The Columbus Code by Mike Evans Read Free Book Online Page B

desk, kicked his chair across the room, punched a hole in the wall, and broke the window when you threw your gun at it.”
    Winters turned to face her. “All right. I got upset when they put me on leave.”
    â€œI think there was more to it than that.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œLike the trauma of that raid.”
    Winters shoved his hands into his pockets. “Have you ever been in a life-and-death situation?”
    â€œNo, but you have—more than a few times. It was your job to be in those situations. If we can figure out what happened in here”—Archer put her hand to her chest—“then you’ll have a chance.”
    â€œTo get back to work.”
    â€œTo get back to yourself.”
    Winters hated it when she said stuff like that, but once again he held back. Archer was right about one thing. If he didn’t work with her, he had no chance at all. “Okay,” he said. “What do you want to know?”
    â€œDid you seek counseling after your wife died?”
    The air seemed to go out of the room and Winters glared at her. “What happened to my wife has nothing to do with this. Are we clear on that?” His face was tense and the muscles in his jaw flexed. “Don’t bring it up again.”
    Archer rose from her chair. “I think that’s enough for today.”
    For once, he agreed with her.
    Outside the building, Winters unlocked his bike from the handicap rail and sped up Nineteenth Street, breathing in the smells of every restaurant he passed. He was several blocks into the ride before he stopped imagining ways to have Archer fired, along with the monologue he would deliver right before he told her where to put her psychological services.
    Avoiding pain? Of course he was avoiding pain. Who didn’t?
    Yes, he was worried about his career. Yes, he wanted to get backto work. Why did she think he kept coming to see her every week? To look at her legs? They weren’t
that
great.
    Winters erased that last remark. He didn’t go there with women. He didn’t go anywhere with women—because he’d had the best and lost her.
    The shrill sound of a truck’s horn snapped him back to the present and he swerved the bike to a halt. His heart slammed in his chest. He had to get a handle on this. His career was all he had. Maria obviously didn’t want a relationship with him.
    But if getting a handle on it meant talking about Anne . . . that wasn’t happening. That wasn’t happening at all.

    The light was already shifting by the time they actually got started. There was the matter of personnel to consider.
    â€œWe got enough people?” Winters asked Smith.
    â€œOakland PD has the area cordoned off, four blocks in every direction. SWAT is ready to join our guys at the front door. An ATF team is waiting for you in back. And the sheriff’s office has men patrolling the perimeter just in case.”
    â€œMight not be enough,” Winters said.
    A grin tightened Smith’s moustache, but only briefly. “You don’t really think we need more.”
    â€œI think if we get in there and find out we’re shorthanded, it’ll be too late to matter.”
    Smith adjusted the bill of his ball cap. “You want me to get some more guys up here? FBI would be all too glad to dive in on this case. They’ve been lobbying for it for two months.”
    â€œNever mind,” Winters said. “I’d rather close this one by myself than ask them for help.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    Winters had almost forgotten Donleavy was there. His previous bravado had faded, and the skin around his mouth had gone pale.
    â€œWe’re okay,” Winters said.
    He let his eyes dart to the five Secret Service agents gathered near the curb. Donleavy nodded, although he didn’t look at all relieved.
    â€œYou carrying?” Winters asked.
    Donleavy patted his right hip, and Winters smothered a