Sweets Forgotten (Samantha Sweet Mysteries Book 10) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in today. Mr. Robinet is out of town,” said the model-gorgeous
receptionist behind the sleek mahogany desk.
    “What about his partner? Is he
in?”
    “Mr. Lane. At the moment, yes.
He’s due to leave for the airport soon. I will need to ask whether he has any
time.” She tried sending a coy glance in his direction.
    Beau touched the badge on his
shirt pocket. “It’s official. I suggest that he make time.”
    He stepped aside, studying a
range of colorful art on the wall beside the reception desk, while she made a
quiet call. The poster-sized photos pictured trendy and successful people
holding cell phones and tablets, staring at their screens with delighted smiles
on their faces.
    “Sheriff?”
    The male voice came from behind
him and Beau turned.
    “Chandler Lane. What can I do for
you?” The man was one of those metro-sexual males with a polished complexion,
perfect haircut, complete with blond highlights, and upscale casual clothing
you rarely saw on Taos locals, where the tri-cultural blend of New Mexico was
very evident—Hispanic politicians, Indian artisans and aging Anglo hippies.
Lane was in his early thirties, the sort who knew he was at the top of his game
and loving every minute.
    “Mr. Lane, you are Zack Robinet’s
business partner?”
    “Yes, that’s right. May we offer
you some organic coffee?”
    Beau declined. “Can we speak
privately?”
    Lane’s deep brown eyes darted
toward the receptionist and Beau got the sense of sexual tension between them.
He followed Lane’s confident stride as the partner passed his thumb over a tiny
panel beside the connecting door. A green light, an audible click, and he led
the way into the first office on the left of a short hallway. The man’s desktop
was filled by two large computer monitors and keyboards. A laptop with the lid
closed sat on one corner of a credenza behind the desk. More posters of joyful
phone users filled two of the walls in here, as well.
    “I swear I paid my taxes,” Lane
joked, holding his hands up in a no-secrets-here gesture. “That’s not why
you’re here. Okay, a donation to the police and sheriff’s association? You got
it, you know.”
    “You might want to sit down,”
Beau suggested.
    Chandler Lane only stood stock
still.
    “I’m afraid I have bad news. Your
partner, Zack, is dead.”
    “What!” Lane’s face went pale
beneath his perfect tan. “I can’t bel—wow.”
    He paced the length of the room,
running his hands through his hair, pausing, pinching his lower lip.
    “What happened? I mean, I’m just
stunned. We’re supposed to be in Vegas tonight. All our trade show stuff was
shipped ahead …” He crossed back and sank slowly into the chair behind his
desk.
    “Did you know he was staying the
night in Albuquerque?”
    “Yeah. Actually, I had planned to
go too but then we couldn’t get on the same flight and I had some other stuff
come up here in town. I’m supposed to leave by two, get to the airport, take a
seven o’clock flight tonight. My god, what—what’ll happen?”
    “Tell me a little more about your
business. What types of ‘innovations’ do you have?”
    Chandler took a deep breath,
switching gears. “We, uh, we develop apps. Our biggie is a game called Infinite
Star Fighter that seems to have every teen kid and half their fathers addicted
to it. Made a couple tons of money on that, I have to admit. Following up was
tough. I mean we did upgrades—version 2.1, etcetera. Our big announcement at
the electronics show this week is a spinoff that we think will capture the
girls’ market. Star Fighter Hotties, it’s called. You know, every girl wants to
think she’s so hot she’ll hook up with one of the heroes from I.S.F. Sorry, you
really don’t care about the details on all that.” He ran his hands down the
sides of his face again. “I just can’t take it in—Zack gone. What did Jo say?”
    “Jo … oh, Josephine. I haven’t
been able to reach his wife yet. I had hoped she would