Rejection: Publishing Murder Mystery (Lou Drake Mysteries) Read Online Free Page B

asked.
    Drake didn’t answer. He just stared into his lap and wrung his meaty hands.
    “You’re a twenty-year veteran,” Andrade continued, “who screwed up so bad that his partner has been telling the medics, the nurses, the Detectives — anyone who will listen — how you left him hanging. You’re six months from a pension and now I have to figure out what to do with you.”
    Drake still wouldn’t meet his eyes.
    “You’re coasting, Drake, that’s plain as day. You’ve pissed off your last three partners and now this. I have half a mind to send you packing early and watch you try to make it with nothing but social security. Oh, I forgot, you don’t get that until you’re sixty-three.”
    “Yes sir,” Drake managed.
    “That’s it? Yes sir? After how you broke protocol on the Hennings case and now this? I know you’ve been through a rough time, but this kid Dodd may limp for the rest of his life. You understand that?”
    “I do, sir.”
    “Drake, you better say something to help me see your side of this. You’ve got to explain your attitude or I may have to suggest suspension. Then it’d be out of my hands. An investigative review could get you canned, and then you will lose your pension.”
    “I’m sorry, sir and you’re right — I have been coasting. After the demotion and my wife left I guess my heart just went flat. I used to love the job, now I just want it to end.”
    “Maybe you should talk to somebody,” Andrade said.
    “You mean like a shrink?”
    “Whatever works, you know.”
    Drake let out a sad chuckle. “I’ve been to see counselors, dietitians, personal trainers, life coaches, you name it. They all say the same thing; I’m not happy. Even my girlfriend says so.”
    Andrade raised one eyebrow. “You’re still seeing, what’s her name? Robin?”
    Drake shrugged. “Yeah.”
    “How’s that going?”
    “We’re on again, off again, depending on whether I feel like answering her phone calls.”
    Andrade sighed. It figured. Why would Drake’s personal life be any less pathetic than his performance on the job? It all added up to an easy decision for Andrade.
    “It must be your lucky day,” Andrade said. “I’m going to give you a break.”
    The trepidation was clear on Drake’s face.
    “I’m transferring you to the cage,” Andrade continued. “You’ll have no street duty and hopefully you can manage to stay out of trouble. Just keep your nose clean, do your paper work and in six months you can quit this place and settle down to whatever you want to do.”
    The tension seemed to drain from Drake’s body. He slumped down in the chair and ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair.
    “Thank you Captain,” he said. “It sounds perfect.”
    “What do you think you’ll do after you retire? Fish? Play cards?”
    Drake hesitated for a moment, but then seemed to decide to open up. “I’ve got a book I want to write, a crime drama. My second.”
    “Good idea. Write a book, get it published, make a million dollars and retire in style, right?”
    “Something like that.”
    The Captain nodded, but somehow he didn’t think Drake’s retirement would have anything to do with style.
    * * *
    Michael Collins waited in the hallway outside the Captain’s office. He could make out none of the words coming through the door, only the rise and fall of the Captain’s voice like harsh water running over stones in an angry stream. Drake was silent, or his voice was too low to puncture the veil of the heavy oak door.
    Finally Drake emerged looking like he had just been through a fifteen-round fight. He seemed barely able to drag his fat bulk along. Collins nodded at him as he passed but received barely a flicker of acknowledgement in return.
    “Collins,” the Captain called.
    Collins entered the office and handed a folder to his superior.
    “This is the report on the body they found in the alley apartment tonight,” Collins said as the two men sat on opposite sides of the