Read Dead By Dawn for Free Online Page B

were several wineries and old ranches that had been there forever, and to her surprise, a new water park. The water park looked like fun. She and her sister had ridden their bikes out to the one on Adelaide Road when they were kids. That park was a big swimming pool tucked into a campground. Paso Robles was so quaint back then.
     
    She turned into Shandon and drove up to the ranch house, now that she wasn’t technically trespassing. This time, she was interested in walking the fields. She went out behind the barn and looked. There were broken posts and lines of wire where the grapes had been planted so long ago. Most of the land was now covered with weeds. She walked around the fields, having no idea what she was looking for or hoped to accomplish. She noticed the neighbors out here all had grape vines growing on their properties. It seemed like David and Shelly Davenport would have been one of the first people out here to decide that grapes were a good investment. What a shame their dream came to an end so abruptly. Lindsay turned around and headed toward the house. She saw movement to one side of the barn. Had that been a person? She no longer carried a gun, now that she was off the force. She suddenly felt scared to be out in the barn area by herself. She heard footsteps running up the driveway. She turned and started to follow. A teenager jumped into a car a sped away. By the time Lindsay got out to the road, he was long gone.
     
    She got into her Range Rover and took a couple deep breaths. Her adrenaline was pumping. She had to calm down. She took a drink of the bottled water from the console. It was just a coincidence. Just kids playing around. That’s all it was, she convinced herself. She got back onto Highway 46 and headed home.
     

Chapter 11
     
    At home, Lindsay’s mother, Helen, was in the kitchen unloading groceries. “Hi honey,” she said when she heard Lindsay come in.
     
    “Hi Mom!” Lindsay gave her mom a hug. “Where’s Evan?”
     
    “He’s asleep. We just got back from the grocery store. I wasn’t sure what time you were going to get back, so I got stuff to start a pot roast in the crock pot,” Helen said. “How was your trip?”
     
    “It was fine. Do you remember the Davenport murders?”
     
    “Not really. Are they the same Davenports that have the farm land in San Luis?” Helen asked.
     
    “As a matter of fact, they were related. Can I ask a favor, Mom?”
     
    “Sure. What do you need?”
     
    “Can you watch Evan this afternoon while I run up to Manhattan Beach?”
     
    “No problem. Go do what you need to do,” Helen answered.
     
    Lindsay had already called Jeremy Davenport on the way home and arranged to meet him at his apartment. She headed out the door and up to the beach. Jeremy’s apartment was in Hermosa Beach, about a block from the water. She had to circle the block three times before she finally got metered parking near the Green Store. Jeremy’s apartment was a block from there. She had to walk down and alley to get to the back of the duplex he lived in. His place was nice. It had a large patio in front with a table and chairs. He had potted plants that looked like he had just planted them. The pots were bursting with bright colored impatiens. Jeremy invited her into the spacious two bedroom apartment.
     
    “Nice place,” Lindsay said.
     
    “It’s okay. I can walk to the beach.” He went over to one side of the living room and pointed towards the beach. “I have an ocean peek. If I stand right here I can see the water.”
     
    She went over to where he was standing and took a look at the sliver of water that could be seen from that vantage point. “I talked to your aunt Terri yesterday,” she said.
     
    “Good, it sounds like you are making progress,” he responded casually.
     
    “I’m confused about some things,” she stated.
     
    “Like what?”
     
    “Well, I thought you told me you moved here for a job,” she said.
     
    He paused and