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

meant, did you make any?” Dani made a noise of disgust and left the room. “Why do I even bother?”
    Mann forced himself to sit on the floor and started doing sit-ups. After three, he decided to wait for Blaak’s program before getting too involved. He went into the bathroom to shave and shower instead. By the time he was done and sitting on the bed, Dani returned with a takeout coffee. His trench coat had replaced the robe. “You were out of coffee, as usual. I had to go to the store.”
    “Sorry.”
    “Are you still suffering?”
    “I’ll survive.”
    “Think so, do you? Maybe I should really punish you.”
    Dani dropped the trench coat. She was naked, very naked. With an animal cry, she pounced on him.
    Later, they had another shower, together.

Chapter 5

    Ed Buma, the Desk Sergeant at Southfield Division motioned to Mann as he came through the doors. He held up one finger and continued his telephone conversation. While he talked, he searched through a pile of papers on the desk. As he put the phone down, he said, “Buchanan called. Says he’s free for an early lunch if you are. He’s got a run down on the Gabel post.”
    It took Mann a minute to place the name of the kid from the gas station. “Thanks, Ed. Anything else?”
    “Not here,” he said, jerking his thumb upwards. “Lots upstairs.”
    Mann considered for a moment. Kydd and Tetrault had already requested four uniforms to continue the canvass of the neighborhood around the gas station. Now that he had lost the marina investigation, all other current investigations were covered. “Nothing yet. How’s the wife?”
    “Fine thanks. Doctor says she is going to be home by the end of the week.”
    “You give her my best. You still don’t want any time? I can talk to Walsh for you.”
    “Thanks anyways. The wife’s mother is coming in from Seattle. Me and her and a loaded gun? If I’m gonna see you guys at a crime scene anyway, I might as well work.”
    Mann smiled and waved his hand as the telephone rang again. Buma picked it up and Mann turned toward the elevator. That was the way with the true lifers, Mann thought. For some it was a job, others a career – a stepping-stone to something political or private. But for the real cops it was a life. Buma loved his wife but it would kill him to stay away from the station. Buma was a lifer. His wife knew it and accepted it. If she didn’t, they would already be divorced like so many others.
    Mann knew the symptoms. The job had cost him his marriage and his two boys.
    His mood instantly soured at the thought of his two sons. It was seven years, no almost eight, since he had seen them and not so much as a letter. But some day, he would see them again. Somehow, he would redeem himself in their eyes. He couldn’t believe he could fall from hero to hated so fast, so completely. And all it took was the quiet whispers of their mother and a very biased judge.
    Mann stepped through the opening elevator doors and was immediately distracted from his depression by the wall of walking banker’s boxes.
    “Hey Gregg,” came a deep voice from behind the stack of three boxes. Mann didn’t have to see behind the boxes to recognize the voice. Only Sergeant Brant Davis had the strength and arm length to carry three of the heavy file boxes at once. Davis was second in command of Mann’s homicide squad and Mann’s best friend. At six foot five and all muscle, Davis could easily handle the boxes but Mann had to get the dig in.
    “You know, we have these carts that you can use to move those things.”
    “Ya but one of the Robbery guys was using it and I didn’t want to wait. It’s only three boxes anyway. I’ll tell you though, the way the boys worked me last night on the court, I maybe should have waited for the cart.”
    “Giving the old man some grief, are they?” Mann asked.
    “Making me feel my age, that’s for sure. I’m on the cusp of having my kids beat me for real…no more throwing the game to