Point of No Return by N.R. Walker Read Free Book Online Page B

military-style haircut and a no-nonsense stare that scared the shit out of the probationaries. He was a hard-ass, strict but fair. I liked him.
    "Someone's taken over Tomic's cartel," he said, no introduction, no pleasantries. "The word on the street is as though Tomic never left. Just business as usual. Someone's picked up right where the slimebag left off."
    I could feel that stab of instinct in my gut. It burned and twisted, and sent gooseflesh over up my arms.

    64
    Point of No Return
    NR Walker

    I knew something wasn't right with that case.
    Mitch looked at me as though he could read my
    mind, but before either one of us could say anything, Ross gave Tony and Kurt their orders. "Milic, Webber, see what you can find out in the light district." Then Ross looked at me and Mitch. "Elliott, Seaton, see what your snitch has to say."
    "I don't need to remind you," Ross reminded us anyway, "Tomic's court case is in just over two months. We need this case watertight or the bastard will walk." The older man looked at the four of us and said, "Be careful,"
    before walking out the door.
    So we did what we always did. Kurt and Tony went in one direction, Mitch and me in the other, and when we were done, we'd meet up at HQ and trade information.
    On our way to the wharves, Mitch kept looking at me and smiling.
    "What?" I asked him.
    "So," he said with a grin. "Gonna give me a name?"
    "Ferret."
    He snorted. "Not the snitch's name, smartass. The reason behind that smile."
    My chest tightened, and my stomach knotted. I
    rolled my eyes at him and decided looking out the window to the darkened streets was safer than answering.

    65
    Point of No Return
    NR Walker

    "Oh, come on," he said with a frustrated sigh.
    "Jesus, Matt. I'm your fucking partner. The least you can do is give me a name."
    So this was it. A sliver of information. I risked giving myself away if I did tell him, but I risked more by not giving him this. It was just a name. A name that most people associated with a woman, not a man. Surely this wouldn't out me…
    I looked at Mitch and swallowed hard. I tried to speak, but I needed to push the air out to make the sound, and still nothing would come.
    I looked back out the window. It was easier if I didn't look at him.
    My voice was quiet, but he heard me just fine.
    "Kira."
    "Keira?" he repeated. "As in Keira Knightley?"
    Then his eyes went huge, and he cried, "Oh fuck, it's not actually Keira Knightley, is it? Is that the reason for the secrecy?"
    I chuckled, instantly relieved. "No, it's not Keira Knightley."
    He laughed and nodded. Then he smiled at me.
    "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
    I finally breathed, but my heart was still
    hammering. He had no idea just how hard that was. I

    66
    Point of No Return
    NR Walker

    smiled again, kinda glad to have gotten it out. Then he asked, "Does Keira have a last name?"
    "Oh no," I said, shaking my head. "You're not running background checks, plate checks, credit checks, license checks—"
    Mitch laughed. "I wouldn't do that."
    I stared at him. He so fucking would.
    He rolled his eyes petulantly. "Well, okay… maybe I would have." Then he was quiet for a minute as he concentrated on driving. "So," he started again with a smirk, "does your Keira look anything like Keira Knightley?"
    I answered by rolling my eyes at him.
    We pulled up along the poorly lit section of
    industrial wharves, and I could count five human shadows scattered along the walls. I knew Mitch would have done the same, sizing up possible threats. As we got out of the car, we walked toward the lone streetlight, where two hookers were waiting.
    It was obvious we were cops. We didn't try and hide it. But we weren't here for them, and they knew it. It wasn't the first time we'd been down there.
    "Hello, ladies," I said pleasantly. "Seen Ferret around?"

    67
    Point of No Return
    NR Walker

    "What's it to you?" the first hooker asked. Even the dim streetlight didn't hide her tired face, her pallid skin marked by drugs,