Undercover cop Dan Hudson is framed for blackmail and kicked off the NOPD force. Enraged about that, and the fact that his lover refuses to stand by him, Dan moves to Denver, where he becomes Dirk Steele. He finds a job working for the Powells, who are pawnbrokers ... and fences. When he proposes to them that he put together a team to steal on demand for the Powells’ less than legitimate clients, a deal is struck and the team is formed. The team consists of Maverick, a thief; Tripp, a street kid who shoplifts to survive; and Fey, another street kid who is an excellent pickpocket and petty thief. Now the question becomes, will the team succeed? And, equally important, will the attraction between Dirk, who has sworn off love, and Maverick -- whose credo is only down and dirty sex -- grow into something more? Or will they remain just 'friends with benefits'? Time will tell as the team takes on increasingly difficult jobs and a man from Dirk's past shows up who could possibly throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Wrong Side of the Law

By the time evening rolled around, Dirk was ready to relax over a decent meal and a couple of beers. He’d spotted a place during his walk the night before and decided to give it a shot. As he pushed open the door he was bombarded by a cacophony of music, voices and the sound of a ballgame on the TVs behind the long bar. When a hostess greeted him, he told her he was alone and asked, “Is there anywhere in here even vaguely quiet?”


Laughing, she led him to a booth in a smaller area off the main room, and well away from the pool tables at the far end of the place. It was quieter, but only marginally so. After perusing the menu, he settled on a Rodeo burger, ordering that and a beer when his waitress appeared. Then he settled back to watch the hordes of young people intermingled with a few older couples. It soon became apparent most of the customers were locals and regulars. And the majority of the younger ones were trying to hook up with each other, if he didn’t miss his guess.


Chapter 7