Read Online Deborah Brown - Madison Westin 07 - Kidnapped in Paradise by Deborah Brown - Free Book Online Page B

perfection. The dress code at Jake ’ s was: wear what you want as long as you ’ re appropriately covered.
    “I told you once, what I don’t know I can find out.” Phil looked over her shoulder, surveying the bar to make sure her regulars were all happy. Twelve stools sat at the bar, and she kept them filled with a disreputable mix of locals.
    The enterprising law school student never failed to surprise me. She had informed me that she had a side business of selling information. Money back guarantee, she had boasted.
    “Drug dealer. What do you suppose happened to the rest of him?” I looked at her as though expecting an answer.
    Fab slid into the seat next to me. “I better not have missed anything,” she poured herself a glass of tea.
    “Grisly.” Phil shook her head. “Anyone who would go to all that trouble would probably chop up the rest, sending anyone looking on a scavenger hunt for body parts.”
    My stomach flipped over at the thought that the killer or killers might come back to my house and dump said parts.
    “Or,” Fab spoke up, “if it ’s a message, the next drop might be the rest of the body. You know, in one whole piece, sort of.”
    I shook my head, trying to prevent the visual.
    “We need to start locking the gate,” I said to Fab.
    “They ’ d just do a pitch and roll, and that can make quite a mess,” Phil smiled. Fab and I exchanged looks. I could tell from Fab's expression that she thought Phil was crazy, too.
    Phil positioned her chair so she could see into the bar.
    “Who did you piss off lately?”
    “Nobody!” I blew out a long breath. “Okay, Hot Shot. You want to be our main snitch? Find out everything you can about the dead guy and my ex-husband Jackson Devereaux, aka Jax, pronto. Jax has a business deal going on in the area; find out the particulars.”  I flipped through my phone and sent his picture to her phone.
 

  
    Chapter 12
     
    My backyard was one of my favorite places to read, nap, or just do nothing. I used it year-round as a large entertaining space for family and friends. I found a table to accommodate the entire family with comfortable seating, double chaises, and a pile of pillows.
    It was another beautiful day, with the warmth from the sun on my skin and a slight breeze blowing in from the ocean, making everything smell fresh and clean.
    “Did you talk to Brick?” Fab yawned.
    “He called me, yelling about Mrs. Ricci and the abusive treatment she sustained at our hands.” I pulled the back of the chaise upright. “She told ‘Snot Nose ’ Carmine that we ’ d threatened her with the police and were adamant about taking her to jail. I knew we should ’ ve let the police deliver her to the mansion, but I wasn’t in the mood to make Carmine mad.”
    “That ’ s what we get for being nice and uncuffing her once we got to her son ’ s front door. Good thing it was only the bodyguard waiting on her highness.”
    “I told Brick to calm his ass down and then relayed what really happened. She should consider herself lucky not to be charged with kidnapping, assault, and grand theft auto. I told Brick to messenger our quadruple fee right over.”
    Fab kicked my foot, holding up her glass for a refill. The pitcher of iced tea sat on the table closest to me. I ’ d made sun tea earlier, slicing up oranges that my neighbor had left on the doorstep.
    “What did he say to that?” Fab asked.
    “He started yelling all over again, saying he never agreed to anything other than the standard fee. I told him I didn’t appreciate his attitude and that I wouldn’t shoot him for non-payment, but I couldn’t swear you wouldn’t . He hung up on me. ” I stared at her. “It ’ s time for you to get serious about finding new clients.”
    Fab hesitated, her expression serious. “I thought that could be your job. People like you, you have that annoying habit of talking to anyone.”
    “So you ’ re saying I ’ m personable?” The groan she emitted made