Sucker Punch by Pauline Baird Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

the meth lab was probably sleeping with the fishes. If a meth lab could sleep. Would the fish be high? She firmly reined in her thoughts. This was not the moment to lose the plot.
    â€œIn a rare turn of events, we aren’t here to talk about legalities.” Or lack thereof. She gave an amused shake. “Feels really odd.”
    â€œIndeed.” His other brow rose to the same height as the first. He crossed to a chair that faced her, flicking a brief curious glance at the still-standing Joe. He didn’t seem too worried about power positions, though, since he sank into it, stretched his legs out and crossed his ankles, his hands once more finding their way into his pockets. Was that where he kept the buttons that would drop them into the river?
    â€œAnd what does bring you—so happily—into my presence?”
    â€œWe’ve just come from the FEMA MEC.”
    â€œReally?” He looked mildly interested. “I hope you didn’t eat anything there. I’ve heard stories.” He gave an artistic shudder. “One can only hope they are wild rumors.”
    Vi grinned. “We have the same food at HQ. Sadly, not rumors.”
    â€œI have never doubted your courage, Detective.”
    Vi had, but she didn’t say so. She tried to think of something to continue the nonrelevant conversation, but couldn’t. Luckily Joe picked up the slack, though chatting wasn’t his forte either, so he just went with the plan.
    â€œSome surface dwellers, what you call dirt siders, were evacuated there after the storm and one of them died last night. There are concerns about possible contamination risks for anyone who came into contact with him.”
    Afoniki was a cool customer. His face didn’t change. He didn’t even blink. He didn’t ask either, but then he’d probably learned how not to blink or ask back in kindergarten.
    â€œIndeed? How unfortunate.” He didn’t say it wasn’t his problem, but she felt it quivering in the air between them.
    â€œIt seemed a bit far-fetched,” she said, adopting her I-didn’t-want-to-but-have-to mien, “but someone said you were there yesterday evening?”
    â€œIndeed?”
    He didn’t say he hadn’t been there, so she added, “We are required to warn anyone who had contact with the vic. Regs.” Since no one had read all the regs, it was easy to trot them out as an excuse for just about anything. Had it been long enough yet? Vi wanted to look at her tech, needed to know the time, but didn’t dare look away from the bad guy. And whatever might be lurking inside him. A pulse throbbed painfully behind one eye, possibly keeping time with Joe’s countdown.
    â€œRegs,” he echoed, his tone was smooth but just a hint of a crease formed between his brows.
    â€œWe can scan you for contaminants or you can see your own doctor, but I wouldn’t wait too long. Our vic went down pretty fast.”
    â€œIsn’t it fortunate that I was nowhere near the MEC?”
    She thought about asking him if he was sure, but it’s not like it was something you’d be unsure about.
    â€œWell, they say everyone has a double.”
    He did not seem enamored of the idea of a double. Which made her wonder if he really did have one. And if he did, what he’d do about it. She could see where one might come in handy for a bad guy, as long as it didn’t get around he had one. Which it just may have. She pretended to check her tech. “So, just to be clear, you don’t know a dirt sider, name of Jimbo?”
    This question verged into interrogation range, because she’d bet money he did know Jimbo and would bet even more money he’d never admit it. On the tail of the question, tension seeped in, stealing some of the brightness from the room. She really wished she’d asked Joe what to expect when…whatever was going to happen