Out a Order Read Online Free

Pain sliced through him, as though someone had gutted him with a shiv.
    The black police officer touched Shannon on the shoulder. “Mr. Davenport, I’m sorry but we need to ask you a few questions. Would you mind stepping out with us?” Shannon gazed at his wife and daughter, and then shot Dr. Connelly a look.
    The doctor lifted his chin for Shannon to go. He moved closer to Tawney, who was still holding and whispering to her daughter.
    Another child lost in the belly of the beast.

Chapter 4
    T he police led Shannon to a small office that was cramped and tight, which they used as a miniheadquarters on the premises of the hospital. There was a single lightbulb, a desk, and a couple of chairs.
    It was definitely not the friendliest of environments. It was certainly not an environment for a grieving parent who had lost a child.
    â€œHave a seat, Shannon. I’m Officer Campbell. My partner here is Officer Lombardo,” the black police officer said.
    Shannon took a seat. Campbell perched on the edge of the desk. He pulled a pad and pen from his pocket. Lombardo chose to stand in the corner.
    â€œI’m sorry to have to put you through this so soon after the shooting of your daughter. But the quicker we move, the better chance we have of catching her killer. Mr. Davenport, do you know who shot your daughter?” Officer Campbell said.
    Shannon laughed. “If I knew who shot my daughter, do you think I’d be sitting here?”
    Officer Lombardo jumped in. “It’s our job to catch the person who shot her, Mr. Davenport. Not yours.”
    â€œNaw, my man. It was your job to provide safe streets before this happened. Now she’s dead, so that means you don’t have a job.”
    Lombardo leaped from his corner. “Just what the hell does that mean? We do everything we can.”
    Shannon was on his feet, shaking with rage. “Everything wasn’t good enough. Was it, Lombardo? Because if it was, my wife wouldn’t be holding a dead child in her arms.”
    Lombardo was awash with guilt, frustration, and rage. The streets of Newark were a ticking time bomb. He had no desire to carry the full weight of it on his shoulders. Still, the combination of squalor and the cash-rich streets irked him in a place that he’d rather not visit.
    New Jersey had a 130-mile coastline and two major seaports, New York/New Jersey and Philadelphia/Camden. Port Newark and the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal, part of the New York/New Jersey Seaport, together constituted one of the largest containerized port complexes in North America.
    As a result the streets of Newark were a cash-rich, criminal enterprise, with an undetermined amount of drug traffic crisscrossing the city. The bottom-line result was that Newark’s crime rate was more than two times the national average.
    The helplessness of the situation washed over Lombardo. He lashed out at Shannon. “Those are your streets and your neighborhoods. What the hell are you doing about it? I don’t see you people doing a damn thing but complaining.”
    Campbell slid off the desk. He couldn’t believe Lombardo had gone there. He had said, “You people.” Any fool of a different race knew better than to use that term.
    He couldn’t believe Lombardo had let his anger get the better of him, although he was known to be a bit touchy, as well as a bit of a hotshot on the streets.
    Campbell’s face was dark with an unnamed emotion. Lombardo had committed an unpardonable offense. Campbell quickly closed the distance between them. “You’re out of line, Officer,” he spat at him through clenched teeth.
    He stared Lombardo down until he had the decency to look away. Realizing his offense, Lombardo clamped his mouth shut. He yanked the chair from under the desk. He paused with his hand on it.
    The tension grew.
    A spot of spittle appeared in the corner of Shannon’s mouth as he gazed at Lombardo in