Beholden by Pat Warren Read Free Book Online

murderer.
    Marino tossed aside the cigar and watched Lieutenant Phil Remington come into his office, close the door, and settle his long
     frame in the chair across from him. The captain envied Phil his full head of sandy hair only slightly gray atthe temples even though the man was in his forties. And he didn’t carry an extra pound but rather was tan and fit, dressing
     like someone right off the pages of
GQ
. Leaning toward comfort rather than fashion in his own attire, Ed knew he could never again look like the urbane Remington,
     if he ever had. However, the man was vain to a fault and snobbish to boot. But Phil’s saving grace was that he was always
     on top of things, which was why Marino relied on him more and more lately.
    “How are you feeling, Captain?” Phil asked.
    “My prostate’s the size of Cleveland. How the hell do you think I’m feeling?” Annoyed with his own shitty mood, Marino shifted
     on the chair cushion, trying to find a more comfortable position. “Tell me what’s happening on the Simon case. The mayor wants
     action, like yesterday.”
    Phil adjusted his pleated trousers as he crossed his long legs and began his recitation. They were interviewing everyone who
     parked regularly and even occasionally in the garage where the killing took place. They’d talked with the reporters who worked
     with Simon and were running down leads on the stories Don had been working on. They’d spoken with downtown snitches, checked
     out area vagrants in case anyone had spotted something suspicious, and hauled in a few known underworld characters for questioning.
     So far, they had nothing positive.
    Calmly, Phil met Marino’s eyes. “I wish I could tell you I expect something to break momentarily, but this one’s got us puzzled.
     It smacks of a professional hit, but we can’t pinpoint why Simon was set up.”
    “I see.” Regretfully, Ed pocketed the cigar. “Just what would you tell the mayor if you were in my shoes?”
    “The truth, Captain.”
    Ed checked his watch. He had a doctor’s appointment in an hour. He’d have just enough time to grab some lunch if he left now.
     If he didn’t leave soon, he’d probably explode. He stood. “Fine. I’d like you to handle this. Call the mayor andexplain all that your men have done so far, and all that you’re planning on doing.” Some would call Marino’s order a copout.
     He called it delegating responsibility.
    Skirting the desk, he reached in his pocket for his keys. “Stay on top of this, Phil, and report to me as soon as you know
anything
. I’ll check with you later.” With that, he grabbed his jacket from the wooden coat rack and walked out.
    Lieutenant Remington sat for a long moment staring after the captain as he wound his way through the bull pen desks. Marino
     had once been a very fine officer, concerned about his men, fresh and innovative. Slowly, Remington got to his feet. He’d
     never allow himself to get like that, he vowed. He’d quit the department long before he gave up and gave in to complacency,
     fear, and the weariness of age. He had too much pride to allow himself to become a laughingstock.
    Leaving the captain’s office, Remington walked to his own desk and dialed the mayor.

CHAPTER THREE

    Father O’Malley handed a tissue to Terry Ryan as the tears continued to stream from her eyes. He was still in shock, trying
     to adjust to the fact that they’d buried the wrong girl. He needed to tell the Ryans and Julia Hartley. But Terry was so broken
     up over the news of Lynn’s tragic death that he couldn’t leave her yet.
    Terry’s mind whirled round and round. Dead. How could her innocent, fun-loving cousin be dead? She wiped at her eyes with
     the tissue, then studied her bandaged hands. The story Father O’Malley had told her, of the accident and all that followed
     after, was as if it had happened to someone else.
    She remembered driving, then switching places with Lynn. They’d been on their way to Sedona