Special Agent Tom Lange Box Set by T J Brearton

Author:T J Brearton [Brearton, T J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime mystery box set
Published: 2019-12-02T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

He slipped out of the room and nodded to Culpepper, who leaned against the wall, checking his phone. Tom waved a pack of cigarettes so the agent could see it, then pressed the button for the elevator.

Outside, the night sky was mostly clear, several bright stars flickering. A few ragged clouds slid across the dark sky, slipping over the moon.

You’re very persistent, Agent Lange.

Tom circled the hotel perimeter, keeping watch on all the cars, anticipating movement inside any one of them.

Halfway around to the front entrance, he passed alongside the swamp. The cypress tree line was about fifty yards away from the parking lot curb.

He froze, hearing something crackling through the undergrowth.

I know all about you.

More crackling sounds and something trampled the brush, then a splash as it encountered water. His heart knocked against the breastplate of his Kevlar vest and he tried to steady his breathing. The swamp fell silent, but for the chorus of insects and small reptiles chirruping in the dark.

A vehicle approached, a throaty engine gurgling in the damp night. Tom broke out of his trance and resumed moving toward the front of the hotel, jogging now, keeping close to the building. He slowed as he neared the corner, saw a Chevy Camaro turn into the parking lot.

The Camaro found a spot near the entrance, and Sergeant Danny Coburn got out.

Tom released a pent-up breath and stepped into the open.

Coburn was dressed in civvies, jeans, and a t-shirt advertising University of Florida — Go Gators! He saw Tom, made a nod, then ducked back into the car for something before he strode over, his boots making crisp sounds on the asphalt.

“Evening, Lange.”

“Thanks for coming.”

Coburn frowned. “You in trouble, huh? Word is your wit protection has fallen through.”

“Word travels fast.” Tom hadn’t said anything to Coburn about it on the phone, just asked him to meet.

Coburn glanced up at the lit windows of the hotel. “She’s got a couple of young ones, you said?”

“Two little girls.”

Coburn hooked his thumbs through the pockets of his jeans. Tom glanced at the black holster clipped to his belt, the pistol grip protruding. Tom remembered seeing Coburn’s own family at the beach, a couple of girls among them.

“So, what’s up?” Coburn asked.

“I wanted to ask you about something you said, yesterday, about Declan.”

“Okay . . .”

“You said that you never had him under direct surveillance.”

Coburn cut Tom a look, then gazed off toward the dark wall of pine and cypress. “You’re a smart kid. Bit cocky, but that’ll change. I liked you on that Gallo case and I told you there was a place for you with vice narcotics, but it looks like you found your way back to where you wanted to be.”

“I don’t know if where I am right now is where I want to be. I feel like there’s a lot of moving parts, and I’m not sure what connects and what doesn’t.”

Coburn nodded. “You’ll have that. Sounds about right. You know, this shit is like a war.

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