Death in Her Eyes (A Mac Everett Mystery Book 1) by Nick Vellis Read Free Book Online Page A

friend. Wow, you never hear nothing about that family. What’s the play? What do you need?”
    “It’s a blackmail scam. I need the usual. What are they into, and are there any dealings they’re trying to keep under wraps. The son might be into some extracurricular stuff. See if you can get a name for his designated squeeze de jour. I can pay top dollar on this one. Don’t spare the horses. Put everyone you can on it, but keep it low key.”
    “I know about the old man. What about the son, what’s he do, where does the he live?”
    “Cary Hunt, he’s an investment banker of some kind. He and his wife live in Dover Shores and hang out at the Steeple Chase Country Club.”
    Marco made a couple notes on a napkin and scratched behind his right ear. He took a deep breath. He thought for a few moments then nodded twice, “I can get some information on background in a few days. Getting the name of the mistress might take longer. What’s the wife’s name?”
    “Stephanie,” I replied.
    “I’ll check her out too. This is going to be expensive,” he said apologetically.
    He didn’t really regret it, but it was a good business to try to look sorry. I did the same thing myself.
    “It’s always expensive. Don’t soak me, but I can pay on this one. I figured you’d want something up front.”
    I took a white business envelope out of my hip pocket and tossed it on the table in front of him. The general had given me an advance to grease the treads.
    “That’s very considerate,” he said as he scooped up the envelope. He slipped it inside his chef’s coat. “Your credit is good with me, but I appreciate the thought. Can I reach you at the usual number?”
    “Yep, same number, call me as soon as you get something.”
    “Will do, Mac. I should get back to work,” he said. He looked around, but there was no one in the place. That was his excuse to scoot.
    He stood, shook my hand, and then disappeared into the kitchen.
    I had a second cup of coffee while I made some notes on my phone. I’d laid out a wad of the general’s green; I just had to get some results. With my irregular intel team on the job, I decided I could go ahead and try out Ted’s barber.

Chapter 3
     
    I stayed dry all week and even started back on my morning runs. It was torture, but I could feel the booze seep out of my soul. Each day I felt and slept a little better, but it didn’t help the case any. I worked the case hard. I had a lot to prove to my new client, and myself. A week’s worth of shoe leather had netted me a big fat zero. I had nothing, nada, not one lead on who was blackmailing General Hunt.
    Marco came through with some information on Cary Hunt for me. A few months back the younger Hunt had been frequenting a timeshare off International Drive on a regular basis. He’d get an apartment for a week then stay one or two nights. The staff thought it was strange until they noticed a woman coming and going with him. She was a pretty brunette, no name or car description to go with the sightings, but it confirmed what the general suspected.
    He mentioned Cary had a twin sister, a hotshot New York lawyer, who handled some of her old man’s contracts. I didn’t pay any attention.
    I hung out at a downtown pub Hunt’s coworkers frequented, nursing one beer while I talked to the guy’s coworkers, some waitresses, and bartenders, even a valet or two, but got a bunch of nothing. My empty-handed time at the bar was misery, but I had a case. Everyone seemed to like Cary Hunt. A couple waitresses mentioned he was a good-looking guy, who liked to flirt and came off as a player, but he never followed through. They put it down to him being the friendly type. I did too.
    The country club set didn’t give me any more information. Hunt didn’t spend much time at Steeple Chase, but Mrs. Hunt was a regular, a fixture on the tennis courts, around the pool and in the clubhouse. She spent a couple evenings a week there, drinking with friends.