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type of mythological phantom. Now he saw him for exactly what he was: a corpse. Death, the great
equalizer.
The Sunshine Motel didn t exactly live up to its name, but had the room not been crawling with
Howard s men, it wouldn t have been half bad. The single bed and double dresser looked new, and the
floral wallpaper gave the place a homey touch. The carpet was clean, and the sheets probably had been,
too, before Wilson decided to die on them. A table beside the bed held a bottle of whiskey and an empty
glass.
Brandon stood in the doorway surveying the scene when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned
around to see Howard standing behind him.
 Thanks for getting here so fast, Nash. How s Doc doing?
 Anxious. I called my brother to stay with him until I get back.
Howard nodded.  This place has a coffee shop just around the corner. We can talk there while my guys
finish up in here.
Brandon followed Howard into the brightly lit café. An attractive young waitress came and took their
order, smiling and laughing as if it was an everyday occurrence to have a customer die in one of the
rooms. Not that Brandon could find fault with her. Personally, he felt like doing cartwheels over Wilson s
dead body. The coffee arrived and he took a bracing sip before saying,  What do you know so far?
Howard drank down half of the scalding liquid in his own cup in one long sip.  Wilson had a telephone
call up at the main desk sometime around eleven o clock. The clerk transferred it to his room, but no one
answered. The caller, who identified himself as Wilson s brother, insisted that the clerk go down there
and check on him. The door was unlocked, so he went inside. That s when he found the body.
 Any ideas on cause of death?
 The coroner didn t find any signs of physical trauma, but you know as well as I do that doesn t mean
anything. I ve put a rush order on the autopsy, so maybe we ll know within the next couple of days.
We re running a trace on the phone call, and of course, doing the whole  fine-toothed-comb routine on
the room. So far, we haven t turned up anything useful, but there s always hope. Howard took another
swig of coffee.  At least you know Wilson s no longer a threat to Doc.
 It sure seems that way, doesn t it?
Howard leaned back against the vinyl booth and eyed Brandon with a cop s perception.  What s with
you, Nash? I should think you d be damn happy right about now. I know I am, and it s not even my
fiancé that was being threatened.
Brandon ran his fingers through his hair.  Am I happy that Wilson s no longer in a position to hurt Nate
or anyone else? Hell, yes. But doesn t it all feel a bit too easy to you?
 Explain.
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Brandon pushed his cup aside and said,  I m not sure I can explain it, exactly. It s more a feeling than
anything. He pulled a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and laid it on the table in front of Howard.
 Ben Franklin there says that the autopsy reveals Wilson died of natural causes. Four more just like him if
it isn t said to be some kind of heart failure.
Howard whistled  Five hundred bucks on heart failure, huh? I might take that bet if you didn t seem so
damn sure of yourself.
 Right now all I m sure of is that this whole thing is coming together just a little too neatly for my taste.
The evidence against Calder, the connections to Wilson, and now the only witness, the hit man, all nice
and dead, almost as if on cue. I ve been a cop in one form or another for too damn long not to know that
cases don t just come to a pretty little gift-wrapped conclusion.
Howard said,  Not that I m disagreeing with you, but you should know that once the autopsy s done, my
office is going to call me and my team back to Washington. With Wilson dead, we re officially out of it.
 No offense, Howard, and don t think I haven t been grateful for the help, but I believe I can take it from
here. The gleam in Brandon s eyes was savage, feral.  If Calder isn t Wilson s money man, I ll find the
bastard who is. And God help him when I do.
* * *
Nate was sitting at the table when Brandon came in the next morning. The minute Bran walked through
the door, Nate got up and fixed him a plate of eggs, sausage and biscuits. Brandon walked over to the
stove and gave him a slow kiss. He pulled back and took his plate over to the table. Nate brought over
two fresh cups of coffee and sat down beside him.
 You look like you ve had a rough night.
Brandon took in Nate s bloodshot eyes and uncombed hair.  So do you. Did you sleep at all?
 A little bit. He gave Brandon a sheepish grin.  I have trouble sleeping when you aren t with me.
Brandon thought back to his long month in the guest room, and to all the nightmares he d had before
Nate came along.  Believe me when I tell you, I know how you feel. He looked around the kitchen.
 Where s Keith? Come to think of it, I didn t see his car outside. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]