Savage Echoes (The Nickie Savage Series, Short Story Prequel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

himself for that detail at that moment.
    "If you have, you would know I'm a highly intelligent man. And although I am a law abiding citizen and have nothing to hide, you wouldn't be able to catch me if I did."
    His smile was an arrogant challenge. If Bradley only knew Duncan already had all he needed. Unfortunately, he didn't have what Nickie needed.
    The three raps on the door were far too calm. He wondered if he would catch hell later or if Nickie would be too pleased with closing the case to give him hell. As Bradley answered, Duncan let his eyes travel to the stairs, then to the kitchen, the room off the front and back again. He almost didn't hear her address him, and that sort of thing never happened.
    "Duncan, what a surprise." Nickie was unfortunately sincere. "Are we interrupting anything, Mr. Bradley? Mr. Reed and I seem to have a misunderstanding."
    "Not at all. He and I were just discussing my... home." Bradley held out a glass for each of them.
    Nickie shook her head. "I'm on duty."
    "Ah, but you're not, Duncan."
    "I'll get you some water." Duncan took Nickie's glass and headed for the kitchen. Leaving her alone with Bradley was practically unbearable, but he needed to find what he came for. He rinsed out the glass in the kitchen sink. Avoiding the risk of laced brandy, he got down a new glass before filling it with water. The kitchen was smaller than it should be. He turned and inadvertently used his hands to map out the house. Front room, pantry, room off the front, stairs, kitchen.
    Brows dug low, he turned in a circle when he saw what he'd come for. Work boots had been placed precisely at the back door. He bent down and turned one over as he reached in his pocket and took out a handful of the gravel he'd taken from the underpass. Same light color of soil, same long black seeds stuck randomly on the sides. The gravel had sharp edges, not like the smooth ones in the other spots he'd searched. Surely forensics could make a match.
    Nickie was questioning Bradley when Duncan walked back into the front room. The boots were in one hand, the water in the other. At the sight of the boots, Bradley's eyes enlarged. Duncan caught it, even though it was just for a moment. Bradley looked around in a single circle, clearly processing.
    Nickie glanced to Duncan, then to Bradley and back again. Taking a deep breath, Duncan slowly set Nickie's glass of water on the closest end table and reached in his pocket. Simultaneously, he turned over the boots, exposing the rocks stuck in the treads before he opened his fist showing a handful of matching rocks.
    Before Duncan and Nickie could react, Bradley whipped an arm around her, holding a switchblade to her neck.
    It took only a few more seconds for Duncan to drop the gravel and the boots and aim his Beretta at Bradley's head. No one else would have noticed, but his hand trembled as he lined up his shot. His eyes burned at the thought of losing her. Of watching her hurt. He'd done this once before.
    No one spoke.
    Nickie nostrils flared, her eyes tight. She looked like a cat ready to scratch Bradley's eyes out.
    Bradley cocked his head confidently. Clearly he was thinking through his options.
    Duncan couldn't think of much more than his Nickie as the room started to spin. Blinking, he forced his head clear.
    It came to him as he worked to control his breathing, his finger aching to squeeze the trigger. The house. It was missing a large space in the middle of the layout. A room?
    Nickie whimpered and lowered her chin.
    Damn. Duncan knew what that meant.
    Bradley parted his lips and took a breath. "Now, now, Detecti—"
    Nickie jerked her head back and butted him in the face. Her arms swung madly as Duncan rushed forward with gun drawn. The sound of fist on bone, hook, uppercut, Duncan couldn't get a shot.
    Face to face with Bradley, Nickie landed one more solid head butt. Both staggered before Bradley fell in a heap on the floor.
    "Ahh!" Nickie screamed in frustration.
    He secured his