The Twelfth Of Never: A suspense mystery romantic thriller Read Online Free PDF

horn if it almost got Wayne killed?
I'm telling you, the Feds will do everything in their power to keep this under
wraps."
    "What about the locals?" Colby asked.
    Gideon could tell Colby was irritated that they were involved,
but there was no going back. If it had not been for them, Wayne might not be
alive.
    Finally Gideon answered. "I'll take care of them."
    "You better, and keep it quiet this time."
    "Is the offer the same?"
    "Yeah." There was a pause, and then Colby came back
on the line. "Gideon, do you think it's worth what we're paying him?"
    "You're asking me? Remember, I was the one who told you
not to trust the man."
    "Yeah, but everything he said is checking out."
    "What do we do with the Feds?" Gideon asked.
    "Let me worry about them. For now they will be too busy
protecting Wayne to worry about our guy." Colby paused. "You're sure
he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger?"
    "Positive."
    "Then there's nothing to worry about." Colby left
the line for a moment. In the distance there was mumbling, then Colby was back.
"Gideon, do you trust Delaney?"
    "After this morning, you have to ask? Besides, I thought
you said things checked out."
    "Yeah, but I want to know what you think?"
    "It's getting so I don't even trust myself to know the
time of day."
    "What?" Colby asked.
    "Nothing," Gideon quickly replied. He hesitated for
a moment and when Colby did not say anything, he continued, "I'll keep you
posted."
    Gideon hung up, and then shook his head. He was not so sure
Delaney would trust him after what
happened. Gideon did promise to protect him in the park. Some protection it
turned out to be, almost getting Delaney killed in the process.
    Slowly Gideon ran his finger along the edge of the photo he
held. He sighed. Gideon did not know what there was about the woman that gave
him peace. Someday, he promised himself, he would find her. Then maybe he would
remember how he came to carry the picture that had become his only salvation in
a turbulent world of high-stakes murder.
    The ER waiting room was still the chaotic mess he left twenty
minutes earlier, with one exception. Thelma was nowhere in sight. Gideon walked
up to the doors that separated the ER from the rest of the world. An orderly
was stripping the examining table where Delaney once lay.
    The hand on his shoulder startled Gideon. He turned and tried
to free himself, but Thelma held him firm.
    "Where is he?" Gideon asked. Fear encompassed his
being as he waited for Thelma to answer.
    "Who are you talking about?"
    "The gunshot victim." Gideon hung his head fearing
Delaney did not make it and took with him the secrets he carried.
    "He's up in OR."
    "Did anyone go with him?"
    "If you mean the other flatfoots that were waiting
outside, no. They were too interested in the Ambassador to worry about your
man. But do not worry. No one is going to get near him in surgery."
    "What floor?"
    "Seventh."
    Gideon was in pain, he'd been up all night, not to mention the
fact sleep had eluded him for weeks now. And the throbbing in his right temple
was intolerable and getting worse.
    "It will be a few hours. Your prisoner is in safe
hands." Thelma shrugged her shoulders as if what she said would make him
feel better.
    "He's not my prisoner."
    "I thought..."
    "You thought wrong. I was protecting him."
    "Some protection."
    "Tell me about it," Gideon snapped.
    "Why don't you get some sleep?"
    Gideon turned to Thelma. "Are you running a Holiday Inn
now?" He laughed, but the look on the woman's face told him she found no
humor in what he said.
    "Maybe what you need is an attitude adjustment."
    "Sorry," Gideon said running his hand through his
thick curls. "It's been a long morning," he said, then hesitated
before finishing. "For that matter, a long life."
    "I'll call up there and let the nurses know you're
coming. There's a room off the nurse's station they use for naps. I can let you
know when he's out of surgery."
    "I'll get back to you if I need it," Gideon said, as
he glanced down at