Page 78 of Deadly Avarice
Twenty-Seven
Franklin
Fuck, I was tired.
Working the crime scene took far longer than I wanted. There was a lot to get through. I’d been right about Boggs’s goons, Red and Izzy. They’d panicked and tried running while trapped behind Holland’s shield charm. They’d bounced right off and hadn’t gotten anywhere. Thankfully, running Boggs down hadn’t taken the full twenty minutes and, true to her word, Captain Cicely had called in the troops and they had Red and Izzy surrounded by the time the shield charm deactivated. Both were cuffed and hauled to the station.
Boggs hadn’t been so fortunate. The violent sneezing lasted at least fifteen minutes. When it finally stopped, Boggs lay on the ground, writhing in pain. At best guess, he’d cracked or broken more than a few ribs. We’d had to wait on an ambulance. He’d been loaded on the gurney and taken away under police supervision.
The remainder of the scene was processed. Billy’s family was contacted and his father showed up, scooping Billy into his arms and showering the boy’s forehead in kisses. Billy’s dad was shaking badly when he walked to me and shook my hand. Wordsescaped him but the tears streaming down his face and the deep gratitude shimmering in his watery eyes were all I needed to hear.
“Anytime,” I said, even though Billy’s dad hadn’t said a word. His firm nod was answer enough.
“You okay?” Johns asked while staring at my bleeding arm. “You should get that looked at.”
“It’s just a scratch.” It was a little more than that, but not much and had already stopped bleeding.
“That may be, but you gotta watch out for infection. And when was your last tetanus shot?”
I rolled my eyes but clapped Johns on his shoulder. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“Always,” Johns replied. “Go on, get out of here. This whole thing is going to be a mountain of paperwork. Better get back to the station and get started,” Johns said before walking off to help the crime scene techs.
I didn’t have to be told twice. Checking in with a couple of my colleagues, I made certain they were good before I headed for my vehicle. The sun was low in the sky by the time I had a chance to ease my rear into the driver’s seat. A low groan slipped through my lips as my seat heated and eased the strain in my lower back. My legs would be sore later. While I worked out on a regular basis, my body wasn’t prepared for a sprint through the woods.
Pulling out my phone, I checked for any new messages. I’d called Boone earlier, just to let him know I was okay. I didn’t want him to hear about what happened on the news or from anyone else. He’d been understandably upset and worried. I wished I could have gone to him immediately, but that wasn’t in the cards. I had a job to finish and my reward would be Boone’s lips on my skin and his arms hugging me tight.
I groaned again when I thought about how long it would be before I’d lay eyes on Boone. Johns was right. I had a shit tonof paperwork waiting for me back at the precinct. Since it was mostly on the computer now, maybe I could take my laptop back to Boone’s place and sit by the fire, Boone leaning against me or with his head in my lap. No doubt it would take longer to finish my report, but it would be so much more pleasant than sitting at my desk.
Regardless, I still needed to head back to the precinct as my laptop was sitting by my desk. Pulling away from the curb, I started my relatively short trek back. I tried calling Boone on the way, but my call went to voicemail. I checked the time and thought he might be in the shower. I couldn’t think of another reason he wouldn’t have answered his phone. I left a message that I was on my way to the precinct and hoped to be home within the hour.
The precinct parking lot was a lot emptier when I pulled in than when I’d left. Hauling my ass out of my vehicle produced a twinge in my left hip. Yup. I’d definitely be paying for my impromptu sprint through the woods. My bicep was more a dull ache now than licking fire. If I was lucky, maybe I could weasel one of those healing potions out of Captain Cicely.
I waved at the officer working reception and high-fived him as I walked by.
“Way to go,” he offered, a huge grin splitting his face.
I muttered a half-ass “thanks” while scooting by. I wasn’t so good with praise or acclamations. This was the job—my job—and I did it to the best of my abilities. Sometimes shit worked out and sometimes it didn’t. I’d gotten lucky today. That’s not to say there hadn’t been skill, thought, and experience thrown in there too, but never underestimate luck. Sometimes, how things ended was a simple flip of the coin.
Shrugging out of my jacket, I fingered the bloody tear in the sleeve. If Boggs hadn’t taken precedent, I would have been the one sitting in the back of the ambulance. I was in the middleof prodding the wound when my phone rang. Assuming it was Boone, I hit the accept button without checking the caller ID.
“Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be home in—”
“I’ve lost what little faith I had in you, Detective O’Hare.”
My body stiffened, frozen with fresh fear. Huxley’s smokey voice grated down my spine like an itch I’d never be able to reach. Wound forgotten, I focused on the caller.
“You are obviously not up to the task of protecting someone as important as Necromancer Boone.” Anger seeped through those words while fresh anxiety invaded my soul.
“What happened?” My words were little more than a harsh whisper.
“He almost died,” Huxley answered. “If not for my intervention, he would be dead.” Those words landed with the weight of a thousand suns.
My hands shook as I reached for the back of my chair, steadying myself as much as possible.
“He’s at home,” I protested. “Boone’s house is warded. He’s safe while he’s there.”
Huxley’s bark of laughter felt like knives piercing my skin. “I had not thought you such a fool. Boone is not at home, Detective.”
