The Wife of a Lesser Man (LA Cops Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

it.”  Richard agreed.  He was with Mark the night Gruber was shot. 
    “Had our share of close calls, haven’t we pal?”  Richard patted Mark on the shoulder, rose from his seat and saluted him as he headed out the door. Mark returned the salute and took a sip of his fat free milk.  He swallowed and frowned, picking up the plastic reusable bottle and examining it.  It looks like watered down primer he thought.  Tastes like it too.   He sighed and began to compulsively chew his thumb nail.  God I AM grumpy!  What the hell is wrong with me?   Even Shelley had noticed the change in his attitude.  She’d been quiet the last few days since he’d returned to work. 
    Looking over at the file cabinet, Mark noticed his assistant Lisa had neatly piled all the other open case files for him to review.  It looked like he had a lot of catching up to do.  Well, it’s not going to get done by sitting here staring at it.   He got up from his chair and picked up the first half of the pile.  There was a dull pain in his lower back from the little bit of cycling he had done a few days ago, so he decided to stand and read.  Suddenly he heard a knock at the door.  It was Richard, Mark motioned him in.
    Slightly winded he said “There’s been an accident.  We need you in the conference room.”  Mark followed; both men taking steps double the length of their normal stride.  When they reached the conference room, the door was closed, which was odd because if there was a media briefing it was usually opened and swarmed by cameras and members of the local news; people attending were blinded by the camera flashes and deafened instantly by the circus of reporters immediately peppering him with questions regarding the case.  Mark looked at Richard and furrowed his brows “What the hell is going on?”  Richard didn’t answer but opened the door.  His face had a strange grin.
    Everyone yelled “Surprise!!”  Mark looked shocked and then changed to a look as if to say “oh my god, you people are a bunch of crazy asses.”  They all clapped and came over to greet him.  There was a banner on the conference room wall that read “Welcome Back Chief!!” printed on several 8 ½” x 11” sheets of paper tacked up with thumb tacks.  Streamers hung from the ceiling like someone had toilet papered the whole place with varying colours of ass wipe.  Some balloons were haphazardly hanging on loose scotch tape, ready to fall and pop at any moment.  It was clearly a party put together last minute by the guys; no women could have been part of this, Mark thought.  This was more like something put together by a bunch of drunken frat guys.
    He couldn’t help but laugh as he looked around.  He was so used to Shelley’s well planned and professionally organized parties.  There was no food or drinks, just about twenty members of the precinct, including Richard, Noonan and Hobbs and some other beat cops.  Andy, the Deputy Chief was there, too and a couple of the newer guys hired right before Mark got sick. 
    “You guys are a bunch of morons,” Mark commented, smiling.  A small chuckle came from his mouth as his head swayed from side to side.  “I can only guess who put you all up to this,” he said, looking at Richard with one eyebrow cocked. 
    He kept on as the guys walked past him and shook his hand.  Noonan, a twentysomething cop, well groomed like the rest of them with a brush cut and cleanly shaven, approached Mark and said, “Looking good, chief.  Looks like the wife has been laying off all that good food.  We’ve missed it around here.”  He nodded and Mark playfully smacked him on the shoulder.  “Yeah, those days are over I’m afraid-“ Richard cut in “Yeah, it’s all fat free mayo and turkey breast from now on.”  The guys all laughed at Mark’s expense.  He took Richard in a head lock and gave him a sizeable noogie, carefully using his most calloused knuckle to drive into his friend’s