Heaven's Keep Read Free Page A

willing to carry?”
    “If required.”
    “The job definitely requires it.”
    “In England the cops don’t carry.”
    “This isn’t England. And you carry with the understanding that someday you might have to use your firearm. That’s why all our deputies certify on the range once a year. Your rule, remember?”
    “How many times since you put on that badge have you cleared your holster and fired?”
    “Yesterday is no predictor of tomorrow. And, Cork, the officers you work with need to believe you’re willing to cover their backs, whatever it takes. Christ, you know that.” She sat back, looking frankly puzzled. “Why do you want this job? Is it the litigation?”
    “The lawsuit’s draining me,” he admitted.
    “You’ve built a good reputation here as a PI.”
    “Can’t spend a reputation. I need a job that brings in a regular income.”
    “What’ll you do about Sam’s Place?”
    “Unless I win the litigation, there won’t be a Sam’s Place. And unless I can pay for it, there won’t be a litigation.”
    “And if you win the lawsuit, are you out of here again? I’ve got to tell you, Cork, you’ve been in and out of uniform more times than a kid playing dress-up.”
    “I was never playing.”
    She looked away, out her window at the gorgeous November sky and the liquid sun that made everything drip yellow. “I’ve got a dozen qualified applicants wanting Cy’s job, young guys itching for experience. I hire one of them, he’ll be with me for years. I can start him out at a salary that’ll be healthy for my budget. I can assign him the worst shifts and he won’t complain.”
    “Did I ever complain?”
    “Let me finish. The feeling around here is that I ought to hire you. You’re clearly the popular choice. Hell, you brought most of our officers into the department yourself. These guys love you. But I have to look beyond the question of how well you’d fit in here. I have to think about the future of this force. And I also have to think about the welfare of the officer I hire.” She gave him another long, direct look. “What’s Jo think about this?”
    “That it’s not the best idea I’ve ever had.”
    “An understatement on her part, I’m sure.”
    “This is between you and me, Marsha.”
    “Until I run into Jo in the produce aisle at the IGA. I can’t imagine that would be pretty.”
    “You’re saying you wouldn’t be inclined to hire me?”
    “I’m saying we both probably have better options.”
    It was Cork’s turn to eye the promising blue sky. “I don’t know anything but law enforcement.”
    “I heard the new casino management firm might be looking for someone to head up security.”
    “All paperwork,” Cork said.
    “Sixty percent of what we do here is paperwork.”
    “I guess I have my answer.” Cork stood up. “Thanks for seeing me, Marsha.”
    They shook hands without another word. Cork headed out, passed the contact desk, where Pendergast gave him a thumbs-up.

TWO
Day One
    C y Borkman’s enormous butt ate the stool he sat on. “Coffee, Janice,” he said to the young woman who was serving the counter at Johnny’s Pinewood Broiler. He looked at Cork, who, until Cy arrived, had been sitting alone. “So, what did Marsha say?”
    “That although she might be tempted, she wouldn’t actually burn my application.”
    “Come on. What did she say?”
    Cork sipped his coffee. “She encouraged me to pursue other career options.”
    “She say why?”
    “To make way for youth.”
    Janice brought Borkman’s coffee and asked him, “Anything else?”
    “Yeah. Two eggs over easy, patty sausage, hash browns, and wheat toast.”
    “Tabasco?”
    “Naturellement.”
    Janice walked away, without writing on her pad.
    “You ever think about security at the casino?” Borkman asked. “They’re always looking for guys.”
    Cork shook his head. “Checking IDs, throwing out drunks, not for me.”
    “What do you think you’d be doing as a deputy? Hell, a lot of