Beyond the Call of Duty Read Online Free PDF Page A

went to the passenger side, opening the door for him and helping him out. “You stay behind me.” She waited until he nodded. “Good.”
    * * * *
    He watched as she walked toward the door leading inside the house. She held that monster .45 in her small hands as she followed police procedures to clear a room. Her movements were clean and sharp, almost like a dance, as she checked out each corner and behind each door. He followed her, peering into the house before going in.
    The house wasn’t bad, he thought, and it smelled better than his apartment. Mrs. O’Reilly and her corned beef and cabbage; she lived in the apartment above his and smelled up the entire building every Thursday night. Gabe found he actually missed the smell.
    The garage door led into the kitchen, and he stepped onto the linoleum, peering curiously into the rest of the house he could see.
    There was a large living room, furnished with garage-sale furniture. Nothing matched, though that didn’t bother him. It made it almost seem homier. Before he had a chance to explore any further, Lexi walked back into the kitchen, two men in suits following her. He could see the telltale bulge under their arms and knew them for what they were; cops.
    “This is Gerald and Joe,” she said, nodding at each of the men as she introduced them. “They are going to be here when I’m not, Gabe. If you have any problems or questions, you can ask them and they’ll be happy to help you.” She reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the two bottles of pills the nurse gave her. “I’m going to run to the store and pick up groceries. Is there anything specific that you want?”
    “A bottle of Jack?” he asked, seeing the stubborn look come over her face.
    “Not with the drugs you’re on. We’re trying to keep you alive, not put you back in the hospital with an overdose. Stay away from windows and get some rest, Gabe. I’ll be back in a bit.” She nodded at the other two men and headed back out the way she came in. She went through the door, glancing back at the two suits. “Lock this.”
    Then she was gone.
    Gabe sighed heavily. He moved slowly into the living room, pushing the heavy curtains to the side just enough so he could watch her move out of the driveway.
    “She wants you to rest,” Gerald said, following him into the kitchen.
    “Do I care?” he asked, glancing back at the man.
    “Because Lexi Hunter is one of the best. She’ll keep you safe if you listen to her. There are three bedrooms upstairs, so pick whichever one you want. As Lexi said; stay away from the windows.”
    Gabe sighed and rose clumsily to his feet. He picked up the two bottles she left on the counter and made his way to the staircase, groaning as he climbed up the carpeted stairs. There were four closed doors in the upstairs hallway. Opening the first door, he glanced into the room and then went and checked out the other rooms, finally choosing the only one with an en suite bathroom.
    Maybe he was overreacting, but he was not happy to be kidnapped from his hospital room, dragged halfway across the state and dumped in a house far from every one and everything he knew. He went into the bathroom and set the pill bottles down on the counter by the sink. He sank down on the toilet seat cover and dropped his head into his hands.
    He winced as the stitches in his stomach were pulled by his huge sigh. His thoughts were as dark as any future he could see for himself at the moment. He needed information, and he needed to know how long they thought he was going to stay here.
    “Dammit, Tony. Why did you have to piss off the Traeger family?” A sudden thought hit him like a ton of bricks. “Teri...” he said softly and helplessly. He wondered if either of the two schmucks downstairs would know if she were okay or not. He had to find out. She’d been Tony’s mistress and had become one of his best friends.
    He got up, holding in a moan as the pain started to become a little more