Read Online Too Far Gone by Debra Webb, Regan Black - Free Book Online Page B

disappointed dads he wasn’t so sure it was mere guesswork. He opted to start with the photos Claudia had sent.
    “Take your time and let me know if any of these people are familiar.”
    Lauren tipped her head, eyeing him from over her cup of tea. “You had Claudia pull these based on the sketches.”
    He nodded. “I’ve been looking into local organized crime since your car exploded. That’s the kind of move those guys make when the goal is a big statement.” He was also wondering why the police hadn’t asked her to look at similar photos the night of the murder.
    She looked up at him, her eyes wide with renewed worry. “You think they’re planning to make an example of me?”
    “Not you. Trinity. The hit may have been a warning to the others who deliver various products for them.”
    “But we still don’t know what product Desmond was delivering.”
    He shrugged. “I have a few thoughts, but nothing I can confirm.” Russian syndicates were in a constant state of motion, ruthlessly developing territories and interests that increased the cash flow. Before she could ask him about his thoughts, he went to the fridge for a cola. He didn’t want to distract her or to create any doubt about the veracity of her identifications when she made them.
    When Mike returned, she looked up at him. “I found the guy who shot Desmond.” When he sat down beside her, she pointed to the monitor. “This is the man.
Nikoli
.”
    “You’re sure?” Mike asked. Her finger was aimed at a mug shot of a Krushka syndicate enforcer named Nikoli Maksimov.
    She glared daggers at the screen, but the fear showed in the way she swallowed before she answered him. “This man hit Desmond, and then he shot him. Twice. The boss called him Nikoli.”
    “All right.” Mike nodded. “See if the other guy is in that mix.”
    He pushed back his chair, needing the distance while she looked at more pictures. Suddenly she turned her back on the screen. Her face had gone pale and her hands trembled in her lap. “That’s him. He gave the order. When I ran, he made me a hideous offer, but when I pulled the fire alarm he said he’d kill me.”
    Mike fought off the urge to comfort her. “Show me.”
    She pointed to Peter Kozlov. Mike closed the laptop. If she struggled this much over the faces, she’d break down at the sight of the rap sheets. She’d had a rough enough time watching through those binoculars today. As disappointed as he’d been when those two thugs showed up today, what absolutely twisted his gut was the idea that Treadwell had to have been the one who tipped them off. He was the only person Lauren called. Equally telling was the lack of media coverage. Beyond passing the information along to Kozlov, Treadwell had apparently pretended Lauren hadn’t made the call. All of which confirmed they could not go to the police at this time. There was no way to know for sure who they could trust. Mike wasn’t taking that kind of chance with her life.
    He walked back to the island and leaned against it, using the expanse of granite for a little distance.
    She looked directly at him, that meager four feet of sleek countertop suddenly not nearly enough. “Who are they?”
    “Russian mob. Specifically the Krushka syndicate.”
    She pressed her fingers to her lips for a moment. “Desmond was a talent agent. What business would they have with him?”
    “You heard them talk about a product.”
    “Yes, but I have no idea what they meant.”
    “Based on what I know about these men, Kozlov in particular, going back out in public again before we resolve this would be far riskier than we suspected.”
    “But we have names. Can’t you just take me to the police now?”
    “Not if you want to live. We have names, not evidence. There’s a big difference and don’t forget, Treadwell, or someone he told, tipped these guys off about your imaginary meeting with the lawyer.”
    She squeezed her hands more tightly. “What about the