Lost Souls by J. Bishop (essential books to read .txt) 📕

the previous night. Her dark round eyes watched him, her thick hair ran down her back, and she smelled like flowers. He was momentarily tongue-tied.

Not waiting for his answer, she slid into the stool beside him and put her small red purse on the bar. She wore a fitted, v-cut blue t-shirt and jeans, and silver earrings sparkled from her ears. “My name’s Valerie. Valerie Vain.”

Mason swallowed. Her effect on him was immediate. Her looks were one thing, but her energy was on a whole other level. She exuded a magnetism he’d rarely felt from anyone. “Mason,” he finally spoke. “Mason Redstone.” He held out a hand and she took it, briefly holding it in hers. “Nice to meet you, Valerie.”

She smiled and swiveled in the seat to face him. “I saw you in here the other day.”

“I saw you, too, sitting at the back table,” said Mason. Charlie returned with his water and set it beside him. “Can I buy you a drink?”

His phone buzzed with a text notification from Mikey and he punched at it. It said We need to talk. He closed it and set his phone aside.

“It’s tempting, but no,” she said. She smiled and her pearly white teeth glimmered. “I can’t stay.”

He sighed. “Too bad, but actually, neither can I. I’m supposed to be somewhere.”

“Maybe another time then,” she said.

“I hope so.” Mason picked up his water. “You come in here often?”

She shook her head. “No. The other night was the first time. I followed you here.”

Water caught in his throat and Mason coughed. He picked up a napkin and dabbed his mouth. “Excuse me?”

She put an elbow on the bar. “I’m from Texas, Mason. Like you.” She paused. “And your friend Trick.”

Mason put the napkin down, and his skin prickled. “How do you─”

“I’m a private investigator, only… the normal kind.” She grinned like she had four aces up her sleeve. “I prefer to investigate the dead,” she leaned in, “not talk to them.”

Mason put his water glass down and picked up his alcoholic one. This week was getting better and better. “What do you want, Valerie?” He shot back the rest of his liquor.

“I want to talk.”

“So, talk.” He checked the time. “But make it fast.” He pulled out his wallet and threw down some cash for Charlie.

“You’re investigating Chad Howard’s death,” she said. “So am I.”

That got his attention. “Who hired you?”

“That’s not important,” she said. “But what is important is what I’ve learned, and what I think you should know.”

“Let me guess. You think Cissy did it.”

“Probably.”

He sighed and held the bridge of his nose. “That’s old news, Val. Tell me you’ve got something more than that, or I’m going to think you’re following me just for my good looks.” A memory flickered and he scowled. “Was that you watching us? In the parking lot after breakfast the other day?”

“Maybe,” she said. “I was following Trick, but don’t think I haven’t noticed your good looks.” She whispered. “I especially like the mustache. I think it’s sexy as hell.” She raised the side of her lip. “Your butt doesn’t hurt either. Something about a man in jeans and boots…”

Mason almost forgot why she was there. “You sure you don’t want that drink?”

She chuckled. “Maybe once this case is solved…”

“So, no, then.”

“I think we’re closer to solving this case than you think.”

He was amused to hear her say ‘we.’ “What do you know, Val, that you think is so important?”

She shifted closer, and Mason smelled her flowery scent. “You’re a smart man, Mason, but you’ve missed what’s right in front of you.”

“And you’re going to tell me what that is?”

“I wouldn’t be sitting here otherwise.” She looked him over. “Unless of course, you’d bought me that drink the other day.”

Mason drank some water. “I guess we’ll never know.”

Her right eyebrow rose. “You should be careful who you trust.”

He put his water down and slid off the stool. “I’ve got to go.”

“What do you know about your friend, Trick?”

That stopped him. “What do you mean?”

“He got fired from the Rangers. Did he tell you?”

He snickered. “I know.”

“Did he tell you why?”

“He slugged a superior and manhandled a case. So, what?”

Her face fell. “He also slept with that superior’s wife. Did he tell you that? And showed up drunk to work on more than one occasion.”

Mason didn’t answer.

She slid off the stool and faced him. “Your boy, Trick, has a thing for the ladies.”

“Also old news.”

“Except for one lady in particular. Cissy Howard.”

Cold crept up Mason’s spine, and she grinned. “I thought that’d get your attention. Your good ole’ friend dated her before she ever met Chad, and, if you ask me, still has a thing for her. I did some checking on dates and Cissy’s not the only one with a lousy alibi. Your pal was fired a week before Chad’s death. Then he goes on a bender where he’s thrown out of two bars and almost gets arrested before disappearing off the face of the map two days before Chad’s death. Then he mysteriously reappears in some crappy hotel in Arizona two days after when he gets the phone call that Chad is dead, and races to California, or maybe I should say back to California, to comfort his old girlfriend, whom he now obsessively defends. The question is why?” She tipped her head. “Is it because he knows she didn’t kill Chad since he did, or because they killed him together, and now he’s trying to prevent her from taking the fall?” She stepped closer. “And if it’s the latter, how long do you think it will be before Cissy points the finger at Trick. Love only goes so far when you’re facing life in prison.”

Mason stood in disbelief, his mind darting in a thousand different directions. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Trick would never─”

“Wouldn’t he?” she asked. “How long’s it been since you’ve seen him, or really, even talked to him? A lot can happen in a few short years.”

“That’s