Conviction: Book 3 of the Detective Ryan Series by Andrew Hess Read Free Book Online Page A

know,” the lieutenant replied. “The Ali I know would do anything it took to find out who’s behind it.”
    “And the Ali Ryan I know,” James continued. “Wouldn’t back down from a challenge, and isn’t scared of some guy hiding behind some bouquets of flowers and bullshit cards.”
    “And the Ali I know, will do anything to protect the ones she loves,” Amanda concluded with tears in her eyes.
    I knew they were right. I ignored this person’s existence when DeFalco tried to warn me. Running from him, from this cost me too much already.
    “Fine, let’s take down this asshole. Lieu, get the Crime Scene Unit down here. I want this place dusted for prints. I want to know how this guy got in here, what he touched, and where he got these flowers from.”
    The Lieutenant stepped away to make the necessary phone calls. The moment his back was turned, I continued to pack my bags.
    “What the hell, Ali? I thought you were going to fight back and take this asshole down?”
    “I will, but not from here. I’m not safe here.”
    “And you think you’ll be safer somewhere else on your own?”
    “James, he broke into your house, got past your security system and left roses on the bed for me to find. There was no sign of forced entry and your alarm pad still has power going to it. Who says he doesn’t just break in during the middle of the night and kill you or me or Amanda?”
    “Okay, but you don’t have anywhere to go right now. Stay the night. I’ll stay up and make sure nothing happens to either of you.”
    “You have work in the morning.”
    “I can call out. Ali, you have to believe I will do everything I can to keep you and your sister safe.”
    Sincerity, that’s what I saw in his eyes. “Fine, I’ll stay tonight. But in the morning, I’m going to look for another place.”
     
    That night, I waited until the Crime Scene Unit left and cleaned up after them. I felt terrible staying with James and letting the C.S.U. Team leave a mess behind. He was nice enough to give me a place to stay since the shooting, but now his home was invaded by the same psychopath that’s been coming after me and my family for months. Now James is caught in the middle of this mess, and none of it makes any sense.
    Why me? What did I do to piss this person off so much that he is willing to risk his life on destroying mine? Those were the questions running through my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
    Slipping into the same reoccurring nightmare, I found myself bursting through the front door to my house. Sweeping the room in the dark, I could feel James at my side. We cleared the living room just as a shot rang out from down the hall. I rushed to Amanda’s room. Only this time Rodney wasn’t laying on the floor. He was on his knees crawling towards me. He was covered in blood.
    “Ali, please help me. I didn’t do it; I swear.” Rodney turned to look back at the room.
    There was a shadow hiding in the darkness. The only visible sign of the person was the silver barrel of a revolver pointed at Rodney’s head. The blast from the gun woke me in a blood curdling scream. I was awake and alone, sitting with my sweat soaked shirt clinging to my body.
    The door to the bedroom flew open. James ran in with his gun drawn, searching for the reason for my outburst. “What is it?” he shouted. “What’s wrong?”
    The realization of the dream set in. “Nothing,” I whimpered while trying to conceal my distress. “It was just another nightmare.”
    James moved towards the bed, placing his gun on the nightstand. “It’s all right. Nothing bad is going to happen here.”
    I looked around the room expecting Amanda to come running in any minute. “Wh-where’s my sister?”
    “She went out with a couple of her friends.”
    “And you let her? You know there’s a psychopath that’s hunting me and my sister.”
    “Relax, Ali. I sent two of the best guys from my precinct to follow them wherever they go. She knows not to ditch them