Lucky Stiff by Annelise Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

long before now.”
    “It seems Jack didn’t have much faith in banks and kept a large amount of cash in a safe at his house,” Hurley explains.
    Joe frowns and his lips pinch together into a tight line. “One moment, please,” he says, and then he moves a few feet away from us and makes a call on his cell phone.
    I tug on Hurley’s sleeve. “I’m going to try my hand at a little blackjack while we’re waiting.” Hurley looks like he’s about to object, so I hurry over to a blackjack table and settle in before he has a chance.
    “I’m new at this casino stuff,” I announce to the dealer and the others at the table. “What do I need to do?”
    The dealer assumes a put-upon expression, while the others at the table—three men—all sigh.
    “Minimum bet is five dollars,” the dealer says. I hand him a couple of twenty-dollar bills and he gives me eight chips. “Do you know how to play?” he asks with world-weariness.
    “I do.” And with the next five hands, I prove my claim, ending up twenty-five dollars richer. From the periphery of my vision, I see Whitehorse return to Hurley, and the two of them start talking. Part of me knows I should get up and join them, but I’m having too much fun. I lose on the next two hands, but then I split on a pair of aces, and score face cards on both.
    Feeling flush with my winnings, I don’t notice Hurley and Whitehorse approaching me until Hurley taps me on the shoulder.
    “Ready to go?” he asks. “Mr. Whitehorse has promised to fax us a list of employees with their contact information.”
    “I’m on a winning streak here,” I say, placing another bet.
    “That’s when you should quit, before you lose it all.”
    I detect a hint of annoyance in Hurley’s tone; and when I lose the next hand, I decide to give in. I gather up my winnings and take my chips to the cash-in window, with Hurley and Whitehorse on my tail.
    “You seemed to be enjoying yourself,” Whitehorse says as I’m stuffing my money in my purse. “How about a one-hundred-dollar voucher so you can come back and play on us?”
    Feeling like I’ve hit the proverbial jackpot, I’m about to agree when Hurley speaks up.
    “Thanks for the offer, but we can’t accept any gratuities. It might be construed as a conflict of interest.”
    I realize Hurley is right and pout. Whitehorse shrugs and looks at me; his dark eyes are smoking. “Perhaps you’d like to come back sometime on your own dime, then. I’d love to show you around the place. Maybe even take you out to dinner?”
    I’m flattered; but before I can answer, Hurley once again pipes up.
    “I’m not sure that would be wise, at least until our investigation is over.”
    “Then we’ll make dinner a part of the investigation,” Whitehorse counters, undeterred. “I’ll provide you with some insight into the overall operations of the casino, and do the same with any employees of interest. I’ll even arrange some interviews for you. That way you can consider it an official part of the investigation.” He looks at me and winks. “At least for now.”
    I like Joe Whitehorse. He’s handsome, witty, affable, and the smoke signals in his eyes are hinting at a possible end to my sexual drought. “Thanks,” I say, smiling at him. “That would be nice.”
    Hurley shifts uncomfortably, communicating his irritation. Then he says, “Fine. Where and when should we get together?”
    Joe and I both turn to stare at him.
    “Well, we’re a team,” Hurley says, pointing from me to himself. “And we’ve been issued an edict to oversee one another’s investigative efforts. So if you two are going to have dinner and discuss our investigation, I need to be there.”
    “I see,” Joe says.
    Hurley has clearly thrown down a gauntlet and I wait, curious to see if Joe will take the challenge. It’s my own personal game of cowboys and Indians—and I’m kind of liking it.
    “Okay, then,” Joe says. “Why don’t you two plan on returning here