by G. K. Parks
I’d barely looked inside Knox’s closet, but most of his things had remained. Still, he could have packed light and vanished. Knowing Knox, he would have taken whatever remained of his precious collection with him before he fled. I tried to think, but I didn’t notice anything missing from the shelves. However, after the break-in, most were bare.
Maybe he ran. Vasili’s men tried to kill him the day before his disappearance. I wouldn’t have blamed him. Running might have been his safest move, especially if he owed other loan sharks or other gangsters money. Deciding to believe that, I slid the Knox files out of pending and into the closed file. Since I couldn’t investigate with the police sniffing around me, I’d have to let it go.
I’d just closed the drawer and retaken my seat when I received a message from one of my contacts who I’d reached out to about the sports memorabilia. Apparently, someone else had been asking around about acquiring a championship ring. My contact didn’t have a name, but he gave me the person’s handle.
It took a couple of days, but I traced the handle to an IP address. The user was located on a small tropical island nation without extradition. After that, I did more research and made some calls.
“I don’t think Trey Knox is dead,” I said to Justin. “I think he’s hiding in a non-extradition country.”
“Okay.”
The implication hung heavily in the air. Knox fled for a reason, and if he went to a non-extradition country, it wasn’t for his own safety. It was because he was afraid of getting arrested. Curiosity killed the cat. It almost killed me, but I couldn’t let this go. I’d spent the last week in physical therapy because my muscles and nerves were wound so tightly from the stress and cold brought about by this lying bastard’s case. The thought of him sipping pina coladas in a tropical paradise made me sick. I had to confront him. I had to find out the truth.
After making travel arrangements, I went home and packed. Justin agreed to call all our clients and tell them Cross Security and Investigations would be closed for the next couple of weeks due to the move. He’d get some time off, and I’d get answers.
Luckily, the police didn’t stop me at the airport, and I boarded the plane. For the first time since the detectives stepped foot in my office, I would finally be able to investigate the Knox disappearance and figure out precisely what happened.
* * *
The white sand reflected the early afternoon sun. I’d spent the better part of two days searching for Knox, but I finally found him. He had a room at the resort under an alias. From what I’d gathered, his passport and credit cards were under the same fake name.
“I’ll have what he’s having,” I said to the woman working at the tiki bar.
Knox spun on his stool at the sound of my voice. “Lucien.”
“You’re a hard man to find. Didn’t I tell you to pay your bill?”
“Jeez, I’m sorry.”
“You should be.”
Knox stared at me as I took off my sunglasses. My eyes were no longer black, and my nose had started to heal. Aside from some swelling, it looked the way it always did. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing, except I had a lot of time to think about it and conduct research while on the plane. It’s insane the kinds of things you can find on the dark web, especially once you have a person’s handle.”
“I have a cabana reserved. Let’s speak in private.”
“Fine by me.”
I picked up my own tropical concoction and followed Knox across the white sand, past the resort’s pool, and off to the side, near the individual bungalows. He stepped into the cabana and took a seat on one of the cushioned, wicker chairs. I sat beside him and stared out at the picturesque green-blue water.
“How did you find me?” he asked.
“Your obsession with that ring led me straight to you.”
“It means a lot to me. You didn’t happen to bring it with you, did you?”
“No, I’m done breaking into the police evidence locker or stealing from crooks. I’m also done working for crooks.”
“Crook?”
“Don’t lie to me. I’m tired of it.”
“When did you find out the truth?”
“Too late for my own good.”
“It happens to the best of us.”
“So what happened? You realized as acquisitions manager you could move plenty of things in and out of the country without anyone noticing?”
“Pretty much. My profession taught me a lot about international travel and trade. I could get things in and out without anyone noticing. Forget import/export. I was magic.”
“Except Vasili Petrov noticed.”
“Actually, it was his idea. I’d never even considered it before he suggested it.” Knox slurped on his drink. “My gambling debts were real, even if that had been years ago. Instead of paying him back with cash, he waived my debts in return for a favor. He wanted me to bring in a shipment of guns. All I had to do was stick an additional package in a cargo container that the company had already approved. It was easy. But it didn’t stop there. Vasili wanted more, and since I’d already broken the law once, he said he had proof and would turn me in as a smuggler. So I did him one better.”
“You decided you should become an actual smuggler?”
“Brilliant, isn’t it? It took time. Lots of time, but eventually, I got the names of his contacts. His contacts knew who the overseas buyers were, so it wasn’t hard to cut him out.”
“But he found out that you were moving stuff on the side using his people and his buyers.”
“Not right away. It was just little stuff at first, but I started to expand. That’s when I got in trouble.” He studied me. “I wonder how much you know about.”
I sensed the danger in his statement. “I’m not here to bust you. I’m not even here to bring you home.”
“Why are you here?”
“The police think I had something to do with your disappearance. They figured you were dead. I had no reason to disagree and wondered if whoever came for you would eventually try to find me.”
“Guess you don’t have to worry about that,” Knox said.
“I guess not. But you used my services, and you didn’t pay me. I feel like a whore you ripped off, and I don’t like that feeling.”
“Should I have left the money on the nightstand?”
Turning to him, I lowered my volume to something lethal. “I saved your life. If I hadn’t intervened, Vasili’s men would have killed you and left your body in the street. None of that had anything to do with my actions. That was all because of you.”
“Do you want an apology or just money?”
“I want to make it clear that no one uses me or my company as a distraction to escape from a dangerous situation, especially not without my consent. I won’t forget what you did, the damage you caused, the danger you put me and my friends in. If I ever see your face again, I will end you.”
“Now you’re threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise.”
“What are you going to do, Lucien? Take care of me the same way you took care of the Russians?”
I didn’t know how much he knew, but it worried me. He’d blackmail me or threaten to, the same way Vasili had. I couldn’t let that stand. “You can’t extort me. I’ll expose you for what you are. You don’t know what I’ve found on you or the info I have on your various aliases, so I suggest you do us both a favor and stay away.”
“Lucien, you’re no angel. You can’t do anything to me and still come out smelling like a rose. It’d be a shame if your actions were to come back and bite you in the ass.”
“If they do, you’re getting bit too.”
“This is a non-extradition country.”
“You should keep in mind, Mr. Knox, I have dozens of Special Ops trained mercenaries on my payroll who know a thing or two about international travel. They won’t have a problem grabbing you in the middle of the night and t
aking care of the problem. Understand?”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Quite possibly, but do you want to risk it?”
Knox reached for his wallet. “You realize you said you don’t work for criminals, but you still want me to pay you. Do you see the hypocrisy?”
“To be honest, I didn’t come here for the money. I just came here to see what you’d say, what lie you’d try to sell me this time. I’m surprised you came clean. I guess you just don’t care anymore.”
“You can’t hurt me. I’ve got a new life and a new business. Here, I’m practically untouchable. Maybe we can help each other. You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the benefits of knowing a man in my position.”
“Fuck you. You used me to free yourself from Vasili and expand your arms dealing. The cops will figure it out eventually, and I might even help them, unless you agree to stay gone. If our interactions have taught you nothing else, you should know you don’t want to get on my bad side.”
He held up his palms in surrender. “Fine, have it your way. I just have one final question. Will you send me my ring?”
Turning, I walked away. This job had almost cost me my life. It could cost me everything, even my sanity if Knox knew as much as he pretended to. I’d spent most of the plane ride debating if I’d turn him in, but I couldn’t do it, not when he claimed to have dirt on me. I didn’t know how much or if anyone would even listen to him, but I didn’t want to risk it or deal with the headache.
Knox wasn’t going anywhere. He’d stay here, in paradise, with his money and the protection it could buy him. Eventually, he’d piss off another Vasili, and he’d pay for that. Karma would come around and take care of things. I had to believe that.
I’d already wasted enough time and energy on Knox. I wouldn’t make the same mistakes in the future. I wouldn’t take clients I didn’t trust, especially ones who lied to my face, and I’d learn to function at one hundred percent even with distractions. I wouldn’t live in fear of being arrested or killed. I’d wasted enough time on both of those worries this past month. No more.
I had a natural talent for reading people. I just had to trust my instincts and listen to them instead of dismissing them. This job would take everything from me if I let it, and I wouldn’t.
On the plane back to Los Angeles, I decided I’d start my training right away with a few days of high-stakes poker in Vegas. That was the best and most surefire way of practicing reading people and flushing out liars. It was time I brush up on those skills.
Once I landed, I changed flights and booked a room at one of the casinos. Then I called Jade. It went to voicemail. “Hey, I don’t know if you’ve had time to consider my proposal, but I’m going to Vegas for the next couple of days. No strings, just gambling and hanging out. I’ll have a ticket waiting at the airport in your name. If you don’t use it, don’t worry about it. It’s refundable, and the suite is already booked. I’d like to see you, but I understand if I don’t. And I won’t bother you again.”
I hung up, boarded another plane, and set off for a fun and safe way of honing my skills. No one would kill me if I got it wrong, but it’d cost me thousands. With those kinds of stakes, I’d figure things out quickly. This was sink or swim, and I didn’t want to do it in frigid water at the dead of night ever again.
* * *
“Sir, are you going to call?”
I shuffled a few chips in one hand while I tapped the edges of my cards against the felt. “I’ll raise.” Tossing another grand into the pot, I leaned back in the chair. I wanted the move to look like a bluff, even though it wasn’t.
“Call.” The player to my left tossed in his chips.
The next one folded, and the one I’d been analyzing for the last two hours raised again. I matched his bet. The fourth player folded, which I knew he would, and my opponent flipped over his cards. Depending on the river, he might have a flush, but I already had a full house. The dealer placed the final card, and I took the pot.
“Cash me out,” I said, smiling at the gorgeous redhead who’d been ogling me for the last hour and a half. Talk about distractions, yet I was walking away a winner. After tipping the dealer, I took my tray of chips and headed over to the lounge area. “What do you want to do today?” I asked.
Jade smiled. “Don’t you want to sleep? You’ve been at that table all night.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“You snuck out of our room at three a.m.”
“See, not all night. Just most of the night.” I kissed her. “Thanks for meeting me. I hope you haven’t been too terribly bored.”
“That’s not even possible with the spa and pool.” She grinned. “We should go to the pool.” She looked down at the container of chips in my hand. “And then shopping.”
“Agreed.” My back and legs needed to move after the long hours. I’d have to work out a better schedule with my trainer and physical therapist once I got back home. I took her hand in mine as we went to the cage with my winnings. “I’m glad you came.”
She wrapped her arms around me and clung to my side, nuzzling her face against my neck. “I think these casual, no strings meet-ups will be good for us.”
“Me too.” I smiled down at her. “They’re lucky as hell.”
Note from the Author:
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. I always enjoy books that make me smile at the end, and this one definitely did. It was so much fun to write. Originally, it had been a short story that was submitted to an anthology, but since the anthology only had a limited run, I wanted to continue the story. It didn’t take long to make it into a novel. If you happened to read both, I hope you weren’t disappointed.
Lucien Cross is quite the character with an intriguing past. It’s fun to explore his early days as a private investigator. I hope you found it entertaining. If you have a few extra minutes, please consider leaving a review. They are always appreciated.
* * *
Want to find out what happens when a body finally does surface? Check out Past Crimes (Alexis Parker #20).
Eight years ago, Lucien Cross covered up a murder. Now Alexis Parker has to prove he didn't do it. Except, she's not convinced he isn't guilty.
Ever since Alex went to work for Lucien Cross, nothing's been the same. She's always been wary of him. Now, she finally knows why.
The police discovered a body and enough evidence to put Cross in a cell for the rest of his life. He won't offer an explanation. He hasn't even said he's innocent. The only thing he wants is Alex to work the case and clear his name. But how can she do that when every bit of evidence points to the contrary?
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* * *
If you’re in the mood to meet another hero with a checkered past, check out the Julian Mercer series
What will it take to stop a hitman from carrying out his contract?
His business card reads security specialist, but Julian Mercer can do just about anything. As a former SAS operative, he has training and skills few possess. But after his wife was viciously slain, Mercer gave up his commission and joined the private sector.
While visiting Chicago on a job, Julian stumbles upon the scene of a botched assassination. A man is bleeding out in his fiancée's arms. Mercer searches for the shooter. But he's too late. The attacker has disappeared. And no matter what the police say, this wasn't a mugging gone wrong. It was a hit.
Julian vows to protect the couple. After all, security is his job. But the woman doesn't want a bodyguard. She wants revenge—a feeling Julian experiences every moment of every day. And she wants assurances that she and her fiancé will be safe to live their lives.
The only way to do that is to find the shooter and the mastermind behind the hit. But nothing is ever simple. Violence and mayhem decimate the city as Julian and his team race to stop the killer. Until they remove the threat, lives hang in the balance. With limited option
s, Julian may have to sacrifice himself or what little is left of his soul in order to keep his promise. Just how far will the security specialist go to make the city safe again?
Find out in this action-packed vigilante justice thriller, where revenge is best served white hot.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
G.K. Parks is the author of the Alexis Parker series. The first novel, Likely Suspects, tells the story of Alexis’ first foray into the private sector.
G.K. Parks received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History. After spending some time in law school, G.K. changed paths and earned a Master of Arts in Criminology/Criminal Justice. Now all that education is being put to use creating a fictional world based upon years of study and research.
You can find additional information on G.K. Parks and the Alexis Parker series by visiting our website at
www.alexisparkerseries.com
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Full-length Novels in the Alexis Parker Series:
Likely Suspects
The Warhol Incident
Mimicry of Banshees
Suspicion of Murder
Racing Through Darkness
Camels and Corpses
Lack of Jurisdiction
Dying for a Fix
Intended Target
Muffled Echoes
Crisis of Conscience
