Lethal Misconduct by C. G. Cooper Read Free Book Online Page A

urine wetting his thigh then running down his leg into his shoes. “But, I—”
    “Let’s not do this again, Mr. Turnberry. We know you’ve been in periodic contact with your old friend. I give you my word that as soon as I finish my conversation with Dr. Price, we’ll leave your office and never come back.”
    It didn’t take long for Brad to decide. With shaky hands he picked up his cell phone and dialed a number from memory. Hunter had told him to only use it in case of an emergency.
    The call rang twice and Hunter picked up. Brad didn’t say a thing, handing the phone to Mr. Vespers, who handed it to his boss.
    “Hello, Dr. Price.”
     

    Chapter 10
    Miramar Beach, Florida
    3:42pm, April 5 th
     
    Dr. Price gripped the phone, panic spreading into his chest, its cold fingers reaching for his pounding heart. The raspy sound of his old boss’s voice made him want to scream. The man was a monster, no different than Hitler or Stalin. While at first Price had sympathized with Cromwell’s mission, he’d soon come to see the truth of it. Cromwell didn’t give a damn about anyone, except perhaps his trusted employee Malik Vespers. Their relationship was the only touch of emotion left in Cromwell.
    “What did you do with Brad?” asked Price, fearing the worst.
    “Hello to you too, Dr. Price. I’m hurt that you haven’t called.”
    Price could picture his enemy’s face, cruel and unyielding. Lethargic on one side, always intense on the other. It was a vision he saw in his nightmares, Cromwell on black wings swooping down like a banshee as he ran for cover.
    “Tell me what you did with Brad.”
    “He’s sitting across from me. Of course, Mr. Vespers has a gun pressed to his head, but other than that and a little piss in his pants, Mr. Turnberry is fine.”
    “What do you want?”
    “I want you to come in. We’ve got work to do.”
    “I don’t work for you anymore, remember? Besides, didn’t you wipe out any trace of my existence?”
    Cromwell chuckled. “What did you expect? You left in the middle of the night and took my property with you.”
    “I know what you were planning. There isn’t a chance in hell that I’ll help.”
    “Even if that means we have to shoot poor Mr. Turnberry?”
    Price heard a muffled moan in the background. He winced, easily imagining what Cromwell would do with his friend. He’d seen it before, including the body of the man they’d said was him, the one that had washed up on the shores of the Potomac.
    “I’m waiting, Dr. Price.”
    “What assurance would I have?”
    “Call it my word as an officer and a gentleman.”
    Price would’ve laughed out loud were the circumstances different. Cromwell had endlessly besmirched the honor of the Army uniform he sometimes wore, and to call himself a gentleman was preposterous. It was like calling Charles Manson a boy scout.
    “That’s not good enough.”
    “I don’t think you’re really in a position to argue, doctor. We know where you are and we have your money.”
    “You fucking—”
    “Now, now, doctor. Why don’t you just turn yourself in and we’ll get back to work.”
    Price seethed. He was trapped. Sure he had more money hidden away, but he’d been careful. Brad controlled close to ninety percent of his accounts under various aliases including, Frank Rounders.
    I should have put a bullet in Cromwell’s head when I had the chance .
    Instead of continuing the conversation, Price said a silent prayer for Brad and ended the call. It only took him a moment to gather his possessions and step outside, dropping the cell phone on the gravel pavement and stomping it into the ground.
    His decision made, Dr. Price headed for the nearest bus station and his next destination. He had a mission to complete.
     
    +++
     
    Wilmington, Delaware
     
    Cromwell handed the cell phone back to Brad and nodded to Malik Vespers, who replaced the pistol in its holster. Brad hadn’t taken the conversation well, twice vomiting into his