AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s hardly something he would discuss with coworkers over lunch.”
“Don’t even try to cover for him. His sudden need for surgery coincides with your ringleader’s vacation. Vacation,” he repeated with scorn. “I know Easton is up to something. You three musketeers are playing with fire, and you’re all going to get burned. Again.”
Rudkowski had given him an opening. He took it. “That’s why I called you.” He let that hover to be certain he had Rudkowski’s undivided attention. “Drex is up to something. And this time, I think he’s…” He paused, took a deep breath. “What he’s about to do could have serious repercussions. For all of us, but especially for him.”
“What’s he about to do? Where is he?”
“Un-huh. Before I tell you anything, we’ve got to strike a bargain.”
“No bargain.”
“Then enjoy your oatmeal.”
“Wait! All right. What kind of bargain?”
“Drex gets a scolding, nothing more. You’ve got to promise me that you won’t come down hard on him. He hasn’t done anything yet. He’s only talked about it.”
“I promise.”
Mike laughed. “You agreed way too fast, Rudkowski. You think I’d trust that?”
“I give you my word.”
“Like that counts for shit. I want it in writing.”
Rudkowski thought it over. “I’ll be as lenient as I can be. That’s the best I can offer. It’s not just me you’ve got to worry about, you know.”
“But your influence—”
“Will only go so far. They don’t call it a bureau for nothing. I’ve got to account to my higher-ups here in Louisville.”
Mike knew that to be the truth. “I guess that’ll have to be good enough.”
“Do we have a deal?”
“Yes. But I want witnesses to my voluntary surrender of information. I’ll turn over everything I have, but not before getting your sign-off on it, plus passes for Drex, Gif, and me.”
“Easton won’t thank you.”
“That’s what kept me awake last night. He’ll be pissed. But I hope I can convince him that he still has my loyalty. We share a commitment to getting this guy and putting him away.”
Rudkowski scoffed. “‘This guy.’ Nobody has proved there is a guy.”
“There’s a guy. You just don’t want to think so because you haven’t identified and captured him yourself. While he’s out there rooking and killing women, you’ll shuffle paper and look busy until the day you can retire.”
“While Easton is a man of action.”
He said it derisively, but Mike smiled. “You’re making my argument for me, Rudkowski. You’ve always put your resentment of Drex ahead of getting the bad guy. This creep is real, and I hope to God Drex eventually nails him.” He hesitated.
“But this time feels different, and it spooks me. I’ve felt it from the start, but new information has recently come to light. We’re talking about one sick dude, not just a con man. Gif has had a bad feeling, too, and we told Drex we did.”
“But he thinks he’s smarter than everybody.”
“He’s definitely smarter than you,” Mike said. “But he’s also single-minded and hardheaded. In typical Drex mode, he’s latched on to this intel and is running with it. I’m scared he’s running toward a cliff at full throttle, and, if he goes over, he’ll crash land. I told him that I wouldn’t help him dig his own grave. Or mine, either. And I’m not getting any younger.” He paused, cleared his throat. “I love him like a kid brother. But this time the stakes for stepping out of line are just too damn high.”
“You’re doing the right and responsible thing.”
Reverting to his customary snarl, Mike rebuked him. “Don’t sound so goddamn pious, Rudkowkski. You’ve already peed down your leg over this. Relish the moment. Have your field day. But I’m not feeling a bit good about what I’m doing. I’m betraying my best friend, even if it is for his own good.”
