Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

dwarf had decided to go after stepped forward and intervened.
    Violet instead.
    “Southtown’s a dangerous neighborhood,” Finn said Tobias turned back to face us and spit another mouthin a soft tone. “Who knows what could have happened ful of tobacco juice onto the porch. “All I’m saying is it to him in a place like that? Just about anything, I imagwould be a damn shame if something was to happen to ine. Rough crowd, down in that part of Ashland. Junkies, you—or your sweet granddaughter.”
    vampire hookers, pimps. Not safe for a man to walk those The dwarf leered at Violet, staring at her boobs like he streets by himself.”
    wanted to bury his head between them. Behind him, the Tobias fixed Finn with a hard stare. “I wasn’t talking giants and other men did the same. Violet’s face paled a to you, son. And what the hell would you know about it little more, but she crossed her arms over her chest and anyway?”
    lifted up her head. She wasn’t backing down any more Finn smiled. “I grew up down there.”
    than her grandfather was.
    The dwarf stared at Finn with open hostility and susEstep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 178-179
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    picion. The two giants and two other men sensed their reconsider his options. Ashland might be a dangerous boss’s displeasure. They shifted forward on their feet, as city, and the cops might be as crooked as the surroundif to storm past him and come up onto the porch. Tobias ing mountain roads, but folks still stopped to think betensed, ready to give the order. I palmed another knife. fore they took out a member of the po-po. There were This was not going to end well.
    payoffs to consider, bribes, chains of command. Not to But before the dwarf could tell his men to charge and mention the fact Donovan Caine was something of a folk take care of Warren T. Fox once and for all, Donovan hero in the city—an honest cop among a sea of corrupt Caine stepped down off the porch and pulled open his ones. Caine’s death would raise a lot of questions, even coat. The noontime sun made the gold badge on his belt for somebody as well connected as Tobias Dawson. glisten next to the dark shadow of his gun. The dwarf ’s eyes went to Donovan, then Finn, then Tobias took in the badge and weapon. The dwarf’s Warren. He didn’t glance at me or Violet. Evidently us pale blue eyes flicked to the sedan sitting in front of the mere womenfolk weren’t much of a threat. Sexist basstore. He knew a cop car when he saw one too. “Who are tard. Still, Tobias could count as well as the next person. you?”
    Five of us, six of him and his men. Not great odds, even
    “Detective Donovan Caine. I’m an old family friend if we were saddled with an old man and two women. of the Foxes.”
    But Donovan Caine’s badge was the tipping point—for Finn flashed another grin and pointed his finger at now.
    the detective. “Maybe you’ve heard of him. He was the Tobias stared at Warren again. “You have three days to one who killed Alexis James, that loopy Air elemental think about my last offer. And it is my last offer. I suggest who was stealing from Halo Industries, her own comyou think real hard on it. Before I have to come back and pany. Happened about two months ago. It was all over ask you to reconsider it.”
    the news. Mayor even gave him a medal for his stellar The dwarf spit out another stream of dirty tobacco investigative work.”
    juice, turned on his snakeskin boot heel, and stalked back Donovan grimaced at Finn’s sly, mocking praise. The to the SUV. He made a circle gesture with his hands. detective knew what had really happened. That I’d been Round up and move out. one by one, his four goons the one who’d killed Alexis James and her flunkies in the turned and fell in step behind him.
    Ashland Rock Quarry. And that he’d accepted the credit Donovan Caine stayed where he was, face hard, hazel and accolades for something he didn’t even do. eyes cold and flat, until the vehicle pulled out of the Tobias Dawson knew who the detective was, all right. parking lot. The driver took a right at the crossroads and The knowledge flashed in his icy eyes. But Caine’s status zoomed out of sight. once it was gone, the detective blew as a member of the Ashland police force made the dwarf out a breath and rubbed a hand through his black hair. Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 180-181
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    “Well, that