SIck

by Brett Battles

  As soon as he was on his feet, he started searching the floor, obviously looking for the gun, but Logan spotted it first. He kicked the man in the hip, knocking him sideways into a stack of egg crates, then got his foot on the gun, and kicked it toward the open door.

  The moment it passed through the opening, Logan realized that was a mistake. He jumped to his feet, but the man raced outside first.

  Almost immediately the door began to swing shut. The guy was doing to Logan what Logan had been planning to do to him.

  Logan pressed his hands and arms against the door, trying to stop it from shutting. But the man had the leverage, and the door kept getting closer and closer to sealing Logan in. Then, with just a few inches to go, it suddenly jammed to a halt. For several moments, the man continued pushing, trying to close the remaining gap, but the door wouldn’t budge.

  There was a grunt of frustration, then the pressure from the other side ceased. Logan pushed the door open just in time to see the man grab Tooney and throw him into one of the storage racks, then race outside.

  Stepping quickly out of the refrigerator, Logan spotted what had kept the door from closing. The Glock had caught between the door’s lower lip and the refrigerator frame. He scooped it up, and started for the rear exit, but a moan stopped him before he could get there.

  Tooney was trying to get off the floor, but wasn’t having much luck. There was blood on the side of his head, and a dazed look in his eyes.

  “Stay down,” Logan said as he knelt beside him. “I’ll call for an ambulance and let the Sheriff know what’s going on.”

  Tooney jerked under Logan’s hand. “No,” he said. The look in his eyes wasn’t fear. It was terror. “No police. No ambulance. I be okay.”

  Outside, the sedan’s engine started.

  “Tooney, you’re hurt.”

  Tooney sat up. “I’m okay. Just cut. Can clean myself. No problem. No police. Please, Logan. Don’t call them.”

  Logan stared at the old man, confused.

  “Please,” Tooney said again.

  Though Tooney was injured, nothing looked fatal. Logan thought for a moment, then grabbed the keys he’d spotted earlier on Tooney’s desk, and headed toward the back door.

  “What are you going to do?” Tooney asked.

  But Logan was already outside, so even if he had an answer, Tooney wouldn’t have been able to hear it.

  • • • • • • •

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Brett Battles lives in Los Angeles and is the author of four novels in the acclaimed Jonathan Quinn series—including THE CLEANER (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller 2008, and the Shamus Award for Best Debut Novel), THE DECEIVED (winner of the Barry Award for Best Thriller 2009), and the latest installment, THE SILENCED—and LITTLE GIRL GONE, the first book of his Logan Harper Series. More info available at www.brettbattles.com

  Other Works by Brett Battles available on Kindle:

  The Jonathan Quinn Thrillers

  THE CLEANER

  THE DECEIVED

  SHADOW OF BETRAYAL (U.S.)/THE UNWANTED (U.K.)

  THE SILENCED

  The Logan Harper Thrillers

  LITTLE GIRL GONE

  Short Stories

  JUST ANOTHER JOB – A Jonathan Quinn Story

  PERFECT GENTLEMAN

  Coming Soon

  HERE COMES MR. TROUBLE (First of New Middle School Series)

  EXIT NINE (Book 2 of the Project Eden Thrillers)

  NO RETURN (January, 2012)