Dead in the Water (A Cal Murphy Thriller Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

what you’re talking about,” Johnson said. “All I know is that something happened on your visit to Bryant that made you change your mind. And I want to know what we can do to change it back.”
    “Bring back Tre’vell. That’ll change it.”
    Johnson knew there was no worthwhile response to Dixon’s request. It was best to remain silent and let the kid vent.
    Dixon stared out into the distance before returning his gaze back toward Johnson.
    “You did this,” Dixon said. “I know you did.”
    “Did what? Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
    “Don’t play dumb with me.”
    “I’m not playing dumb. I’d just like to know what you’re talking about. Like I said before, I’m just here to see what I can do.”
    “You can’t do anything now. It’s too late. I should’ve never listened to you in the first place. Just another rich old man making your way down here to take advantage of us. You don’t care about me—you just care about winnin’ football games and drinkin’ with your friends. But this is my life we’re talking about here, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let you screw it up any more than you already have.”
    Dixon’s voice rose so much as he spoke that it drew his father outside. Mr. Dixon stumbled through the front door and onto the porch.
    “H-h-heeeey. Is this man messsin’ wit you?” Mr. Dixon asked his son while pointing at Johnson.
    Dixon looked down and shook his head.
    “It’s okay, Pop. I can handle this.”
    Mr. Dixon shoved his forefinger into Johnson’s chest. “Youuuu better leave mah boy alone, ya hear?” He didn’t wait for answer before disappearing back inside.
    Johnson seized the moment.
    “Dominique, your life is only going to get better from here on out. Your destiny is greater than a job you hate that helps you barely survive and leaves you drunk on the weekend. I want to help you achieve greatness. Why is that so hard for you to accept? This isn’t about me. This is about you and what I can do to help you succeed in life.”
    This wasn’t the first time Johnson dug deep and pulled out an inspirational speech. It was utter nonsense that he sold with fervor. Dixon had just about pegged him. Johnson did care about winning football games, though it was more about beating Alabama than anything else. And if the rumors were true that Alabama was Dixon’s preferred school, Johnson was going to fight like hell to make sure that never happened.
    Dixon stared at the ground in silence.
    Johnson patted Dixon on the back before wrapping up his pitch.
    “You’re good enough to have it all one day, Dominique. But you’re also good enough to have anything you want right now. You just say the word, okay?”
    Dixon nodded as he remained transfixed on the ground.
    Johnson returned to his truck and began heading back toward town. His objective seemed simple enough: get Johnson to recommit to Bryant. But achieving such a goal seemed like a formidable task in the wake of his conversation. Despite his smooth speech, Johnson knew Dixon was angry over what happened to Baker. And he couldn’t blame the kid either.
    But something had happened on Baker and Dixon’s visit to Bryant. Nobody knew what it was—at least if they did, they weren’t telling him about it. If he had any hope of success, he needed to know what it was that happened. He needed to know why Tre’vell Baker was dead—and he needed to know why Dixon thought he had something to do with it.

CHAPTER 5
    ON MONDAY MORNING, CAL TRUDGED through security at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. He wondered how the busiest airport in the world could be so inept at screening so many passengers. It was a nightmare as usual. Long lines full of grumpy business travelers who had yet to ingest the necessary level of caffeine to ease the pain of waiting to be either frisked, wanded or X-rayed. Cal just wanted to be on his plane for New Orleans and grab a few extra minutes of sleep.
    Once