Connor's Gamble Read Online Free Page A

checked out at the emergency clinic by a physician and cleared.  Everybody was, except for the driver.”  At the officer's raised brow, Connor continued.  “Broken leg, fractured pelvis and a concussion.”
    “Ouch.”  Jotting down notes, the detective glanced through the open doorway behind Connor.
    “The young lady with you, where does she fit into all this?  Was she with you when you found Ms. Spencer?”
    Connor bristled at his tone but answered.  “Her name's Alyssa Scott.  She's the Activities Director for the tour group.  Works at the senior living center where they're from.”  The officer nodded again.  He gave an exasperated sigh before continuing.  “A few of the other passengers were worried when Abigail, Mrs. Spencer, didn't come to the restaurant for breakfast.  They sent Alyssa to check on her.  I came with her.” 
    “Was the door locked when you arrived?”  The officer's question was directed at Connor, but his eyes kept straying to Alyssa, and it pissed Connor off.
    “No.  I knocked several times.  When there was no answer, I turned the knob and it opened.”
    “Uh, huh.”
    The second officer came out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.  After a quick whispered conversation with his partner he strode over to the patrol car, his wide steps quickly eating up the distance.
    “So, Mr. Scott, you opened the door and . . .”
    Connor turned back to the cop.  “I told Alyssa to wait outside and I went in to check on Mrs. Spencer.  Immediately upon entering the room I saw feet sticking out from beside the bed.  When I got closer, that's how I found her.”
    “And Ms. Scott stayed outside the whole time?”
    He would like to say yes but knew forensic evidence would show she'd been in the room.  “No, she came into the room and saw the body as well.”
    “Did you notice anything else, Mr. Scott?”
    “Yeah, I noticed blood on the edge of the night stand by the body.”
    The officer jotted down a few more notes in his bent, crumpled notebook before continuing.
    “Anything else?  See anybody hanging around the parking lot?”
    “No.  I called nine-one-one and waited here for you.”
    “Okay.  Thanks.  I'll need to speak with Ms. Scott, take her statement.  Same last name.  Any relation to you?”
    “Ex-wife.”
    “Huh.  Amicable I take it.”
    Connor quirked a brow, refusing to rise to the subtle baiting question.
    Connor knew most of the questions were standard procedure, he'd been around enough cops in his job with the fire department to know it, but he didn't want this guy talking to his wife.
    Ex-wife, dammit.
    The detective swaggered the few feet down the corridor toward Alyssa.  Connor watched the calm and efficient manner in which she directed the senior residents back toward their rooms.  Her arm encircled the shoulders of his grandmother.  She was so caring, so giving, he thought.  She had been since the first day he'd met her.  It was one of the things he'd loved about her.
    He followed behind the officer, watched him watching Alyssa like a bloodhound on a scent.  A low growl emerged from his throat.  Fire rescue trucks and an ambulance pulled into the parking lot with their lights flashing, but without the eerie siren's wail.  He'd definitely had enough of hearing sirens in the last two days.
    “Heck of a thing, ain't it?”
    Gladys stood next to him in the hallway.  Where the hell had she come from?
    “You okay?  I looked for you after the crash, couldn't find you.”
    She chuckled.  “Ain't no stupid old bus crash enough to keep me down.”  Shaking her head, she continued.  “Sure sorry about Abigail, though.”  Pausing, she asked, “Was there lots of blood, Connor?”
    He looked at her, standing silent.
    “I'm not being morbid, honey.  I just hope she—didn't suffer.”
    Connor's gaze traversed the nearly empty hall in front of him, tuning out Gladys while concentrating on the policeman questioning Alyssa.  His