Zero Sum (Alexis Parker Book 22) by G.K. Parks

Author:G.K. Parks [Parks, G.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Modus Operandi
Published: 2022-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-two

I hit the ground hard, a fire burning at the back of my neck. Pain shot down my back and through my extremities. My vision blurred before fading to black.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a gray rat. He stood on his hind legs, his front paws near his face. He wiped his whiskers with them, his nose twitching as he tilted his head up and sniffed the air. Dropping back to all fours, he scampered beneath the dumpster, ran out the opening on the other side, and disappeared into the shadows.

My blood pounded against my temples, making my vision pulse with each of my heartbeats. The buzzing sounded again. A familiar tingling sensation remained that wasn’t caused by my vibrating phone. I sat up, reaching for my holstered gun. It was gone.

“Keep your hands where I can see them. No sudden movements. Who are you?” the man asked. He wore an oversized camouflage jacket. He held a can of pepper spray in his outstretched hand, his finger itching to press down on the release. “What are you doing out here?”

I moved my hand away from my holster. “I’m Alex.” I started to edge closer to the dumpster, stopping when I remembered my new friend with the whiskers and tail. “I’m looking for someone.”

“In the dumpster?”

“No.” I shook my head, feeling my nerves twitch and ache from the taser. “Well, maybe. I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“It’s a long story.”

He looked from side to side. “I got time.”

That made one of us. “Good for you.”

He jerked his chin toward the dumpster. “Who are you looking for?”

“Adrianna Keys.”

The name meant nothing to him, so I described her. “A lot of women around here fit that description.”

“I can show you a photo.” I held up my palms. “Do you mind if I stand up? I don’t want Rizzo to get any funny ideas.”

“Rizzo?” He lowered the pepper spray a few inches in confusion.

If I kept this up, I’d be able to get away in no time. “The rat.” I pointed in the direction it ran.

“You mean Hershel.”

“You named him Hershel?”

“Why not? You named him Rizzo.”

“Rizzo is a rat’s name.” I shook my head. “Never mind. Is he yours?”

The guy chuckled and tucked the pepper spray into his pocket beside the taser. “I’m not crazy.” He eyed me carefully as I pulled myself off the ground. “You try anything, I’ll put you on your ass again. Got it?”

I held up my palms. “Assaulting women in dark alleys isn’t a wise move.”

“Trespassing is illegal, lady. So is carrying a concealed weapon.”

“I have a permit.”

He flipped open my wallet, which he’d taken while I’d been incapacitated. “California doesn’t recognize permits issued from anywhere else.”

“My application’s pending.”

“Same with your P.I. license?”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“It’s better if we don’t go down that road. Where’s that photo you wanted to show me?”

I tapped on my phone, seeing the message Justin had sent. He’d forwarded me the contact information for the cruise. For a split second, I thought about calling 9-1-1 or sending him an S.

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