06 Suspects and Surprises Read Online Free PDF Page A

night?” Paul asked. “I know you have guests, but I'd love to see you before I launch.”
    “I'm sure Mary will be willing to handle things,” Suzie nodded.
    “Great,” Paul smiled. “If you see that car again make sure you call Jason to check it out,” he said sternly. Then he turned and walked away. Suzie watched him go until the headlights of his car pulled out of the parking lot.
    “Now, I see why you turned down the walk,” a voice said from behind her.
    “Warren,” Suzie said as she turned to face him with a smile.
    “Looks like you've got a good man there,” he said with a half-smile.
    “The best,” Suzie nodded.
    “Well, I'm going to turn in for the night. Nice beach you have here,” he said before he turned and walked back into Dune House. Suzie lingered for a few minutes on the porch. She was waiting to see if the car would drive by again. The street in front of Dune House remained quiet.

Chapter Four
     
     
    Eventually Suzie went back inside. She wanted to check on Mary. When she paused outside her door she still heard quiet crying. Suzie raised her hand to knock, but then stopped herself. It was hard for Suzie to resist, but she forced herself to walk towards her room. She felt a surge of fury rush through her as she blamed Wes for causing her friend such pain. She was very tempted to get in her car, drive over to his place, and teach him what happens when someone messes with Mary. But Suzie knew that Mary wouldn't want that either. She sighed as she stretched out in her bed. She closed her eyes and tried to distract herself with thoughts of the party, but her mind kept returning to Wes and how hurt Mary was.
    She was so concerned and angry that she couldn't get to sleep. She lay awake for hours after she went to bed. As she was tossing and turning, she heard a scream. Suzie bolted up out of bed at the sound. It was followed by a loud thump. Her heart jumped up into her throat. She didn't know what had happened, but she was sure it was bad. She grabbed her phone and opened her door. When Suzie ran out into the hall Mary was already there. Her eyes were wide.
    “Did you hear that?” she asked in a hushed voice.
    “I did,” Suzie replied.
    “I'll check upstairs,” Mary said.
    “I'll check outside,” Suzie called back as she ran for the door. The thump had sounded like it came from the side of Dune House. As she ran across the sand, her feet slipped a few times. She was more tired than she had realized. But that sensation of exhaustion disappeared entirely when she came upon a body laying face down in the sand.
    “Oh no!” she shouted as she realized it was Warren.
    “Suzie, is he alive?” Mary called down from the balcony of Warren's room. Suzie looked up to see that the railing was swinging free. Nervously she reached down to touch the side of Warren's neck. Her eyes misted with tears as she felt no sign of a pulse. Suzie's stomach clenched with dread as she gave in to what she already knew to be true.
    “I don't think so,” Suzie said. “I think he's gone.”
    “This is unreal!” Mary called out. “I'll be right down!”
    “I better call Jason,” Suzie said more to herself than to Mary.
    “Jason, I'm sorry, I know it's late,” Suzie said quickly into the phone. “We have a big problem here, I need the police out here right away. One of our guests is dead.”
    “What?” Jason spat back, his voice becoming more alert. “I'll send everybody out, I'll be there in just a few minutes. Are you safe?”
    “Yes, I don't know what happened,” Suzie said tearfully. “I don't know what happened,” she repeated, panic starting to rise in her voice.
    “Just try to stay calm, I'll be there in a few minutes,” he promised before hanging up the phone. Suzie hung up as well. Mary emerged from the side door of Dune House and rushed over to Suzie. Waves crashed hard against the beach, moistening the air with their spray. Suzie felt a sense of emptiness in the darkness that