AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thanks.” Jo’s phone shrilled a call. She grabbed it out of her pocket and checked the number. “It’s Hayes, calling instead of texting.”
Lopez’s face froze. “That’s never good.”
Jo shook her head as she tapped on the call. “Fournier.”
Hayes’ voice shot out high and sharp. “The bastard spotted Goran and Coyne. He figured out we were tailing him.”
Jo’s brain kicked into gear, calculating the repercussions. “Not a problem. It would have been better if he hadn’t realized, but it doesn’t really matter. The other team is about to go out and relieve them, we can just make sure—”
“No,” Hayes cut her off. “We can’t. Because he called his lawyer and his lawyer called the DA’s office. He said the tail constitutes clear retaliation for the lawsuit Ossokov filed. Barbieri told me to pull it back immediately.”
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
“Son of a bitch.” Arnett slammed a fist on Lopez’s desk. “How the hell did he spot them?”
Jo paced the room, thinking. “We need to warn Murphy.”
“There’s no point. You heard what he said, he doesn’t give two shits if Ossokov shows up to kill him.” Arnett threw a hand out dismissively. “Hell, it sounded like he’d welcome it.”
“Doesn’t matter, we have to try,” Jo said.
“He’s not going to answer.” Arnett pulled out his phone and tapped to put through the call. They waited as it went through, and the line rang over speakerphone. He slapped the call off. “We’re the last people he wants to talk to after what he told us today.”
“Give me the number,” Lopez said. Arnett gave it to her, and she put through the call. They waited again as it rang, then went to voice mail.
“Dammit.” Jo punched her thigh as she paced. “How about his wife? Will she pick up your call?”
“She might, but since she left him about a year ago, I’m not sure how useful that’ll be,” Arnett said.
She changed direction toward the door. “Then we need to go to his house in person.”
* * *
Arnett followed her. “You want me to go with, or steer clear?”
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t lay down the foundation of a lasting friendship with him earlier today,” she said. “He’s more likely to listen to you, and I can’t see why it would be a problem for the lawsuit.”
They pulled up to Murphy’s salt-box colonial just outside of Oakhurst fifteen minutes later. Jo’s stomach dropped at the sight of the dark windows. “I’m guessing he’s not the sort to go to bed at eight?”
“Your guess is as good as mine these days.” Arnett strode up the driveway and rapped on the front door. “Steve, open up.”
Jo leaned close to the door, but couldn’t hear any movement inside. “Try calling him again? Maybe we’ll hear his phone ringing.”
Arnett pulled out his phone and tapped. “It’s ringing. And now it went to voice mail again.” He stabbed at the phone to disconnect.
“I didn’t hear any ringing inside. Do you think he’d still be over at The Wooden Leg?” Jo asked.
“After this long? I’m not sure whether to hope he is or he isn’t.” He shot off toward the car.
“I’ll drive,” Jo said. “You try his ex-wife.”
He nodded, slid into the car, and dialed. After two rings, she picked up. “Hello?”
Arnett jumped in, explaining what was going on.
Once he got out the gist, she interrupted. “No, sorry. I can’t get sucked back in. That’s why I left, the wondering where he was at all hours, if he was drunk or dead somewhere. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.” She hung up.
Arnett slammed the phone against his leg. “Mother. Fuck.”
