Mystery: The Card Counter: (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Suspense Thriller Mystery) Read Online Free PDF

his city and setting up shop. I doubt anyone would.
    Rather than hang around, Flo and I got into my car and we took off for our next obvious destination. It was close to eight in the morning and chances were good that most people were awake, so I didn’t feel the need to hold things up any further than I had to.
    We drove 20 minutes across town until we reached the Bennett home. I was hoping Wally’s parents had already woken up because I was going to ruin their day. I was only the messenger, but I was about to get the brunt of two people’s fury and for good reason; lucky or unlucky that his family actually lived in the town where he went to school was anybody’s guess, unlikely as it was for a star football player.
    And here I was, there to tell them their child was dead. If someone had shown up with that kind of news, I’d most likely react the same way, so I never take this personally, no matter how many four letter words fly my way. We parked a few houses away so as to not attract attention, and slowly walked down the street.
    There was only one thing that could ruin my attempt to speak with Wally’s parents, and there it was, parked right beside their home: a news van. Just being there would confirm Wally was the victim, so before anyone could turn a camera on, I walked over and grabbed the television reporter who I recognized from other crime scenes. I pulled her aside. “What’s your name?”
    “Tina Carlson,” she quickly answered.
    I paused for a moment. “You know why I’m here, don’t you, Tina?”
    “I sure do,” Tina replied.
    “I need you to do me a favor.”
    “What is it?”
    “Get back in your van and drive away. You never saw us here.”
    “No fucking way.”
    “In two hours this will be old news,” I said to her before looking around to make sure no one else was listening. “I can offer you something better.”
    “What’s that?” she asked, curious to see what I would offer.
    “An exclusive when we make an arrest,” I answered. “I’ll make sure you have a name and minimal information four hours before anyone else does.”
    Tina looked back at me and obviously realized this exclusive was a lot juicier than the one she was about to get. “All right. We’ll take off.”
    “Thank you,” I said as she backed off. Flo and I stood there and watched as Tina and her cameramen climbed back into the van and drove away. Once the van was gone, the real work was about to begin. Flo and I slowly walked up to the front door, and it opened before we even got there. It was clear the news van might have tipped them off. Just being there would have been enough, but I honestly thought and hoped this was the first time Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had opened the door all day. “Mrs. Bennett?” I asked the woman standing at the door.
    “Who wants to know?” she quickly asked, partially closing the door. She probably thought we were reporters, as well.
    I took out my wallet and showed her my badge. “I’m Detective Walker and this is Detective Harris. We need to speak to you and your husband.”
    “My husband isn’t home,” she replied. “He works nights. He should be home very soon. Can I ask what this is about?”
    “Can we come in?” Flo quickly asked. “Preferably before any more reporters arrive and jump to conclusions.”
    “Conclusions about what?”
    It was at this point that a car came screaming into the driveway. I could tell by the urgent manner with which the man came out of the vehicle, he was most likely Mr. Bennett. “I don’t know who you work for, but I want you two off my property, immediately!”
    I opened my wallet to reveal my credentials to Mr. Bennett. “Technically, I work for you, Mr. Bennett. I’m Detective Walker.”
    “Oh my God,” Mr. Bennett said as he dropped to his knees. Unlike his wife, Mr. Bennett obviously had been listening to the news on his way home from work, and was aware that a homicide had occurred on campus. Flo and I walked over and helped