. Since some of the facts presented were already addressed in a previous book, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t repetitive but could still stand on its own. I hope I succeeded. If you have a few extra minutes, please consider leaving a review. They are always appreciated.
* * *
Don’t miss Alex’s next case: Check out Sinister Secret (Alexis Parker #21):
A woman’s secret could be Alexis Parker’s undoing…
When Eddie Lucca, Alex’s former partner, asks for a favor, she can’t say no. But as soon as Alex meets with the client, she knows this is a mistake.
Years ago, Daria Waylon barely survived a brutal attack which left her with permanent brain damage. Now, Daria’s claiming she’s being hunted by the man who almost killed her. There’s just one problem. He’s dead.
Unsure how to help, Alex agrees to investigate Daria’s claims and provide the woman with some peace of mind, if for no other reason than to pay back Lucca. After all, Alex owes him her life, so she’ll do whatever he asks. But in this instance, Alex knows she should have said no.
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* * *
Want to find out exactly what happened to Vasili Petrov? Check out Calculated Risk (Cross Security Investigation #2):
A client’s secret puts Lucien Cross on a collision course with ruthless gangsters…
Being a private eye isn’t easy. That’s one thing Lucien Cross is about to find out the hard way. Ever since he opened Cross Security and Investigations, it’s been one blunder after another. And his latest mistake might mean his death.
As a businessman, Cross is all about the bottom line. He’ll take as many cases as he can. The more affluent the client, the better. But Lucien has no idea the danger he faces now that he’s agreed to help recover a client’s stolen property.
It should be a simple retrieval, but since his newest client has failed to disclose a few “minor” details, Lucien will find himself in a war with cold-blooded killers. It’s all or nothing for the city’s newest security firm and Lucien Cross. One misstep could lead to his company’s destruction or his untimely demise.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
G.K. Parks is the author of the Alexis Parker series. The first novel, Likely Suspects, tells the story of Alexis’ first foray into the private sector.
G.K. Parks received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History. After spending some time in law school, G.K. changed paths and earned a Master of Arts in Criminology/Criminal Justice. Now all that education is being put to use creating a fictional world based upon years of study and research.
You can find additional information on G.K. Parks and the Alexis Parker series by visiting our website at
www.alexisparkerseries.com
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Full-length Novels in the Alexis Parker Series:
Likely Suspects
The Warhol Incident
Mimicry of Banshees
Suspicion of Murder
Racing Through Darkness
Camels and Corpses
Lack of Jurisdiction
Dying for a Fix
Intended Target
Muffled Echoes
Crisis of Conscience
Misplaced Trust
Whitewashed Lies
On Tilt
Purview of Flashbulbs
The Long Game
Burning Embers
Thick Fog
Warning Signs
Past Crimes
Sinister Secret
Julian Mercer Novels
Condemned
Betrayal
Subversion
Reparation
Retaliation
Hunting Grounds
Liv DeMarco Novels
Dangerous Stakes
Operation Stakeout
Unforeseen Danger
Deadly Dealings
High Risk
Fatal Mistake
Lucien Cross Stories
Fallen Angel
Calculated Risk