Excerpt of Included!

DOWN RIVER“He’s dead, George. Why don’t you tell me why that fact doesn’t surpriseyou?”“Danny liked the ladies. The ladies liked him. Single ones and marriedones. Probably some pissed off husbands that would like to take a chunk out ofDanny. And Danny was a gambler. Not Wednesday night poker, either. I meanthe real deal. Bookies. Borrowed money. He’s run the gamut. But you shouldprobably talk to your brother about that.”“Jamie?”George’s mouth tightened in distaste. “Yeah. Jamie.”“Why? Jamie is over his gambling problem. He licked it years ago.”George hesitated. “Maybe you’d better ask him.”“You won’t tell me?”“Look, I don’t know what happened with Jamie before you left. I had nothingto do with that. All I know is what I see now. Jamie wants to be the samekind of player Danny was. Problem is, he’s half as charming and twice as badat cards. So, yeah, he gambles. Heavily, from what I’ve heard. But I don’t needto add to our problems. Talk to him about it if you want, but don’t mention myname.”A rusted-out pickup pulled into the lot and disgorged three men in dirtrimedboots and greasy farm caps. They sat at the counter and fingered dogearedmenus. One of them stared at me and made a face like he was about tospit on the floor.“I take it that you and Robin don’t exactly get along,” I said.George shook his head and blinked. “I know you guys have a history, but Idon’t like mincing words, so I’m just going to say it. She’s way too intense. Supercop,you know.”“And she doesn’t like you?”“I’m easy, Adam. I like the uniform. I like working with kids and ridingaround with the dog. I’m a happy guy. Alexander is all about the bust.”I pretended that I wasn’t bothered. “She’s changed,” I said.“No shit.”Everyone at the counter was staring at me now, the whole group of them,like they wanted to kick my ass. I understood; the boy had been well liked. Igestured and George followed the motion. “You seeing this?” I asked.125