LifeoftheParty Read Online Free PDF Page A

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with her again,” Halchak said, not as question.
    “She wants to.”
    “You have to. Seems she really is in some deep shit.” He sat
back. “I take it you’ve heard of Jack Falco.”
    “The congressman? The one they call ‘the ladies’ choice’?
Yeah, a big player. I think I’ve even voted for him once or twice.”
    Halchak snorted. “So you do take your head out of your ass
sometimes.”
    “Every now and then,” Doug said, dropping to a chair. “You
know, after I’m done beating off to the porn sites.”
    Another snort. “Anyway, he’s primed to toss his hat in the
ring for governor next run.”
    “Yeah? So what’s this got to do with Gina?”
    Halchak raised a brow. “I guess you really didn’t have time
to talk. She’s his chief of staff.”
    Now it was Doug’s turn at surprise. “Last I heard she was
working for the DNC, you know, the Democratic party, down in Washington.”
    “You need to update your surveillance, bucko, she left them
for K Street.” Halchak checked his screen again. “Says here that’s where she
hooked up with Falco, lobbying for the DNA Identification Clearance Act, the
bill he co-sponsored.”
    Doug’s fists tightened. So that’s where she’d been, trailing
after that show pony? He wanted to break the fucker’s neck. He shifted in the
chair. “Again, what’s it got to do with Gina?”
    “Falco, as you might know, has been trying for years to get
DNA identification out there as normal procedure in capital cases. But it
hasn’t made some people too happy. I’m sure you’ve heard of prisoners locked up
for years, getting their DNA analyzed, and it proves them innocent. Well, Gina
Bardone has defended about a dozen or so of these cases, and every one of them
got sprung.”
    “Why am I not surprised,” Doug mumbled.
    “What?”
    “Nothing.”
    Halchak eyed him but continued. “Anyway, that’s what brought
her and Falco together, more or less. And that’s what also made Gina more
visible. And more of a target.”
    Doug leaned forward in his chair. “What are you saying?”
    “I’m saying someone wants to kill her.”
    His breath caught. It was still there. He wanted to choke
the life out of anyone even threatening a hair on her head. His hands gripped
the armrests. “You better explain yourself, Captain.”
    Halchak eyed him coolly. It was clear he’d been tested by
far worse. “So far all it’s been is emails. But there’s a big rally coming up
this Sunday where Falco’s officially announcing he’s running for governor, and
they figured this is where whoever’s threatening her will make their move.
Because of his impending announcement, the state police will give him
protection if he wants it, especially because of this rally. So he’s got a plain-clothes
out with him for all public appearances.”
    “Wait a minute.” The image of Gina with his pistol took on
new meaning. “You mean that bastard gets protection but he’ll just let her
hang?”
    “He’s not letting her hang. Since Camden, and Riverboro
where the rally’s going to be, fall into Falco’s congressional district, he can
get her local protection. She got to pick and she picked you.” Halchak’s phone
rang. “Now every second you wait you leave her exposed. I suggest you get to
it.” He turned to the ringing phone. Doug stood up, summarily dismissed.
    He left the captain’s office in a daze. She picked you. It made a good story. He could almost believe it. Yet no matter how much he
still hurt, the thought of anyone out to harm Gina nearly sent him into a blind
rage. He had no choice. He had to go to her. And once he did, if this afternoon
was any indicator, he knew there was no way he could keep himself from her.
    Doug snaked through the rows of desks in the detective unit,
passing his own and Stewart’s, both vacant for the foreseeable future, and took
the elevator to the basement. He walked the long hallway to the last door at
the end. Forensics , it said, Lateesha