Deadly Chaos Read Online Free PDF Page B

mother. Bill, the only survivor, had finished his childhood in foster care.
    No one was looking for him. She hadn’t been able to find any missing persons reports at the state police website either. Exhaling, Chaos forced herself to stop digging. Bill had had a sucky life and he’d lived a violent adulthood. She’d done the best she could in the situation and was doing her best now. The guilt started to ebb away. Chaos turned off the computer and looked at her watch. The research had taken a little longer than she thought. The crew was likely already at the grill. Snagging her keys from the hook by the door, she headed out for a rare evening of socializing. She just prayed that no one would get hurt.
    Chaos pulled into the already full parking lot. Outdoor lights twinkled in the trees. Music filled the air and reached her ears over the deep vibration of her Jeep’s engine. Knowing there was parking in the back, she pulled through the alley and grinned. “One spot left.” Fate, for once, smiled on her. Maybe tonight would be just what she needed. Easing her Jeep into the parking spot she killed the engine and slipped the key into her front pocket. Double checking that she had her ID and cash she jumped out and headed for the back door of El Paseo.
    The door entered a short hallway and spit out next to the stage. A band was on playing rockabilly music. Not her style but it filled the room with a sense of celebration. The thought instantly sobered her. She didn’t have anything to celebrate. She’d killed a man. Chastising herself for ruining a barely there effort to feel better, she pasted a smile on her face and scanned the room for a familiar somebody.
    She spotted Paolo immediately.
    Standing, he waved her over. “Welcome! You came. I wasn’t sure.”
    Chaos asked a neighboring table if she could use their free chair and dragged it over next to Paolo and his wife. “What’s everyone drinking?”
    “Margaritas,” the table announced in unison.
    “Beer,” Paolo said.
    “I think I’ll have one of those,” she said, gesturing toward the beer.
    “Dos cervezas, por favor,” Paolo said to a passing waitress.
    “Gracias,” Chaos said. “I think I’ll need some food with that. Maybe a plate of nachos?”Chaos didn’t notice, or pay attention, to the refills of her beer. She ate and tried to focus on the conversations around her. It worked, for the most part, to keep her mind off of the events of last week. But every once in a while a random thought or trigger would remind her. A man would walk by wearing a dark t-shirt or too much cologne and she’d shiver. As the night progressed, she’d washed each dark thought away with a gulp or two of beer. The result? She was very nearly drunk.
    The waitress approached with a pitcher of beer, ready to refill her half empty glass. “No, thank you,” Chaos said. She covered her glass with her hand. “I’ve had more than enough.”
    Paolo grabbed her hand. “Dance with me.”
    “Where’s your wife?” Chaos asked.
    Paolo laughed. “She’s dancing with Jones, the new guy.” Chaos looked to where Paolo pointed and saw a smiling woman dancing with a giant of a man. That must be Jones, she thought. Paolo did most of the hiring lately and she didn’t recognize him. Connie, Paolo’s wife, was lovely and looked almost fragile next to Jones who towered over her. Connie wore a bright turquoise sundress and it swirled around her knees as he twirled her around the dance floor. The bangles on her wrist sparkled when they caught the overhead light. She was a beautiful dancer. Her black high heeled shoes moved quickly to the rhythm. Looking down at her dusty brown work boots, Chaos felt a pang of envy. She squashed it by downing the rest of her beer.
    “Thanks, Paolo,” Chaos said, taking his hand. “You wearing your protection charm?” He held up his wrist, showing her the skull. She didn’t know if it would keep him safe but she was drunk and lonely enough to hope.