Read Online Black And Blue (Quentin Black Mystery #5) by JC Andrijeski - Free Book Online
Authors: JC Andrijeski
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calling the shots.”
“What about vice?” I said. “Are they involved at all?”
He glanced at me. “My team is representing LAPD under the homicide umbrella for now. We’ve got a guy from vice on our task force, and I’m keeping their leadership in the loop. For now, that’s the best I can do.”
I nodded, glancing at Black. He was frowning slightly, looking at Mozar in a way that made me think he was reading him.
Which is probably why he was needling him––to distract him.
Very good, doc. Black sent a pulse of liquid heat, his fingers tightening on my leg. So glad you are paying attention. I admit it really turns me on when you notice things like that. Keep it up and I’ll let you practice more interesting things on me later...
I let out a low snort, covering it by taking a sip of the wine.
Still, I couldn’t help wondering how much I missed, in terms of Black’s mind and how he used the psychic thing. It also reminded me that he was right––I still didn’t know him very well. When it came to some things, I barely knew him at all.
Frowning at me slightly, Black turned towards Mozar. “So why tonight?”
Hawking leaned over the table, tapping the photo of the puffy, older man.
“Our shooter left detailed maps of this guy’s home and place of employment,” he said. “He’s done the prep work already... has his routine down in detail from the past three weeks. He highlighted tonight’s night shift, and there’s a printout of a flight schedule leaving at three o’clock in the morning for Hong Kong.” Shrugging, he leaned back. “It could all be bullshit, of course, especially given how we got it. He also might have changed his plans the instant he realized he had to leave the car. But we have to check it out.”
“So you need me on the ground tonight?” Black said.
Mozar nodded. “Strictly in an advisory capacity.”
“Advisory?” Black grunted. “You want me to find your mole for you, Mozar? Or just tell you where to aim your gun?”
“I want you behind the lines, consulting with me to run the logistics of the op,” Mozar said, his voice colder. “I want you to tell us anything you can about tactics, probable approaches, and anything else you can think of that might help us catch him before he kills again.” Mozar’s voice grew a touch harder still. “Tanaka told me you were in the business. I thought your expertise would be an asset on the ground.”
“People have different styles,” Black said, taking another sip of the wine. He glanced at Hawking. “Evan must have told you that.”
“There must be some constants,” Mozar said. “Rules. Safe approaches.”
“Sure.”
“Then, yes,” Mozar said, frowning. “We want you on the ground. Is that a problem?”
I felt Black hesitate, focusing on me again.
He glanced up when the waiter returned with the new bottle of wine and fresh glasses for me and Black. The waiter smiled warmly at Black behind a perfectly manicured black mustache, wearing a jeweled, matador-like jacket. He presented the new bottle of red to both of us, and after Black glanced at the label, he poured us both a few fingers for taste.
I’m not really a wine person, so I just watched Black as he swirled the blood-red liquid at the bottom of the glass. He paused to inhale a few breaths before nodding and taking a sip.
“Damn,” he said, grinning at me. “Like liquid fucking.”
Mozar winced. Hawking let out a disbelieving snort.
The waiter poured both of us real glasses, then left the bottle, disappearing back through the opening in the curtain.
“Black?” I said worried, watching the waiter leave. “Is this the best idea? Drinking if you’re going to be on the ground with them?”
“I was wondering the same thing,” Mozar muttered.
Black gave Mozar a brief glance then leaned closer to me, kissing me on the cheek.
“I’ll only have a few swallows,” he murmured softly, in my ear and only to me. “We’ll bring the bottle
“What about vice?” I said. “Are they involved at all?”
He glanced at me. “My team is representing LAPD under the homicide umbrella for now. We’ve got a guy from vice on our task force, and I’m keeping their leadership in the loop. For now, that’s the best I can do.”
I nodded, glancing at Black. He was frowning slightly, looking at Mozar in a way that made me think he was reading him.
Which is probably why he was needling him––to distract him.
Very good, doc. Black sent a pulse of liquid heat, his fingers tightening on my leg. So glad you are paying attention. I admit it really turns me on when you notice things like that. Keep it up and I’ll let you practice more interesting things on me later...
I let out a low snort, covering it by taking a sip of the wine.
Still, I couldn’t help wondering how much I missed, in terms of Black’s mind and how he used the psychic thing. It also reminded me that he was right––I still didn’t know him very well. When it came to some things, I barely knew him at all.
Frowning at me slightly, Black turned towards Mozar. “So why tonight?”
Hawking leaned over the table, tapping the photo of the puffy, older man.
“Our shooter left detailed maps of this guy’s home and place of employment,” he said. “He’s done the prep work already... has his routine down in detail from the past three weeks. He highlighted tonight’s night shift, and there’s a printout of a flight schedule leaving at three o’clock in the morning for Hong Kong.” Shrugging, he leaned back. “It could all be bullshit, of course, especially given how we got it. He also might have changed his plans the instant he realized he had to leave the car. But we have to check it out.”
“So you need me on the ground tonight?” Black said.
Mozar nodded. “Strictly in an advisory capacity.”
“Advisory?” Black grunted. “You want me to find your mole for you, Mozar? Or just tell you where to aim your gun?”
“I want you behind the lines, consulting with me to run the logistics of the op,” Mozar said, his voice colder. “I want you to tell us anything you can about tactics, probable approaches, and anything else you can think of that might help us catch him before he kills again.” Mozar’s voice grew a touch harder still. “Tanaka told me you were in the business. I thought your expertise would be an asset on the ground.”
“People have different styles,” Black said, taking another sip of the wine. He glanced at Hawking. “Evan must have told you that.”
“There must be some constants,” Mozar said. “Rules. Safe approaches.”
“Sure.”
“Then, yes,” Mozar said, frowning. “We want you on the ground. Is that a problem?”
I felt Black hesitate, focusing on me again.
He glanced up when the waiter returned with the new bottle of wine and fresh glasses for me and Black. The waiter smiled warmly at Black behind a perfectly manicured black mustache, wearing a jeweled, matador-like jacket. He presented the new bottle of red to both of us, and after Black glanced at the label, he poured us both a few fingers for taste.
I’m not really a wine person, so I just watched Black as he swirled the blood-red liquid at the bottom of the glass. He paused to inhale a few breaths before nodding and taking a sip.
“Damn,” he said, grinning at me. “Like liquid fucking.”
Mozar winced. Hawking let out a disbelieving snort.
The waiter poured both of us real glasses, then left the bottle, disappearing back through the opening in the curtain.
“Black?” I said worried, watching the waiter leave. “Is this the best idea? Drinking if you’re going to be on the ground with them?”
“I was wondering the same thing,” Mozar muttered.
Black gave Mozar a brief glance then leaned closer to me, kissing me on the cheek.
“I’ll only have a few swallows,” he murmured softly, in my ear and only to me. “We’ll bring the bottle
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