Welcome to Diablo Vista (Axl Dane #1) by Crow Gray Read Free Book Online Page A

again.
                  Axl knew if the Kingsnakes or Eric wanted to find him, they could. He was a private detective after all, and people had to be able to find him in order to hire him. But he knew the type, and unless they just happened to be in the neighborhood, they probably would leave him alone. Hell, Eric probably wouldn't even remember what had happened unless someone told him. He wished he hadn't broken his jaw, as that may give Eric incentive he otherwise wouldn't have had. Axl shrugged and climbed out of bed. It wasn't something he was going to solve today.
                  After showering, he dressed in blue jeans and a white t-shirt and headed downstairs to his office. He had a small office downtown with an apartment above it and a garage below ground. He parked his Vette there as well as a modified Ford Bronco he used for special assignments. Work had been slow lately, and he wasn't expecting any calls.
                  He sat at his desk and pulled out his ledger, trying to see how far in the hole he was this month. He was surprised to hear a knock at his door. He was even more surprised to see a very attractive female at the door when he opened it. He took a minute to look her over, seeing a very hot blond in a tight red dress with red high heels, the outfit completed by red sunglasses. He saw her head tilt and realized she was giving him the once over as well, although probably for different reasons. He looked down and saw how shabbily he was dressed, then realized he hadn't even spoken to her yet.
                  “Oh, sorry. I'm Axl Dane, Private Investigator. Can I help you?” he asked, fully expecting her to either be at the wrong place or for her to just try to sell him something.
                  “I know who you are, and I'd like to speak to you. Do I need to make an appointment or can I come in?” she asked. Axl stepped back and waved her inside.
                  “I'm sorry I look so dumpy. I wasn't expecting a client today,” he explained. He also realized he was a pretty shitty P.I., as he should always be prepared for clients. He knew that would never happen, though.
                  “It's okay. You look fine,” she said. Axl could have sworn he detected a hint of something in the way she said it, but he wasn't sure.
                  “Have a seat,” he said, indicating the one chair in his office other than the one behind his desk. There were files and stacks of paperwork everywhere. He hadn't noticed just how messy his office was until this immaculate female showed up, looking so out of place.
                  “It's the maid's day off,” he said, trying to crack a joke. She didn't do so much as smile.
                  “I have a problem, and I've heard you are the man to see if you need a problem solved,” she said, taking her sunglasses off and sliding them into her purse, also red.
                  “I hope I can help,” Axl said. Something about her looked familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. “Can I ask how you heard about me?”
                  “I remember you from—a long time ago,” she said, volunteering no further information.
                  Axl racked his brain to place her, but nothing was coming to him. He leaned back in his chair. “What seems to be your problem?”
                  “I need your assurance this is all confidential before we go any further,” she said, suddenly fidgeting. Her calm demeanor had been shattered, and now Axl was even more curious as to what brought her here.
                  “Anything you tell me is completely confidential,” he assured her. That wasn't entirely true, because if she said something about a possible murder he'd need to act on it. But he'd deal with that when the time came.
                  “I mean it. This is very