Read Online One Last Night by Clara Bayard - Free Book Online Page B

that must have been the tunnel he’d mentioned. I filed those pieces of information away, hoping they’d be useful soon.
    “So,” I said once I was back inside the boiler room. “Tell me about your boss. Is he a big mob guy? Drug kingpin?”
    Fabian grinned. “None of your business. All you need to know is he’s a powerful man with connections and resources you can’t even imagine.”
    “Seems strange that he’d waste so much time on a now-unemployed office assistant, don’t you think?”
    He shrugged and put his hands in the front pockets of his pants. “I don’t ask those kinds of questions. I do my job and collect my pay. That’s the smartest and safest way to live.”
    “Your job is to protect and serve, Detective Fabian.”
    He snorted. “You don’t know shit, girl. You think you can shame me? Try again.”
    “No. I don’t think I can shame you. I think you’ve lost all sense of honor. Carrying a badge and moonlighting as a hired thug? That’s pathetic.”
    Face twisting into a snarl, he came at me quickly. “Watch how you talk to me. I’m not Sam.”
    I gulped, but managed not to back down.
    “Man, you’ve got it bad for that idiot, don’t you? Does all his talk about justice and overcoming adversity do it for you?”
    “He doesn’t talk about that. He lives it. Sam came from nothing and has dedicated his life to protecting people. Helping. Trying to make this shit hole of a city better. He’s a hero.”
    “Hero? Yeah. That and a buck won’t buy you a cup of coffee. I came from the same place he did. Went through what he did. But I wised up. Accepted the truth. Good guys never win. There’s always someone bigger and badder who’ll do anything to win. Life ain’t a fair fight. You either learn to play the game or die a chump. That won’t be me.”
    “No,” I said lowly. “You’ll die a dirty cop. A disgrace.”
    “I won’t care. I’ll have lived a long life, made a ton of money and done what I wanted.”
    “You’re disgusting.”
    He flashed a wide smile. “Maybe. But I’m right. And I think you know it. Sam told me a little about your past. You know the world isn’t all candy and flowers.”
    “Yeah, I do know that. But I also know what matters is that we fight it. As long as there are good people like Sam in the world it’s worth saving. Worth fighting for.”
    “Oh yeah? How’s that working out for you lately? Where did fighting get you?”
    My hands curled into fists, but I held back my rage, and the deep down fear that he was right. “Whatever,” I spat out. “Is this it? Your whole diabolical plan is to talk me to death? So far so good.”
    Fabian walked over and stood right in front of me, crowding into my personal space. “Nah, we’re just killing time, honey. Getting to know each other.”
    “Killing time for what?”
    He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Until it gets late enough.”
    “Late enough for what?”
    “For your little boyfriend to be ready to do what he needs to.”
    “Sam? What does he have to do with this.”
    Fabian just shook his head. “It’s just about time. I’m gonna go check on him. Stay put.”
    I glared and he laughed, turning to leave the room.
    “Oh, by the way, don’t worry if you hear screaming. We won’t hurt him much.”
    “Wait,” I shouted, but it was too late. He was gone. I heard the door lock behind him and was alone again.
    “Shit.” Screaming, he’d said. Which meant Sam was close. Maybe even behind that door down the hall. If I could get out maybe I could reach him. Distract Fabian and get us both out of here. Sam had saved me too often to count. It was time I returned the favor.
    But before I could even consider it, I had to find a way out of this locked room. Trying to be careful of my shoulder, I started searching the dark, dusty corners for something – anything – to help me. Half disintegrated boxes held nothing useful. Old, yellowed paper and some fabric. But over by the massive boiler I hit