Read Clowns and Cowboys (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 3) Online
Authors: Linsey Lanier
Tags: #Romantic Suspense
Clowns and Cowboys (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 3) (31 page)
“They called you in?” he said in a hoarse voice.
Maggie barely had the will to nod. “Chief Detective Zielinski called the BIS Deputy Superintendent.”
“What?”
“He asked the GUTS unit to investigate the incident.”
He stared at her like she’d just become a ghost.
A good-looking man sat at the table next to Tony. Maggie had seen him as soon as she came in but hadn’t acknowledged him. He wore a tailored, black worsted suit with a neat, equally expensive-looking red silk tie at his attractive throat. A throat which he now cleared as he raised a thick, expressive brow.
Maggie turned her attention to him and quietly studied those dark, intense, deep-set eyes. That black, stylishly tousled hair with a touch of gray at the temples. That rugged, Al Pacino face.
Bryce Brooks, local criminal defense attorney.
She nodded toward him, her eyes back on Tony. “Did you call him?”
“My mother did. They said I’d need a lawyer.”
Maggie recalled that Brooks’ firm had handled Jen’s divorce from her second husband a year ago. She knew the man from the courtroom.
He rose and offered his hand. “Good evening, Lieutenant.”
Reluctantly, she shook it. His grip was firmer than she expected, rife with masculine strength and confidence, charged with unnerving electricity. She ignored the sensation.
“Are you primary on this case?” he asked.
She glared at him without answering. Brooks used to work for the State’s Attorney’s office but went over to the dark side years ago to open a practice with his partner. Since then, he’d garnered a litany of high-paying clients.
He was good, one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the city. But in Maggie’s book, Bryce Brooks was a bottom feeder. He’d take any case for the cash.
“You are related to my client, aren’t you?” he persisted.
“Is he your client? I didn’t think you defended cops.” She put a hand on her hip. “As I recall, you’re usually the one raking the cops over the coals in the courtroom.” She’d seen him badger officers on the witness stand, had experienced his methods a time or two herself. He wasn’t unethical, but he came damn close to it.
He smiled with one side of his face, looking far too smug, far too sexy, testosterone-fueled arrogance oozing from every pour. “Everyone has a right to a defense attorney. Even a Chicago police officer.”
Maggie snorted. “I’m not sure the union will pay your fees.”
His dark, masculine gaze fixed her like a black hole from some surreal galaxy. “Lieutenant Delaney,” he said in a low, clipped tone. “Since you can’t be here in an official capacity due to your relationship with Officer Lombardi, are you here to give my client moral support?”
“I just want to ask a few questions.”
“The gentlemen from Internal Affairs have already done that.”
“So I saw. I want to hear what Tony has to say.” She pulled out a chair without waiting for his invitation and sat down. She leaned toward Tony.
“Lieutenant,” Brooks warned.
Maggie ignored him. “What happened tonight?”
Tony put his head down again, began pulling at his hair. “I didn’t do it, Aunt Mag. I didn’t shoot Perez. He’s my friend. He’s like an older brother to me. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. I’m dating his sister, for God’s sake.”
“His sister?” Good Lord.
“Lieutenant,” Brooks said again.
She shot up a hand. “Are you sure it wasn’t an accident?”
“No, it wasn’t an accident,” he said as softly as a prayer.
She leaned closer. “Tony, Perez was shot from behind. The other shooters were on the hill in front of you.”
“I know it doesn’t make sense, but I didn’t pull the trigger on my weapon until I was past Perez. I know it.”
“It was your first gunfight. It’s easy for your mind to play tricks on you. It’s hard to remember things accurately.”
Brooks put out a hand. “That’s enough, Lieutenant. Don’t answer her, Tony.”
Tony slammed his fist on the table. “My mind is not playing tricks on me. I know what I did.”
Brooks came around the table. “Lieutenant, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“One more minute,” Maggie snapped. “Tony, just let yourself think. Try to remember.”
Tony ran his hands over his face. “Remember? I can’t get it out of my mind. All I can hear is the blast of gunfire.” His eyes filled with tears and his voice broke with emotion. “Is Perez all right? The ambulance took him away. Is he going to live?”
Maggie swallowed. “I don’t know. He’s in surgery.”
The poor young man laid his head on his arms and began to sob. “Oh God, please let him live. Let him live.”
Brooks inhaled loudly and stared down at his manicured nails, as if suppressing a violent storm he could unleash any moment. “I would hate to press harassment charges against the head of the mayor’s dream team.”
She glared up at him. “You don’t have to. I’m leaving.”
His gaze locked with hers. Almost imperceptibly, his lip turned up at the corner. What did that look mean? Triumph? Gloating? Or had he just enjoyed sparring with her? What an egomaniac.
She reached across the table and patted the grieving officer on the hand. “Hang in there, Tony,” she said softly. “I’ll do what I can for you.” At the moment, she didn’t think that would be much.
Chicago Cop (A cop family thriller)
- More Books by Linsey Lanier
THE MIRANDA’S RIGHTS MYSTERY SERIES
Someone Else’s Daughter – Book I
THE MIRANDA AND PARKER MYSTERY SERIES
OTHER SUSPENSE BOOKS BY LINSEY LANIER:
Chicago Cop (A cop family thriller)
Steal My Heart (A Romantic Suspense)
THE PRASALA ROMANCES
HUMOROUS BOOKS BY LINSEY LANIER
You Want Me to Kill Who?
(A Dandy Frost—Ninja Assassin Story)
#1
You Want Me to Go Where?
(A Dandy Frost—Ninja Assassin Story) #2
The Clever Detective Boxed Set 2
(A Fairy Tale Romance): Stories 1-5
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Writing fiction for more than fifteen years, Linsey Lanier has authored over two dozen novels and short stories, including the popular Miranda’s Rights Mystery series and the Miranda and Parker series. Someone Else’s Daughter has received over 700 reviews and a over quarter million downloads.
Linsey writes romance, romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers with a dash of sass. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Kiss of Death chapter, Private Eye Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Her books have been nominated in several RWA-sponsored contests.
In her spare time, Linsey enjoys watching crime shows with her husband of over two decades and trying to figure out “who-dun-it.” But her favorite activity is creating entertaining new stories for her readers.
She’s always working on a new book. To keep up with her releases feel free to join Linsey’s mailing list at
linseylanier.com
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Connect with Linsey Online
Linsey’s website:
http://www.linseylanier.com
Linsey’s blog:
http://www.linseylanier.blogspot.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/linsey.lanier
Twitter: @LinseyLanier
A Final Word:
My thanks to all my wonderful writing sisters in Georgia Romance Writers and RWA.
And most of all, thank you, dear reader, for choosing my book. You make it all worthwhile.
Copyright © 2014 Linsey Lanier
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Thank you for respecting the author’s work and helping her earn a living.
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