Free Money Can Be Deadly (Sage Gardens Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Cindy Bell Page B

there she quickly closed down the page.”
    “Maybe she is involved in gambling,” Samantha said thoughtfully.
    “Maybe that’s why she needed the money,” Eddy suggested.
    “Yeah, maybe she has a gambling problem,” Walt agreed.
    “So, Lily was gambling?” Samantha said thoughtfully. “Maybe she got in too deep and that’s why she borrowed money from the loan shark.”
    “That still doesn't explain why she killed Vince, or if she did. I think we still need to talk to the loan shark.” Eddy glanced at Walt. “Want to come along?”
    “No, thank you. I don't do seedy well.” He shook his head sharply.
    Samantha tried not to laugh at his reaction.
    “Okay, we'll let you know what we find out,” Eddy promised.
     
    ***
     
    Eddy and Samantha stopped at several clubs and hangouts throughout the city. It was getting to be very late by the time they stopped at the last potential location for the loan shark. The parking lot was half-filled with cars. It was just getting to be happy hour, and Samantha was sure that more people would be arriving soon.
    “Might be crowded.” Eddy frowned as he stepped out of the car.
    “I don't think that he'll be very hard to spot.” Samantha smiled at Eddy and climbed out the passenger side.
    “Let's hope that you're right,” Eddy replied. He slid his arm through Samantha's as they walked up to the building. On the outside it just looked like an abandoned strip mall. But when Eddy opened the door flashing lights and throbbing music poured out of the luxurious interior. Everything was carpeted. The floors, the seats, and the walls. To Samantha, it felt like being swallowed up by carpet. The music was loud and pounding.
    Samantha had been in places like this in the past, but had no good memories of them. It was easy to get into trouble when the lights were too dim to see who was lurking, and the music was too loud for anyone to hear a scream. She was relieved to feel Eddy's arm hooked snugly in her own. As if he was thinking the same thing he tightened his grasp. Samantha did not resist. She searched the crowd for any sign of the man they were looking for.
    “There he is.” Samantha tilted her head towards the multi-colored hat that stuck out in a group of dark hats and bare heads. They walked a bit closer as Eddy removed his arm from hers so they could fit through the crowd. “Looks like he has quite a few friends,” Samantha said as he was surrounded by several other men. They were laughing and joking loudly.
    Samantha felt her muscles tense. Confronting a loan shark was one thing, but doing so while he was surrounded by potentially unsavoury people was quite another. “Should we wait it out?” she said as she turned towards Eddy only to find that he was no longer beside her. When she looked back at the loan shark she realized that Eddy had already inserted himself in the group of men, and was laughing right along with them. Samantha might have been annoyed if she wasn't so impressed.
    Samantha made her way casually towards the group, but remained on the edge of the gathering. She knew that it would be quite strange for a lone woman to walk up to that many men when she knew none of them. She was close enough to hear their conversation, but far enough away to be just another patron of the club.
    “So, what brings you here?” The loan shark slung an arm around Eddy's neck. “I don't think we've had an old legend in these parts in a long time.”
    Samantha raised an eyebrow. She had no idea what he meant by that.
    “You know, I've been busy, Maury.” Eddy shrugged.
    “Well, it's good to see you, old man. I've heard so many stories about you. I'm just glad that I've never been across the table from you.” He chuckled at that.
    “Oh, but you are right now, Maury.” Eddy locked eyes with the man. “There may not be a table, but we need to talk.”
    Maury's smile faded. He slowly drew his arm away from Eddy's shoulders. “What's this about?” he asked in a gruff