Free What the Hex? (A Paranormal P.I. Mystery Book 1) by Rose Pressey Page B

haven’t seen her for a week.”
    “What was she like the last time you saw her?” I rushed my words so that I could get the question out before Derek.
    “She seemed normal. Or normal for her, I guess. That was part of the reason we broke up,” fake Elvis said.
    “What do you mean?” Derek asked.
    “She wasn’t interested in a relationship anymore. She was too obsessed with her new friends.”
    This time I said, “What do you mean?”
    He shrugged. “Just that she wanted to spend all her time with them.”
    “Who are they?” Derek asked.
    We really had this questioning thing down. Maybe we made an okay team after all. I wouldn’t let Derek know that I had thought that though.
    “She was friends with Morgan. Amber and Morgan were together a lot and they both had a gambling problem. I heard Morgan hasn’t been seen since Amber was killed. I guess she murdered Amber,” fake Elvis said.
    “That’s what we’re trying to find out,” I said.
    “So where were you when she was murdered?” Derek asked.
    Fake Elvis frowned, as if he was offended that Derek had asked. “I was in Los Angeles at a performance when she was killed.”
    His tone sounded slightly less friendly now. Another Elvis walked back and started singing Burning Love as loudly as possible. “I’m just a hunk, a hunk of burning love.” I thought that was our signal that it was time to leave.
    “Thanks for your help,” Derek and I said at the same time.
    Fake Elvis flipped his collar up and then thanked us. He turned and walked away, disappearing into the sea of white jumpsuits.
    “I expected him to say thank ya, thank ya very much.” Derek gave his worst Elvis impersonation.
    “Don’t quit your day job,” I said. “Whatever that may be.”
    “That was extremely snarky, Cece,” Derek said as he followed me.
    “It’s not snarky, just friendly advice.”
    “Sounded kind of snarky to me.”
    We headed down the hallway and out of the casino.
    “That Elvis seemed upset when you questioned where he’d been,” I said.
    “He must be guilty of something, right?”
    Derek and I walked out the door and to the parking lot. We’d almost reached my car when a whizzing sound zinged past my head.
    I wasn’t sure where it had landed, but I knew what it was instantly. Someone had fired a shot.
    “Get down,” Derek yelled.
    I instantly fell to the ground. I crawled across the pavement to the front of my car to take cover. My heart thumped wildly in my chest and my entire body shook from the adrenaline. I tried to steady my breathing so that I wouldn’t hyperventilate. Derek was to my side at the front of the car. I had no idea what to do next. If I peeked out from the front of the hood, I was worried that another bullet would find me. But I couldn’t just hide, I had to do something. If the bullet was intended for one of us, then the person could still be waiting for another chance. There was only one thing for me to do. Get the gun from my car.
    When Derek wasn’t paying attention I inched over to the car door.
    “Cece, what are you doing?” Derek had already inched over behind me.
    I peeked out over the door. Lucky for me, the gunman was nowhere in sight. He was probably hiding, waiting for his chance. I pulled out my gun. The only time I’d fired the thing was at the gun range. I’d prayed I never had to use the thing. But right now I would have to fight back.
    “You have a gun?” Derek asked.
    “And aren’t you glad I do?” I gripped the gun. “I’m a private investigator. It’s part of the job.”
    “Do you know how to use that thing?” he asked.
    “I wouldn’t have it if I didn’t know how to use it. I’m going to peek out and see if anyone’s around,” I said.
    “On the count of three we’ll both look,” Derek said.
    I nodded in agreement. I kind of didn’t want to look on my own anyway.
    Derek counted down. “One.”
    I wished my hand would stop shaking.
    “Two.”
    I still had a hard time