Conviction: Book 3 of the Detective Ryan Series (24 page)

BOOK: Conviction: Book 3 of the Detective Ryan Series

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We gathered at the lieutenant’s house for one last cookout before the fall weather settled in. Thankfully, we were all given the weekend off. Hell, we deserved it after what we went through to bring Claire and Reyes down.

“You’re lucky that plan worked,” Esposito said as he stood next to me. “You put a lot of people at risk, including yourself.”

“I did what I had to do to draw him out. It was the only way to take him down.” I admit the plan was half thought out, and was successful due to sheer dumb luck.

“I know.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and smiled. “I’m proud of you, Ali.”

“Thanks, Lieu. Maybe now is a good time to ask for some time off. I’m thinking another two-week vacation.”

The smile faded from his face and was replaced with stern look. “How many vacations and leave of absence do you think you get?”

“I figure one for every major case I solve.”

“We’ll talk about it on Monday. For now, enjoy the party.”

I walked back to Rodney and James. “Hey guys, let’s raid the lieutenant’s fridge.” I looked back to see the scowl on Esposito’s face. I smiled back at him. “Just kidding, Lieu.”

“Leave the poor man alone,” Rodney said. “You gonna drive him into an early grave.”

“Who me? Why would you say a thing like that?” The sarcasm in my voice was more than obvious.

“Because I know you, and know what you put us through.”

“What?”

Rodney looked at James. “I used to have a full head of hair before I met this one. Now look at me.”

“Oh stop it, Rodney.” His wife, Mia, was six months pregnant with their second child, and was seven inches shorter than her husband. Despite their size difference, Rodney still feared his wife.

James started to laugh, but he caught the side eye from me and wiped the smirk from his face. Instead, he placed his hands on my waist and lowered his lips to my ears.

“You talk to Esposito about taking some time off?”

“Yeah, he said we can talk about it Monday.”

“And here I was hoping we could start our vacation early.”

“Down boy,” I joked. “There are kids around. We don’t need to be sending the wrong message.”

“I can fix that.” James bent down and scooped me into his arms. I fought out of it until he let go of my legs. He grabbed me by the waist, hoisted me up and carried me around on his shoulder.

“James, put me down.”

He smacked my butt as he trotted towards the gate. I lifted my head and saw Rodney eye up his wife. I saw her mouth the words, “I don’t think so.”

“James, where are you taking me?” I shouted.

“Taking you home so we don’t send the wrong message.”

The lieutenant stepped out onto the deck and cleared his throat loudly. I thought he was going to scold us for behaving like children, but the look on his face told me something else happened.

“James, you need to stop messing around; something’s wrong with the lieutenant.” He placed me back on the ground and stared at Esposito.

“What’s up, Lieu?”

“You three, inside now.” He turned his back and walked inside the house. Rodney, James, and I looked at each other wondering what pissed off the lieutenant. He shut and locked the backdoor as we entered the house, leaving his wife outside with Mia and the kids.

“What’s going on?” Rodney asked.

“Yeah, who peed in your coffee?” James joked.

“Enough! No more games; this is serious.” The flaring nostrils and the pulsating vein on the side of his head meant he wasn’t joking, not this time. “As of this moment, you’re all on the clock.”

“What? Why?” we asked.

“I came in to check my phone and found this on the voicemail.” He set his cell on the table and placed the call on speaker mode.

“You fucked with the wrong people, Lieutenant Esposito.” It was a low raspy voice that was altered to sound like the guy from the Saw movies. “Now, your daughter will pay for the business you cost us.”

“Daddy,” a young woman’s voice shouted. I’ve been around the Lieutenant to recognize the voice of his twenty-year-old daughter, Valentina. Then the call ended.

The End

About the Author

Andrew Hess is a resident of Long Island, New York and a Lindenhurst High School Alumni (graduating class of 2001) Having been a fan of writing creative writing and journalism, Andrew found himself with the desire to become an author while studying Psychology at SUNY New Paltz. His first book, Chamber of Souls, debuted in 2011 where he depicted the life of a broken man wallowing in self-pity. Using free verse poetry, he brought this character to life while he journeyed to find himself.
Hess also found himself immersed in the world of mystery and thriller novels. His first Series, The Phoenix Blade, showcased a group of vigilante 20 year olds hired by the government to rid the country of those that have evaded justice. This fictional government conspiracy series currently has three books available and was awarded the Best Series of 2014 by Indie Author Books.
Despite spending most of his life Lindenhurst, Andrew also spent five years living in the New Paltz and Poughkeepsie areas. His return trips helped inspire his second series, The Detective Ryan Series. Currently, there are two books in the action packed series that depicts the life of Detective Ali Ryan as she investigates a series of murders while struggling to keep her family together.
Andrew won Indie Author Books: Best Mystery Thriller Author of 2015
Nominated for Best Male Author, Best Mystery Suspense Author of 2015
(By Wickedly Devine Divas, The Three Bookateers, & SNSBAH Promotions)
He was also nominated for Book of the year, and Best Mystery Book of 2015 for Campus Killer
(By Wickedly Divine Divas, The Three Bookateers, SNSBAH Promotions, & Indie Author Books)
Hess is also an avid blogger at The Writers Revolution (http://thewritersrevolution13.blogspot.com) and Between the Coverz (https://www.facebook.com/betweenthecoverz) where he promotes and interviews other authors, as well as reviewing books of all genres.

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