Snow Blind-J Collins 4 Read Online Free PDF Page A

Tony Martinez, once officially before we hooked up, once as a favor after we’d established a relationship. True, our relationship came about only because Martinez had hired me, and as much as my inner tough girl sneered, I’d be utterly 28

    lost without that relationship.
    Still. Kevin was comparing what I had with Tony to his crushlike feelings for Amery? Wrong.
    “It’s not the same.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because Tony and I knew each other months before we became involved.”
    “You mean before you slept with him.”
    “I can’t believe you’d be stupid enough to sleep with her right off the bat.”
    Kevin aimed his gaze at the brownish pile of snow outside his grimy window.
    “Shit.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Jesus. When?”
    “Yesterday.” He squirmed. “She showed up around quitting time, right after you’d left. We went out for happy hour, one thing led to another and . . .”
    “And she made your Mr. Happy very happy.”
    Silence.
    “Thrilled as I am that you finally got laid—”
    “Tread lightly here, Jules. I’m not going to provide a play-by-play of how she ended up in my bed.”
    Damn. “Am I your friend right now? Or your business partner?”
    “Partner.”
    I sucked down the last of my cigarette, swishing the spent butt in my empty Diet Pepsi can. “I vote we go with my original suggestion and follow Luella and 29

    Vernon. It’s not like we have anything else to do.”
    “True.” Kevin closed his eyes, nestling his neck in the headrest. “What time was Luella picking Vernon up?”
    “One o’clock. About five minutes from now.” I glanced at his profile and saw the smoking hot man he was. No wonder Amery jumped him last night.
    Sometimes I forgot my partner was such a delish dish.
    When Reva caught sight of my “hot partner” her baby blues would bug right out of her head.
    “Christ, I’m tired.”
    “Marathon sex ’til the wee hours will do that to you.”
    “You would know.”
    Not recently. Not that I’d share that tidbit with him. “Shouldn’t you park where we can watch both entrances?”
    “Probably.” He drove us to a better vantage point.
    “Do you know what Luella looks like?”
    “Indian. But we shouldn’t have a problem recognizing Vernon.”
    “Yeah? Describe him, smarty.”
    “Old man. Stooped over a cane. Fluffy white hair. Big nose. Wrinkled face. Dentures.” I hunkered down in my seat, cold, despite Kevin leaving the Jeep heater running.
    Kevin snorted. “You just described Einstein. You have no fucking clue what old Vern looks like, do you?”
    “Nope. Does it matter? How many old guys will be getting picked up in private vehicles by an Indian woman in the next few minutes?”
    30

    “Fine. So what if Luella takes him to Albertsons?”
    “We’ll split up inside the store. See whether they’re shopping for groceries or picking up prescriptions. Same goes for anywhere else they end up.”
    “Even if it’s a doctor’s office?”
    “Yep.”
    “And if they go both places?”
    “We will, too.”
    “You don’t think they’ll notice us following them?”
    I glared at him. “How the fuck should I know?
    You’re supposed to be the expert in this stealthy PI shit, Kev.”
    He grunted.
    Which pissed me off. “You know what? Forget it. I’m sick of trying to work around you, and the truth is, we shouldn’t have taken this goddamn case. I don’t give a crap what you tell Amery. Let her take the two hours we owe her in your bed.” I dug my cell phone out of my purse. Flipping it open, I scrolled through my short contacts list.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Leaving. Martinez will send someone to pick me up and take me back to the office.”
    Kevin grabbed my phone and snapped it shut.
    “Hey, what the hell—”
    “Look.” He pointed to the carport at the front entrance. “I think Luella just pulled up.”
    31

    The driver’s side door on a silver Cadillac opened. A chunky woman climbed out, wearing a pink houndstooth checked coat, black