Bone Cold Read Online Free PDF

aren’t any secrets in the NOPD. At least ones that everybody doesn’t know. Catch you later.”
    Quentin walked away without a backward glance. He found Terry just where Shannon had promised, a pool cue in his hand and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He looked up at Quentin, eyes glazed from drink.
    Terry had been here awhile already.
    â€œâ€™Bout time you got your ass down here. Night’s half over already.”
    â€œOnly if you’ve already drunk so much you’re going to be out cold an hour from now.” Quentin sauntered into the room. He pulled a chair from one of the tables, swung it around and straddled it. “Covered for you with the captain.”
    Terry lined up his shot, drew back on the cue then followed through. The ball sailed into the pocket. “Where was I? The john?”
    â€œYou went to see Penny. To talk.”
    â€œThat bitch? No thank you.”
    Quentin cringed. He’d known Penny Landry for ten years and she was many things, bitch not among them. Terry hurt, he was angry and bitter, but still Quentin couldn’t let it pass. Some things just weren’t right.
    He took a swallow of his beer, working to keep hisdemeanor casual. “Seems to me she’s doing what she feels she has to. For herself and the kids.”
    Terry missed his shot and swore. His opponent, a man Quentin had seen run a table many a time, smiled and stepped up to shoot.
    Terry downed the last of his beer, then glared at Quentin. “Whose side you on, partner?”
    â€œI didn’t know I had to take sides.”
    â€œDamn right you do.”
    â€œPenny’s a friend.” Quentin met the other man’s gaze evenly. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
    Terry flushed. “This is just f’cking wonderful. Outstanding. My best friend’s telling me he—”
    â€œEight in the corner.”
    They turned and watched as the other player nailed the shot.
    â€œRerack?” he asked.
    â€œScrew it. The table’s yours.” Terry looked at Quentin. “I need a drink.”
    The last thing his partner needed was another drink. But stating the obvious would serve no purpose but anger the other man. They left the pool room and headed out front.
    In the twenty or so minutes he’d been in back, the crowd in the bar had doubled. Quentin saw a number of their fellow officers, his brothers Percy and Spencer among them. They caught sight of him and started over.
    â€œWhat do you say we get out of here and go grab some grub? I’ll ask Percy and Spencer along.”
    â€œHell no.” Terry’s words slurred. “The night’s young. Ripe with possibil… Hey now, who do we have here?”
    Quentin shifted his gaze in the direction Terryindicated. A woman in a spandex minidress was shaking it on the floor. She wore her bottle-enhanced red hair long, in a mass of tousled waves. As she danced, she moved her fingers through it, her gold bangle bracelets jangling as she did. It wasn’t clear if she was dancing with one man, several or just putting on a show for them all.
    And a show it was; a number of bar patrons had already gathered around to watch. Quentin and Terry joined them.
    After a moment, Quentin glanced at his partner. “I don’t know, Terry, she looks—”
    â€œShe looks good. Damn good.”
    What Quentin had been about to say was, this woman didn’t look the type to be messed with. She didn’t look like the type who would go around with cops, except on the sly. Not exactly a rich bitch, but a climber. One of those women who valued prestige, position and Armani suits.
    She would choose to hang out with the guys who could give her those. A cop could not. Tonight, obviously, she’d gone slumming.
    His brothers made it across the bar. Percy spoke first. “What’s happening, big bro? Hey, Terry.”
    Quentin glanced at his brothers. The family resemblance between the two