The partners in crime co.., p.1
The Partners in Crime Collection, page 1
The Partners in Crime Collection: Books 1-6
TK Eldridge
Graffridge Publishing
First published by Graffridge Publishing 2022
Copyright © 2022 by T.K. Eldridge
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
T.K. Eldridge asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
T.K. Eldridge has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
Cover by Lizzie Dunlap of PixieCovers.com
Editing by Donna A. Martz of MartzProofing.com
Contents
1. Dead & Buried
2. Dead & Buried: Prologue
3. Dead & Buried: Chapter One
4. Dead & Buried: Chapter Two
5. Dead & Buried: Chapter Three
6. Dead & Buried: Chapter Four
7. Dead & Buried: Chapter Five
8. Dead & Buried: Chapter Six
9. Dead & Buried: Chapter Seven
10. Dead & Buried: Chapter Eight
11. Dead & Buried: Chapter Nine
12. Dead & Buried: Chapter Ten
13. Dead & Buried: Chapter Eleven
14. Dead & Buried: Chapter Twelve
15. Dead & Buried: Chapter Thirteen
16. Dead & Buried: Chapter Fourteen
17. Dead & Buried: Chapter Fifteen
18. Dead & Buried: Chapter Sixteen
19. Dead & Buried: Chapter Seventeen
20. Dead & Buried: Chapter Eighteen
21. Dead & Buried: Chapter Nineteen
22. Dead & Buried: Chapter Twenty
23. Dead & Buried: Chapter Twenty-One
24. Dead & Buried: Chapter Twenty-Two
25. Dead Wrong
26. Dead Wrong: Chapter One
27. Dead Wrong: Chapter Two
28. Dead Wrong: Chapter Three
29. Dead Wrong: Chapter Four
30. Dead Wrong: Chapter Five
31. Dead Wrong: Chapter Six
32. Dead Wrong: Chapter Seven
33. Dead Wrong: Chapter Eight
34. Dead Wrong: Chapter Nine
35. Dead Wrong: Chapter Ten
36. Dead Wrong: Chapter Eleven
37. Dead Wrong: Chapter Twelve
38. Dead Wrong: Chapter Thirteen
39. Dead Wrong: Chapter Fourteen
40. Dead Wrong: Chapter Fifteen
41. Dead Wrong: Chapter Sixteen
42. Dead Wrong: Chapter Seventeen
43. Dead Wrong: Chapter Eighteen
44. Dead Wrong: Chapter Nineteen
45. Dead Wrong: Chapter Twenty
46. Dead Wrong: Chapter Twenty-One
47. Dead Wrong: Chapter Twenty-two
48. Dead Wrong: Chapter Twenty-three
49. Dead to Rights
50. Dead to Rights: Chapter One
51. Dead to Rights: Chapter Two
52. Dead to Rights: Chapter Three
53. Dead to Rights: Chapter Four
54. Dead to Rights: Chapter Five
55. Dead to Rights: Chapter Six
56. Dead to Rights: Chapter Seven
57. Dead to Rights: Chapter Eight
58. Dead to Rights: Chapter Nine
59. Dead to Rights: Chapter Ten
60. Dead to Rights: Chapter Eleven
61. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twelve
62. Dead to Rights: Chapter Thirteen
63. Dead to Rights: Chapter Fourteen
64. Dead to Rights: Chapter Fifteen
65. Dead to Rights: Chapter Sixteen
66. Dead to Rights: Chapter Seventeen
67. Dead to Rights: Chapter Eighteen
68. Dead to Rights: Chapter Nineteen
69. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty
70. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-One
71. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-two
72. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-three
73. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-four
74. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-five
75. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-six
76. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-seven
77. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-eight
78. Dead to Rights: Chapter Twenty-Nine
79. Dead Reckoning
80. Dead Reckoning: Chapter One
81. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Two
82. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Three
83. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Four
84. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Five
85. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Six
86. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Seven
87. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Eight
88. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Nine
89. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Ten
90. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Eleven
91. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twelve
92. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Thirteen
93. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Fourteen
94. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Fifteen
95. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Sixteen
96. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Seventeen
97. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Eighteen
98. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Nineteen
99. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty
100. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-One
101. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Two
102. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Three
103. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Four
104. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Five
105. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Six
106. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Seven
107. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Eight
108. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Twenty-Nine
109. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Thirty
110. Dead Reckoning: Chapter Thirty-One
111. Dead Ringer
112. Dead Ringer: Prologue
113. Dead Ringer: Chapter One
114. Dead Ringer: Chapter Two
115. Dead Ringer: Chapter Three
116. Dead Ringer: Chapter Four
117. Dead Ringer: Chapter Five
118. Dead Ringer: Chapter Six
119. Dead Ringer: Chapter Seven
120. Dead Ringer: Chapter Eight
121. Dead Ringer: Chapter Nine
122. Dead Ringer: Chapter Ten
123. Dead Ringer: Chapter Eleven
124. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twelve
125. Dead Ringer: Chapter Thirteen
126. Dead Ringer: Chapter Fourteen
127. Dead Ringer: Chapter Fifteen
128. Dead Ringer: Chapter Sixteen
129. Dead Ringer: Chapter Seventeen
130. Dead Ringer: Chapter Eighteen
131. Dead Ringer: Chapter Nineteen
132. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty
133. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-One
134. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-Two
135. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-Three
136. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-Four
137. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-Five
138. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-Six
139. Dead Ringer: Chapter Twenty-Seven
140. Dead Heat
141. Dead Heat: Chapter One
142. Dead Heat: Chapter Two
143. Dead Heat: Chapter Three
144. Dead Heat: Chapter Four
145. Dead Heat: Chapter Five
146. Dead Heat: Chapter Six
147. Chapter 147
148. Dead Heat: Chapter Eight
149. Dead Heat: Chapter Nine
150. Dead Heat: Chapter Ten
151. Dead Heat: Chapter Eleven
152. Dead Heat: Chapter Twelve
153. Dead Heat: Chapter Thirteen
154. Dead Heat: Chapter Fourteen
155. Dead Heat: Chapter Fifteen
156. Dead Heat: Chapter Sixteen
157. Dead Heat: Chapter Seventeen
158. Dead Heat: Chapter Eighteen
159. Dead Heat: Chapter Nineteen
160. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty
161. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-One
162. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Two
163. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Three
164. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Four
165. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Five
166. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Six
167. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Seven
168. Dead Heat: Chapter Twenty-Eight
170. Dead Heat: Chapter Thirty
171. About the Author
Dead & Buried
First published by Graffridge Publishing 2021
Copyright © 2021 by T.K. Eldridge
Dedication: To all of those men and women who serve the public at large - from grocery clerks to doctors and everyone in between. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
Epigraph: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Dead & Buried: Prologue
Being ignored or shunned was not something they were used to. Doting parents, sycophant friends, they all hung on their every word. The best schools, the best clothes, the best trainers, no expense had been spared. When someone grows up with every wish granted, every desire fulfilled, what more could they strive towards?
Oh, they knew they should be grateful. Charitable, even. Instead, they had decided that it was time to take the next step. No more being under parental control, no more answering to every demand of mother or father – it was time to show them just what they’d created.
Thumbs danced across the screen, and the text was sent. A reply came back moments later. “Target acquired.”
One by one, they’d all come tumbling down. It was only fair. What else was a person supposed to do for family, if not take up their battles when they could no longer fight?
Dead & Buried: Chapter One
Jameson Kennedy made his way around the tangled crowd of vehicles and people. A flash of his badge and he ducked under the yellow tape, steeling himself for the sight of yet another body. The sideways looks he was getting from the other cops and techs made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Donovan had been his partner for all eight years of his detective career. They knew each other’s families, their kids went to school together, his ex-wife and Donovan’s wife were friends – they were as close as brothers. If this really was Donovan lying in the mud at the side of the road, he had to keep it together. He couldn’t break down in front of everyone.
Finally the last row of people parted, and he stepped close enough to see the body.
He couldn’t stop the hard intake of breath. It felt like someone had just punched him in the chest. Mud splattered the sweatshirt and jeans of the figure before him, but he recognized the college logo and the splash of green paint he’d put on the faded blue cloth just last week. The face was mud-splattered, battered and bloody, but he knew it well. He tried to speak, but his voice cracked, so he cleared his throat and said, “Yes, that is Michael Donovan.”
“Positive identification made of the victim as Michael Donovan, detective second grade, Harbor PD,” the coroner said as he moved back to allow his assistants to finish bagging Donovan’s hands and putting his body into the bag.
“Sorry for your loss, Kennedy,” Dr. Finney said as he passed him.
Crime makes a mark. It leaves a scar that resonates in the atmosphere of the place where it happened. Jameson Kennedy knew he would never pass this place again without feeling the pain of Donovan’s loss.
“I want to do the notification,” Kennedy said.
“Take Edgars with you,” Sergeant Simmons replied.
“Whatever,” Kennedy muttered as he headed back to his car.
Jerry Edgars, new to the squad, was standing beside the car when Kennedy got there.
“Sarge called you?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry for your loss,” Edgars replied.
“Just stay quiet and get in. I know Katherine Donovan, so let me talk, okay?”
“Understood.”
They were both silent as Kennedy drove them the half mile to Donovan’s house and pulled up out front.
“I don’t suppose you’d stay in the car?” Kennedy asked Edgars.
“Sarge said I was to stay with you as a witness in case she said something,” Edgars replied.
Rage surged, but he swallowed it down. The knee-jerk reaction to protect his partner and his partner’s family had to be kept in check. He had to behave as if this were any other notification for any other case. Silence seemed his best choice, so Kennedy gave Edgars a nod and got out of the car.
He walked across the grass front lawn and up to the door. The simple brick two-story with a front porch that wrapped around one side and a fenced-in backyard was just like any other suburban home. He knocked on the door and waited as Katie opened it and gave him a smile.
“Hey, Jamie. Mike went to the store, but he should be back any minute,” Katie said. “Want to come in for a coffee?”
“Hi, Katie. This is Detective Edgars. We need to speak with you. The kids at school?” Kennedy said.
“Jamie, what’s wrong? Yes, the kids are at school.”
Jamie took her hands in his and looked her in the eyes. “Katie, I just came from a crime scene. Someone killed Mike.”
“No, he’s just at the store. He called and asked if the store brand was fine. He should be home any moment.”
“I had to identify his body, Katie.”
That’s when she started to sob and leaned into Kennedy’s chest. He walked her over to the couch and sat her down, still holding her for the moment. “Let me call Elise to come be with you, okay? She can get the kids and come be here.”
Katie nodded and sniffled, then got to her feet. “Tissues. I’ll be right back.”
They watched her go into the half-bath under the stairs, heard the water turn on, then they heard a howl of such pain it caused both men to flinch. Edgars took a step towards the sound and Kennedy shook his head. “Let her get it out and pull herself together. She’s been a cop’s wife for fifteen years, she’ll be okay. I need to call my ex.”
Kennedy pulled out his phone and hit the button to dial.
“I don’t need your shit right now, Jamie,” the voice said, and Kennedy sighed.
“Elise, I’m calling for Katie. Mike was killed, and I identified his body about half an hour ago. Can you get her kids at school and come be with her? She’s going to need you.”
“Oh, fuck,” Elise said. “I’ll get them and be there in thirty minutes. Are you staying with her until I get there?”
“I’m not leaving her alone. Edgars and I are here right now.”
“On my way,” and the call disconnected.
Elise arrived, then more family, and Kennedy felt like he couldn’t breathe. Edgars gave him a good excuse to leave, so he bailed on his friend’s family. He dropped Edgars at the station without getting out of his car, then headed home.
Jameson’s bare little apartment mocked him as he stepped inside. He had a couch, a big flat screen TV, and a battered footlocker that acted as a coffee table, but no pictures on the wall or decorations laying around. He changed his clothes, put on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, then looked in the fridge for a beer.
The only things in his fridge were a bottle of ketchup, a jar of mayo, and three eggs that were probably about to hatch dinosaurs they’d been in there so long. “Well, shit,” he muttered.
Socks, sneakers, wallet, phone, and make sure the gun is locked in the safe. Check. There was a bar about two blocks from the apartment, and they would have beer. And whiskey. And he wouldn’t have to sit at home with the TV and his memories of Michael Francis Donovan.
Keys tucked into his pocket, he locked the doors and headed out. No, he wouldn’t be driving. A walk home would sober him up enough to manage to get the key into the keyhole, or so he’d learned over the eighteen months he’d been living here.
It was still daylight when he landed outside the door of the Copper Ceili Pub, better known as ‘the Coppah’. It sat in the middle between his precinct station and his apartment, making it his neighborhood bar. It was also the cop bar for this area, which he probably should have considered before deciding to come on this particular day. Dinner time wasn’t too busy, but there were enough faces turned to give him a solemn nod or an ‘it’s a shame, Kennedy’ with their awkward condolences at the loss of Donovan.
The bartender, Owen, let him take the last stool in the corner at the bar so he’d be mostly out of sight, then took his order for the dinner special, a whiskey and a pint. The whiskey burned and the pint soothed, and soon he had food to soak up some of the booze.
After the fifth person came by to buy him a drink and offer their sympathies, Owen himself took pity on Kennedy and waved them away.
“Let the man drink in peace, boyo. It’s a hard day when you lose your partner and friend,” Owen would tell them, and they’d tell him to put a drink on their tab for Kennedy then head on their way.
