The Fall Guy (8 page)

“Well, we've got all the admission we need on tape, thanks to Rick here.”

They all laughed. Hurley came to the phone, and I got up to give him space. Picturing the kids sitting on the curb, I felt bad. I knew they'd tried to kill me, but I couldn't help thinking, sometimes people just find themselves in a dark place they never planned on.

I wandered toward the back room. Constable Swan looked up. She looked tired, like she'd had one shift too many, but she smiled at me. A wide, friendly smile, nothing like her usual smirk. It surprised me, and I found myself smiling back. Feeling better.

“This is quite the invention, O'Toole. Not the latest technology, but it did the trick.” She looked down at her boots, big and clumsy on her small frame. “I'm glad you came out of this all right.”

I didn't say a word. A rush of blood tied my tongue in knots. But I didn't feel tired and sore anymore, and I had a funny feeling in my gut. Maybe this new technology stuff was worth another look after all. There might even be some money in it.

BARBARA FRADKIN
is a child psychologist with a fascination for how we turn bad. She is best known for her gritty detective series featuring Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green. She won Arthur Ellis Best Novel Awards for both
Fifth Son
(2005) and
Honour Among Men
(2007).

Titles in the Series
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