Hard Case VI: The Killer Inside (John Harding Book 6) Read Online Free

get too wild with the tears of angst about the disappearance of their poor innocent baby boy.”
    “I’m black. Jess, Dev, and Tommy are all black. We’ll have a reverse riot. We’ll go burn down all the gangbanger relatives’ homes, and steal their TV’s in the name of honest black people everywhere.”
    I had to take a moment to appreciate Lucas’s reverse riot idea. “Good one. It’s no more ridiculous than the authorities allowing the thugs to riot through Baltimore, tearing the city to pieces, while they looted and pillaged.”
    “There’s nothing that fights injustice like smashing through businesses of innocent citizens, and stealing everything not nailed down,” Lucas replied. “Then mob rule becomes law while the bastards beat and rob people, forcing a major city into lockdown. You should be outraged, whitey.”
    “I’m surprised at you, Lucas. Didn’t you know beating innocent white people to death is okay as long as it’s in the name of racial equality?”
    “I forgot. My bad. It looks like the final negotiations are ending. I hope this is it for a while with Oaktown Cartel business, John. We need a cooling off period. They’ll be exiling us to our island pretty soon if we make any more gang adjustments like this one.”
    “Agreed. I’ve been working with the minion Godfather Gus to pick only the worst cases where the thugs are terrorizing neighborhoods, or starting drug depots. You’re right though. We’ll need to be careful. We required a loud statement on this one. If we have to go into action sooner than expected, we may do a snatch and grab until the problem ends.”
    Lucas pointed at our approaching Cartel companions. They were all smiles except for Tommy.
    “It’s done, John,” Gus said. “The Mob accepted terms. They got a kick out of the part where if there’s a danger of outside gangs coming into the city we’re the first line of defense. They also know we’ll be watching them.”
    “Good fight tonight, John,” Quays added. “Even we minions were surprised the Mistress of the Unimaginable tossed you to the wolves.”
    “Although they turned out to be sheep,” Silvio pointed out. “The Crue cuttin’ really made an impression on the Mob. She’ll be famous by morning. We have it on video, so maybe when we hear about another challenge to our authority, we’ll send out the double header from tonight with Crue giving Jeron a Tijuana haircut, and you maiming four guys on HD. Crue was getting pissed anyhow. All we have to do is show guys she’s due to question her movies, and they tell us anything we want to know before we get a chance to ask.”
    Casey laughed. “Crue told us a few days ago she’ll be obsolete if we keep making movies. I heard we’re going to Las Vegas. I’m in. Do we get to just be an entourage or will Denny figure out a target for us to kill while we’re there?”
    “That fight’s still in the negotiation phase, Case,” Tommy answered for me. “I need to talk with John about that one.”
    “He’s ready, T. You saw him bust the ‘bangers into the pavement,” Lucas said. “I’m taking the whole family this time if the Spawn of Satan doesn’t ruin our Vegas getaway with a side mission. We’ll put Mellow Yellow into the Bay day after tomorrow when we feed the sharks with tonight’s catch.”
    “Gee… thanks.” I knew we’d be talking about my ridiculous training regimen again, but if I was going to take on the number one contender and not embarrass myself, I’d damn well need to be ready. Nothing gets me readier than being shark bait while Tommy and Crue poke me with poles.

Chapter Two
    The Berserker
    Tommy remained quiet in the car until I thought maybe I had been mistaken about his wanting to discuss something, but then he started opening up – about Crue first.
    “Psycho is going to get you killed.”
    “Lucas had my back, T. He would have blown the Knife-man’s hand off. Crue apologized. Clint told her she went too far. It’s