The Freelancer – Prologue

Prologue
Sunday, October 12

You never forget the first time, or so they say – whoever they are. Through the course of a lifetime you may have dozens of partners, but the first one is always special. They show you the ropes and teach you everything you need to know; they watch your back. In short, your first partner is the person who keeps you from getting your ass killed.

Of course, none of that matters once the bastard runs off with your wife.

I’ve seen a lot in my days with the Bureau, but nothing prepared me for what I found this warm October night. This case had been wearing me thin, but I thought I had a break. The call came from my partner just after one o’clock this morning. He spotted Blackstone heading into Blaine’s Rain and he was sure that the deal was about to go down.

I told him not to try to take him until I got there. Jenna was sound asleep, so I hadn’t bothered waking her. I didn’t want to explain where I was going. I knew I would have enough to explain once this was all over, most of which she would not like. She deserved one more night’s sleep before the truth was thrust upon her. Besides, she hadn’t been sleeping well.

I got to the nightclub at a quarter ‘till two. Blaine greeted me almost as soon as I walked past the bouncer. He was a nice guy, but I didn’t have time for chitchat. Good thing he seemed preoccupied. I was able to find out that Collin had headed to the back of the club before Blaine had to help break up a fight at the door.

I fought my way through the sea of people on the crowded dance floor, scanning the room for some sign that my partner hadn’t done something foolish, to no avail. The shadows cast by the black lights mixed with the smoke to create a purple haze in my field of vision. Blackstone could be long gone or standing right beside me and it would make no difference. My sharp hearing was dulled by the blaring techno music the DJ was spinning.

The bathrooms and storage rooms were clear. I was about to try Collin’s cell when I heard a faint squeak from behind me. The door to the alley was open and swaying in the light breeze. A sick feeling crept into my gut, causing me to draw my gun of instinct before heading outside.

Collin was slumped against the brick wall of the building, clutching his throat with both hands, but it wasn’t helping. The blood oozed from between his fingers and dripped to a puddle on his shirt. His cell phone was beside him, smashed to a million pieces.

I flipped open my phone and called 911 as I knelt down next to him. It was worse than I thought. Besides the slash to his throat, he had been stabbed in the back. The coppery odor of his blood was so pungent that I could almost taste the bitter penny and salt. Luckily, dispatch was efficient and I was able to get off the phone and back to my fading partner.

“Hang on, Collin, the ambulance will be here soon,” I said, fighting to make my voice sound calm.

“Too late…for me…” Collin’s voice was weak and blood sputtered from his lips as he spoke.

“Don’t talk buddy. Save your strength. We’ll get this bastard together.”

“After Jenna…go.”

Those were the last words he spoke.

I had seen death before; it wasn’t new to me, but something about seeing my partner’s bright blue eyes lose their shimmer and go distant as his hands fell to his lap made my blood run cold. In that instant I knew that I would never forget this image. I had never lost a partner this way before.

It was my first time.

“Son-of-a-bitch! I’m taking you down, Blackstone. You had better pray that I get to Jenna before you do.”

As the lights and sirens arrived, I jumped into my SUV and sped away.

Continue to Chapter 1…

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