Page 118 of The Echo of Violence

Another police officer walks over and offers Nico his hand. “I thought I recognized you.” His eyes drift to me before offering his hand. “So, you’re the infamous Jinx he’s always talking about.”

“Stop. Her head is big enough as it is. Jinx, this is Officer Manny Parks. Manny, Jinx.”

“Nice to meet you. Sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”

“Me too. Do they know who the person who did this is yet?”

He hesitates before answering. “Driver’s license says his name is Benjamin Evans. Lives over on Rosa Avenue with his—”

“Mother,” I finish.

“You know this guy?”

“I was part of the team sent in to collect him when he failed to attend court.”

“Ah. And he figured he’d get his revenge. Stupid asshole.”

“Is he okay?”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m sorry. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and broke his neck. He’s showing no signs of life.”

“Jesus.” I cover my mouth with my hand, playing my part.

“Not your fault. Some people just never learn. Anyway, you’re free to go. You can collect your stuff, including your gun. It’s clear neither party fired any bullets.”

Nobody asked me if I fired my gun, but I don’t mention that. “Thank you.”

I leave Nico to talk to Manny as I return to my car. I grab the cuts first, holding them in a way that hides the patches on them, before grabbing my gun and sliding it into my holster.

I stop when I see Rex walk Mercy over to collect her gun. “They said we can go. They’ll probably have some follow-up questions because of my link with the guy, but for now, we’re good.”

“Thank God. I’m starving.”

“Hey, Rex,” I say, moving in for a hug, and he gives me one before wrapping his arm around my shoulder and offering Mercy his arm.

“Such a gentleman. You could give Scope a few pointers.”

“No thanks. I choose life.”

I laugh as he walks us back to Nico. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”

We walk over to where Nico parked and wait for him to unlock the doors before Mercy and I climb in the back, and Rex climbs in the passenger seat.

Nico starts her up and waits for us to strap in before moving.

“So, what did you find out?”

“Benjamin was let out four months ago due to overcrowding.”

“And they say the system isn’t flawed. Why wait four months to come after me, though? And how did he know where I was? There is no way he’s been tailing us all this time. I would have noticed.”

“Could be as simple as wrong place, wrong time,” Rex points out.

“You mean he had no intention of going after her, but when he saw her by chance today, he couldn’t resist getting revenge?” Mercy asks.

Rex nods, but Nico is the one who answers. “Yeah, though, I did some extra digging on the way here. Got a friend to pull his phone records. Don’t ask. Anyway, he’s been getting calls from the same number for the last couple of weeks. My friends traced it to the county jail.”

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