AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The shot rang out.
It was like a frozen instant in time. No one moved, no one breathed.
The round passed right through Southern’s head and out the back. She stood there, dead, for less than a second. And then she toppled to the dirt.
Dawson screamed and ran toward them.
They all looked around to see the source of the shot.
From a hundred yards behind them, Shane rose from a prone position on the ground, his rifle and scope in hand.
“I was a sniper in the Army,” he said quietly.
Robie looked at Southern’s body.
“And a good one,” he said.
“THEY SAY YOU’RE GOINGto make a pretty full recovery,” said Jamison.
She and Decker were looking down at Joe Kelly, who was lying in a hospital bed.
He had undergone surgery for a broken arm, leg, and hip, and the removal of some grenade shrapnel.
He looked up at them with a weary, troubled expression.
“I . . . I still can’t believe it about Liz.”
“It saved her a lifetime in prison,” said Jamison.
Decker kept his gaze on Kelly. “What are you going to do now?”
“What else? Soon as I get all healed up, going back to being a cop.”
“You might have other options,” said a voice.
They all turned to see Shane walk in the door.
He came to stand next to the bed.
Kelly looked up at him, his eyes growing watery. “I was hoping you’d come by.”
Shane put a hand on Kelly’s shoulder. “You’ve been through hell and back, Joe.”
“We both have, Shane.”
“And we’ll get through it, together.”
“You never said why you were out at Liz’s that night,” said Decker.
“I was out driving. Saw Caroline pass by. Decided to follow her. I hadn’t talked to her alone for a while. I just wanted to see how she was doing. Then she got to Liz’s and all hell broke loose. I grabbed my rifle. When you shouted ‘Don’t!’ I took the shot.” He shook his head, and his expression was one of misery. “Took shots like that a lot overseas. Never thought I’d have to do it here. I knew Liz . . . I liked her.”
Jamison said, “What did you mean by ‘other options’?”
“I’m a rich dude,” said Shane, now grinning weakly. “Need somebody to help me run the business. Too much for just me.”
“Hell, I’m not a businessman, Shane,” said Kelly.
“Anybody can learn to be a businessman. Look at me.” His tone became more serious. “The thing is, Joe, I trust you. That matters more to me than you know.”
