Read Online Caruso 01 - Boom Town by Trevor Scott - Free Book Online

card. He had no idea how this relationship was going, having only met Melanie recently.
    Besides, he wasn’t even sure he’d be in Bend that long. He had the condo until late January, so he didn’t want to get too close to anyone.
    They finished their wine and then headed toward the door.
    “Would you like to go to the bar and listen to some Jazz?” Tony asked.
    She smiled and nuzzled closer to him. “I thought we could go to my place.”
    He had a feeling this would happen, which is why he drove separate. He needed to talk with a few people in the Riverfront Bar. See if they knew anything about an Italian guy that hung out there.
    “Why don’t I meet you there in an hour,” Tony said.
    “Why so long?”
    “I forgot I needed to stop by the condo and check my e-mail.
    I’m waiting for some info to come in on this case I’m working.
    Plus, I’ll need to let Panzer run before I bring him to your place.”
    She kissed him quickly on the lips. “All right,” she said. “I’ll try not to start without you.”
    He walked her out to her car. After she drove away, he went back inside to the bar. This lying thing was getting way too easy, and he almost hated himself for it.

    BOOM TOWN 55

CHAPTER 9
    The Riverfront Bar was just that. The place sat a few feet lower than the adjoining restaurant, with double doors that led to a wooden deck that hung over a tranquil set of rapids in the Deschutes. The deck was used year-around, but since it was cold-er out now, not many people were willing to go out. So, the inside was standing room only.
    Tony let his eyes adjust as he squeezed in at the end of the bar, where a couple in their early forties were working on a microbrew.
    The busy bartender flicked his chin at Tony, and he ordered a local India Pale Ale.
    “Good choice,” the man next to him said, turning slightly toward him to allow the bartender to hand Tony his beer. “Let me get that.” He flipped the bartender a five from a stack of bills in front of him, and waved his hand, meaning keep the change.
    Tony thanked the guy and took a long drink.
    He introduced himself and his wife. They were from San Francisco. Up for the skiing. While he told his life story, Tony was able to scan the room, looking for anyone that fit the description Dawn Sanders had given him of the guy that had gone home with Dan and Barb Humphrey the night they died. But Tony couldn’t see anyone that fit. Then he noticed two people he did know. The two rocket scientists who had whacked him with the billy clubs that morning out at Cascade Peaks Estates. And they 56
    TREVOR SCOTT
    recognized him, as well.
    The guy who had been talking with Tony excused himself to go to the bathroom, so Tony slid into the bar stool next to the guy’s wife.
    She was a nice looking woman. Almost-real blonde hair to her shoulders. Bright blue eyes that said more in a few seconds than her husband had said with words in five minutes. She wore one of those tight silk shirts that was only that way because her obviously-unreal breasts were a little out of proportion to her shoulders. The surgeons in America were making a helluva living, Tony guessed.
    “Steve can be quite the bore,” she said, moving closer to Tony and placing her hand on his right thigh.
    Tony tried to block her out, but her hand was slowly inching toward pay dirt.
    Luckily he got his break. A woman he recognized was making her way through the crowd. Dawn Sanders smiled when she saw him, and then followed that up with a knowing grin when she noticed the woman next to him. Tony waved her over. She looked different without her little round spectacles.
    Twisting off the chair toward Dawn, Tony said, “You finally made it.” He gave her a big hug. “Save me,” he whispered into Dawn’s ear. Then he gave her a quick kiss and turned toward the San Francisco woman.
    She had her lower lip pouting out.
    “Thank your husband for the drink, again,” Tony said. “It was nice talking with you.”
    Dawn and