Death in Her Eyes (A Mac Everett Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

help you?”
    “How long since your separation?” he asked.
    Since I’d never been married, I assumed he wanted to know how long I’d been out of the service. Old army guys never forget their time in uniform.
    “It’s been a while, sir.” I replied.
    “If you don’t mind my saying so, you don’t look so good, son. Having trouble reintegrating? You look tense and…”
    Really Sherlock? You are clever. The general’s words didn’t come out as criticism, it was more as if he was concerned, but it stung nonetheless.
    “I’m not tense, just terribly, terribly alert,” I snapped. The joke didn’t even fall flat. The silence that followed was uncomfortable for me, but the general just looked at me with his mocking smile. He looked down and to his right, an indication of an internal dialogue. He was asking himself questions, I guessed about me.
    “I’ve been going to the VA for a while now,” I said at last. “It’s getting better,” I replied, not sure I believed what I’d said.
    “We’re going to play it like that, are we?” he said. “ ‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it, is not wise,’ Proverbs twenty, verse one,” he said. “I’ve looked after troops a long time. I’ll give it to you straight. You look like shit unless that’s the style now.”
    “I’ve had my ups and downs, sir. Like I said things are getting better.”
    “None of my business, but settling back into civilian life can be tough when you’ve seen action.”
    "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go," I said.
    The general snorted, but didn’t smile. “Oscar Wilde isn’t one of my favorite people. I prefer Lincoln, Stonewall Jackson, Edmund Burke, those sorts of men, more historical figures, and the most important book, the Bible.”
    The immortal words of Frank Sinatra came to mind, ‘Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy’, but I thought I’d sit on that thought. I nodded and tried to muster a disarming smile. I don’t think it worked.
    “If you need help you call me, you hear?” he said. His face didn’t change as he said this and I had the feeling he’d made the offer before, maybe too many times.
    “Yes, sir,” I said with a little nod.
    Turning to the butler he said, “Norris, a couple iced teas if you please. We’ll take them by the lake.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “If you’d like something stronger I can sweeten that for you,” General Hunt said looking at me.
    “No, thank you, sir, I never mix my drinking with my work,” I replied. “Sweet tea will be fine.”
    “Good man. A southern gentleman drinks his tea sweet and his intoxicants slow. I respect a man who knows how to control his liquor. You can control your liquor?”
    “To me controlling my liquor means don’t spill any. My work and my drinking are two separate things. I take them both seriously,” I replied.
    “That’s all, Norris.”
    He gave the butler a nod and Norris was gone like a faded echo.
    When Norris was gone, the general spoke again. “ ‘The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers’, First Peter, Four, verse Seven.”
    The general nodded a few times more times, pursed his lips, holding me in an intense gaze. He was sizing me up. Finally, he said, “You’re quite the smart ass, aren’t you?”
    My host grabbed his towel and ran it over his face again.
    “I’ve heard that before, but better a smart ass than a dumb ass. You didn’t call me all the way for some a lecture on reintegration. What do you want from me, sir? I’ve got a couple cold ones waiting for me at home.”
    “There’s a fine line between being smart and a smart ass. You’re about to cross it. You always try to talk yourself out of a job?”
    “Not usually, I just don’t like surprises. Tell me what you want and I’ll tell you if I can do it and how much it’ll cost.”
    He hesitated a couple