Wild Surge
Page 17
"If that's what happened, Jared, you need to tell us so we can help you."
"You're cops. How are you going to help me?" his trembling voice asked. It was easy to tell he was on the verge of tears.
"You acted in the heat of passion. People will understand why you did what you did. If you turn yourself in and admit to it, we can work with the DA and maybe get a lesser charge."
"I didn't do anything. I don't know what you're talking about."
"Jared, the longer you draw this out, the worse it's going to get," I said.
"We're not going anywhere, Jared," JD added. "And believe me, you want to deal with us. Nobody else is gonna be sympathetic."
"Charlie Knox was a scumbag," Jared shouted. "He killed Jane."
"We don't know that yet."
"You people should be thanking me. I did the world a favor."
It was the admission we needed. I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted Daniels. I told him to get a warrant to search Jared's apartment. He had all but admitted his involvement in Charlie Knox's death.
We waited at the door, trying to get Jared to open it. It took 45 minutes for Faulkner and Erickson to arrive with a warrant and a battering ram.
“I’m gonna ask you one more time, Jared,” I said. “Open the door. We have a warrant. We’re coming in one way or the other.”
44
I heard the deadbolt unlock, and the handle twisted. Jared pulled open the door to his apartment and stood in the foyer with red puffy eyes and tears streaming down his cheeks. He stepped aside as we stormed into the apartment.
It didn't take long to find the silver 9mm Bösch-Hauer pistol. The 17-round magazine had two cartridges missing. A quick sniff of the barrel told me it had recently been fired. I had no doubt the ballistics would match the slugs found in Charlie Knox.
Erickson slapped the cuffs on Jared and hauled him away in a patrol car.
"Such a shame," JD said. "I hoped we would have gotten Charlie Knox, eventually." He frowned and shook his head.
Jared Reed had a long, unfortunate road ahead of him.
By the time we made it back to the Vivere the party was in full swing. Music pumped and half-naked girls sauntered about. Dizzy and the crew had broken out the top-shelf liquor and were going through the stuff like it was water.
"Where have you guys been?" Crash asked.
"We got a little tied up," JD said.
Neither of us were in the mood to party. It wouldn't be long before the sun would be cresting the horizon.
I made my way below deck and crawled into my bunk. I took the foam earplugs from my pocket, rolled them up, and shoved them into my ears. It muffled the noise, but I could still feel the music from the stereo above vibrating the bulkheads. I pulled a pillow over my head and tried to get to sleep. I was only lying there for a few minutes when the hatch to my stateroom opened.
I pulled the pillow away and glanced at the lovely young lady standing in the portal.
She was buck naked.
Certainly a sight to behold. She had the sleek curves of an exotic sports car.
"They tell me you're the band's bodyguard," she said in a breathy voice.
"Is that what they told you?"
"Well, I have a body. And it needs guarding."
It was late, and I was tired. But I wasn't that tired.
45
It felt like I had just gotten to sleep when Joel called.
The morning sun blasted through the portholes like a furnace. The phone kept buzzing on my nightstand, and when I looked at the display, it was already past 10 AM. I swiped the screen and took the call. My dry throat scratched out the word, "Hello?"
"You sound terrible," Joel said. "You’re not getting sick, are you?"
I chuckled. "No. I dodged that bullet."
"Good news. David Cameron passed his physical. He's back on the project and insured. And the studio has sent over a contract for the television show. It's everything you asked for. Well, everything I asked for on your behalf. Including an upfront payment of $15 million."
That was enough to widen my eyes. "Really?"
"Really. I'll fax over the agreement for you to sign. Once the deal is done, the funds will hit your account in a few days. Say thank you."
"Thank you!"
I told Joel to fax the agreement to the station, then hung up.
The protection detail that I was assigned last night stirred as I slipped out of bed. She looked just as good in the daylight.
I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and climbed the steps to the salon. The boat was trashed, but I was getting used to that after these parties. Beer bottles and empty whiskey bottles were everywhere.
I heated up a breakfast burrito, then grabbed my helmet and gloves and rode my sport bike to the Sheriff’s Office. The contract was waiting for me in the fax machine. All I would need to do was sign it, send it back, and the deal would be done. I’d have money to pay Madison and buy Diver Down outright. By the end of the week, the place would be mine, and barring a few minor upgrades, I planned on keeping it just as it was—one of those places that I could always call home.
I planned on installing video cameras in the parking lot. With any luck, we'd catch the person vandalizing JD's Porsche red-handed.
My phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. I was hesitant to take it, but swiped the screen anyway.
"Hi, my name is Tracy Thomas. I'm calling for Tyson Wild."
"You got him."
"I understand you attempted to save my daughter, Mia Sophia."
Mia Sophia was the upcoming starlet that I had found face down floating in the pool at the Château the last time I was in Los Angeles. "Yes. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you."
"Please know that I did everything I could to try to bring her back."
"I know. I spoke with Chloe-C. She's actually the one who suggested I reach out to you."
"What can I do for you?"
"I'm hoping you can find out who murdered my daughter."
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Author’s Note
Thanks for all the great reviews!
I wrote this book when COVID-19 was barely making headlines, before the quarantine. Everyday, I watched the infection rates half way around the world double. I should have known what was coming, but I never expected the scope of what we would all be currently facing. I hope you and yours are safe and well during this challenging time.
I’ve got more adventures for Tyson and JD. Stay tuned.
If you liked this book, let me know with a review on Amazon.
Thanks for reading!
—Tripp
Tyson Wild
Wild Ocean
Wild Justice
Wild Rivera
Wild Tide
Wild Rain
Wild Captive
Wild Killer
Wild Honor
Wild Gold
Wild Case
Wild Crown
Wild Break
Wild Fury
Wild Surge
Wild Impact
Wild…
Max Mars
The Orion Conspiracy
Blade of Vengeance
The Zero Code
Edge of the Abyss
Siege on Star Cruise 239
Phantom Corps
The Auriga Incident
Devastator
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