Black Jack Point by Jeff Abbott Read Free Book Online Page A

honey?’
    ‘Suzanne’s boyfriend, Roy Krantz. He and Patch didn’t get along too well.’
    ‘You never mentioned that.’
    ‘They never saw each other more than once a month,’ Lucy said. ‘Fangs shouldn’t be bared that often.’
    ‘Lucy. This is serious. You point at him, it’s going to be taken pretty seriously. At least by me and probably by David.’
    Lucy’s voice went small. ‘You don’t want to believe you know a person who could kill two people in cold blood.’
    ‘But you think Roy could.’
    ‘Bad vibes fairly explode from him,’ Lucy said. ‘And I know what you think of my vibes. But I’m even being logical. He was
     in prison once. For drugs. Not a fact Miss Suzanne advertises.’
    ‘Drugs don’t necessarily involve violent crime,’ he said and she frowned. ‘But why would Roy hurt Patch and Thuy?’
    ‘Suzanne’s in the will. She gets half of this land, the money in Patch’s accounts. I’m sure it’s a fair amount.’
    ‘Can’t she say the same about you?’
    ‘But I don’t have a bad relationship with money like Suzy Q does.’ Lucy cleared her throat. ‘Patch told me and I’m not supposed
     to know, but he wanted to be sure I didn’t give her any money, not like I got more than two bucks anyway. Gambling problems.’
    ‘How deep is she in?’ he asked.
    ‘Real deep. Patch said nearly a hundred thousand in debt, Whit.’
    A hundred thousand. The lucky number.
    Lucy kept on. ‘Suzanne and Roy drive up to Bossier City or fly over to Biloxi every few weeks. Or gamble onthe casino boats out of Rockport or Galveston. She’s pissed away her money, and Patch wouldn’t give her two cents to rub
     together. I told David Power this morning.’
    ‘And how did David take your suggestion, Lucy?’
    ‘He furrowed his brow. Very insightful aura. He’s a deep thinker.’
    ‘Maybe if he’s thinking about wells and water, and even then I wouldn’t be too sure.’
    ‘I know that Suzanne won’t be happy if she thinks I’m accusing her boyfriend.’
    ‘Clearly.’
    ‘But don’t I have a responsibility, Whit?’
    ‘Yes.’
    Lucy took his hands in hers. ‘I should have stayed here to house-sit for him. I’ve done that before. Roy – or anyone – wouldn’t
     have tried to break in if I was here.’
    ‘You don’t know that, Lucy.’
    ‘I’m playing the what ifs. It’s the worst game in the world. It’s like a terminal game. You second-guess yourself to death.’
     She wiped the back of her hand along her mouth. ‘If you’re gonna break up with me, this’d be a real bad time.’
    ‘Why on earth do you think I’d break up with you?’
    ‘I’m just saying,’ Lucy said. ‘Don’t you break up with me for at least three months.’
    ‘I don’t want to break up with you.’
    ‘Because you love me, right?’ Lucy stared at him. ‘I’m not trying to paint you into a corner, Whit. Trust me. I feel a love
     vibe from you but you’re not saying it, and if you’re feeling it, this’d be a real good time to let me know.’
    ‘That I love you? Oh, Christ, Lucy, sure I love you.’
    ‘You don’t have a future in greeting cards.’
    ‘I love you, Lucy. I’m not going anywhere.’ There. Said. Not so hard once the words bit into the air.
    ‘I love you, too, Whit. I do. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. I want you to know that, and this is all going to be
     all right, isn’t it?’
    ‘Baby. Yes. It’s okay.’ He got up, kissed her. She kissed shy at first and then she kissed him hard, eagerly, her palms pressing
     against his back. The phone rang; she broke the kiss.
    ‘Hell,’ she said. She answered the phone. He could tell by her tone it was a relative or a family friend calling, distant
     somewhere, who had just heard. Lucy sank into a chair by the phone, started mumbling thanks, a brief explanation of the tragedy.
     Whit put her tea by her. She patted his hand in thanks, and he went into the study.
    The Glenfiddich bottle he’d poured from last night