The Past Came Hunting Read Online Free PDF Page B

From overhead, Drake listened to the familiar sound of Garcia shifting positions. “What’s the first thing you’re gonna do when you get out?”
    Warning bells went off in Drake’s brain. Garcia rambled incessantly, but he usually rambled about himself. He was half-afraid of his murderous roomie and never asked anything specific or personal.
    Drake hadn’t caught Garcia cozying up to the guards―or the man as the cons called them―but then Garcia wasn’t someone Drake paid attention to anyway. Had the warden, knowing there wouldn’t be a parole officer to baby-sit his ass, put his cellmate up to this late-night chat?
    Cautiously Drake replied with, “Get me a job. What do you think I’m gonna do?”
    Garcia’s giggle resembled a teenage girl’s. “I know what I’d do. I’d get me a woman.”
    Melanie Daniel’s face flashed in Drake’s mind. Tightening his hands into fists and folding his arms over his chest, he ground his back teeth together. He’d get him a woman, all right.
    “You staying around these parts?” Garcia persisted.
    The warning bells turned into full-fledged sirens. With the little cash he’d made in the pen, he’d paid a guard with a gambling problem for information on Melanie’s whereabouts. Had the fat prick squealed?
    Drake needed to think. More importantly, he had to talk... fast. “My brother owns a construction company outside of L.A. He’s promised me work.”
    Garcia paused, seeming to absorb the information. “That’s cool, bro. Just wanted you to know you have choices.”
    Drake narrowed his gaze. “What kind of choices?”
    “Do you remember a con named Denny Ramirez?”
    So many inmates had come and gone during Drake’s sentence; his mind went momentarily blank. Then he remembered. Ramirez had shared an adjoining cell. He’d been quiet, a leader. He’d also been smart enough to keep his head down, his mouth shut, and do his time.
    “Car thief, right?”
    “Yeah, busted for running a chop shop ring. Denny’s my cousin. He’s got himself a new gig on the outside.”
    “What kind of gig?”
    “He’d cut off my legs if I told, man. But Denny wanted me to let you in on it because, get this, you gave him the idea.”
    Drake smirked. There wasn’t a con in the place who didn’t talk smack about what he’d do differently to avoid getting caught. Kin or no kin, cons didn’t take kindly to people rolling on them. Years ago, Drake had put a man in the infirmary for doing just that. Drake had ended up in solitary, but the payback had been worth it. His reputation had spread and no one had dared snitch on him again.
    “Anyways,” Garcia said, “Denny said to look him up if you’re interested. He’s living in the Springs.”
    Drake shook his head. No way was he going anywhere near Colorado Springs. That’s where life had gone south. “Got other plans.”
    “That’s cool, bro.”
    “You gonna participate in this so-called gig when you get out?”
    “Nah, Denny don’t want no parolees,” Garcia said. “He wants people who don’t have to check in, dudes who can move around.”
    Much as he wanted no part in it, Drake found the scheme worth noting. What had he said to spark an idea? Not that it mattered, he was done. He’d committed the robberies when he was too young to access his trust. He was well over twenty-five now. He’d claim his inheritance and plant his ass on a beach somewhere, after achieving his longtime goal, of course.
    Drake felt his lips curve upward. He rarely grinned anymore. Fifteen years in this hole didn’t give a man much to smile about.
    He’d smile again, he promised himself. When he plunged a knife into the heart of the backstabbing bitch that put him in here, he’d be downright giddy.

Chapter Five
    Without a word, Joe observed morning roll call, nodded to Chris, then made a quick exit toward his office. Last night should’ve been his night to catch up on sleep. Thanks to Melanie Norris’s startling re-introduction into his