One of the Wicked: A Mick Callahan Novel Read Online Free PDF

Or maybe it was upstate New York.
    Personally, I figured he was there because of the cuisine. Hal was comfortably rich and semi-retired. He could do any damned thing he wanted on a daily basis, and generally did.
    "Without even breaking a sweat? Hal, you almost sounded like a country boy."
    "I've been hanging around you long enough."
    "I'm not at all sure the world can handle two opinionated, sober, educated rednecks."
    "Promise me you won't get dragged into anything messy. I realize this fellow is an old friend, but things have been somewhat peaceful of late. This is indeed a welcome change."
    "I know that."
    "Was that the sound of you giving me your word?"
    "Hal, I have no intention of getting into trouble."
    Hal sighed. "Semantic judo. You should have become a lawyer instead of a therapist."
    "I should have become a lot of things."
    "So, young stallion, the television show is on hold and you're still on a contractual probation at the radio station. Yes?"
    "True, and so I should stay out of this."
    "Unless you're tired of paying a mortgage and having a pot to urinate in, I would think that a reasonable proposition. Look, I'm still not sure I understand what exactly has gone wrong at work. Can you fill me in? Is it your ratings?"
    "My ratings are decent, Hal. They've slipped a bit, that's all. The manager doesn't like my act all that much. He's got a thing for this so-called conservative commentator, a bozo named Zachary Marks. He's been pushing the guy to take over my time slot, one of the best for late-night talk."
    "So he has no legitimate reason?"
    "Okay, one. Maybe his numbers are sort of closing in on mine, but the guy's a first-class prick, and ignorant as a bullfrog."
    "One of many, although their numbers seem to be shrinking. Only a few brave souls still admit to having voted such incompetent thieves into office."
    "A bit late. If this country had turned any further to the right it would have met its own ass coming the other way."
    "Your manager, this Bill person, is it a matter of politics with him, or just advertising dollars?"
    "He'd never admit it, but it's just about the money."
    "Then it would behoove you to shake things up a bit, get your ratings back up where they belong."
    I leaned back in my desk chair, rolled from side to side. "I know, I know. The truth is I'm a little bored with the show. Maybe I need to take on a partner or something. Two hours can be one hell of a long time all by your lonesome."
    "I noticed that the last time I was in the ER."
    "Don't remind me. I thought we'd lost you. Still feeling okay?"
    "Fit as the proverbial fiddle." Hal glanced at his watch. "I'm going to have to jump off soon and get my beauty sleep. Have you managed to patch things up with Ms. Hernandez?"
    "She won't call me back."
    "You're still fighting."
    "She is."
    Hal stared at me. He required a better explanation than I was prepared to offer. I drummed my fingers on the rim of the computer keyboard. Sergeant Darlene Hernandez and I had been an item for several months. At first things had gone wonderfully, but as soon as some of the initial chemistry wore off, as is so often the case, we started to bicker; senseless, low-key arguments that left us exhausted and hurt and confused. I call them "evil twin" fights, because afterwards you can't even remember what started it. Your evil twin just takes over, sticks a hand up your behind and starts running your mouth. To Darlene, it had something to do with our relationship being only about sex. To me, it had something to do with her trying to encroach on my precious freedom to be driven and self-absorbed.
    "Callahan?" Hal was still waiting.
    "Sorry. I was just thinking 'physician, heal thyself.' It's amazing I can know so much about psychology and counseling and so little about keeping a woman happy."
    Hal chuckled. "Not that I'm a black belt in these matters, but I'd say you've made a critical error right there, stallion. It is not possible to keep a woman happy. In the final