Game of Fear Read Online Free PDF Page A

dominated the office. Custom made in Italy, the finest money could buy, every item in this room let visitors know Jeff Gasmerati meant business. Deadly business. And no mistakes.
    He leaned back in his chair and studied his latest acquisition. The Monet had disappeared during the Nazi’s occupation of France. Jeff had paid a premier price. Something the world didn’t even know existed.
    He liked the feeling.
    Just staring at the impressionist’s masterpiece eased the tension at the base of his neck. He had one very big problem, but if his latest plans moved forward—as he fully expected them to—soon he’d make the syndicate his father had built look like a mom-and-pop shop.
    Right now, though, his biggest headache was the cops and the press, particularly Luke Montgomery.
    The phone rang and Jeff glanced at the caller’s identity. Speaking of law enforcement. He gritted his teeth. “This line is off-limits to you.”
    “We have trouble. I just received news over the wire. A car’s been found.” Sheriff Tower’s voice lowered to an urgent whisper. “Near Taos. A chopper pilot spotted it during a rescue. I recognized the location. It’s them. The boys from . . . before.”
    Jeff drummed his fingertips on the mahogany desk. “We knew it would happen eventually. Eight years is a long time. Peo ple forget.”
    “What if someone puts it together with the girl’s death? It’s a risk. To both of us.”
    Jeff squeezed the phone. Tower was becoming a liability. “Make sure we have someone on the ground as they investigate. Let me know if concerns crop up.”
    “New Mexico’s not my jurisdiction. I can’t just—”
    “It is now, Sheriff Tower. Figure it out. If evidence needs to disappear, make it happen. This is not the time for complications. Your son’s poor judgment nearly cost us everything. You get me?”
    The phone went silent. “I’ll find a way,” Tower finally groused.
    “You’ve been given a cushy gig, Sheriff. Don’t screw it up. I can take your position away as easily as I handed it to you. And your vices . . . well, let’s just say you haven’t learned from your son’s death. A hundred grand in the last month comes to mind.”
    “I said I’ll do it.”
    Jeff walked over to the antique Waterford decanter and poured himself a snifter of cognac. “I suggest checking on Gabe Montgomery and Whitney Blackstone as well. It’s been eight years since that night. Neither of them is young and foolish anymore. They could cause problems if they recognize the connection with Shannon Devlin.” He took a sip. Very smooth. “And, Tower, I won’t tolerate further mistakes. There are plenty of men in your department who would step in if you met with an unfortunate accident.”

----
    CHAPTER TWO
----
    D EB PULLED HER car up to her apartment building and touched her lips. Gabe hadn’t kissed her, but when he’d linked his fingers through hers, a shiver had traveled down her back, settling low in her gut. If Ashley hadn’t called, Deb would be at the bar with Gabe right now, exploring feelings that made her very nervous. Which shocked her. If most men had tried to tell her how to do her job, she’d have kicked them hard enough to disable the guy’s ability to pass on his genes. But then she’d recognized something in Gabe’s eyes, an emotion she hadn’t seen in a very long time. Concern. For her. In that instant, the high of finding those kids coupled with the months of ogling Gabe had cracked through defenses she’d built since her first day at boot camp.
    She grabbed her bag from the car and trudged up the three flights of stairs. She should admit the truth, she wanted more than friendly flirting from Gabe. She got the physical attraction. That dark hair and those chocolate eyes made most of the women who came into Sammy’s drool. That didn’t touch Deb, though. What tempted her was that something extra she’d witnessed. Like how he made certain anyone who’d tied one on had a ride