Death by Obsession Read Online Free PDF Page A

restaurants, clubs, and outdoor cafes. The place was bursting with
life and energy.  Part of her wanted to forget all about the assignment and join
the fun.
    The taxi turned around a bend and up towards the
Beach Casino. Cindy thought about their talk with Edwin Case. “That guy seemed
to really like and admire Lynch,” Cindy said.
    “Maybe he does and maybe he doesn’t,” said Mattheus. “We
don’t really know anything about it, yet. If everything here is on the up and
up, that will be a good thing to know. Then we’ll look closer at Aldon, and prevent
trouble with him up ahead.”
    That made Cindy feel better. At least something good
could come of all this. She and Mattheus got out of the taxi and walked into the
entrance of another humongous casino sprawling with gaming tables, machines,
poker games and packed with people searching for lady luck.
     Before they could even begin to get their bearings,
a short guy in a purple shirt, with a few top buttons opened, came right over.
    “I’m Nick,” he said, “come with me.”
    Obviously Edwin had called Nick immediately. Cindy
was amazed at how tight people were here, how on top of everything.
    Nick brought them over to a half empty lounge and sat
them down on the back sofas, out of view of the half nude waitress, marching around.
      “Need a drink?” Nick asked.
    “No, we’re good,” said Mattheus.
    “So, what’s the problem?” Nick leaned forward,
cupping his ear.
    “I need whatever you have on Lynch Sprain,” Mattheus spoke
loudly, over the racket.
    “So I heard,” said Nick.
     “There’s big money in this for you,” Mattheus added.
Aldon had told Mattheus not to spare a dime.
    “How much?” asked Nick.
    “Plenty.”
    Nick grinned. “Who wants to know about Lynch? The
girlfriend?”
    Cindy was startled. “What do you mean girlfriend? You
mean Tara, the fiancée?”
    “I thought it could be the girlfriend making last
minute trouble, but what difference does it make?” said Nick.
    “Plenty of difference,” Mattheus said. “Is there a
girlfriend in the picture?”
    “There was a girlfriend, big time. Not now,” said
Nick.
    “So, why did you mention her?” asked Cindy, ruffled.
    Nick shifted a little. “I don’t know, thought she
might be getting nervous now with the wedding so close. And taking place right
in her face, down here in her backyard.”
    “Lynch has a girlfriend living down here?” Cindy
asked again swiftly.
    “Had, not has,” Nick repeated.
    “How long have they been broken up?” Mattheus asked.
    “Once Lynch met Tara, that was it. The girlfriend,
Bala, was history,” said Nick.
    “Tara broken Lynch and Bala up?” Cindy was startled.
    “Nah, not really,” Nick shook his head. “Lynch’s
relationship with Bala was really over about three months before he and Tara
met. He only checks in with the girlfriend once in a while because of the kid.”
    Cindy shivered. “The what?”
    “Lynch and Bala have a child together?” Mattheus
echoed, stunned.
    “Yeah, a little boy, Paulie,” said Nick, unimpressed.
“Cute as hell, too. He’s about four years old now.”
    Cindy felt as if the walls were crumbling around her.
How could this be possible? She looked at Mattheus quickly. Neither had heard a
word about this before.
    “Is Lynch’s son going to be at the wedding?” asked
Cindy, carefully.
    Nick looked at her as if she were crazy. “What kind
of stupid question is that to ask?” he said. “Of course he isn’t. No one knows
the kid even exists at all.”
    Cindy was horrified.  “What do you mean no one knows?”
    “That was part of the deal,” Nick filled them in. “Lynch
agreed to pay for the kid, but didn’t want anyone to know about him. A kid like
that wouldn’t sit well with his fancy family now, would it?”
    “Wait a minute, back up, back up,” Mattheus was
having a hard time taking it in. “What kind of story are you telling us? Lynch
and Bala were married? They had a child?”
    “Who