Tek Kill Read Free Page B

in. “Keep in mind, dear, that I’m following Walt Bascom’s wishes in all this.”
    There were three other Cosmos operatives at the meeting, two men and a woman. The larger of the men said now, “Why don’t you quit the bickering, Roy, and get on with it?”
    â€œA good suggestion, Anson.” The thickset blond detective rose to his feet, rested his palms atop the freshly polished desk. “Let me reiterate the fact that this is an extremely serious situation we find ourselves in. The seven of us will comprise the core team that will investigate the Dwight Grossman killing.” He paused to cough into his fist. “I’ll remind you, so as to make my own position crystal clear, that you were, each one of you, personally selected by Walt. Your names were given to me during the brief vidphone conversation I was allowed to have with the chief earlier this morning.”
    â€œHe’s obviously not thinking clearly.” Karin was sitting uneasily on the edge of her chair, fingers twisting around each other.
    â€œDon’t fret, chiquita ,” said Gomez. “My name always makes it onto any list of crackerjack private ops.”
    Anselmo continued, “I also want to assure you folks that I, as I’m completely certain you do, believe completely and totally in Walt Bascom’s innocence. We’re going to have ourselves, however, one hell of a time proving he didn’t commit this brutal murder.”
    â€œThe SoCal Police already have considerable damning evidence against Mr. Bascom.” Karin made her way over to one of the large wall viewscreens.
    Anselmo told them, “We’ve been able to get hold of copies of all the security camera tapes that the police have acquired. Karin, hon, let’s see the stuff from the murdered man’s home first off.”
    Karin bent to touch a control panel.
    And there was Bascom on the wall, nearly life size. Hair rumpled, suit wrinkled and baggy, he was standing in the middle of a black-and-silver living room. His fists were clenched and Bascom was yelling at the lean, dark younger man facing him a few yards away.
    â€œThat’s Grossman,” said Anselmo.
    â€œI deduced that,” said Gomez.
    â€œPay attention, you crazy bastard,” shouted the angry Bascom. “You’re going to leave Kay Norwood totally alone. You understand me, asshole?”
    â€œMy relationship with Kay is none of your goddamn business,” Grossman told him disdainfully.
    Moving closer, shoulders hunched in anger, Bascom said, “It is my business. I don’t give a shit whether you love her or hate her. But if you ever call her again or threaten her in any way, I’ll fix you so you won’t be able to bother anybody. Ever.”
    Grossman shook his head pityingly. “Why don’t you face reality, Bascom,” he said quietly. “Everybody knows—and, yes, let me assure you, that includes Kay herself—everybody knows you’re too old for her.” Turning his back, he went striding for the open doorway leading out to the bright holographic garden outside. “Very much too old.”
    Bascom tugged an ebony lazgun out of a rumpled pocket of his coat.
    He ran after the departing Grossman.
    Halting on the threshold, he swung the gun up and fired.
    The sizzling beam dug into the younger man’s narrow back.
    â€œTerrible,” gasped Karin as the picture ended.
    â€œWhat about that gun?” asked Jake.
    â€œIt hasn’t,” answered Anselmo, “been found.”
    â€œWalt,” observed Leo Anson, shifting in his chair, “would never shoot anybody in the back.”
    â€œThis is the pertinent footage from Mr. Bascom’s home sec-tapes.” Karin touched the panel again.
    â€œYou’re looking, if I may say so, sir, a trifle seedy,” observed the silver-plated, white-suited android who showed on the wall-screen now.
    Bascom, even more disheveled