Before She Wakes by Ed James

Author:Ed James [James, Ed]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Max Carter.” Nesh Warburton was pacing along the corridor, a toothpick away from the movie cliché of bad-ass detective. Stubble, lank hair. Leather jacket, hood, jeans. A city detective, no doubt about it. He wore a guest pass lanyard around his neck but seemed to have slipped away from anyone looking after him.

Carter held out a hand. “Good to see you.”

“Not that this is a beer in my fave bar.” Warburton looked around the place. “Anyhow, Bob Johnson told me you recovered Deacon Hill?”

“That’s right. You can rest easy now.”

“Wish I could.” Warburton adjusted his gray hood so it sat just right. “It’s definitely Deacon?”

“Had my doubts, but Ray Hill just confirmed it’s him.”

“Huh.”

“Blood type matches. We’re planning a DNA test, just to make sure. And dental records, but if he’s been a heroin addict, that can be less reliable.”

“Is he high now?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. Looks like he’s a changed man, in fact. Meditation and all sorts of stuff.”

“Don’t believe that for a second.” Warburton shook his head. “I mean, I assumed Deacon might still be alive. Just the sort of trick people like that would play.”

“Was Vic Jordan on your radar?”

“He had Deacon working to pay off his drug debt, then he broke both his legs. Dude lost his job, hit skid row.”

Which matched the story Pete Wasilewski had told them.

Almost word for word, which made Carter wonder if ex-cop Gerry was a source for Warburton. Or just a barroom buddy.

“So you never spoke to Vic Jordan?”

“Tried. Failed. Several times.”

“Even though Pete Wasilewski’s your source?”

“Wasilewski? What? Who?”

“Admit it.”

“Who the hell is Wasilewski?”

Carter stood up a little bit taller. He did not like being shorter than anyone. “He gave us the lead on Vic Jordan’s whereabouts. Didn’t find him, but we found Deacon.”

“News to me.” Warburton seemed off his A-game. He exhaled slowly. “I want to speak to him.”

Carter nodded. “You know our case takes precedence here, right?”

“Sure, I get that. Ticking clock and all that. I mean, I don’t have a case now. I just need to check a box, then I’m done. How about we do this together?”

“No way.”

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