Against the Sky Read Online Free PDF

work.”
    â€œI never said I didn’t want to work. I just want to work at something different.”
    â€œAll right, so while you’re looking for something different, how about a temporary job? You know Marvin Baxter? Owns Baxter Security? One of his guys quit without notice, and he’s got some rich corporate oil man flying into Anchorage who needs protection. You’d be working eight-hour shifts, rotating with two other guys. You interested?”
    Nick glanced over at the TV. He was going to start climbing the walls if he didn’t find something to do besides watch Dr. Phil and Ellen Degeneres. Besides, he was tired of thinking of Samantha Hollis and all the things he wanted to do to her luscious little body. Things he would probably be fantasizing about for the rest of his life.
    â€œYeah, I’m interested. When do I start?”
    Cord cocked a dark gold eyebrow. “Aren’t you even going to ask me what it pays?”
    Nick just grunted. “Another two days, I’d probably do it for free.”
    Cord chuckled. “I’ll tell him you’re in. It’ll only be for a couple of weeks. Maybe by then, you’ll have figured out what you want to do—or get your ass back to working Homicide, where you belong.”
    â€œThat’s not gonna happen.” He wanted a change, something that wouldn’t give him more nightmares.
    â€œFine. At least this’ll give you something to do.”
    Nick walked Cord outside, waited beneath the overhanging porch while his friend climbed into his Chevy Silverado pickup and started the engine. The house wasn’t much, just a three-bedroom, two-bath wood-frame, but it sat on five forested acres. From the porch you could see Fish Lake, walk down through the trees and be sitting on your dock in a couple of minutes. The cabin had a masculine, outdoor feel, with some great mounted trophy fish on the living room walls, along with old wicker creels and antique rods his dad had given him.
    Best of all, the place was his now, bought and paid for with some of the inheritance money he had received from the sale of the ranch.
    Cord was just pulling away when Nick spotted Jimmy Evans and his dog, a golden retriever named Duke, walking beneath the pine trees along the road toward the house. Nick hadn’t seen the kid since he got back from Vegas. He hoped the boy was doing okay, but the solemn look on Jimmy’s face made him wonder.
    At least he had another excuse not to watch the f-ing TV.
    Or dwell on his lost weekend with Samantha.
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    Jimmy spotted Nick on the porch and picked up his pace. He’d given his friend a couple of days to get home and settled before he’d come down the hill to see him.
    Or at least he’d told himself that was the reason. Mostly, he’d been trying to think what he was going to say.
    Nick waved at him from the porch. “Hey, Jimmy!”
    Jimmy waved back. “Hey, Nick!” He reached the steps and paused. “Okay if I come in for a minute?”
    â€œSure, come on up.”
    Jimmy climbed the stairs, and they walked into the house together. Jimmy sat down on the sofa in front of the river rock fireplace, and Nick sat down in one of the chairs.
    â€œHow you doin’, buddy?” Nick asked.
    Jimmy shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, I guess. Looks like my dad left the house to me and Aunt Mary, so we both get to stay there.”
    â€œThat’s great, Jim. I was hoping it would work out that way.”
    â€œI really miss him, you know?”
    Nick sat forward in the chair. “I was older when I lost my parents, first my mom and then my dad. But I still miss them. It’s hard at first. Eventually, it’ll get better.”
    â€œYeah, I guess. The thing is . . . umm . . . I . . . umm . . .”
    â€œWhat is it, Jim?”
    He took a deep breath. He was afraid to tell Nick, afraid of what might happen. But he wasn’t a coward and he owed it