Read Online Monroe, Melody S. - Verdict (Siren Publishing Classic) by Melody S. Monroe - Free Book Online Page B

God I got a hold of you.”
    “I wouldn’t have answered if hadn’t been you. You do realize this is when I sleep?”
    Stone stepped closer to the restaurant door, not wanting anyone to overhear the conversation. “Sorry.”
    “No problem. What’s up?”
    Stone told him about the fire.
    “She okay?”
    “She will be. Listen, I need you to do me a favor.”
    “Anything.”
    The door opened and three kids rushed passed him, skateboards tucked under their arms. “I need the names of the remaining jurors on the east coast.”
    T-Squared whistled. “You know that’s illegal.”
    “So is killing people. Think about it. Even after we put those people into our secure houses, someone was able to get to too many of them. You tell me how.”
    Other than the sound of some construction noise in the background, silence filled the air.
    “You suspect a mole in the Bureau?” Tom said a moment later.
    A thin girl behind the counter placed an order next to the cash register. “Number twenty-three?”
    He held up a finger, then pulled out cash to pay for his meal. “Yes.”
    “You got a name of who you think might be leaking the information?”
    He maneuvered around two tables and stood at the register. “If I did, I’d be back in DC in a heartbeat ready to kill the guy.” The cashier’s eyes widened. He gave her his best smile, and her stance softened. “Look, I need to warn the remaining jurors their location might be compromised.”
    “That’s Thomason’s job.”
    He turned to the side in an attempt to keep the conversation more private. “That might be, but I need to do this on my own. No telling who he’s blabbed to, intentionally or otherwise.”
    “You think Richard is—”
    “I don’t know who to point the finger at.”
    Stone handed the cashier a twenty and she gave him back his change. After filling up the drink cups, he headed outside.
    “You think it’s wise to drag Susan around with you on this quest?”
    “I debated asking the Tampa office to supply her with another bodyguard, but how can I be sure they can protect her? She’ll be safer with me than in another safe house.”
    “You like her!”
    Best friend or not, he wasn’t ready to discuss his feelings. “It’s my job, and I’m good at it, now can you get me those addresses?”
    Tom groaned. “I’ll have to hack into the system to get the information. It’s not like they post the addresses on the bulletin board.”
    A wave of relief hit him. “I owe you one.”
    “I’d say you owe me about a hundred.”
    Stone laughed. “And the three times I saved your life doesn’t count for anything?”
    T-Squared cleared his throat. “You know it does. Back at you in a few.”
    Stone looked around the parking lot, jumped in the car and started the engine. The rich aroma of burgers and fries filled the car. As he drove out the entrance, two men in a white sedan glanced his way before looking away.
    He and Susan had to get out of Dodge. Now.

Chapter Six

    Susan shifted in the car seat. She couldn’t wait to shower and get into the new clothes they’d purchased at the mall. Stone adjusted the side-view mirror, moved the air slider right, then left, and wiped the dash with his palm.
    She held out her hand. “Stop it. Please.”
    “What?”
    “Your obsessive behavior is driving me crazy.” She twisted around to face him. “What’s wrong?”
    His mouth screwed to one side. “Richard Thomason called last night.” He clutched the wheel so hard the beds of his nails turned white.
    “Don’t tell me he knew about the fire?” Her pulse rose.
    “No. He called because Travis Simmons, another juror, was shot in the head. He’s dead.”
    She leaned her head back to let the horrific turn of events settle in her brain. “Dear God. That makes what, six dead?” Her too-long nails ground into her palms, nearly cutting her.
    “Yes.”
    She squeezed her eyes shut to visualize Travis’ face. Only the memory of his stats surfaced. “He was a