Carter was a thug, but he was a “high class” thug. He had picked a relatively classy place to hang out in here. But then Carter had mingled with high society before. Everyone who knew him had been knocked on their asses that he had been tried for running a drug smuggling ring and had gone to prison.
It still amazed Adam that they were never able to nail Carter on a murder rap. The fifteen-year drug sentence without the possibility of parole had been at least some consolation, as he was to be gone for a long time. But now he was back on the streets. The thought made Adam’s gut tighten with anger.
Adam left behind the chill March breeze and entered the comfortable warmth of Triumph. Light was dim inside and he had to take a moment for his eyes to adjust.
With a cop’s trained eye, he ran his gaze over the room, cataloguing the layout and where the exits were. He evaluated every person in the bar with a glance, including one server, as well as one woman sitting alone while two men were side-by-side at the bar.
His interest was right there in the corner. Carter sat with three other men. And they were staring at him.
Adam strode over to where Carter was seated. The man acted nonchalant as he reclined in the booth. The way he toyed with his drink was the only indication that Adam could see that he might be agitated by Adam showing up in his favorite hangout.
Carter was nearing forty, had a head of thick blond hair and blue eyes. He was full of charm and charisma.
And as far as Adam was concerned, the man was an evil sonofabitch.
The weight of the Glock he carried was comfortable and welcome in Adam’s side holster as he reached Carter’s table. He kept his fingers relaxed, his arms limber and ready. There was no telling what a loose cannon like Carter might do.
“Detective Boyd.” Carter put one arm along the back of his booth. “Nice to see you after all this time. What’s it been, seven years? How’ve you been?”
Carter knew exactly how long it had been. He was just toying with Adam.
“I have a message for you.” Adam braced one hand on the booth’s cushioned back and leaned in to get into Carter’s personal space. “Stay away from Keri Holliday. And you’d better keep your distance from me if you don’t want to find your head stuffed up your ass.”
The other three men at the table stirred like they were ready to jump to Carter’s defense.
“Threats.” Carter raised his hand, motioning to his men to stay down. “I get out of prison where I was wrongly incarcerated, and now I get threats from the dick who helped put me there. Incredible.”
Adam had so much he wanted to say to Carter, but he bit his tongue. Literally.
“Anything else, Detective?” Carter asked with a smirk. “You enjoying threatening an innocent man?”
“Innocent my ass.” Adam straightened, his glare fixed on Carter. He was entirely aware of the other men at the booth, judging whether or not they would be a problem as he spoke. “You sent someone after Keri last night and the bastard shot her.”
“Me?” Carter frowned and gave a pretty good expression of innocence. “Keri was shot? And you’re accusing me of being responsible?”
Adam had to fight to keep from showing his tension, his anger. Instead he kept loose and ready for any move any one of the four men might make.
“The man you sent after Ms. Holliday had a phone on him,” Adam said.
“So?” Carter shrugged. “Everyone and their mother carries a phone.”
“A call was placed to that phone from near your location last night shortly before the attempt was made on Ms. Holliday’s life.” Adam studied Carter, watching him for some telltale twitch or micro expression that would confirm Adam’s statement.
“Yeah, sure it was, Detective. I don’t need your harassment,” Carter said. “If you had something on me you would be taking me in. You have nothing because I’ve done nothing.” Carter gestured toward the door. “Why don’t you go back out there and do something you’re good at, like arresting a jaywalker. Isn’t that what you’re in charge of these days? The jaywalker patrol.”
“I’m warning you, Carter,” Adam said as he thought about how satisfying it would be to take out the bastard. “Don’t touch Keri. Don’t call her. Don’t go near her.”
The man got to his feet and Adam squared off with him. Maybe Carter would lose control, give Adam an excuse to take him down.
Carter’s expression had gone dark. Adam had definitely pushed him to the point that he might actually do something that Carter would regret and Adam would enjoy.
“You fucking her, Detective?” Carter said. “Sounds to me like you are.”
Anger flashed inside Adam and he had to hold himself from going for Carter’s throat. “Better watch it, Carter.” Adam spoke in a low voice, keeping it controlled.
“Eddie.” One of the other men stood, this one pale with light brown hair and eyes. “You should get out of here. This dick isn’t worth it. You don’t want to end up back in the joint.”
“Don’t tell me what I should or shouldn’t do, Johnny,” Carter said without looking at the man.
Come on, Adam thought almost recklessly. Give me an excuse.
Carter’s scowl melted away into a laugh and he sat down. “Thanks for the afternoon entertainment, Detective. I bet we’ll see each other around.”
“You’d better hope not,” Adam said, then turned and headed back to the door and out into the chilly day. He climbed into his SUV, tossed the placard on the floorboard, then pulled
