Bullet Beach by Ronald Tierney Read Free Book Online

authority.’
    â€˜I’d be happy to have that on my gravestone.’
    â€˜I’ll make a note of it,’ Collins said. He sat, minding the creases in his expensive pants, in the only seat available other than the one behind the desk. ‘So, if we assume you are innocent, then somebody either wanted to set someone up for the fall or they wanted to set you up for the fall. You have enemies who have it in for you that much?’
    Cross thought for a moment. ‘I don’t think anybody hates me so much they would kill two people just for me to take a fall. But if someone had to kill someone and needed someone to take the fall, maybe they’d remember me.’
    â€˜I could do with a list.’
    â€˜I think they’re all dead.’
    â€˜You that tough?’
    Cross didn’t answer.
    â€˜Could be an accident of timing,’ Collins continued. ‘But how would they know someone was set to pick up the Lincoln and when?’
    â€˜Wilbert who owned the Lincoln maybe. And Edelman who wanted it back,’ Cross sat on the edge of the desk.
    â€˜But it wasn’t about the Lincoln,’ Collins said.
    â€˜No. You wouldn’t think so.’
    â€˜What about Slurpy?’
    â€˜Slurpy didn’t know where we were going until we got there. What kind of pressure you under?’
    Collins smiled.
    â€˜Does it show?’
    â€˜Top city homicide cop,’ Cross said, looking at his watch, ‘working late and pretending he’s not in a hurry. The victim is a VIP?’
    Collins nodded. ‘Marshall Talbot is the son-in-law of Raymond Taupin.’
    â€˜Chief asshole in city politics, business bloodsucker,’ Cross said, ‘Or so I’ve heard.’
    Collins nodded again.
    â€˜And the girl in the trunk is not Mrs Talbot.’ Cross said.
    Collins nodded still again, this time with a big smile.
    â€˜You are in for it,’ Cross said.
    â€˜No, we’re in for it. You and me. Mr Taupin wants your ass.’
    Before Collins left, he gave Cross both a blessing and a caution. The lieutenant was willing to look the other way if Cross wanted to do a little investigating on his own. That would make it easier for Cross to do what he intended to do anyway. The caution itself was two-fold. Don’t embarrass the police and be very, very careful of Raymond Taupin. Very powerful people would do his bidding because if they didn’t they would lose their power.
    Cross left his four-legged charges – fed and watered – to head into the night. He wasn’t sure why he was leaving and had no idea where he was going. But he was compelled to do something. He was not only suddenly claustrophobic, he also felt too closely contained by someone who seemed to hold power over him. Worse, it was an unknown someone. He couldn’t just sit in a chair and wait.
    The thing was Cross didn’t know whether this was personal or not. If it wasn’t, what could he do? Whoever it was had taken a shot already. It was too early to know if it worked; but it was likely the person wouldn’t strike again – at least not strike him. If it was personal, it meant he had an enemy. Having an enemy wasn’t a problem. He’d had enemies before. He wasn’t frightened. The problem was that he didn’t know who the enemy was. He had no clue, other than he – or she – was capable of murder.
    He drove by Wilbert’s place on Drexel in the beat-up Isuzu Trooper that Edelman let him take. The lights were out. He pulled in front, sat back, sighed. What next. He could go to a bar. Harry would have shut down by now. The whole idea was boring. He could drink at home and he didn’t want to do that either. He could go to a strip bar – at least there was something to look at while he sipped tequila. But those places seemed to get him into trouble. That’s how he met Maya’s mom. That didn’t go so well.
    Cross closed his eyes. He