Redemption (Amos Decker #5)(51)

“What about Blake?”

“He was there but voiced no objections. He might be seeing that I could be useful, especially if he gets the credit if I do figure this out.”

“He’ll turn on you if he gets the chance,” said Brimmer warningly.

“I’m under no illusions when it comes to Natty.” He cocked his head. “How about you?”

“How about me what?” she said defensively.

“You’ve got a lot going for you, Sally. You could do a lot better than Natty. Someone your own age who’s actually single, for instance. I guess I just don’t see the attraction on your end.”

“Why do you care? I always thought you were just this…machine.” She suddenly looked chastened. “I’m sorry, that was really out of line. I didn’t mean it.”

“You’re not the first to say that, and you won’t be the last. As to you, I was a father with a daughter, like I said. I…I don’t want you to be hurt or get in a situation you can’t get out of.”

Brimmer looked down at the brick pavers under her feet. “I work long hours. All I know are cops. I don’t have any family here, and few friends. Blake…he took an interest. He even used that old line that his wife just doesn’t get him or his work.” She laughed hollowly. “And I fell for it, I guess. Just like a million other women. But he did make me feel special.”

“Did?”

She smiled resignedly. “I’ve broken it off with him, Amos. It wasn’t just what you said, although I needed to hear that too. He is married. And I wouldn’t want that to happen to me if I were married. It’s not fair. And it does speak to a person’s character if they’re willing to cheat like that, as you said.”

“I’m glad you reached that decision.”

“You never cheated on your wife, did you?”

“Never even thought about it. I had everything, Sally. A wife who I loved beyond anything I’d ever felt before. And a daughter who I would have sacrificed anything for. Now I don’t have either one.”

“But you have memories. Good ones.”

“Yeah, I do. But it’s not the same. Even for someone with a memory like mine. Memories don’t keep you warm at night. And they don’t make you laugh, not really.” He paused. “But they can make you cry.”

She put a hand on his arm and squeezed. “And to think, I used to believe that you were this gigantic jerk.”

“I can be. As you well know.”

“And you can be someone else too, Amos. Someone I would like to call a friend.”

“We are friends, Sally. I know what it took for you to help me. Even if my memory sucked, I’d never forget that.”

They grew silent until Brimmer said, “I better get going.”

“I’ll walk you out. It’s pretty dark in here and there’re a lot of places for creeps to hide.”

“Never stop being a cop?”

“It’s just how I’m wired.”

They reached the street a couple of minutes later.

“Thank you again,” said Decker.

“No, thank you, Amos.” She spontaneously went over and hugged him. Decker bent down to hug her back.

Right as the shot hit.





Chapter 31



DECKER FELT THE WOMAN go limp in his arms at the same time as he felt something wet hit his face. He slumped to the pavement holding Brimmer, as he heard shouts and feet running. He looked up to see Mars sprinting toward him.

“Get down, Melvin!” he called out.

“Over there, Decker!” said Mars, pointing to his left, across the street.

Decker checked Brimmer. The bullet had entered the left side of her head and exited out the other side, in the direction of the park. Her glassy eyes were staring lifelessly up at him.

He knew she was dead, but he still checked her pulse. With no blood pumping through her body, the woman was already growing cold.

“Shit,” Decker said, looking dazed and in disbelief. He touched his face where her blood had landed.

He looked over at Mars, and then across the street from where the shot had come. He pulled his gun, got up, and raced across the street, with Mars right behind him.

Decker pulled out his phone, dialed 911, identified himself, and told the dispatcher what had happened and the exact location. “We’re in pursuit of the shooter. Get some cop cars out here now and we can box the sonofabitch in.” He put the phone in his pocket and picked up his pace.

Mars took a slight lead because he had seen where the shot had come from. As they ran along, Decker said, “Did you see the person?”

Mars shook his head. “Just a silhouette, at the opening of that alley. I had no time to warn you. I just happened to glance that way right as he fired.”

They reached the alley and peered down it. Decker checked the building. It was being rehabbed. Construction materials were all over the place, along with scaffolding.

“Think the asshole’s still down there?” said Mars.

“Don’t know. If he is, we’ll get him.”

As soon as Decker said this, they could hear the sirens.

“Cavalry’s on the way,” he noted.

“But if I’m the shooter, I’m getting the hell out of here,” said Mars.