GUNNER (ALTON RHODE MYSTERIES Book 5) by Lawrence de Maria Read Free Book Online

put my hands behind my neck. I caught a hint of good cologne as he came up behind me and reached around and took my gun. It took less than two seconds. He’d done this many times. I was glad I didn’t try anything stupid.
    “You shouldn’t smoke on the job,” I said. “It’s a dead giveaway. If it wasn’t for the pizza smell, I would have had you.”
    “Maybe. Maybe not. You weren’t expecting to be rousted. Pizza didn’t hurt, though. It really does smell delicious. Thin crust?”
    “Of course.”
    “Outstanding. Glad you didn’t drop it on the floor. Most guys in your situation would have. But then most aren’t as cool as you are.”
    Did he know me? Again, I tried to place the voice.
    “Bottom line,” he continued, “pizza didn’t matter. If I was here to kill you, I might have played it different.”
    I found that somewhat consoling.
    “Put your hands in your pockets. Head into the living room. Sit on the couch by the window.”
    I did as I was told. He sat in the Bennington Pine rocking chair in front of my fireplace. The same chair Nando Carlucci sat in when he came to my house and then tried to cut me into sausage. I may have to get rid of that rocking chair, even if it did belong to my grandmother and was sturdy enough to hold the late and very fat Nando. My latest guest had moved a small pedestal table from my TV room next to the rocker and placed a Waterford Crystal wine coaster on it to use as an ashtray. The coaster looked like it already had half a dozen butts in it. On the coffee table in front of me was a thick envelope. My mind raced. Then I looked up at the man holding a silenced automatic on me. It had a rosewood grip and looked like a SIG Sauer .380. The man liked his guns. In his other hand he balanced the Taurus revolver he’d taken from me.
    “A .38 with only five chambers,” he said, smiling. “You always were a confident bastard, Skipper. Pretty good shot, too, as I recall.”
    He saw my look of almost recognition.
    “It’s good to see you again, Skip,” he said as he flicked open my revolver and let the rounds fall to the floor.
    Then he casually flipped my empty gun onto the couch next to me. He had a look of anticipation on his face.
    “Maples? Corporal Maples?”
    He gave me a genuine smile of pleasure.
    “I knew you’d remember, Skip. You were always good with faces. Always took the time to know all your men, even replacements like me. I can’t tell you how much that meant to us. You really cared.”
    He was dressed in designer jeans and a black turtleneck. His silver-and-black boots gleamed with polish. 
    “Why the gun, Vernon?”
    He smiled grew even broader at my use of his first name. He waved the gun casually.
    “Let’s just call it a necessary inconvenience, Skip. This is not your normal reunion. I have to tell you something. Something you might think you have to act on right away. I know you. You’re a tough guy. One of the toughest I ever met. You might want to do the right thing. Always liked you. Took care of your troops. Including me when I got wounded. But that was then, and this is now. So, don’t make any mistakes. I’ll give you a chance to do the right thing. Just not now, and not with me.”   
    He put his gun in his lap and lit another cigarette. He wasn’t worried about me making a move. There were 10 feet and a table separating us. The fact that he wasn’t worried told me volumes. He’d figured the distance and calculated the odds, and knew I would, too. It was in his eyes. Vernon Maples didn’t want to kill me, but wouldn’t hesitate to shoot me if it came down to me or him. I respected that. It just happened to be my philosophy, too.
    “How about one of those cigarettes?”
    “Sorry, Skip. Too much hand movement. I remember how quick you were. Don’t worry. I’ll clean up the butts before I leave.” He smiled. “No D.N.A.”
    He was taking no chances. Truth was, I could have used a cigarette. It was one of those special