Marked Man II - 02 Read Online Free PDF Page B

so.”
     
    “Nobody said that. All I’m saying is right now, we wouldn’t be…”
     
    “No, but we still would be no closer to finding anything out about the operation as it extends above and beyond Shirokov. I told you it’s bigger than him.”
     
    “Seems big enough already. I should have put one in his brain, not his damn foot.”
     
    Bollier was not a sentimental woman, but above all else she appreciated practicality. If nothing else Jordan Ross had that in spades. He would have made an excellent cop, she thought, if things had turned out different. Slowly she reached out and touched Jordan’s hand.
     
    “It must have been hard. But you did the right thing.”
     
    “Doesn’t feel that way. Now it looks like he might get away with everything.”
     
    “Hey. He won’t. He won’t. There’s no way that we will let him. Whatever the jury decides, however it turns out, he will not get away with it.”
     
    “He’s already gotten off for enough. Did I ever tell you about the last conversation that I had with Sarah before the accident?”
     
    A chill passed through Bollier that she hoped she hid well enough. The arrangement with Jordan Ross had been strictly business. Both of them wanted revenge against the Russians, she had the knowledge, he had the expertise and nothing else to lose. Along with Agent Clemons’ resources they made a dynamic team, but that was the extent of it. They weren’t friends and Jordan Ross had never talked about his family before.
     
    Bollier was an unapologetic introvert and It served her extremely well at her job. That keen analytical mind could recall every detail, every angle from a case and work towards a solution even when she was focused on something else. But she usually had no idea how to handle emotionally-charged discussions. She felt like she should say something but didn’t. She hoped it was one of those appropriate silences when you were waiting for the other person to say something meaningful. When Jordan Ross started talking again she felt a flood of relief.
     
    “We were arguing. First it was about how hot it was in the car. Sarah was always too warm, everywhere we went. At the fundraiser in D.C. that night she complained it was too hot, then in the car on the way back…”
     
    Jordan stopped. Bollier wasn’t sure what to say so she said I’m sorry. Another short silence passed and then Jordan repeated his regret that he should have killed Shirokov when he had the chance. Bollier shifted uneasily on the bench, which was all hard cedar and right angles.
     
    “Who knows? Maybe you’ll get another chance.”
     
    “Not if he’s convicted. Out here, in the open I can get to him maybe. If he’s locked up in Sing Sing until doomsday forget it. Anyway. I’m sure you didn’t call me just to have a nice little riverside chat. What’s up?”
     
    A lump in her throat kept Bollier from speaking for a moment but she swallowed it down.
     
    “One of our witnesses… went missing. And he’s not coming back. So we need another Russian stoolie who knows about Shirokov’s business.”
     
    “What happened to the witness?”
     
    “Got himself shot trying to escape FBI custody. Do you happen to recall if Zhadanov shared any of his travel plans with you?”
     
    Jordan Ross laughed bitterly and slapped at his knee.
     
    “Are you kidding? I dropped him off at a Greyhound station with fifty grand in cash. He could be anywhere. He could be on the Mars Rover for all I know.”
     
    The detective felt a surge of anger rising and she fought to keep it down.
     
    “Petyr Zhadanov had intimate knowledge of the heroin shipment. He had at least half a dozen girls working for him in that god awful night club. He was probably our best hope for …”
     
    “He’s gone, detective. He’s gone. Jesus I handed you guys the case on a silver platter. How many people did I have to go through? How many? And you just drop your key witness like a nickel out of your