Two Graves (A Kesle City Homicide Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

wounds.
    Mann already had two shooters he thought were good for the killing. According to rumor, the cocaine runner and his partner had been working behind Angelino’s back, trying to cut into the market. No doubt in Mann’s mind that Angelino had ordered the hit and even less doubt who had done the job.
    Mann’s detectives were already on the street trying to find the duo when headquarters yanked the case out of their Division. The Mayor’s favorite political cop had stepped in and the Special Organized Crime Unit got the case. Mann had fought to keep it. He owed Angelino and had vowed to bring the murdering bastard down. But what SOCU wanted, SOCU got.
    Mann sighed and rolled over, sensing the weight in the bed beside him. Last night slowly came back to him. He had trouble remembering from one night to another if she was going to be there but you’d think he’d remember the next morning. She’d arrived late and brought Chinese. Fifteen minutes to devour the food and then they both fell into an exhausted sleep. Some romance.
    A single apartment would help solve the problem. Four years of deciding whose place they use that night. His emergency clothes stashed in half a drawer at her place; half a closet of her clothes here.
    Maybe they could get a house with a deck in the back yard. A place with a big BBQ that could handle a half dozen real steaks rather than that piece of tin crap on his balcony. Maybe even a pool. He could imagine her stepping out of the water, her bikini clinging to her body.
    He shifted his weight as gently as possible and turned to face her. She was lying on her side and facing away from him, still asleep, her breathing regular. He reached out and stroked the soft hair that fell across the pillow. He could still smell her perfume, dark and warm after a night’s sleep. He felt a stirring between his legs. He slipped his hand under the sheet and snaked his arm around her waist. He let the hand slide up and gently cupped her naked breast in his hand.
    “Take it somewhere else, Mann.”
    Her voice startled him and he pulled his hand back. Then, he moved closer, spooning his body along hers. He parted her hair and kissed the nape of her neck. He whispered as he kissed. “Baby, don’t you love me?”
    Suddenly, she threw the sheets off both of them and stood up. She was only wearing a tiny thong. Her full breasts firm, her nipples puckered in the chill air. She had the type of figure that Mann had fantasized about of all his teenage life. Even the shock of cold could not dampen his obvious desire.
    “Forget it. I’m still pissed about yesterday. Just tell your little friend we aren’t playing. Dumping that dickweed Tetrault on me while you bounce off with Detective Tits. You can just suffer for a while.” Danett turned and walked to the bathroom and shut the door.

    *

    Giving up on more sleep, Mann turned up the radio and wandered into the kitchen. He looked into the refrigerator for a Pepsi but there were none. He briefly considered a glass of water or juice. Instead, he just threw another case into the fridge. Taking a can out of the case, he popped the top and took a drink of the warm Pepsi as he headed back to the bedroom.
    Dani’s camera was sitting in its usual spot on the chair pointed toward the bed. Briefly, he wondered if the camera was ever on while they were making love.
    Just the thought of his body on camera made him straighten and suck in his gut. His stomach was starting to run to the heavy side. Not much in the way of a six-pack left – probably because of the 12 pack of Pepsi he drank every day. Not exactly fat yet but he definitely headed that way. He should talk to Blaak and have him set up on some kind of program. Whatever program he used worked for the young detective. Course, Blaak was a good fifteen or so years younger. “Damn.”
    “Same to you.” Dani appeared in the doorway wearing a robe. “Coffee?”
    “I’m fine,” he replied, holding up the Pepsi.
    “I