Cross & Crown

Nick ran his fingers across his lower lip, not responding.

Kelly watched him, wondering if he’d come to the same conclusion, and if he’d be honest with his suspect when he did.

“Okay,” Nick finally said. “You’ve obviously been exposed to some military culture at some point because your knowledge is above average.”

“So . . . what, I’m some sort of gun for hire then? Like Blackwater, or . . .” JD trailed off, staring at the tabletop.

“How’d I know that name? How do I know what that is?”

“Hey, yesterday you were telling me you knew all kinds of things, sparkly vampires and whatever,” Nick said, his voice sliding back into that soothing honey tone he used so often.

“Blackwater is a well-known company, it’s not weird you’d know it. Just stay calm about it. This is stuff any military brat would know, okay?”

Hagan gave JD a pat on the shoulder and an almost reassuring smile. “We’ll figure this shit out. My boy here is a dog with a bone; we got you.”

Kelly stayed quiet. He did wonder, however, if Hagan’s words were a warning for JD to heed when his memory did start coming back.

We got you.

Chapter 4

ick led the way out of the pub, holding the door Nfor the others and giving the street a cursory glance out of habit. Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention, and standing on the other side of the street was Julian Cross. His hands were in his pockets, his head cocked as he watched them.

Nick let the door fall away from his hand, and it closed in Kelly’s face. Nick heard the impact and the cussing that accompanied it, but he took a step toward the road anyway.

“Hey!” he shouted.

Cross merely shook his head, then turned and melted into the lunchtime crowd. Glass shattered behind Nick, accompanied by the pops of gunfire. Nick lunged for a nearby car, glancing back at the others. They were still inside the restaurant. Kelly had gotten them to cover as soon as he’d sensed that Nick had seen something.

Nick drew his gun and crouched behind the car, trying to decide where the shots had originated. Was it Cross? No one was that fast, the shots were coming from an entirely different location. If the shooter had been aiming for Nick, they’d have hit him. The shots sprayed the door to the pub instead, ruining the entryway, gouging holes in the brick and mortar.

“Doc!” Nick shouted above the din. He couldn’t see any of them, and he prayed they’d gotten to cover.

Just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. An otherworldly silence fell on the normally bustling street.

Nick waited a few breaths before peering over the top of the car. All he saw were people flattened on the sidewalks, covering their heads. No one was running. No one was trying to conceal a weapon.

Glass tinkled behind him, and Nick saw Kelly crouching against the doorframe, gaze raking the street.

“You okay?” he called to Nick.

Nick nodded. He gestured for Kelly to retreat back into the restaurant, and Kelly immediately backed into the dim interior. Nick peered over the car again. People were cautiously raising their heads, crying, looking around like frightened animals in an earthquake.

Then one man rose calmly to his feet, brushed off his black overcoat, and began walking down the sidewalk as if nothing had happened.

Nick stood. “Cross!”

Julian didn’t hesitate or look back. He broke into a sprint.

Nick lunged to his feet and gave chase.

Kelly shoved away from the doorway and onto the sidewalk as soon as Nick bolted. He put a hand on his head, cursing under his breath. His eyes scanned the building tops and the people who were slowly getting to their feet. He didn’t see any threats. Whoever had opened fire on them had retreated by now.

“Did he get eyes on the shooter?” Hagan shouted as he jogged out to join Kelly. He stood on his tiptoes to catch sight of Nick and the man he was chasing.

They could see both men dodging passersby, veering out into the road as the chase carried them toward the massive intersection that Kelly was pretty sure bordered Boston Commons.

“He’s gaining on him,” JD said. He had joined them without Kelly realizing it.

Kelly glanced around, then put a hand on JD’s shoulder.

“You need to get back inside, come on.”

Several cops had been eating at the pub, both on and off duty, and they streamed out to help contain the scene. Hagan stood in the doorway, cal ing in the incident and requesting backup for his partner, who was in pursuit of a suspect.

Kelly finally gave in and climbed on top of the ruined car Nick had taken cover behind. He stretched to see down the narrow street, trying to find either man. He finally caught sight of Nick, trudging back down the sidewalk, alone.

“Oh, he’s going to be so pissed,” Hagan grumbled as soon as Kelly relayed the information.

When Nick got closer, he was indeed fuming.

“What happened?” Kelly demanded.

“I lost him!” Nick snapped.

“Was it the shooter?” Hagan asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then why’d you chase him down?” Hagan asked.

Nick sighed heavily and shrugged at Kelly. “You know the holes in my boat?” he asked Hagan.

“Yeah, but it still floats.”

“Right. That was the guy. Cross. I’ve seen him twice now, once at the murder scene, and just now. He’s up to something.”

Hagan flopped his arms dramatically. “Why is the CIA robbing a bookstore in Boston?”

“Are . . . are you saying I might be CIA?” JD asked incredulously.

“No,” Nick and Hagan both said at the same time.

“I thought Cross got out of the game,” Kelly said. “Why’s he back in it?”

Nick shook his head and lowered it a little, like a bull preparing to charge. His jaw tightened and his nostrils flared.

Kelly tensed, like he might need to talk Nick down from something. He rarely needed to, because Nick’s control of his temper was near legendary. But when he did . . . Kelly had put him on his back a few times to keep him from hurting someone.

“Cross wasn’t the one taking shots at our witness, so let’s worry about him later and get JD somewhere safe,” Nick finally said through gritted teeth.

“This place have a back door?” Kelly asked.

Hagan indicated for them to follow him. Nick shrugged out of his suit coat and put it around JD’s shoulders, and he stole a Red Sox hat from the coat rack as they passed by it and placed it on JD’s head.