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

scalp.  Richard recovered by licking his hand and doing a very bad Fonzie impression, miming the character’s famous comb manoeuvre.
    A couple of the guys played along and said “Aaayyyy!” in Arthur Fonzarelli’s low, rugged voice with both thumbs pointing north, just as he famously did.  Mark ended the charade by giving each of the participants an affectionate smack on the back of the head.  “Alright, alright.  Since there’s no food or drinks, or dancers here like at a real party, I suppose all there is left is to get back to work.”  Mark scoffed with his hands outstretched.  Hobbs, Noonan’s partner high fived Mark as he walked past him “Hey, glad to have you back, Chief.” 
    “Thanks man, good to be back.”
    Lisa, Mark’s assistant sauntered by.  In her former life she had been a beat cop.  She lost her leg after an injury on the job when she was twenty five.  Nobody could tell she had a prosthetic leg.  She moved up in the ranks to become the Chief’s assistant.  She’d seen a few chiefs of police come and go over the years, but Mark held a special place in her heart.  He treated her the way she wanted; like one of the guys.  Lisa and Richard dated briefly after his divorce, but it never stuck; their camaraderie at work outweighed their attraction to one another. 
    “Oh there you are, Mark.  Shelley’s on the phone.”  She winked affectionately.  “Yeah thanks, I’ll be right there.”  He responded, looking at his watch.  “Thanks guys for the er…um….this.” He joked, winking and waved to everyone as he walked out to meet Lisa.
    “Did Andy bring you that file you asked for?”  she asked.
    “Sure did.  And I saw the others on my credenza, thanks.”  Mark’s head cocked back in an afterthought.  He turned around and saw Richard standing with a few of the guys that stayed back. 
    Mark yelled “Hey Richard?”  Richard looked up, he had been casually laughing, his body turned to face Mark’s. 
    “Make sure you clean up that fire trap before the next media circus hits, okay?”  He smiled and laughed, knowing the only thing Richard hated more than setting up for a party was cleaning up after it.  Richard lifted one hand up and showed him his middle finger.  Mark was about to reply when Lisa interjected “Nevermind children, I’ll look after it…..Lord knows he’ll clean it up as well as he placed it.”  Mark looked at Lisa, Richard was approaching from behind.  “That’s okay Lisa, I was just joking.  I’ll do it.”  He said, smiling and putting his hand on her shoulder.  Mark interrupted, “Why don’t you two lovebirds both clean it up, while I go answer the phone.”  His voice was warm and his hands were on each of their backs.  He gave each of them a small pat and walked away. 
    When Mark left, Richard still had his hand on Lisa’s shoulder.  He looked at her seriously and said, “Streamers are flammable right?  I’ll go get my torch.” Lisa blinked and responded “And I’m the one who lost a leg.” 
    …
     
    Richard sat in his office; it was past eight o’clock.  Out of habit, his fingers ran through his hair, scratching at the stubble on his crown.  If he kept up with that, he would soon have none to scratch, he thought to himself.  Feeling fatigued and listless, he rose from his chair to grab his tenth coffee of the day.  As he walked past Mark’s office, he checked the door to ensure Mark remembered to lock it.  Turning the knob and feeling resistance, he was satisfied. Richard stood there a moment, staring at the dark room; looking at the files neatly piled on the desk with post it notes attached in strategic places. 
    A picture of Mark hung on the wall; he could only see the glass of the frame shining in the fluorescent light filtering in from Lisa’s room.  He knew which one it was though.  The picture was taken the day Mark became Chief of Police.  There he stood beside his friend, arms draping each