Ring of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page B

times I dragged him into the dirt. For some unknown reason, Chief Roberts, he was Detective Roberts then, decided if he was going to have a surrogate son, it may as well be me. He had me by the scruff of the neck for most of my teenage years. And not just me, either. But even though he tried his damndest with Cougar and Jeb, their badness ran too deep. It was more potent than even the Chief was. Fortunately, with the Chief’s help, basketball had a stronger pull on me than Jeb or Cougar did. It saved my life. Baseball saved Luke’s.”
    Nate pulled into the parking area to the side of the house. He unwound himself from the front seat of his Turbo Z and faced Sam over the hood of the expensive car.
    “Jeb’s father was a drunk, so was his mother. I don’t know that I ever saw his dad without a flask in his hand and filth spewing from his mouth. He was a paranoid son of a bitch. Mel Gibson times David Duke. Always muttering about conspiracies, how the government was taking away privileges from white folk and giving them to the Indians and the blacks. He was a member of every ultra-conservative gun group around and a racist pig. Jeb heard that crap from the day he was born. Even so when I got back from overseas I was surprised to learn that Jeb had become one of the head honchos in the White Alliance. I thought he was too smart for that.”
    At the welcoming shout from the front door, Nate turned to see Jeb ambling down the stairs. He had a big grin on his face and his hand outstretched in front of himself.
    “Well, well, well, as I live and breathe. If it isn’t the Big Dog himself. Dee-tec-tive Nathan D. Stryker in the flesh.” Reaching for Nate’s hand, Jeb pulled him close and clapped an arm around his shoulder.
    “Damn, Nate, you’re looking good. Once a Golden Boy always a Golden Boy, right, man?”
    Nate shook his hand and grinned back at Jeb.
    “Hi, Jeb. Good to see you, buddy. It’s been a long time. At least a year now since I hauled your sorry ass in to the St. Louis County Court on the charge of—”
    Jeb held up his hand. “On a trumped up RICO charge. Jesus, Nate. What were you thinking? Thought you could make that stick?”
    Nate laughed. “No, but it kept you in jail long enough for me to subpoena your bank accounts.”
    Jeb’s grin spread. “A subpoena which my lawyer promptly crushed.”
    Nate nodded in agreement. “He did indeed. Amazing what those silver tongued devils can accomplish if they’re crooked enough and their client has enough money to bribe the judge. It must frost your ass, Jeb, that the legal system you despise protects even as big a criminal as you.”
    “Now, now, Nate. Let’s not get testy. But then you’re like you were when you were a kid—always pushing. May I presume this is a social call? Even though I don’t remember issuing you an invitation. Tell me you don’t have some corny warrant stuck in your jeans pocket that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
    “Hell, no, Jeb. When I take you down, it ain’t gonna be with a warrant.”
    Nate was gratified to see Jeb’s eyes darken and his smile tighten.
    He continued, “No, man, this is definitely a social call. Give us a chance to catch up. Plus I wanted to see this spread of yours first hand. It’s the talk of the County.”
    Turning to Sam who was standing to the side his eyes wide with interest, Nate motioned Sam forward. Nate introduced him as if he didn’t know full well that Jeb knew exactly who Sam was.
    “Jeb, this is my partner, Commander Sam Carter. Sam’s visiting for a spell. He’s on sabbatical from the LAPD. Sam, meet the infamous Jeb Stuart Jones.”
    Nate had to admit that Jeb looked good. But then he always had. His curly dark brown hair was as styled as Nate’s was ragged. His pale blue eyes were twinkling now but Nate knew they could turn an icy blue in a heartbeat. Suntanned, with high cheekbones, a strong chin and an easy grin, Jeb was the kind of man who turned heads, both men