Wicked Break Read Online Free

it.” I pointed at Sam’s office. “I was in there.”
    He nodded again. We watched Dana come out of the apartment with two officers. She was sobbing and each officer had an arm under an elbow to keep her steady.
    â€œAnd your reason for being here?” Wellton asked.
    â€œIs none of your business,” I said.
    He snorted. “Well, whatever you were doing, nice work.”
    I hadn’t seen him in a while and he was as irritating as I remembered.
    â€œI was looking for the kid that lives in the apartment next to hers,” I said, deciding there was no reason to keep it from him. “Talked to both girls for maybe ten minutes, they didn’t know anything about where he is. Then I came out and talked to the manager.”
    I thought about the guns that Peter had seen in Linc’s apartment. I hadn’t seen them yet, so I wasn’t sure they existed. At least, that’s how I rationalized not bringing them up.
    â€œRolovich is the manager?”
    â€œYeah. A piece of crap, but I don’t think he knows anything.”
    â€œYou two probably had a lot in common, then.”
    Maybe Wellton was more irritating than I remembered.
    â€œSantangelo should be here in a minute,” he said, glancing at me.
    My stomach tightened at the mention of his partner’s name. I hadn’t seen her in a while and I didn’t have any plans to change that.
    â€œShe’s coming down?” I asked.
    He looked at his watch. “Anytime now.”
    A knot. It was now a definite knot in my stomach.
    â€œYou done with me?” I asked.
    Wellton turned to me, his eyes steady. “Still on the outs with her, huh?”
    â€œWouldn’t know. Haven’t spoken to her in a long time.”
    â€œLucky her,” he said, the corners of his mouth flickering into a grin. “Yeah, I’m done with you. For now.”
    â€œCan I take my Jeep?”
    He smiled and shook his head. “That I’m not done with.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt’s inside my crime scene.”
    â€œWhen can I get it back?”
    His smile got bigger. “When I say so.” He paused. “Maybe I’ll take it for a spin.”
    â€œYou should. It’s probably more fun than your Big Wheel.”
    His smile disappeared. He glared at me for a moment, then turned and moved away.
    I walked to the street and stood there, wondering how I was going to get home. I was contemplating the bus when a Yellow Cab came down El Cajon. I waved at him and he came over three lanes to meet me.
    â€œWhere to?” he asked out the passenger window, leaning across the passenger seat.
    â€œMission Beach.”
    â€œYou got cash?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAll yours, then.”
    As I opened the rear passenger door, I glanced up and saw Liz Santangelo stepping out of her car on the far side of the lot.
    She shut the door and stood next to the car. She wore a bright green blouse and slim black pants. Her dark hair was pulled back over her shoulders and I could make out silver earrings on her ears. Her gun bulged on her hip.
    I hadn’t seen her in about six months. The last time I’d seen her had been in a hospital hallway. She’d walked out on me, disappointed again in a choice I’d made, our always-sputtering relationship screeching to a halt. I’d done something impulsive against her wishes that had resulted in the deaths of two people and nearly mine as well.
    I hadn’t called her and she hadn’t called me. My reason was stubbornness. I wasn’t sure what hers was.
    But seeing her now, I realized how much I missed her.
    She glanced in my direction, doing a double-take, and then the look on her face telling me that she wished she hadn’t done that. Or that she at least wished I hadn’t seen her do it.
    We stood there for a moment, each of us looking at the other, she looking as unsure as I felt.
    I finally held my hand up to Liz, a