The Reckoning Read Free Page A

if I were you.”
    Mike spun around to find Thompson standing behind him. “Why the hell not, and what’s up with the suits?” Mike asked, as he pointed to Abby’s team.
    Another suited body ducked beneath the tape and reached up to pull the helmet off. “About time you got your butt here,” his baby sister, Abby, said after drawing in a deep breath. Sweat trickled from her forehead over her nose. Her wet hair stuck to her head as if she’d just stepped out of a shower. She tossed off her gloves and swiped the beads away.
    “I was detained at the hospital, but I’m here now.” Mike pointed to the door. “Why can’t I go in?”
    Abby glanced down at Mike’s jeans. “You aren’t dressed for it and you’ll contaminate my site.”
    “What the hell did you find that you’d have to dress in that get-up?”
    Two deep lines of worry etched between her eyes, a look that Mike knew all too well. Abby glanced at Thompson then to Mike. “We don’t know. It’s a blue powdered substance that we can’t identify. I’ve never seen anything like it. So we’re taking precautions.”
    Mike glanced at them both in disbelief. “You guys have never seen it?”
    Abby leaned over and reached into the cooler by her feet, pulling out a bottle of water. After she’d taken a sip, she said, “Nope, what does that tell you?”   
    Mike narrowed his eyes at his little sister. “Tells me that your little butt shouldn’t be in there is what that tells me.”
    Abby punched his arm.
    “Damn, Abby, twice in one day. What was that for?” Mike reached up and rubbed the sore spot. She might be a petite thing, but she damn sure knew how to punch. He should know; he’d taught them all.
    “Mike, not all women are made of crystal. I’m one of the best investigators this department has, and I’ll go wherever the hell I want.”
    Thompson tried to hide the smile forming on his lips but he couldn’t hide the chuckle. “She’s got a point.”
    Mike’s and Abby’s phones rang at the same time. He held his breath when he noticed the caller ID. He hesitated before answering. “Bennett.”
    “Thank god, Mike. Are you with Abby?” Emma’s hysteric al voice asked through the line.
    If Emma was calling asking that question, it could only mean one thing. Trouble . Someone was in danger. Mike’s grip on the phone tightened. He glanced down at Abby and quickly turned in place, scanning his surroundings. “The little squirt is right here with me. What’s wrong?”
    Mike heard Abby’s reply. “I’m okay, baby. I promise. I’m surrounded by big muscular gun-toting men. Nothing is wrong here.” Abby grinned.
    “My spidey senses are tingling. I’ve got Lily, Claire, and John with me. We were going over wedding plans, so it has to be one of you two.” Emma’s strained voice was laced with concern.
    “You must be losing your touch, Emma. Both of us are fine.”
    Thompson glanced between the two conversations, and his eyes widened in alarm, his palm resting on the hilt of his revolver as he listened. Nothing out of the ordinary hit Mike; just a few onlookers lingered in the area. Hell, even Abby wasn’t in the condo with the blue stuff.
    “Smartass, just be careful. You and Abby need to keep an eye on each other. The feeling hasn’t gone away.”
     
     

CHAPTER 2
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    While none of his sisters had the gift of foresight, Emma’s gift had never been wrong before. If his sister thought one of them was in trouble, then one of them was in trouble. It was better to err on the side of caution than to wait around for a possible threat to attack.
    “I think you’re done here, Abby. Where’s Sam?”
    “He flew out to Washington this morning and will be home tomorrow. And since when do you get to tell me what to do? Lucky for you , I am done here.” Abby threw her hands in the air. “Why the hell do you think I’m outside talking to you in the first place?”
    Mike noticed Thompson still standing alert. Mike