Free First to Die by Kate Slayer

around the backseat. A bang on the passenger side window startled me.
    "Crap." I wiped another trail of coffee laced with sweet cream and jitters from my pant leg.
    Jason opened the door and hopped in. "Morning, gorgeous."
    "You need your eyes checked?"
    "I can see just fine." He smiled.
    "What are you doing here?" I looked at him through the tired slits in my eyes.
    "The same thing you are." I saw him wink through his shades. "No rest for the weary." He wrapped his arm around Max's neck and gave her some love. Max rammed her head into my elbow and I attempted to save the last of my coffee with a comical balancing act. "Little jumpy?" He grinned.
    "If you had a night like I did, you'd be a little jumpy, too."
    "Something else happened after I left you in the parking lot and the bomb from the evening news? You said you were going home." He looked at me over his sunglasses.
    "I did go home, after a few hours of prowling the park. I went to interview the Edwards and went home."
    "Hayes already talked to them."
    "That's why I went. The whole thing with Hayes interviewing them was bothering me." I looked over at him. "They were friends."
    "I'm not surprised. Your Dad and Hayes knew everyone.
    "I know, but what kind of interview was that? All he did was inform them and put an empty sheet of paper in the file, like he deliberately wanted to leave it out."
    "Whacha come up with, Sherlock?" He grinned.
    "A blank sheet of paper," I said, smacking him on the arm.
    "So, what did you do last night?" He sounded like my dad when he knew I was up to no good.
    "Nothing, it was all Ivy. She decided to drop by after spending the afternoon chugging down moonshine."
    "What happened?" He choked on the words. "I can't believe I always miss this shit."
    "It's not funny." I shook my head. "I think I'm losing my mind. Ivy's in a rage because Brian scammed the information before her, and passed out on my kitchen floor claiming that there was something in my basement." I looked at him with big eyes. "Then somehow ended up sleeping on the deck."
    "I've always thought that something was down there." He was laughing.
    "Knock it off,” I said. “You’re just like Neville, trying to scare me all the time. Both of you with your practical jokes, always sneaking up on me—it’s too much for me to handle."
    "Sorry, I'll do my best not to do it anymore." He looked the other way, but I saw his reflection in the mirror. He was smiling from ear to ear. "Why didn't you call me?"
    "I didn't want to bother you—and you know who."
    "I wasn't at Rachel's. I stopped by my parents’ house, and then I went home. I seem to remember that I asked you to call me after you got some sleep."
    The Bradford estate sat on twenty acres outside of the city, on the way to Somerville. It was covered with lush, green grass, surrounded by massive trees, and a guard sitting at the gate. The Bradford’s owned most of the commercial property in Riverview and a few other cities to add to the pot. Every one of them had a law background, and put it to good use when the chips hit the table and the deals had to be closed. They were respected by most. Not because of their wealth and influence, but for their kindness and compassion toward others. All except for one—Tyler Bradford, Jason's older brother, known for his unscrupulous behavior.
    "Let’s call the real estate office and see if one of the agents will come over and let us in." I looked down at my watch. "We don't have to be at the Mason and Edwards’s house for another hour or so."
    Jason reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card and waved in front of my face. "I'm way ahead of you."
    "Where did you get that?"
    "From Dori Sidwell. I met her at her office before I came here. I flashed my badge, told her it was about an investigation and she should be rolling up any minute. It’s a foreclosure, been on the market for over a year."
    "I'm sure you flashed more than that." I couldn't help myself.
    "Only my dazzling smile."