Run For Your Life Read online

  Run for Your Life

  by

  C. M. Sutter

  Copyright © 2022

  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 author who resides in Tampa, Florida.

  With more than thirty books published in the thriller and crime fiction genres, she can often be found with a laptop in hand and writing at every opportunity.

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

  C. M. Sutter

  http://cmsutter.com/

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  Run for Your Life

  Detective Mitch Cannon-Savannah Heat Thriller Series, Book 1

  With the weekend right around the corner, Homicide Detective Mitch Cannon is looking forward to Saturday night. It isn’t often he has a date, and this one will be particularly interesting. His new friend Liza is beautiful, edgy, outspoken, and somewhat odd.

  But Mitch’s usual Friday-morning phone call to his mom sets the wheels in motion for five days of pure hell. Mitch’s sister, Marie, has gone missing without a trace. His date is canceled, and Mitch’s partner, Devon, and Liza also go missing the following night. The only clue is a call Mitch gets from someone whose number is blocked, the anonymous speaker saying, “Ticktock, ticktock.”

  Mitch and the entire Habersham precinct set out on a white-knuckle search to find his sister, partner, and new friend before time runs out and all three are gone forever.

  See all of C. M. Sutter’s books at:

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  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 1

  It had already been a long Thursday morning, but we’d finally made it to the lunch hour. Our three interrogations with gangster wannabes and their smart-mouthed public defenders had been tiring, and we’d only just begun.

  Last night during a two-car drive-by shooting, four young men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two were gunned down on the sidewalk in front of their apartment building. They were needless deaths but only in the eyes of the law. We still had three more people to interview. As usual, the first to cough up the truth and name the actual shooter or shooters would get the best deal. Otherwise, they would all go down for murder. Luckily, Patrol had been doing their rounds of that neighborhood and heard the shots being fired. The perps were apprehended within minutes, and their guns were still hot from the rapid fire. We literally had them dead to rights.

  With an exhausted sigh, I dropped down at the cafeteria table in our Habersham Street precinct after grabbing my lunch from the refrigerator. Rue was taking up the rear and said something about forgetting the unopened soda on his desk. As I ate my chicken salad sandwich, I pulled the invitation from my lunch bag and read it for the fifteenth time. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to attend the event or not, yet the message promised a night of good deeds and unparalleled excitement—one the attendees would certainly never forget.

  “Whatcha got there, Cannon?” Devon asked.

  I looked over my right shoulder as he scooted in next to me on the long bench and settled in with his soda and a Greek yogurt.

  I frowned at his lunch choice. “Are you bipolar or something?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  I made my point using my hands as scales. “On my left hand here is your high-calorie, rot-your-teeth, sugary soda, and on my right hand is a cup of healthy, delicious Greek yogurt. Notice how my left hand gets lower and lower and my right hand goes higher?”

  “Yep, great visual aids.”

  “My point is, that heavy unhealthy soda is weighing down the good you’re doing by eating yogurt.”

  “But I like them both equally.”

  I groaned. “Why not diet soda, then?”

  Rue shook his head and popped the tab on the soda can. He smiled as it hissed. “Diet soda tastes like shit. Anyway, whatcha looking at?”

  I smacked the trifold invitation on the table then slid it toward him. “It’s an invitation to a scavenger hunt that’s supposedly happening Saturday night at a place yet to be determined.”

  “Sounds like fun. Who arranged that?”

  “Not sure who arranged it, but the invite came from a young lady I recently met.”

  Rue raised his right brow. “Really? How long were you going to keep me in the dark about that?”

  I flicked a bread crumb, and it landed on the next table. “It’s nothing serious. Actually, I’ve only known her for a little over a week. Met her at Alioto’s Friday night when I stopped in for a beer. Guess she gets into those extreme games, sports, and contests. A nonstop kind of gal, so she says.” I shrugged. “We’ll see.” I chuckled. “I’ve never participated in a scavenger hunt in my life, and at damn near forty, I never thought I’d join in on one now.”

  “Hell, I’d do it. No different than hunting for clues to a crime.”

  “True enough, but I may have to bail anyway.” I rapped my fingers on the table. “There’s a good chance we’ll have another murder on our hands by then.”

  Rue huffed. “That much, we can count on.”

  I glanced at the wall clock. “Slurp down that yogurt.
We still have three more tough guys to interrogate today. I’m thinking it’s going to be a long afternoon.”

  I wasn’t about to tell Devon why I wanted to get those interrogations underway and out of the way. That night, I had a date with Liza, my new friend, and I wanted to leave the precinct on time—six o’clock. I wasn’t sure if calling it a date was accurate. We were meeting to eat, which most people did every night anyway, and have drinks, which many people also enjoyed routinely. Eating dinner was something I would do regardless, and there was no harm in enjoying the company of a fun-loving lady while I ate.

  I chuckled at my own stupidity. It’s a date, idiot. Just own it and have fun.

  I elbowed Rue and grabbed my lunch bag. “Let’s go. Those interviews aren’t going to conduct themselves.”

  Later, after hours of questioning suspects, we finally ended our day. They would all be held responsible for the four murders since none of them would tell us the truth. So be it. After a jury’s decision, they would spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

  The night crew had taken over an hour ago, and Rue and I finally walked out the door at six thirty—a half hour later than I would have liked. I still needed to go home, tend to Gus, then shower and change before meeting Liza at Stubby’s—a well-known sports bar in the historic district—at eight o’clock. Luckily, I lived only six minutes south of the station. From my house, Stubby’s was a short ten-minute drive north via Montgomery then a quick right on West Congress. I hadn’t spoken with Liza for a few days, but I’d sent a text asking if we were still on for that night. She’d responded with a yes and a smiling emoji.

  I didn’t know much about her, but I hoped to learn more. She was an intriguing black-haired beauty with olive-green eyes. She wasn’t lacking in the looks department, which was obvious from the head snaps I noticed her getting at Alioto’s last week. Why she’d chosen to cozy up on a barstool next to me was a mystery, but I wasn’t complaining. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been on a date, which was pathetic in its own right, but I had my reasons. I’d seen far too many relationships and marriages fall apart since officers and detectives were put in dangerous situations nearly every day of their lives. On top of that, the long hours didn’t help. I’d always felt I was doing the right thing by choosing my career over a wife and family. I doubted that Liza was the type who was looking for a serious relationship. From the little I knew of her, she appeared to enjoy a spontaneous, carefree lifestyle and wasn’t searching for anything that might upset the apple cart.

  Not the worst woman to date now and then. No expectations and no commitments.

  After turning down a beer with Rue, I said good night to him, explaining that the day of interrogations had given me a headache.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. I’ll catch you in the morning. How about tomorrow night if you don’t have anything else going on?”

  “That sounds good. Then I’ll see you in the morning, buddy.”

  I climbed into my Corvette and headed south on Habersham. I felt like a jerk for lying to my partner and best friend, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of nothing. It was just a light dinner and drinks.

  Chapter 2

  “Did you read the email I sent you?”

  “Yes, but you have a lot of demands.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  The voice on the other end of the line sighed. “It’s a lot of work to accomplish in a short time.”

  “Then I’ll hire somebody else who’s competent and up to the task. I had no idea you were that incapable.”

  “Wait.” The line went silent for a few seconds. “I’ll do it for twelve thousand.”

  “The agreed-upon price was ten thousand, asshole. Are you going to come through for me or not?”

  “I will for twelve but not a penny less.”

  Both parties went silent again.

  “Fine. Don’t make me regret this, and follow the email to the letter. After you’ve completed the task to my satisfaction, delete all your messages, scrub your emails a half dozen times, and then change your email service, your log-ins, and password. Got it?”

  “Got it.”

  “I’ll meet you tomorrow with a down payment, and you’ll get the rest after the job is completed.”

  The phone line abruptly went dead.

  Chapter 3

  I pulled into my driveway at six forty-five, and by six forty-nine, I was inside the house and scratching Gus behind the right ear. He showed his affection by slobbering all over the floor and my pant leg.

  “You need a bib, buddy.” I opened the patio door, shooed him out, and after wiping up the mess with a paper towel, cracked open a beer while I made sure he did his business. After his success, I nodded a good boy and left Gus outside to enjoy the outdoors while I headed upstairs to change clothes and shower.

  The fact that I was nervous about the date took me by surprise, especially since I was a homicide detective who tracked down and apprehended killers on a regular basis. I laughed off my insecurities, picked out a casual pair of jeans and an Atlanta Falcons T-shirt, placed them on the bed, and headed for the shower. With two more gulps of beer, I emptied the can, then I stepped into the lukewarm spray of water. With the September temperatures still in the eighties, a hot shower wouldn’t cool me down, but a tepid one was just right.

  I was dressed by seven thirty. After a light spritz of cologne, a comb through my hair, and a teeth brushing, my casual look was complete. I headed downstairs, where Gus was pawing at the door and ready for his supper. I filled his bowl with kibble, and after kissing him on top of his head, I locked up and left.

  At ten till eight, I reached the street Stubby’s was on and knew parking would be an issue. After living in Savannah my entire life, I was aware of the parking problem in the historic district. Many of the restaurants didn’t have parking lots at all, so customers had to depend on street availability. I rounded the block twice and caught somebody pulling away from the curb. I got lucky and hoped that was a sign of a successful date and a fun night to come.

  Stubby’s was only four buildings away. I wondered if Liza had arrived and if she had trouble locating a parking spot. I could have offered to pick her up, but meeting at the bar seemed like less of a date and more of a casual time to eat, drink, and learn more about each other. The outcome would tell me if there would be another date in our future after Saturday night’s scavenger hunt—if a murder didn’t prevent me from attending.

  I stepped inside the lively bar and looked around. TVs showing some sport were scattered about every five feet and filled the walls. I scanned the crowd and didn’t see Liza. Maybe she hadn’t realized what a challenge it would be to find parking in the trendy, touristy area. I snagged a bar table as soon as a group of four left—another stroke of luck. The night looked promising.

  As I watched the door, Liza passed the large street-facing window, and seconds later, she stepped inside the bar. I called out her name and waved to get her attention. A large grin spread across her face. She waved back and headed over.

  “Mitch, it’s good to see you again.” She gave me a peck on the cheek, took a seat facing me, then looked around. “This is definitely the place to be. It’s really hopping in here.”

  I looked for a waitress. “You ready for a menu?”

  She swatted the air. “Honestly, I’m fine with appetizers and a few ales.”

  I laughed. “You’re making this too easy on me. You sure?”

  “Positive. Let’s enjoy the atmosphere here, have a snack and a couple of cold ones, and then go somewhere else that’s a little quieter.”

  “Sure, but I thought you were the type who was always up for a challenge.”

  “I am for sure, but you can’t learn anything about the other person when you can’t hear their responses.”

  “True enough.”

  “What?”

  We laughed. I flagged down a waitress and asked for an appetizer platter and two blonde al
es.

  We spent an hour discussing our favorite teams and watching football on one of the many TVs. We didn’t get deep into our conversation, and keeping things light was the best thing to do considering the noise level.

  “Ready to move on?” she asked after downing her second ale.

  “Yep, as soon as I settle the check.”

  “Let’s just go. It’s so crowded in here nobody will even notice.”

  I laughed, certain she was joking, but when she headed for the door and walked out, I was stunned. I found our waitress, handed her three twenties, and left. I was sure that would cover our bill. Liza sat across the street on a bench at Franklin Square, grinning from ear to ear.

  I frowned as I walked up to her. “You do realize I’m a cop, right?”

  “Oh, come on. Let your hair down and have some fun. You aren’t on duty right now.”

  “Doesn’t matter. It’s still theft whether you’re a cop or not.”

  She laughed. “So what did you do?”

  “I paid the bill. What else?”

  “Whatever. Let’s go somewhere quiet and have a whiskey. I promise I’ll behave.”

  I brushed off her strange behavior and suggested Camille’s. The restaurant was only two blocks away and had a great bar. It was a nice night for a walk anyway.

  “So are you always that impulsive?”

  “Sure. Why not? You only live once.”

  In another life and with a different occupation, I might have agreed, but what she’d done would have been a crime if I hadn’t been there to cover the tab. That was a prank twenty-one-year-olds would have pulled on a dare, and it made me wonder how old she was. I began to rethink my plans for Saturday. A night at home with my buddy, Gus, in front of the TV with a beer and take-out, sounded just fine. Liza might be a little too wild and too young for me.