Read Hard Man to Kill (Dark Horse Guardian Series Book 4) for Free Online

Lara was thinking of lunch and an after-Christmas shopping trip for the next few hours. 
    Outside in the parking lot, Monique elbowed Lara, “Hey, isn’t that the car you called Bettencourt about?”  The Mustang was there, covered with flat black paint, and low profile racing tires.  Lara jotted down the plate number and stopped by the police station on the way home. 
    Paul Simpson, a tall blonde officer who looked like he was right out of the police academy, smiled, “How can I help you ladies?”
    “I’m Randall Bettencourt’s fiancée,” Monique started.  She gave Bettencourt's old badge number, and one or two of his former colleagues in order to confirm who she was, and who Bettencourt was.
    “We need to know who owns this vehicle, it’s been following us for several days.” Lara said flatly, handing him the piece of paper.  “Bettencourt said you could help.”
    Simpson moved the women to a side room and closed the door.  “Let me see that.”  He smiled and said he’d be right back.  Lara glanced at Monique nervously.  The two sat in the small interrogation room silently, not moving but mentally twitching. 
    Simpson was back in a flash.  “It’s registered to an Aaron Brown.”  Monique and Lara exchanged the same look, one of surprise followed by alarm.
    “Damn, it’s the guy I just threw down at the dojo,” Lara exhaled.  “Can you give me his address and whatever information you have?  I’ll take it from there.” 
    Lara noticed Simpson's eyes narrowed.  She guessed what he was thinking:  Bettencourt's fiancée came in with her friend, asking about a car, and the friend says that she would handle it?  That was a Hell and a No.  “May I ask what this is about?”
    “No thanks, we've got this.” She pulled Monique by the sleeve and thanked Officer Simpson, “We’ve got to go.”
    In the parking lot, Lara started her Mercedes and simultaneously tapped her phone.  Rusty’s voice boomed over the speaker in the car.  “Hey, Lara, what are you up to?”
    “I need to see you. It’s business.” Lara said tersely. 
    “Yup, come up to the range.  I’m here this afternoon.” Rusty seemed to know something was up.  “I’ll see you when you get here.”  The phone call blipped off.
    “One more little detail.” Lara was talking to herself and Monique was listening.  Lara took a device out of the console that looked like a magnet and made a U-turn to return to the dojo parking lot.  The Mustang was parked and no one was around as Lara slipped out of her vehicle.  She bent down with the pretense of picking up her glove from the ground, as she tucked the magnetic device to the underside of the black car.
    “I don’t dare to ask you what that was all about.” Monique said as they pulled out of the parking lot into traffic. 
    Lara tapped her phone and found the app she was looking for.  She handed the phone to Monique.  “It’s a tracking device.  I want to know where these guys are at all times. But more than that, I want to know who the hell they are and why they’ve been following us.  Rusty will get to the bottom of it.”
    The Mercedes raced through city traffic and was soon on the outskirts moving in the general direction toward Panther Pond.  Rusty’s domicile was really a compound on nine acres, combination shooting range, secret bunker, and Lara’s home away from home.  As Lara stepped out of the Mercedes after a forty-five minute drive, she inhaled the fresh clean air and her eyes soaked in the raw beauty of the frozen pond.  A January thaw was beginning.  For a moment the stillness was complete, only interrupted by the occasional twitter of birds.  Unlike the seaside home she lived in, Rusty’s place on the pond was incredibly quiet.  No rolling waves here.  Dead silence.
    It was Monique’s first time on the pond.  “Wow, this place is awesome.”
    “I think you’ll like it.” Lara smiled as they trudged toward the cabin on the edge