Where the Shadows Lie Read Free Page A

the detectives. If the gangsters had shot him, they would probably have shot the woman next, as a witness. The Firearms Discharge guys liked this idea. They were careful not to ask him whether he had thought of that before or after he had pulled the trigger. They were going to do things by the book, but they were on his side.
    This was the second time he had shot and killed someone while on duty. After the first, when he was a rookie patrol officer in uniform two months into the job, he had suffered weeks of guilt-filled sleepless nights.
    This time he was just glad to be alive.
    ‘Too bad they failed,’ muttered Colby. Two tiny red dots of anger sizzled on each cheek; the corners of her brown eyes glistened with fury. Her mouth was set firm. Then she bit her lip, pulling strands of dark curly hair back behind her ears in a familiar gesture. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. But it’s got nothing to do with me. I don’t want it to have anything to do with me, that’s the whole point.’
    ‘It already does have to do with you, Colby.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘The chief wants me to go. Leave Boston. He doesn’t think the Dominicans will stop until they’ve killed me.’
    ‘That sounds like a good idea.’
    Magnus took a deep breath. ‘And I want you to come with me.’
    The expression on Colby’s face was a mixture of shock and contempt. ‘Are you serious?’
    ‘It’s for your own safety. If I’m gone they might go after you.’
    ‘What about my work? What about my job, dammit?’
    ‘You’ll just have to leave that. It’ll only be for a few months. Until the trial.’
    ‘Was I right the first time? Is this just some weird way for you to get me back?’
    ‘No,’ said Magnus. ‘It’s because I’m worried for you if you stay.’
    Colby bit her lip again. A tear ran down her cheek. Magnus reached out and touched her arm. ‘Where would we go?’
    ‘I’m sorry, I can’t tell you until I know you will say yes.’
    ‘Will I like it?’ She glanced at him.
    He shook his head. ‘Probably not.’ They had discussed Iceland many times during their relationship, and Colby had been consistent in her distrust of the country, its volcanoes and its bad weather.
    ‘It’s Iceland, isn’t it?’
    Magnus just shrugged.
    ‘Wait a minute, let me think.’ Colby turned away from him and stared out over the parking lot. A large family of four waddled out to their car carrying tubs of ice cream, smiles of anticipation on their faces.
    Magnus waited.
    Colby turned and stared him right in the eye. ‘Do you want to get married?’
    Magnus returned her stare. He couldn’t believe she was serious. But she was very serious.
    ‘Well?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Magnus hesitated. ‘We could talk about it.’
    ‘No! I don’t want to talk about it, we’ve talked about it for months. I want to decide right now. You want me to decide to drop everything and go away with you. Fine. I’ll do it. If we get married.’
    ‘But this is totally the wrong way to make a decision like that.’
    ‘What do you mean? Do you love me?’
    ‘Of course I love you,’ Magnus replied.
    ‘Then let’s get married. We can go to Iceland and live happily ever after.’
    ‘You’re not thinking clearly,’ Magnus said. ‘You’re angry.’
    ‘You bet I’m angry. You’ve asked me to commit to going away with you, and I’ll do it if you commit to me. Come on, Magnus, decision time.’
    Magnus took a deep breath. He watched the family climb into the car which sagged on its axles. They pulled out past the other FBI vehicle, the one that had picked up Colby. ‘I want you to come with me for your own safety,’ he said.
    ‘So that’s a no, then?’ Her eyes bored into his. Colby was a determined woman, that was one of the things Magnus loved about her, but he had never seen her this determined. ‘No?’
    Magnus nodded. ‘No.’
    Colby pursed her lips and reached for the door handle. ‘OK. We’re done here. I’m going back to