Gone Too Deep Read Online Free Page A

wasn’t local. In a town that tiny, everyone had to know everyone else. Plus, a quick glance around the shop showed customers dressed for warmth rather than fashion. She saw more than one Elmer Fudd earflap hat. “Chicago.”
    His eyes did another quick up and down of her body before returning to meet hers. All of her internal creep radars were blaring, and she futilely tried to extract her fingers again. “Well, enjoy your stay.” He squeezed her hand and then— finally —released it reluctantly. “Thanks for being the go-between, Lou.” Joseph held up the envelope. “Whenever I nag Holloway about turning in his incident reports, he acts like I asked for one of his kidneys.”
    â€œNo problem.” Lou waved off his thanks. “He never comes in here otherwise, and I like to see if I can get him to talk.”
    â€œAny success?” Joseph asked with real interest.
    â€œNope. Not yet, but I’m determined.”
    He laughed. “If anyone can do it, you can. I’ve heard him use actual words when he’s been on a call, but just when he’s had to, in order to, you know, prevent death or something.”
    â€œThat’s good, at least.”
    â€œWell, thanks again, Lou.” He turned to Ellie and gave her a smile that made her have to resist the urge to take another backward step away from him. “Nice to meet you, Ellie.”
    â€œYou too,” she lied.
    â€œWe’ll have to get together while you’re here.”
    Before Ellie could politely decline, Lou snorted and said jokingly, “You’re a little late to the Ellie ballgame, Joseph. George Holloway has already staked his claim on the new girl, and there’s no way any woman is going to turn down Mr. Silent-but-Hot. I mean, a guy with all those muscles who never contradicts you? Who could resist?”
    Although Joseph held on to his smile, it went brittle around the edges. “I’ve never been afraid of a little competition.”
    With a final stiff wave, he left the coffee shop. Lou turned to Ellie with a grin.
    â€œHe liked you.”
    Ellie shrugged uncomfortably. Even if Joseph hadn’t set off all her internal alarms, she still wouldn’t have been interested. She didn’t have time for flirtations. “I’m actually here to see my dad. His name’s Baxter Price. You don’t happen to know him, do you?”
    Lou’s eyes went huge. “Baxter Price? Your dad is Baxter Price? Oh my gosh, he’s on the whiteboard!”
    â€œWhat?” The other woman’s urgent tone made Ellie’s heart pound against her ribs. “What does that mean? What whiteboard?”
    â€œIt’s—” Breaking off, Lou glanced around at the crowded shop. No one was even pretending they weren’t listening anymore. “Listen, I have to work until about seven thirty tonight, but would you want to grab some dinner and talk about this? Callum—the man who puts up with me—makes a mean Crock-Pot stew.”
    â€œUm…I don’t know.” It seemed odd to accept a dinner invitation from a woman she’d just met, but Ellie was dying to know what had caused Lou’s reaction to her father’s name. “My dad mentioned heading to a cabin, and I was hoping to go there this afternoon.”
    â€œA cabin?” Lou tilted her head to the side. “Where?”
    Making a face, Ellie lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “I’m not sure. I was there when I was ten, but the directions have gotten kind of fuzzy over the years.”
    â€œDo you know who owns it?” When Ellie nodded, Lou grabbed a paper napkin and a pen. “Easy-peasy, then. Just head to the County Assessor’s Office, and you can get the coordinates.” Passing her the napkin after sketching what looked like a rough map on it, Lou leaned in close and lowered her voice. “Come back here when you’re done. Hopefully the