Hard to Kill

  Hard to Kill

  by

  C. M. Sutter

  Copyright © 2020

  All Rights Reserved

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  This book is a work of fiction by C. M. Sutter. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used solely for entertainment. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  C. M. Sutter is a crime fiction writer who resides in Florida, although she is originally from California.

  She is a member of over fifty writing groups and book clubs. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and dog, and you’ll often find her writing in airports and on planes as she flies from state to state on family visits.

  She is an art enthusiast and loves to create gourd birdhouses, pebble art, and handmade soaps. Gardening, bicycling, fishing, and traveling are a few of her favorite pastimes.

  C.M. Sutter

  http://cmsutter.com/

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  Hard to Kill: A Detective Jesse McCord Police Thriller, Book 8

  Detective Jesse McCord looks forward to a week of vacation. He can’t wait to go camping with Hanna and Bandit away from the hustle and bustle of Chicago. The more remote the location, the better, in Jesse’s opinion. He’s excited about teaching Hanna how to fish, and he’s sure they’ll spend their week canoeing, hiking, and enjoying campfires under the stars.

  News hits the precinct that a longtime nemesis of Jesse has been released from prison due to overcrowding, but because Jesse will be hundreds of miles from Chicago, he sets those concerns aside.

  Without a care in the world, Jesse leaves his job and service weapon behind as he, Hanna, and Bandit set out on the adventure of a lifetime.

  After they arrive at their destination, an unsettling course of events puts Jesse and Hanna on high alert.

  A vicious predator lurks in the shadows, watches their every move, and is ready to strike.

  See all of C. M. Sutter’s books at:

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 1

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a vacation, and I’d certainly never taken one with a girlfriend. I sat at my kitchen table before heading off to my last day of work for a week. As I sipped my coffee and ate a glazed doughnut, I scrolled through park websites showing amenities, hiking trails, and fishing areas. My mind was almost made up, but there was always the chance that I would come across something Hanna would prefer instead. So far, I was on the fence, torn between Giant City and Pere Marquette State Parks. Each was wonderful in its own way.

  Since we’d been discussing the one-week vacation for over a month, we’d decided to stay in Illinois and take to the road in Hanna’s vehicle since she had an SUV with much more room for camping gear than my Camaro had.

  Neither of us wanted the glamping experience or the family fun park that included swimming pools, go-carts, kids chasing each other through neighboring campsites, or the animated movies under the stars at night. We wanted real camping like I’d experienced with my family as a kid. Hopefully, if the sky was clear, we would sit at our campfire every night and enjoy the stars on our own—without interruption.

  After I’d done a lot of checking, I realized that many state parks had lodges and cabins, some even had restaurants, and it looked like that type of thing was unavoidable, but because the parks were thousands of acres in size, I knew we could easily get off the beaten path and enjoy the peace and quiet we both looked forward to.

  A smile crossed my face as childhood memories of Yellowstone and Yosemite flooded my mind. My sister, Jenna, and I had looked forward to those trips every few years when our mom and dad splurged on family vacations. That was also before buses began bringing tourists into the national parks by the thousands.

  I shook my head. “Things sure have changed.”

  Tipping my wrist, I checked the time. It would be easy to get lost in the past and forget that I still had to work that day. I polished off my doughnut and coffee, gave Bandit a thorough petting, and headed for the door. My pup would be in seventh heaven once he was free to experience the wide-open spaces that we were about to encounter.

  “Only ten hours from now, buddy, and we’ll be on our way.”

  I reached the precinct at a quarter till eight. Henry had just arrived, and he waited as I parked my car.

  “Man, I wish I was in your shoes. What I’d give for vacation time,” he said as we crossed the parking lot together.

  “Just put in for it. I will admit I’ve had to cancel my plans more times than I would have liked, thanks to those ungrateful murderers who tend to screw everything up.”

  “But now and then, luck is on your side. Who knows? Maybe murderers go on vacation too.”

  I laughed. “Exactly.”

  Inside the bullpen, stacks and stacks of file folders and paperwork sat on my desk. “Wait a minute. My desk didn’t look like this when I left last night.”

  Frank glanced my way and huffed. “That’s the price you have to pay for ditching me for a week. Who knows what we’ll have to deal with while you’re out there living the life and not giving us a second thought.”

  Shawn joined in on the ribbing. “Yeah, and there’ll probably be an onslaught of murders while you’re gone.”

  I waved them off. “Hey, it’s been pretty quiet lately. Not my fault nobody else grabbed a vacation during a br
eak in the murders.”

  Kip shook his head. “Great. Now we’re jinxed for sure.”

  I filled my coffee cup and headed for the door. “In case all you whiners forgot, roll call is in three minutes.”

  Our Friday morning meeting was uneventful, and I was thankful for that. The last thing I wanted to hear from Lutz was that a spree killer was on the loose and that my vacation was on hold. Luckily, the meeting consisted of updates, reminders of court cases on the docket, and discussion of victim interviews my teammates needed to set up in my absence. I returned to my desk at nine o’clock and began filing folders and signing off on completed tasks.

  Hanna called at noon, and the excitement in her voice was clear. She had never been camping, although she said she enjoyed the outdoors. She was in for a real treat—I was going to teach her how to fish and how to navigate a canoe without tipping it over. I still owned the canoe that I bought back in my college days, and there was no better excuse than that trip to clean it up and take it along. Hanna had never been in a canoe but said she was up for trying it. I was amazed at how open she was to new experiences, and that fact made me love her even more.

  “I’m pretty excited to hit the road, Jesse.”

  “Me, too, but I need to know where we’re going first. Have you decided? It’s either Pere Marquette or Giant City. What’s your pleasure?”

  She laughed. “I’m still not sure, but I promise I’ll have my mind made up soon. Luckily, it’s early enough in the season that we can make same-day camping reservations. I only called to tell you I bought an awesome backpack.”

  “That’s great. I’m really looking forward to this trip, babe.”

  “Me too. I’ll let you know my decision in a few hours. Talk to you then.”

  I hung up and looked at the clock—five hours to go before I headed home. I crossed my fingers and hoped nothing would disrupt my plans.

  My phone rang at three o’clock, and it was Lutz asking me to come to his office. I thought it odd but told him I was on my way.

  Please don’t let it be anything earth-shattering.

  I gave his door two raps, and he invited me in.

  “What’s up, Boss?”

  “Have a seat, Jesse. I just got a courtesy call from Narcotics.”

  “Yeah, what about?”

  “Does the name Josh Stevens ring a bell?”

  I jerked my head as the name sent a jolt of electricity right through my body. “Well, of course it does. He was Chicago’s largest cocaine and meth dealer twelve years ago.”

  “And you were the cop responsible for his capture.”

  “Right, and the son of a bitch nearly killed me in the process. He was the worst of the worst and a good reason why I eventually transferred to Homicide. Drug dealers and addicts—especially with guns—were not the type of people I wanted to continue focusing my career on.” I huffed. “So what about him? He got put away for a twenty-year term.”

  Lutz rubbed his brow then glanced up at me. “Overcrowding and good behavior.”

  I sat upright. “You aren’t saying—”

  Lutz nodded.

  “That man doesn’t know the definition of good behavior. You’re telling me he only had to serve half his sentence?”

  “Yes, but they included time served while he waited for his day in court.”

  “That’s bullshit. The jackass threatened my life in front of everyone on his sentencing day.”

  Lutz held up his palm as if to tell me to pump my brakes. “There are conditions. He was released into his uncle’s custody and has to wear an ankle monitor for a year.”

  I groused. “Hell, I’d do that, too, if half my sentence was cut off. Did anyone vet the uncle, and is he also a criminal?”

  “I didn’t get that deep into a conversation with Commander Finley. He just wanted me to give you a heads-up.”

  “I’ll call him myself.”

  Lutz shook his head. “Let it go for now. You’re leaving on vacation in a few hours, and Josh Stevens shouldn’t be filling your mind. Fishing, camping, and spending time with Hanna is what you need to focus on for the next week.”

  “Yeah, I know, and Hanna deserves all my attention.” I scratched my chin. “But you know how well ankle monitors work if a criminal hasn’t really changed their ways. I just hope the judicial system made the right decision.”

  “So do I.” Lutz smiled. “Now, to change the subject, have you and Hanna decided on the park you’re going to?”

  “Not completely. She’s still reviewing the amenities.”

  “She’s into glamping?”

  “Nah, more into scenery, like me. No matter what, we’ll have a blast, and the weather looks like it’ll be warm for this time of year in southern Illinois.”

  Lutz tipped his head toward the door. “Don’t forget to say goodbye before you leave, and text us plenty of pictures.”

  “You got it.”

  I returned to the bullpen, and as much as I was looking forward to the trip, Josh Stevens still weighed heavily on my mind.

  As the clock wound down and the day’s ribbing came to an end, my desk was finally clear. I picked up the phone to make that call to Finley, but considering the number of people in the bullpen, I hung up and vowed to stop thinking of Josh. Once my vacation was over, I’d revisit the details of his release, talk to my old commander, and see if there was any reason to let that dirtball Josh Stevens take up one ounce of my brain space.

  My desk phone rang ten minutes before I was due to leave. It was Hanna again. I spoke to her in a low voice only because I didn’t need a new round of ribbing. Nobody ever had their wife or girlfriend call them at work unless it was an emergency.

  I cupped my mouth and answered. “Hi, babe.”

  “Hi again. I finally decided.”

  “Really, so what’s it going to be?”

  “Well, even though Pere Marquette is twice the size of Giant City, I just can’t get over the rock formations there. They look so beautiful, and the hiking trails will be a blast. I did see a lake relatively close to the campground too.”

  “Sounds like you really did your homework.”

  “Uh-huh, and I’m pretty sure we can still get away from the crowd in a four-thousand-acre park.”

  I smiled. “I like your way of thinking. So, Giant City it is. I have to wrap things up on my end here at work. Be at my house by six o’clock with your new backpack, two pair of hiking boots, thick socks, a week’s worth of clothes, and anything else you want to pack—within reason. The park is a five-hour drive, so I think it’s best to get a hotel room for the night around ten and then finish the drive in the morning. Setting up a tent is a lot easier in the daylight.” I scanned the room and was thankful Frank wasn’t at his desk. The rest of the guys weren’t paying any attention to my call.

  “Okay, see you then.”

  I placed the phone back on the base, looked through my desk drawers to see if there was anything I needed to take along, then said goodbye to the guys.

  “Anyone know where Frank went?”

  Shawn said he’d gone down to the tech department for something.

  “Okay, well, don’t work too hard. I’m out of here.”

  “Don’t forget to take along your gun,” Kip said.

  I laughed. “Why, to scare off those vicious squirrels that might get too close? This is a vacation. I’m off the clock, so no guns. See you guys in ten days.” I flipped them the middle finger, chuckled, and walked out. I made one last stop, and that was at Lutz’s office. I raised my fist to knock but saw through the glass that the room was empty.

  “Hmm. Wonder where he is.”

  I scratched out a note that I had stopped in to say goodbye, but he was gone. I wouldn’t forget to send him photos, though. As I passed the lunchroom, I peered in, but he wasn’t there either.

  “Oh, well, I tried.”

  I took the back stairway and walked out to a sun-filled middle-of-May afternoon. At five o’clock, the weather was perfect, and the
next week would be too.

  Chapter 2

  Josh looked over his shoulder as the door opened and Harold walked in. “Took you long enough.”

  “You insisted I get the car at least an hour away. You know how many bus stops are between here and Joliet?”

  Josh waved him off. “Did you take care of everything that was on the list?” He reached into the refrigerator and pulled out two beers. He mouthed the caps and snapped them off the bottles with his teeth.

  Harold grimaced and shook his head. “I get shivers every time you do that.”

  “Get over it, old man. I told you they had good dental and medical services in the slammer, courtesy of you taxpayers—thank you very much.”

  Harold muttered under his breath.

  Josh gave his uncle a threatening glance. “Speak up. I can’t hear you.”

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  “Good answer. So?”

  “I found out his address, drove by, and have all the right tools”—he cocked his head toward the ankle bracelet—“but I’m not going to admit to helping you if that thing throws an alarm.”

  “It won’t. I’ve studied the videos a million times, plus I’ve been coached by a dozen cons on how it’s done. Yeah, ankle bracelets and technology have become more advanced over time, but it isn’t like they throw away the old ones every year. This particular model isn’t that high-tech. Remember, they released a drug dealer, not an axe murderer.”

  “But I thought—”

  Josh leaned in and sneered. “You thought what?”

  “Nothing.”

  “That’s right. You got the rental car outside?”

  “Yep.”

  “And you rented it with your fake ID?”

  “I did.”

  “Then we’re golden. You used yours to rent the car, I have mine for everything else, and as soon as I get this thing off, I’m out of here. If something does happen and the cops come calling, you better keep your mouth shut. You don’t know a damn thing, right?”