Off the Grid (A Gerrit O'Rourke Novel) by Mark Young Read Free Book Online Page A

somewhere in the house.
    Nico lunged toward the girl, grabbing her hair in a clenched fist. The girl screamed, crying.
    Gerrit backed out of sight as Nico dragged the child toward the doorway leading into the hallway. He lost his chance to take Nico out.
    Cassandra pushed against him. “Stop him, please,” she whispered. He tried to restrain her.
    “I told you to back off,” Nico screamed through the locked door. “You want me to kill the girl.”
    Maria
. That was the girl’s name. Gerrit clenched his teeth. Why did it matter at this point? Sometimes his brain came up with information at the oddest times. Maria might be dead in the next few seconds.
    Cassandra stirred behind him, eyes bulging with fear. Gerrit glared at her and jerked his head toward the bathroom. Cassandra shook her head, tears welling up.
    He held a finger to his lips, trying to get her to remain quiet, as he turned his attention toward the bedroom.
    Finch’s voice bellowed down the hallway. “Accidental discharge. We’re staying back…just like you said.”
    Gerrit peered into the room and saw Nico release the girl once again. He was facing the door. “Maria, get on the bed and lie down. Don’t make a sound.” The girl started to comply until she looked up and saw Gerrit.
    She screamed.
    Nico swung around just as Gerrit got him in his sights.
    “Freeze.”
    Nico continued to take aim.
    Gerrit fired.
    Maria and Cassandra screamed in unison.
    He fired repeatedly until Nico’s body lurched back, the Russian’s gun firing into the ceiling. Nico’s weapon slipped from his grasp as he collapsed on the carpet.
    Rushing over to where the man lay, Gerrit pointed his gun at Nico’s face, ready to fire if the man so much as twitched.
    Nico’s eyes turned toward him, and he gave one gasp. His sightless eyes stared back.
    Scratch one gangster
.
    The girl sobbed, and her mother rushed past him to comfort her.
    Gerrit hit the transmission button. “Suspect down. 10-55. Units cleared to come in.”
    And another lead to his parents’ death just killed.

Chapter 6

    “M an, that’s one sick animal. Holding a gun to his own kid’s head.” Taylor moved over to make room for Gerrit in the van.
    “Not his kid.” Gerrit eyed one of the shooting team investigators across the street before closing the door behind him. They were still holding down the scene three hours after all the shooting. It was going to be a long night. “Nico married Cassandra when Maria was a year old. Rumor has it Nico had her dad wasted just to clear the way to Cassandra. He hates the kid.”
    Taylor shook his head. “How’d you know about the access panel in the storage room?”
    Smiling, Gerrit shrugged. “Just remembered.”
    “You’re weird, dude. Freakin’ weird. Who remembers—?”
    Pounding on the van door reverberated through the vehicle. “Gerrit, you in there?” Lieutenant Cromwell’s bellow was easy to identify. “Get your ass out here. Now.”
    Gerrit smirked. “He’s such a sensitive soul. Worried about my traumatic experience.” Seeing Cromwell peering through the tinted window, Gerrit edged over and unlocked the door. “Coming out, Lieutenant.”
    Cromwell stepped back as Gerrit swung open the door. “We need to talk. Privately.” He whirled around and crossed the street to his rental car. “Get in, O’Rourke.” It was a command, not a request.
    Gerrit slid into the passenger side as Cromwell heaved himself behind the steering wheel. “What are you doing here, sir? I thought you’d be standing by in Seattle for details.”
    “Plans change. I’m driving you to the airport.” Cromwell fired up the engine. “Taylor can bring your things later.”
    “Boss, you came all the way down here to drive me to the airport?” Gerrit looked at him incredulously. “Besides, we’ve got a ton of evidence and property to seize back there. And the shooting team—”
    “Leave it to me to coordinate. That’s why I am down here.” He yanked on the wheel