Killer Takes All Read Online Free PDF

type. Too damn high maintenance for a regular Joe like him.

    A smile touched the corners of her full lips. “Yes?” she said.

    “Detective Spencer Malone. NOPD,” he said as he flashed his badge.

    One perfectly arched eyebrow lifted. “Detective? How can I help you?”

    “You know a woman named Cassie Finch?”

    “I do. She’s one of the regulars.”

    “A regular. What exactly does that mean?”

    “That she spends a lot of time in here. Everybody knows her.” Her smooth brow wrinkled. “Why?”

    He ignored her question and asked another of his own. “How about Beth Wagner?”

    “Cassie’s roommate? Not really. She was in once. Cassie introduced us.”

    “What about Stacy Killian?”

    “Also a regular. They’re friends. But I suspect you already know that.”

    Spencer dropped his gaze. The fourth finger of her left hand sported a major rock and a diamond studded gold band. That didn’t surprise him.

    “When did you last see Ms. Finch?”

    Concern leaped into her eyes. “What is this in reference to?” she asked. “Is Cassie okay?”

    “Cassie Finch is dead, Ms. Bellini. She was murdered.”

    She brought a hand to her mouth, which had pulled into a perfectly formed O. “There must be some mistake.”

    “I’m sorry.”

    “Excuse me, I—” She fumbled behind her for a chair, then sank onto it. For long moments, she sat motionless, struggling, he suspected, to compose herself.

    When she finally looked back up at him, it was without tears. “She was in yesterday afternoon.”

    “For how long?”

    “A couple of hours. From about three to five.”

    “Was she alone?”

    “Yes.”

    “She talk to anyone?”

    The woman clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “Yes. All the usual suspects.”

    “Pardon?”

    “Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “Other regulars. The usual crew was in.”

    “Was Stacy Killian in yesterday?”

    Again, her expression tightened with alarm. “No. Is Stacy…is she all right?”

    “As far as I know, she’s fine.” He paused. “It would help us immensely if I could get the names of the people Cassie hung out with. The regulars.”

    “Of course.”

    “Did she have any enemies?”

    “No. I can’t imagine she did, anyway.”

    “Altercations with anyone?”

    “No.” Her voice shook. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

    “I understand she was into fantasy role-playing games.” He paused; when she didn’t disagree, he went on. “She always have her laptop with her?”

    “Always.”

    “Never saw her without it?”

    “Never.”

    He nodded. “I’d like to speak with your employees, Ms. Bellini.”

    “Of course. Nick and Josie are coming in at two and five, respectively. That’s Paula. Shall I call her over?” He nodded and retrieved a business card from his jacket pocket. He handed it to her. “If you think of anything else, call me.”

    It turned out Paula knew even less than her boss had, but Spencer gave her a business card as well.

    He stepped out of the coffeehouse and into the cool, bright morning. Channel 6’s meteorologist had predicted the mercury would top seventy today, and judging by the warmth already, she’d been right.

    Loosening his tie, he started for his car, which was parked at the curb.

    “Detective Malone, wait!”

    He stopped, turned. Stacy Killian slammed her car door and hurried toward him. “Hello, Ms. Killian.”

    She motioned to the coffeehouse. “Did you get everything you needed here?”

    “For the moment. How can I help you?”

    “I was wondering, have you looked into White Rabbit yet?”

    “Not yet.”

    “May I ask what’s taking so long?”

    He looked at his watch, then back at her. “By my calculations, this investigation is only eight hours old.”

    “And the probability of it being solved lessens with each passing hour.”

    “Why’d you leave the Dallas force, Ms. Killian?”

    “Excuse me?”

    He noticed the way she subtly stiffened. “It was a