Game Over! (Parker & Knight Book 3) Read Free Page B

request came from Mr. Hearn.
    After knocking and being told to enter, Hearn walked over and shut the door.
    “Hello Heather,”
    “Mr. Hearn,”
    “Why don’t we sit on the sofa and talk?”
    Hearn sat down and Heather took a seat on his right. He was staring at her chest, as he always did, and she could smell a strong scent of liquor on his breath.
    “You wanted to see me?”
    Hearn smiled. “Who wouldn’t, you’re very beautiful,”
    “Um, Mr. Hearn, I probably should be getting back out to the bar.”
    “My wife went out earlier; do you know where she went?”
    “No sir.”
    “I do, and it’s not the first time she’s gone there.”
    “Gone where?”
    “Your boyfriend’s house,”
    Heather shook her head.
    “Rick isn’t sleeping with your wife.”
    Hearn took a long swallow from a glass containing amber fluid; he then looked at Heather and shrugged.
    “Maybe they just watch TV, but I doubt it.”
    “I just spoke to Rick. He was alone.”
    He reached into a side pocket and pulled out a money clip. After peeling off a hundred-dollar bill, he laid it atop her thigh.
    “What will that buy me?”
    Heather blinked rapidly. “Excuse me?”
    Hearn laughed.
    “You’ve got me wrong; I never pay for it. I was just attempting to compensate you for the money you’ll lose in tips by going home early.”
    “You want me to leave early?”
    “Go see for yourself, I’m sure she’s still there.”
    Heather tossed the money on the coffee table.
    “I should be getting back to work.”
    “Suit yourself, but your eyes will be opened someday,”
    Heather left the office and walked through the busy kitchen. When she reached the bar area, she told Jerry that she was taking a bathroom break, and then headed into the restroom, where she sat in a stall. She took out her phone to call Parker, but then put it away. They had spoken right before she’d been called to the office and she knew that he was home by himself.
    As she sat there, she remembered Rachel’s sly little smile, and doubt began to creep into her mind.
    ***
    P arker opened his front door and found Rachel standing there.
    He had been in his basement workshop in the middle of a project when he saw the lights flicker. He had the basement lights connected to the doorbell in such a way that caused them to flicker whenever a visitor rang the doorbell.
    Rachel reached over and brushed sawdust from his T-shirt.
    “Hi Rick,”
    “Rachel, is everything all right at the bar?”
    “There’s no trouble, not yet, but that is why I’ve come to talk to you.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Can I come in?”
    Parker stepped aside and let her in. Rachel looked around and noticed the changes. She pointed at the floor.
    “That’s a nice rug, did Heather pick that out?”
    “Yes she did,”
    She walked into the living room.
    “You’ve painted, and such a feminine color, I take it that is also a change made by Heather?”
    “What do you want, Rachel?”
    “A drink of water would be nice for starters, and then we’ll talk.”
    Parker sighed as he headed toward the kitchen.
    “I’ll be right back.”
    When he had disappeared from sight, Rachel reached into her purse and took out a pair of red, silk panties. She tucked them and one of her silver barrettes on the side of a sofa cushion, the left side, because she knew that Parker habitually sat on the right.
    When Parker reentered the room, she was at the mantle, staring at a picture of him with Heather.
    “Here’s your water, now why are you here?”
    “I’m worried. Your partner called earlier and asked us about Nico Umbria, until she called, Tim and I thought he was still in a coma.”
    “Why would you be worried about Nico Umbria? As I recall, he and your husband were friends, the type of friends that alibi each other.”
    “Don’t be cruel, Rick, I’m really worried, what if Nico blames Tim for what happened to him?”
    “If Nico threatens you or Hearn then call Jo, my partner is working that case, not