Read Shadows May Fall for Free Online

her.
    “Again, I say you suck!” She yelled into the phone despite the fact he wasn’t there anymore.
    “What’s the matter, Miss Lou?” Marta came running in to her room, concerned about the yelling.
    “I gotta go back to work.” Lou’s posture slumped like that petulant child Vinny had anticipated. “Can you grab me a few Red Bulls for the road while I get clean clothes on so I can get all crapped up again? Please?”
    Marta laughed. “Right away. I’ll save dinner for you too.”
    “Thank you, Marta.” Lou dragged herself into the closet. “I love you Marta!” She yelled as she pulled her T-shirt off and reached for a sweatshirt. In the distance she could hear Marta yelling back she loved her too. It made her smile. After sunset palos Verdes would be chilly to down-right cold so after she pulled on a fresh pair of jeans she grabbed some extra layers. Marta returned with an insulated bag stuffed with Red Bulls and a banana just as Lou finished washing her face. “Thank you again, Marta. I do love you, ya know?”
    Marta pinched Lou’s cheek and grinned. “I know and I love you too! Now be safe!”
    Lou made it down to the driveway as Dillon’s SUV was coming to a stop. “This sucks!” She yelled and whined at the same time.
    “Shut your face and get in.” Dillon laughed at her. “We get four days off starting Friday so just shut it and let’s go.”
    “That doesn’t count! That’s work too!” Lou climbed in and buckled up before grabbing the first energy drink of the evening. “Sanguinostri work is even harder!”
    “It’s a meeting, Lou. In Vegas.” He shook his head and headed back down the drive. “What do you say to me all the time? Hmm? Suck it up, buttercup?”
    “Piss off.” She hissed after downing half the can in one gulp.
    “Niiiiiice.” He grinned. “Such a lady.”
    “I’m a copper, not a lady.” Lou fought the grin threatening to spoil her tantrum. “I’m gonna take a nap until the Red Bull kicks in. Wake me up if we get there before it does.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    The drive to palos Verdes had been a nightmare. Rush hour traffic on the 405 Freeway forced them to exit at Sunset then use pacific Coast Highway the rest of the way. Lou was glad the days were longer so she could at least enjoy the view. The Terrenea Resort by all measures is a spectacular place. Built on the palos Verdes peninsula, property that was once home to Marine Land. Now, the one-hundred plus seaside acres boast 592 guest rooms and suites, including bungalows, casitas and villas, some privately owned. The coastal bluffs destination also plays home to a nine-hole, par 3 golf course, spa, and four pools, all within a California Coastal preserve. In other words, it’s a swanky joint.
    For such an expensive venture, Terrenea seemed more classic old Hollywood elegant than big money resort to Lou. Even the cozy circular driveway punctuated by the classic Mediterranean fountain seemed more Golden Era Class. Oh, the place was big, there was no mistaking that. But it wasn’t showy or overdone, or cold modern like so many of the new boutique hotels that were cropping up all over the place. This felt real L.A. not Manhattan transplant.
    Before Dillon could even bring his SUV to a stop, a very short, agitated young man tapped on his driver’s side window aggressively. Dillon and Lou looked at each other in puzzlement before Dillon rolled the window down.
    “Good evening! Welcome to Terrenea! Are you going to be our guest this evening?” The overly attentive man asked them in a quiet and breathy tone.
    “In a manner of speaking.” Dillon flashed his badge. “Detective Cole and Donovan. We’re here for the homicide.”
    It was quite jarring how quick the smile vanished from the man’s face. “You can’t be here. Move!” His quiet manner was gone as well and he began to bark instructions with a distinctly Brooklyn accent. “Quick, quick! Go back and make a left. Park in any space marked for staff