Swan Song: Alex Masters Series, Vol.4 -e

Alex Masters Series, Vol. 4

by Brenda M. Boldin

Alex Masters is back for the forth and final episode in this popular mystery series. This time she's a suspect in a drug deal gone wrong? This time it looks an awful lot like she might be guilty. Will Cole Armstrong lose his favorite songbird forever? For before it's over, Alex's/Lexi's life is on the line again? Will it be wedding bells for Alex and Cole at last? Will she even survive?

ISBN 1-59431-294-X Mystery/Romantic Suspense Cover Art by Maggie Dix

Also available in RTF and HTML formats.



Prelude

Alex Masters ducked into the alley. She peeked around the corner, trying to make sure she'd just seen what she thought she'd seen. Her heart rate had suddenly tripled at the sight of him. Just one more look to be sure.

No. It wasn't him, too young. She let out a sigh of relief. That ghost wasn't back to haunt her at least. At first glance the resemblance had been amazing. She watched him walk by the alley and saw the difference in build, gait.

When she caught her breath once more and her heart stopped pounding, she slipped back onto the sidewalk and continued on her way to Jellyroll's.

He answered at her first knock and ushered her inside. Alex stepped through the doorway a bit warily. This was her normal time, her normal day. He should have been ready with her stuff and just given it to her. She stayed just inside the entrance.

"What's going on? Where's my stuff?"

Jelly gave her a big smile, suspicious in and of itself. "Just a little mix up. I didn't get a delivery last night. I have something else though. Do the same thing. Just keep your energy up."

Alex eyed him suspiciously as he reached under a sofa cushion and pulled out a small packet of white powder.

"No. I'm not going on the hard stuff. I told you when I started coming here, I just need a little pick me up because the pain meds drag me down so much."

"Easy girl. Easy. This is the same thing, just in a powder. I swear. It's just this one time." He eyed her. "Of course if you'd rather go home empty-handed."

Alex dropped her head back and it smacked against the wall. Shit, that hurt.

Maybe this was a sign she was supposed to stop. She needed to cut back at the very least. If she could only kick the painkillers it'd all be fine. But she couldn't sleep without them.

A shiver of cold went through her and her body trembled, begging to be fed what it needed.

"Just this once?"

"Sure. I'll have your regular stuff next time, I promise."

"Same price?"

He grinned. "Same price." He handed it to her as she handed him the wad of bills.

Chapter One



Homicide Lieutenant Cole Armstrong followed the sound of raised voices. At the closed door to Vice Lieutenant Steve Miller's office stood four detectives, with their ears to the wall. When they saw Cole they straightened and had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.

Cole indicated Steve's office with his chin. "What's going on? I heard it all the way down the hall."

"The Loot and Alex are going at it."

Cole raised an eyebrow. "Alex Masters?" They all nodded in unison. Cole sighed. "How long has this been going on?"

To a one, they looked at their watches. "More'n five minutes." Butch Gordon replied.

Cole debated almost a full minute, still the arguing continued. It didn't sound like they were going to wind up any time soon. With another heavy sigh he stepped to the door and quietly opened it.

Alex Masters had both hands flat on the desk and she was leaning into Steve's face. Steve, normally a very placid man, had a complexion the color of Bing cherries.

"This is useless," Alex was bellowing. "I quit. Do everyone a favor Miller: go shoot yourself." She pushed herself off the desk, started to turn away, then whirled back. "Better yet, tell me when you're ready and I'll do it for you!"

She brushed past Cole without seeing him or any of the men standing around the doorway.

Steve sank back into his chair with a sigh of relief. "I was beginning to think I was going to have to throw her out bodily." He glanced at Cole. "What a law suit that would've been, huh?"

Sensing that as an invitation Cole closed the door, much to the disappointment of the rest of the Vice squad. Taking a seat across from Steve he asked, "What the hell was that about?"

"Your girlfriend's using Armstrong. You know that?"

"Whoa. Back the train up. In the first place, she's not my girlfriend." At his colleague's skeptical expression, he felt the need to defend himself. "We're friends. She sings in my band, but that's as far as it goes."

"Whatever you say."

"What makes you think she's using drugs?" Cole tried to shift the topic.

Steve gave a short burst of laughter and pointed at the door. "That wasn't proof?"

"Some people have tempers."

The Vice detective leaned back in his chair and looked at Cole. "In denial are we?"

Choosing not to answer, Cole asked another question. "So that's what all the shouting was about? You accused her of using and she denied it?"