Horrorween by Al Sarrantonio

Author:Al Sarrantonio
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781428502710
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“I didn’t expect to be back here so soon,” Grant said.

“Neither did I.” District Attorney Morton kept his hands folded before him. There was no coroner this time, no beekeeper, only the DA and Grant facing each other across a flat marble-topped table, which was cool to the touch.

Like my career, Grant thought.

“You know why you were suspended,” Morton said. Grant noticed that he was not making eye contact.

“Of course.”

“Thing is, Captain Farrow and I thought it would be best if you went away for a while. I understand your wife is in Killborne, and that you don’t have any children, so I . . . suppose you wouldn’t have much in the way of arrangements to make. We’d like you to leave today.”

Grant’s eyes widened, and Morton must have caught it out of the corner of his eye, because he continued, almost in a rush. “The thing is, with this . . . friendly fire shooting coming so close on the heels of that Kerlan business—”

“It wasn’t a friendly fire shooting. Len Schneider was going to shoot Lawrence Marigold, and I shot Schneider to prevent that.”

“Which you didn’t.”

Grant looked down at the table, lips tight. “No.”

Morton seemed to take strength from Grant’s momentary lack of strength. Now he was making eye contact, and his eyes were suddenly hard.

“We’re treating it as friendly fire, for the good of everyone involved,” he said. His voice became harder. “Including you. There’s a place in Phoenix, Arizona, which the Mayor and I frequent. Warm as toast this time of year. Golf course and pool, casino gambling. You can come back just before Thanksgiving, reinstated at full pay.”

“Do I have a choice?” Now Grant’s own voice was hard, and he was locking stares with the DA.

“No,” Morton said, then he looked away. “If you . . . don’t agree to this, the only other choice is immediate dismissal, an official inquiry and possible manslaughter charges. I can guarantee the first two. You realize your . . . drinking problem and your wife, Rose’s . . . own problems will inevitably come up during any inquiry or trial.”

“I get it,” Grant said. He suddenly got up, still tight lipped, and, to his surprise, Morton rose, too.

“There’ll be someone from this office out there to keep you compnay.”

“A minder.”

Morton nodded. “If you try to come back, the deal’s off. And you’ll be arrested in Arizona, then extradited.” He took a long breath. “It’s best for everybody, Bill,” he said, putting out his fleshy hand.

Grant did not take the hand, but kept his eyes on the DA. “Especially you and the mayor,” he said. His eyes suddenly narrowed. “Or is there someone else behind this?”

“Who else would there be?” Morton said, his expression showing puzzlement.

Grant held his gaze for a moment, then he shook his head and turned to leave. “See you in a month.”

Morton watched the empty doorway, and then sat down heavily in his chair. He drew his extended hand back, and now it began to shake.

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