The Throwbacks Read Online Free Page A

of endless women, although at first he’d been an amused voyeur. After the wasted year, it was time he moved past his past.
    A vision of Grace lit up in his mind, and he dwelled on the dimple before ruthlessly shutting the lights. He felt the warmth of her kiss, and even more so, the warmth of her words telling him she’d miss him.
    “Of course I’m thrilled. You know I love a good homicide investigation. A nice high-profile homicide involving the mayor’s family—perfect inauguration for the Scotland Yard Exchange Program with the BPD.”
    “Yes, it does seem like the perfect showcase for the exchange program.” Dan smiled at him.
    “Do you need to check with the mayor first?” David asked.
    “Are you kidding? The program is official now. The mayor will love having the fricking Detective Chief Superintendent of Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad on the case. It’s about time you jumped in after all the bureaucratic bull of setting up the program.”
    “I agree. He’ll never suspect the real reason I’ve been exiled to the States…at least not until the Commission’s internal affairs report comes out.” David spoke in his driest British voice and added, “It’s a lucky thing I’m independently wealthy.” He gave his friend the single-arched brow of sarcasm. He stepped around to the passenger side of the chief’s unmarked police car.
    “You will be—as soon as the estate is out of escrow.”
    That made David wince out loud. The chief walked around to the driver’s side and stopped.
    “I know this is a sore topic. But it’ll get through court soon and you have to get over the guilt, close out the estate and move on,” the chief said in a guarded voice.
    Even an entire year filled with limousine loads of women hadn’t rid David of the grief over his professional exile and marital baggage. He only shook his head.
    “That’s what I thought. Now for business,” the chief said as they both swung their respective doors open and slid into the car.
    “You’re really enjoying being the wheel man, I see,” David noted.
    “My regular driver may never get his job back. Luckily you acquired a taste for being chauffeured or we’d have to fight for the keys.” Dan turned the key, flipped the switch to the blue flashing lights and stepped on the gas. David felt the flashback to the image of Dan playing the role of “Dick Tracy” in their boyhood games.
    They looked at each other like those two boys of old in perfect sync. David felt the rush of adrenaline and looked ahead. This he could deal with. He was glad to be back in his element here—crime fighting in the States where no one knew the details of his sordid past. Yet.

Chapter 2

    “T HE dead man is important enough to rate special handling,” Dan said. “That means you’ll be lead detective.” They swerved around a tight corner on the narrow Beacon Hill street, tires not exactly squealing, but with enough acceleration to keep David’s heart pumping and glad to be back. It made his homecoming complete.
    “Yes. The mayor’s daughter’s fiancé’s brother. The flags will be at half mast, I’m sure,” David said. He received a quelling look from his good friend. “Important in a very relative way. Tell me about the details,” he amended.
    The chief smirked and said, “Did I mention the mayor’s daughter’s fiancé is also the Lieutenant Governor?”
    “Ah.”
    “Politicians are no joke in this town.”
    “Although they seem to be very incestuous,” David observed out loud because he knew he could say anything to his friend.
    “The mayor is well-liked, respected, and very good for the city. Not to mention the fact that he’s my boss—your boss too, now that Scotland Yard finally convinced him to let the BPD take you off their hands,” Dan reminded him.
    “I assure you, the mayor is now at number one on my all time top-ten list of people to pay attention to. About the case …”
    Dan finally got to the details. “The body was