Tommy Gabrini: The Grace Factor Read Online Free Page A

authorities?   Or even
worse, if the price was right, to the
Gabrinis ?
    Ed hurried out of the cabin, pulling
out his gun and resting it at his side as he walked up to the Jeep.   The two men didn’t see it coming when this
mild-mannered doctor lifted that gun and shot one, and then the other one,
straight through the forehead.   It was
his first double kill.   But they were
wrong.   It wasn’t his first time at the
rodeo.
    It also wasn’t his first time around
dead bodies.   He was a doctor.   He saw death all the time.   But the fact that they were dead didn’t make
Ed’s job any easier.   He had bodies to
bury now.   He had to convince Grace that
he loved and cared about her and her irritating daughter a little longer
now.    Because Tommy still had to
go.   He was still going down.   But the plan was going to have to change.   Without hitmen to do his dirty work, Ed
didn’t have the cover he was hoping for.   He didn’t have the alibi effect.   But that didn’t matter.   Gabrini
still had to go.   Only it was the good
doctor Ed, and not two random henchmen, who would have to get it done.

 
 
 
 
 
 

CHAPTER TWO

 
    “Cheers,” Liz Logan said to Raj, and
they toasted to another job well done.    He had been Liz’s photojournalist for the past three years, but had only
started working closely with her for the past three months.   The best three months of his entire life, if
he had to say so himself.   But he
didn’t.   Liz, like most Americans, never
asked his opinion.
    “You’re an excellent photojournalist,
Raj,” Liz said to him.   “One of the
best.   You’re due a raise.”
    Raj smiled greatly.   “Now that calls for a toast.”
    Liz laughed as they toast again.   Then her smile eased, and she shook her
head.   “I still can’t get over the scene
at that hospital,” she said.   “All of the
carnage.   All of the victims.”
    “And so young they were,” Raj said.
    “Babies,” Liz said.
    Raj looked at her.   “What about you?   Any babies of your own?   Now or in the future?”
    “No and no,” Liz said.
    “No?”   Raj was surprised.   “You do not
want to have children?   What woman does
not want babies?”
    “This woman,” Liz said.   “It’s not that I’ll never have any.   But I don’t want any right now.   Not with my lifestyle.   It wouldn’t be fair to the child.”
    Raj looked at her.   Fair to the child his ass.   Liz Logan had a lot of great qualities, a lot
of wonderful qualities, but selflessness wasn’t one of them.   “What about your male friend?” he asked.   “The one that phones too much?”
    Liz smiled.   “I never said he phones too much.”
    “You did not have to say.   The way you rush him off the phone, the way
you quickly end the calls, says so.   What
about him?   Does he not care about your
decision?”
    In truth, Raj was the only person
she’d shared her feelings with.   “We
haven’t discussed it yet,” she said.
    Raj smiled and shook his head.   “You Americans.   You think time is eternal.”
    “I think no such thing!”
    “But you do, Liz.   And it is with grave displeasure that I have
to tell you this, but you are not, how do you say?   So young?   Time may leave you or, how is it said?   Run out on you.   Time may run
out.”
    Liz nodded.   She was well aware of that fact.   Tommy had mentioned it more than once.   He was older than she was.   He was especially aware.   “I know I don’t have a wealth of time,” she
said.   “But I can’t change who I am, or
what I do.   Babies can wait.   The world is on fire and I’m fortunate enough
to be a journalist with a ringside seat witnessing the blaze.   I’m not missing out, man.   I’m not giving this up.   No way.”
    “We are in the center,” Raj
said.   “We cannot miss it.”
    Liz smiled.   She knew he didn’t understand the nuisance of
what she meant, but it didn’t matter.   She sipped more