Melting Steele
Page 18
I haven’t given him the whole hurt her and I know where to bury you speech. Frankly, he’d probably have his tech friends hack my phone or something to ensure they find him. Maybe develop an app that traces you when you’re in trouble even if the phone is off. I laugh at myself for sounding like I understand the words coming out of my mouth.
“Jazz, you’re here,” Hadley rushes out of her trailer and wraps me up in a tight hug.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“No worries, Logan’s been bored out of his mind these last few days with me. You guys can talk about some case or whatever. Oh maybe he can help you with your cell phone!”
“Ms. Moreno, you’re wanted on set.”
“Coming,” she hugs me again, “I’ll be back soon and we’ll all go for lunch.”
“Go break a leg, preferably not yours.”
She laughs at me before straightening up her wardrobe and walking away. The clicking of her heels on the pavement the only sound. Part of me wants to follow and make sure she’s okay. I know she’s had fittings and read-throughs, but this is her first shot of the day.
“She’s got to do this on her own.”
Logan puts his hand on my shoulder and it’s the first time I realize the man is taller than me. His video game shirt giving away his geek side. Sadly, I have the same one.
“I’m worried.”
“So am I, but we have to let her do this. One thing I’ve learned, if she needs you she will ask for it. Come on, I’ve got a sweet computer setup inside.”
“How are you feeling? Any residual pain?”
“Nope, all back to my normal geek self.”
Logan heads back to the door on the trailer and I’m torn. My feet want to walk away but my brain can’t seem to catch up. I know it’s a selfish thing. I have this need to make up for not being there. I want to make it right, even if she says there’s nothing to fix. It’s purely selfish. It’s more about me than and I know it, but you feel what you feel.
“Detective?”
Hadley’s doing her thing and I have to let her be. Regardless of my wants, she has to know she can do it on her own. So, I walk to the trailer and wait for her to come to me.
“Holy crap, I am in the wrong industry!”
The trailer fully decked out with a huge television, gaming system, small kitchen, eating area and a bed in the back. Logan sits in the small dining area with his laptop. I calmly slide in across from him.
“You want something to drink?”
“No, I’m good. Had two large coffees on the way over.”
“Bathroom’s in the back on the right before the bedroom.”
“This place is nuts.”
“Yup, price of hiring union talent.”
Logan stares at his computer screen, frantically clicking away on his keyboard and mouse.
“I read about Brandt’s trial. Good outcome.”
“Life without parole works for me. If he lives the entire sentence.”
“Yes, there is that.”
Logan continues to type on his computer, his body language is very off.
“Got something to tell me?”
“Yes and no. Depends on which one you want first.”
“Hit me with negative first.”
“Irving Garrison has been tightening the ranks. He’s been doing a better job of hiding his money trails. He’s worse than Madoff.”
“Even the Teflon Don Gotti slipped up and was convicted. He’ll make a mistake. What’s the positive?”
“I think we can sort of flush him out with what we have.”
“Consider my interest peaked. How is this possible?”
“We release the information we have to the dark web outlets and let them take it from there. There’s no guarantee it would go viral, but with his connections to Brandt, Jones, his son’s illegal activities and the truth about your case as well as what little we can trace to his financial holdings, it just might.”
“But this is all sensitive material, releasing this could cost you.”
“It’s very gray. All circumstantial stuff that you can easily find on the Internet if you search for it. I’m just releasing it all in one spot as one unit. Gives it a little more credibility and strength. Might work, might not. It’s worth a shot.”
“I don’t want to risk your career.”
“Who’s risking anything? If we do this, it will bounce around the world when it uploads from an untraceable non-existent IP address. I’m a bit reckless in gaming, not in real life. If anyone tries to track me, it would take weeks or months.”
“I will take your word for it as I have no clue what you just said. I will simply trust your judgment.”
He smiles, nods and cracks his knuckles. Before I can say another word, he is frantically typing away like a mad genius. I’m very thankful he’s on my team, but I now know and understand a version of Logan works for the enemy. My entire life of training, studying, understanding and manipulating has to change now. It’s all impersonal with emoticons and text messages. The playing field has changed and as a good general, I need the best warriors. I just pray that the battles ahead don’t make me regret my decisions of today.
### THE END ###
About the Author
Kimberly Amato is a freelance writer from New York and holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Kimberly has managed to meld creativity and love of the human mind into a career in entertainment. Between her awards for an independent comedy project to her lauded portrayal of a psychopath in Under the Raven’s Wing, Kimberly continues to bring rich stories to life in a variety of genres.
Even though her chosen topics might be serious in nature, Kimberly always finds time to indulge her inner child. A self-proclaimed “coolest aunt ever”, she would rather be writing her novels on a Disney Cruise Ship waiting for Lilo and Stitch to appear than in an office. She also routinely destroys her writers' block by playing video games and renovating her home before getting back to work on future novels.
Feel free to contact Kimberly any time:
Website: KimberlyAmato.com
Twitter: @KimberlyAmato
Facebook: facebook.com/TheKimberlyAmato
Google+: plus.google.com/+KimberlyAmato
Instagram: instagram.com/KimberlyAmato
COMING SOON!
BREAKING STEELE
Kimberly Amato
The 3rd Book of the STEELE SERIES:
Jasmine Steele has worked hard building a case against Irving Garrison, the man she feels is responsible for countless murders including her brother’s. Always one step behind him, Steele has yet to fully uncover his operations - until now. In an effort to remove himself from suspicion, lose ends are being cleaned up. The body count is increasing and jobs are being abandoned. The finale battle between Steele and Garrison will cost someone their life.
All actions cause unexpected consequences.
OTHER BOOKS by KIMBERLY AMATO
STEELE RESOLVE
Kimberly Amato
BOOK 1 In the Steele Series available on AMAZON!
Jasmine Steele’s life was exactly where she had wanted it to be. She had the love of her life, a job as a detective and never gave up on her dream of writing the next great novel. It’s true what they say about life, it changes without warning, and Jasmine’s dreams slammed to a halt the minute her brother was killed. Between guilt, becoming the guardian of her nephew, hiding her grief – she lost her soulmate, her dreams and ultimately herself.
Now Steele is now faced with a series of murders that pulls her back into her brother’s case and puts everyone around her in grave danger. Forced to face her demons, Steele must find out who the killer is before she loses someone else she loves. The killer doesn't care who dies, especially if it keeps Steele quiet – permanently.
Sometimes your worst enemy is yourself.
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