The Devil Within (Devil Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

moment they got into the house but hadn’t sipped any in all of ten minutes. “I mean…how can you be talking to someone one day and they’re dead the next?” Mascara ran down her face as she sobbed. “It just doesn’t happen.”
    Alexis looked over her notes. “You said you last saw Nadine and Alicia the day before yesterday?”
    Blake nodded and finally took a sip of soda.
    “Did things seem strange between them?” Penelope sat on the ottoman with her legs crossed. “Any tension or anything?”
    “No.” Blake’s ponytail flipped across her shoulder when she shook her head. “They were going shopping or something. I couldn’t go because I had to work. I’m a physical trainer at the gym on Washington Boulevard.”
    Penelope bounced her foot. “Where were you yesterday between five and six p.m.?”
    “I was at the gym. I was with a client. You can call him.” She recited his name, number, and address. “You can call the gym, too.” Blake gave the gym’s number as well.
    Alexis wrote the information down.
    “You mentioned someone named Mercy,” Penelope said. “Who is that?”
    “All four of us are really good friends.”
    Alexis tapped her notepad. “Can you give us Mercy’s information?”
    Blake gave Mercy’s number, address, and place of employment.
    Alexis jotted. “So far you and Mercy are the common denominators between Alicia and Nadine.”
    Blake shook her legs. “I didn’t do anything to Alicia or Nadine if that’s what you’re trying to say.”
    “What about Nadine?” Penelope watched her. “Could Nadine have done something to Alicia then took off?”
    “No, that’s insane.” Blake set the soda on the table. “We were friends.”
    “You’re that close, yet Alicia ends up dead, Nadine disappears, and you don’t know anything?” Penelope squinted.
    “No.”
    “What about Mercy?” Alexis asked.
    “I can’t speak for Mercy but she’d never hurt anyone, especially not Alicia. She and Alicia were extremely close. They were like sisters.”
    Blake’s phone buzzed on the table.
    Alexis got a glimpse of the caller ID before Blake grabbed it.
    Blake checked the screen. “Shit,” she whispered. “Uh, would you excuse me for a second?” She stood. “I’ve gotta take this.” She left the living room.
    “What do you think?” Penelope asked.
    “I don’t like the feeling I get with her,” Alexis whispered. “She’s definitely hiding something. Someone named Danny X popped up on her phone.”
    “Danny X?” Penelope grimaced.
    “Yeah.” Alexis tried to decipher Penelope’s bewildered expression. “Does the name ring a bell?”
    “You bet your ass it does.” Penelope got up, peeked into the hallway, then sat back down. “Danny Xavier goes by Danny X. He’s a career criminal, gangster almost. He has a record for a lot of underground stuff like gambling, prostitution, extortion. He spent ten years in the pen for dealing drugs, too.”
    “That is interesting.” Alexis bit her lip. “Why would a man like that be calling Blake Maddox?”
    “I don’t know, but something tells me we need to find out.”
    Blake came back into the living room. “I’m sorry, but I have to leave.”
    “Really?” Alexis looked her over. “Is everything okay?”
    Blake fidgeted, switching the phone from one hand to the next. “Just something personal I have to take care of.”
    They gave her their cards and left.

Chapter Six
     
    Alexis had no intentions of letting things go after Penelope schooled her on Danny X. The detectives parked down the street from Blake’s house and waited until she left.
    Blake ran out of the house, got in her car, and sped down the street.
    “Damn, she’s in a hurry, isn’t she?” Alexis took off behind her.
    “Slow, Lexi,” Penelope said.
    Alexis followed Blake out of the neighborhood.
    Blake turned off onto a busy street.
    “I wonder where this little girl is going.” Alexis waited until a few cars went ahead then turned onto the crowded