Hostile Home Front [Black Ops Brotherhood 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free PDF

was the police officer who had come to her house. That man had been striking and unforgettable. Those steel-gray eyes haunted her. The only difference between this man and the one that had been at the house on Friday was his face and what he was wearing. He had shaved and Lieutenant Walsh was wearing a suit.
    “Let me see, Friday night. I got off work about seven twenty and went home. Friday was a pretty uneventful day for me.” Gavin shrugged.
    Amy was speechless.
    “Is there something I should know about Friday night?” Gavin asked politely.
    “N–No. M–My mistake,” Amy said quickly.
    Thankfully, the deputy chief of police turned and noticed Gavin.
    “Gavin!” the man exclaimed.
    “Chief,” Gavin said, grasping his hand in a robust shake.
    “I didn’t know you were so community minded!” the deputy chief said.
    “Serve and protect, isn’t that what we do, sir?” Gavin said.
    “Well then, you can help us with the food drive and distribution next week for Thanksgiving. It’s our charity. It kicks off Blue Santa.” The deputy chief laughed.
    “I’ve already recruited Amy for that duty, Chuck,” David said.
    “Be happy to do whatever I can, sir. Where do I need to show up?” Gavin asked.
    “I’ll make sure you get the e-mail. Again ,” the deputy chief said with a grin.
    Gavin smiled sheepishly and glanced at Amy.
    A nasal man announced the festivities at the podium.
    Irene turned to Amy. “I gave your seat to the mayor, since he was the first speaker. We forgot to seat him at the head table. And I really don’t want to move Frank. You know how he’ll whine.”
    “Of course. It really doesn’t matter where I sit,” Amy said.
    “Thank you, Amy, I really screwed up,” Irene said.
    Gavin started to take a seat next to his boss when Irene stopped him.
    “Gavin, do you mind sitting on the other side of David?” Irene asked.
    “No problem.”
    Amy hadn’t taken her seat and there was no other empty seat at the table other than the one next to Gavin. She started to sit when Gavin stood and pulled out her chair.
    As the evening’s festivities started, Chief Ortiz leaned over and she heard David comment to Gavin.
    “You do have manners, huh? Badass,” Ortiz chided.
    Gavin smiled and said nothing. Amy kept trying not to look at Lieutenant Walsh, but she noticed that he glanced over at the head table. A confused look crossed his face as he looked at her and then turned and looked at her aunt. Irene winked at him and turned away. She looked at the head table. She found it odd that Irene had been wrong. There was an empty seat. In fact it was the place where Irene had instructed Amy to sit initially.
     
    * * * *
     
    Toward end of the program, Amy was introduced and stood to give her speech. Gavin was grateful. Amy was short and to the point. The president of the Library Foundation Board went way over time and this thing seemed to be dragging. Finally the gala opened up its annual casino night. He took a seat at the table where he had been earlier, halfway listening to a conversation between the chief and the mayor. He had lost sight of Amy and was no longer interested in the evening. Mrs. Ortiz found him sitting alone.
    “Gavin! Aren’t you going to join in the casino night? Did you get your chips?” Irene asked
    “Yes, ma’am,” Gavin said.
    “I hear the blackjack table is pretty empty,” Irene said, turning away.
    Gavin wanted to make his escape. Maybe blowing all of his play money would be his ticket out of here. He walked toward the back of the hall and looked around. There were all kinds of tables and slots available. He glanced at the blackjack table and noticed Amy was sitting there. He smiled. Irene Ortiz was playing matchmaker. He took the empty chair next to her and was dealt into the game. Irene won’t have to work very hard to get me to look that way.
    About three hands into the game, Amy wasn’t doing well and was almost out of chips. Gavin noticed she was going over