Read Online Dead Red by Tim O'Mara - Free Book Online Page A

didn’t like the conclusion I’d come to and was about a centimeter away from getting real pissed off.
    “You told me that Ricky’s death had nothing to do with any case he was working with you.”
    “I said I didn’t think so, Ray. I’m a big enough man to admit that there’s an outside chance I could be wrong.”
    I chose my next words carefully. “You’re a dick.”
    “Oh, get off the fucking high horse, Cowboy. I’m still not sure if there is any connection, but when I hear that a body’s found dead with a semiautomatic pistol by his side, and then I remember that my old buddy Raymond Donne stated that the last thing Ricky T may have heard was automatic gunfire, I’ve got to check it out.” He took a sip and another left turn. “I know your sister was busting my balls before, but she was right: Ricky may not’ve been my partner partner, but we were working together, and I’m gonna check this shit out.” He screeched to a stop in the middle of the street. Some hot coffee flew out of my cup and landed on my jeans. “You want,” he said, shifting the car into Park, “I can let you out here and you can walk back home to the little lady.”
    We stared at each other for maybe ten seconds as I waited for the burning sensation on my leg to subside. “Okay,” I said, taking some napkins out of the bag and wiping my leg. “Drive.”
    Jack shifted the car back into Drive. “Thought so.”
    *   *   *
    A few minutes later, Jack pulled over to the curb and took out his cell phone. He spent the next few seconds typing, and then pressed a button.
    “I just sent my buddy a text that we’re here.” He leaned into the back and reached into the Dunkin’ Donuts bag. “You wanna donut before the cops get their hands on them?”
    “I’m good.” I pulled out my own phone to call Allison to see if there really were any hard feelings from my not inviting her to tag along.
    “This guy Jack,” she said. “He sounds a bit … unstable.”
    I opened my door and stepped out into the street. From where I stood, it looked like half a dozen patrol cars had responded to the call. I could also make out a few town cars; Brooklyn brass had arrived. I did not see any TV vans. Yet.
    “He’s not even sure this has anything to do with Ricky, but any chance for some juice and Jack’ll jump.”
    “Just don’t be holding his hand when he does, Ray.”
    “I’m a big boy, Allison. You get in touch with the paper?” I asked, deftly changing the subject.
    “How did you … Yeah,” she said. “They got a guy heading over. I scored a point with the graveyard editor. This is what they used to call a scoop.”
    “Good. See, Jack’s come in handy already.”
    “How’re you feeling, by the way?”
    “I’m okay. A little dizzy, but it’s early in the morning.”
    “Just get home in time for breakfast.”
    “It’s on the top of my to-do list.”
    As I ended the call with Allison, I noticed a patrolman half walking/half jogging over to Jack and me. When he got within five feet of us, he stopped and took off his cap just as Jack stepped out of his car.
    “I thought you were coming alone, Jack,” he said, scratching his head. The cop seemed to be about my age, but the bags under his eyes made him look older and told me that he’d been pulling a lot of overtime lately.
    “He’s a … friend, Roy,” Jack said. “Roy White, Raymond Donne.”
    I offered my hand, and Roy looked at it like it was last week’s tuna. “Raymond Donne?” He turned to Jack. “This is the chief’s kid, Jack?”
    “Easy there, Roy. Ray’s the chief’s nephew.”
    “Big diff,” Roy said. “The chief know you’re here?” he asked me. “Or that I called Jack?”
    “Neither,” I said. “Like Jack said, I’m here as a friend. There’s no reason for my uncle to know anything about this. How long’ve you been at the nine-oh?”
    “About five years, why?”
    “Because I don’t know you. I left a while ago.”
    He turned to