Quinn - Iris Johansen [56]
“Put down your weapon. You’re under arrest.”
“The hell I am.” Another bullet, closer.
But Joe had the direction now. Fraser was behind the bar across the room. He aimed and got off a shot. “Give it up, Fraser. Last chance. I’ll kill you. It’s what I want to do anyway. Why waste the taxpayers’ money on shit like you?”
“You’re not going to kill me. All these years, and you assholes haven’t been able to touch me. I’ll get out of here and kill you and that whore, too.” Another shot. “Just like I did that newspaper reporter.”
“But it’s really me you want to kill, isn’t it, Fraser?”
Oh, my God, Eve.
She was standing in the front doorway. But only for an instant, then she dove to the right behind the couch in front of the huge fireplace.
A bullet embedded itself in the soft cushions.
“You missed,” Eve called. “Stupid, Fraser. Incompetent and stupid and—”
Take advantage of Eve’s distracting him.
Another bullet struck the coffee table. “Bitch.” It was a scream of rage. “I’ll blow your—”
The scream was cut off as Joe dove across the bar on top of Fraser, jerking the gun from his hand and tossing it aside.
“No!” Fraser struggled wildly.
God, he was strong. Joe would have to put him out quickly.
But Fraser had rolled over, taking Joe with him. His face was contorted with rage as he looked down at him. There was fierce malice imprinted on every line of his heavy face. “You helped her. You helped the bitch. I’m going to cut your—”
Joe’s knee jerked up into Fraser’s groin.
Fraser groaned with pain.
Joe bucked him off his body. He moved swiftly to give him a karate chop to the neck.
Fraser went limp as he lost consciousness.
Joe was breathing hard as leaned back against the bar.
Eve was beside him, looking down at Fraser. “It’s him. It’s Zeus?”
“Ralph Fraser.” He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out handcuffs. “And you were supposed to stay in the car.”
“And you were supposed to call in the police when you knew where Fraser was.” She was still looking down at him. “And then I saw you run after him. What could I do?”
He cuffed Fraser and sat back on his heels. “And you wouldn’t have come running to the rescue anyway? I could have handled it, Eve.”
“I had to be sure.” Her glance shifted to Joe. “And I had to make certain that you didn’t kill him.”
“I gave him the usual warning.”
“But I think you wanted him dead. Didn’t you?”
“He’s a son of a bitch. I didn’t want some slick lawyer to find a way of getting him off.”
“That’s not all. You’re my friend. I think you wanted it over for me.”
“Maybe. And now we have to wait for a jury to pull the plug on him.” His lips twisted. “And I have to watch what that does to you. Is that what you want?”
“I have to talk to him. I have to make him tell me if he lied about killing Bonnie.”
It was coming as he’d known it would. Joe could almost see the dark shadow looming over her.
“Maybe he lied,” she added shakily. “Maybe he’ll tell the truth if he thinks it will get him off.”
“And maybe he’ll lie again.” He got to his feet. “Come on, let’s get you in the car and away from him.”
She didn’t move. “I have to ask him, Joe.”
“You’re not going to get anything from him but curses if he regains consciousness anytime soon.” He took her elbow. “We need to call Slindak and get those squad cars up here.”
“They should be here any minute. I told that man in the truck to go down to the gates and get them as I ran past him toward the clubhouse.”
“Good.” He glanced once again at Fraser. He still wasn’t stirring. “I don’t think he’s playing possum, but perhaps I’ll stay here until Slindak gets here.”
“Because he might be strong enough to walk away from this? I never thought evil could be as strong as good. I hoped it couldn’t be that powerful.” She shuddered. “But that was before I lost Bonnie.”
Joe heard the sirens and gently took her elbow again. “He won’t walk away from this.” He nudged her toward the door. “I promise you, Eve.”
“When can I see him again?” she asked. “I have to see him. He has to tell me about Bonnie.”
“We’ll talk about that