Maximum Guilt (Hidden Guilt Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

crossed that something would turn up and fast. It felt good to talk to my old friend. I’d become so busy—obsessed, almost—with my job that I hadn’t done a good job of staying connected with my friends. Given the nature of my work and how quickly it could all be over, I promised myself I would do better.
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    I walked over to the couch and tucked Miranda in then I headed for Heartbreakers to get started on the Widowmaker case while I waited on Lafitte to call me back.
    It was only a short drive, but Sports Radio 610 was broadcasting the Texans game, and I found myself listening for a minute. I hated the way my football career had ended and still dearly missed playing.
    I found a spot close to the entrance and parked my truck. Oddly enough, a giant J. J. Watt billboard lined the side of an eighteen wheeler parked nearby. More football memories. Go figure. As I headed for the front door, two guys came out. They gave me a strange look as we approached each other. I didn’t recognize either of the men, but both of them looked like trouble. The taller man stood about six foot five and was built like he’d spent his last fifteen years at the Darrington Unit in Rosharon. I’d put enough guys like that away to recognize the prison tats, too.
    As we passed each other, the one closest to me gave me a hard bump. I could tell it wasn’t an accident.
    “Excuse me,” I said, making sure to give him a hard stare.
    “You’re excused, cop,” the man replied. They both laughed.
    I didn’t have time to play games with these two in the parking lot, so I kept moving. What the hell was that all about?
    When I got inside, there was a kid behind the counter; I didn’t waste any time.
    “Hey, everything okay out there? Those are two of my regulars,” he said with a serious look on his face.
    I wanted to laugh. This kid really thought he was some kind of tough guy.
    He held out his hand for my money. “And it’ll be ten dollars. You’re not gonna have a problem here, now are you, sir?”
    I was fed up with his bravado and his rhetoric. I really didn’t have time for his games, either.
    “Listen,” I said, flipping out my ID.  “I’m not some perv here to gawk at tits and ass. I’m here on official police business. You got it, J.R.?”
    He backed up a half step. “Yes, sir. I didn’t know. Sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry; just don’t be a dick. I have a few questions I need you to answer. Number one, did you work the front desk last night?”
    The kid stopped making eye contact with me and was kicking at something on the floor. Clearly I had already rattled his cage.
    “Did you or did you not work the front desk last night?”
    “I did,” he said, still looking at the ground.
    “John Blake—was he here?”
    “I’m not sure I know him. Do you have a picture?”
    This kid was good. Too smart for his own damn good, though.
    “Listen, I’ve got way too much pent-up anger right now for you to be fucking with me.”
    He looked up slowly. The smart-ass grin had been replaced by a nervous smirk.
    He folded his arms. “Listen, sir. I don’t know nothing.”
    “Actually, I’m willing to bet you know a lot. But it seems like you’d be more comfortable talking about it at the station. Oftentimes people’s memories clear up a lot better there,” I said as I reached for my cuffs.
    “Am I under arrest or something? What’d I do?”
    “This is a murder investigation. I believe you’re withholding evidence. It’s called obstruction of justice.”
    He took a step back from the counter and began chewing at his fingernails.
    “Listen, Blake was here last night. Went to the back like he usually does, probably upstairs after that. I don’t know much else, I swear.”
    “He have a regular here he came to see? What’s her name?”
    “I don’t know who he saw, honestly. He did have a few he liked more than others, but I don’t know who was working last night.”
    “I need a list of all