AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Roxie said, “After he died, did you ever look at copies of his medical information?”
There were more questions than that to ask, but considering her career field, it was a good place to start.
Sierra nodded. “I had the ME walk me through the report he made, and I tried to get him to do an autopsy. He didn’t see a reason to, and I didn’t have the money to pay for it.”
Peter leaned forward in his chair. “But you got the impression there was more to the story than what the police reports said?”
“My uncle shouldn’t have been on the streets. He was supposed to be in a treatment program, and the idea he would kill that cop? It’s unbelievable.” She shook her head. “He called me a few days before. He sounded…better. Like things were working.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Roxie had to say it.
“No one has ever said that to me. Not once.” Sierra rubbed her nose. “So, thank you.”
Peter said, “Have you looked into the center where he was supposed to be in treatment?”
“I went by and tried to talk to them. I applied for a job there when they had an opening for an RN a couple of years ago. They never called me in for an interview even.” Sierra sighed. “I’ve looked into them, but they’re pretty closed mouthed. The one time I was supposed to go to coffee with a nurse who worked there, she never showed. I don’t know what else I could’ve done.”
Roxie said, “We’re going to look into it.”
“Thank you.” Sierra’s expression washed with relief. “Thank you.”
ELEVEN
Morgan Alakov shuffled in his orange jumpsuit and white canvas shoes to the end of the cafeteria line and headed for the tables. More than one group watched him go, evil intention in their eyes. He’d been fighting since he was old enough to stand upright on his own, scrapping with everyone who wanted to fight him and bleeding for every ounce of respect he’d earned.
For example, the way the table of Russians watched with an entirely different expression. He lifted his chin as he headed toward them, then at the last second, set his tray down in front of an older man with thinning hair and big glasses.
“Don’t sit here.” His voice shook.
Morgan planted his behind on the bench but didn’t start eating. The man across from him had been trading with other inmates for extra pudding by the look of it. That might give him something to bargain with if it came down to it. “Time to talk.”
“I’m eating.”
“I’m not here for the mashed potatoes.” Sure, he’d had a warrant out for his arrest, but there was a reason the cops had found him this morning. The fact Karina had been in the car might’ve put a wrench in things, depending on how smart that cop was, the one who thought he was her big brother. And depending on how well she could keep her mouth shut.
The man across from him was the best chemist in the Pacific Northwest, and nothing he did was legit.
“You know who I work for.” Morgan pushed up his sleeve so the chemist could see the bratva tattoo he’d worn so long it was faded. “So you can probably guess why I’m here.”
Someone walked by, close enough they were clearly trying to hear what he and the chemist were saying. Did this man across from him have an agreement with someone else in this room—another group he was going to work for?
Morgan would kill whoever that was, but drawing attention like that was bad for business. No one needed the media in an uproar about a death in county lockup. Not after his family had murdered another man in a police station in Benson a few months ago—a betrayal Raphi wasnothappy about.
The killer had been killed by the cops, case closed. Except Raphi’s own brother had been the one who’d done it…before his death. No one had expected Nico’s play for the crown. Or what he’d done to get their father’s watch from his corpse.
Raphi had been livid. He’d murdered one of his favorite girlfriends in a fit of rage, strangling her to death. Morgan had disposed of the body as ordered, because it was never worth crossing Raphi when he was like that.
Now the man was in charge of the family. There was no telling him no. Ever.
Things would be like this from now on, and it was up to them all to get used to it.
The chemist swallowed a bite of beef and gravy that he’d swiped through mash. Morgan’s stomach flipped over. The chemist shrugged. “You want me to come up with something for you. Something special?”
He wasn’t here for whatever the chemist might have cooking in his brain. They didn’t deal with long shots like that. “Nope.”
The chemist’s brows flickered. “Then what?” He was definitely intrigued, which was good for business. He’d be motivated to do the work out of curiosity, plus the payout Raphi was working on.
“I want you to finish something that was started.” Morgan reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He slid it across the table. “Solve a puzzle for us. We’ll make it worth your while.”
