Page 50 of Daybreak

Take care of you.

I need my Roadrunner to be safe.

She added her home address so he’d know where she lived, then buckled up and drove away.

* * *

Gunner’s sleep was restless.

He was already up when he got the text from Holly and smiled. Good thing none of the guys in the department had ever heard him called that, or it would have stuck years ago. To them, he was just Kingston.

He was debating with himself about calling in to let his lieutenant know he was back in town when he got a call from Asher. He answered quickly, hoping it was good news. “Hey, Asher. Please tell me you have info.”

“I know the Feds have info I’m not privy to. I know the Attorney General’s office is working with them, but it’s not shareable. We think Burgess Dixon is losing hold of his organization. Two more of his men were found dead. Supposedly they got into a fight and killed each other. That’s how the police who caught the case read it. But the Feds also know both men worked for Dixon. They aren’t sure if he’s cleaning house for a reason or just running scared.”

Gunner frowned. This was news, but none of it helped him. “So, nothing so far on fingering any dirty cops?”

“Nora is researching names in offshore accounts. That takes more time, and some of them are inaccessible. I’m sorry, buddy,” Asher said.

“It’s okay. I appreciate the effort. This kind of solidifies something I’ve been considering,” Gunner said.

“Like what?” Asher asked.

“I think I’m going to go fishing?”

Asher frowned. “What are you saying?”

“If you want to catch a fish, you need the right kind of bait. I need to know if there’s still someone out there who wants me dead, and I’m going to set myself up as bait and find out.”

Asher groaned. “What do you mean? What the hell are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to let everybody know I’m home, then wait and see if someone comes knocking.”

“That doesn’t make sense. How will you tell if it’s friend or foe?” Asher said.

“Nobody has been in this house but me and the cleaning company since I moved here, because I never invited anyone to come. Nobody will come knocking on my door to welcome me back. They will say it to my face when I walk into the department or not at all. Whoever comes to my house uninvited or unannounced will be here to destroy.”

“I don’t like it,” Asher said.

“Neither do I, but I also refuse to hide. I finally found someone to love, and I can’t even acknowledge her presence in my life for fear she’ll be used as bait to draw me out. Understand?”

Asher was surprised. “You have a girlfriend? When did all this happen?”

“Not so long ago. I ran into someone from home when I was in Whole Foods, and she’s all grown up.”

“Well, don’t keep me guessing. Who?” Asher said.

“Holly Dillon.”

Asher didn’t quite know what to say. “The little kid who was the bat girl for the baseball team?”

“Like I said… All grown up…and going through some serious grief right now since her mother’s death.”

“Dad told me about that. About Helen and some teenage boy hitting head on.”

“The medical examiner’s autopsy report told another story. Helen was already dead when the wreck happened. Massive heart attack. Likely slumped over on the steering wheel with her foot still on the gas when the boy came over the hill. He never saw her until it was too late because he was texting with his girlfriend,” Gunner said.

“My God… What a horrible, freak incident,” Asher said.