Lethal Journey Read Online Free Page A

said.
    “Well if they
wanted to scare us, they sure as hell succeeded.”
    “It’s not too
often the mob sends out a warning. In any event, we haven’t got any
other leads at this point.”
    “I’ll have Dad
stay with me. He won’t be happy but I think it’s better if we stick
together.”
    “Good idea.
We’ll have an officer posted at your house.” Pete pulled out a
business card from his breast pocket and handed it to her. “If you
think of anything else or need to get in touch with us, call, day
or night.” He stood and slid the notebook back into his jacket, and
then left the room.
    God, she was
alone with Eric. The only sound was the air conditioner humming
overhead. Talk about awkward. She’d forgotten how tall he was. He
made her appear petite even though she was five- foot-eight, a good
four inches shorter than him. Their eyes locked.
    “God, I must
look like hell.” Lauren looked away.
    “You do. You’ve
got one nasty bruise on the side of your forehead. Looks like the
one you got from the guy who tried to mug you in Central Park.
Remember?”
    “ I do.”
She smiled. “How could I forget? You saved me. If you hadn’t, we
would never have met.” And here we are again. She fiddled with the elastic bandage around her
wrist. “I’m sorry about Duffy. He was quite the
character.”
    Eric slipped
his hands into his jeans pockets. “Yeah, he was. He was a good man.
A good father.”
    Lauren noticed
Eric’s eyes gloss over with pain—the loss still too fresh. She
touched his arm.
    “We’ll talk
later. I’ll check on your father before I leave. Try to get some
rest.” He patted her hand, and then headed to the door.
    “Eric, do you
believe in fate?”
    “I’m beginning
to.”

Chapter Four
     
     
    Eric met up
with Pete in the hallway.
    “Hey, the
captain called. He wants to see you in his office first thing in
the morning.”
    “Just what I
need.” Eric leaned against the wall and shook his head. “Did he say
what he wanted?”
    “Nope.
Bromstrom needs to get on someone’s ass. Fortunately, he picks on
you and not me.”
    “Lucky me.”
    Pete
snickered.
    Eric stared at
his partner. “What’s so funny?”
    “I saw the way
you were looking at Lauren. You still got the hots for her.”
    “Give me a
break. I’m doing my job.”
    “Nice bedside
manner.”
    “For God
sakes.” Eric waved his hand. “Don’t you have something to do for
ten minutes? I want to talk to Stephen alone.”
    “Yeah, I could
use a cold drink. Whether you want to believe it or not, you’re
still hot for her.” Pete rushed down the hallway and headed for the
elevators.
    Eric glanced at
the tired blue walls bordered with worn white trim. Pete was right.
His feelings for Lauren had not disappeared. Back when they dated,
his social drinking got out of hand and her spoiled princess
routine grew old. Not a good mix. He really didn’t think he’d see
her again. He couldn’t afford to allow his feeling to get in the
way this time around—it wasn’t going to happen. Finding his
father’s killer was top priority.
    “Excuse me,
detective. You can see Mr. Taylor now,” the nurse said.
    “Good.
Thanks.”
    The night’s
events reeled through Eric’s mind and frustration dug deep in his
throat. He glanced at his watch. Two fifteen in the morning and his
gut ached from the watered-down coffee he’d picked up in the
cafeteria. He strolled down the west wing and pushed open the door
to Stephen’s room.
    The man’s eyes
widened. His eyebrows shot up. “Eric?” He shifted in the bed and
smoothed the blankets around him. “What are you doing here?”
    Eric
sensed the dislike the man still had for him. Some things never change. Stephen never approved of his
relationship with Lauren. He thought Lauren could do much better
than a cop. He wanted much more for his princess.
    “Come on,
Stephen. You’re a smart man. Someone runs you off the road two days
before one of the biggest mob trial in New York’s