Ashes to Dust (Las Vegas Mystery)

and sat down. Snow noticed the sliding glass patio door was shut and locked, the blinds drawn across it. The room was warm and stuffy.
    Miller leaned the shotgun against the recliner, walked over to the stuffed chair across from Alice and Snow, and sat down. He swallowed and wet his lips, his eyes wide and staring. “I went out to the garage to get in my truck to go to the store this morning around nine. I opened the garage door, and he was parked right behind it in my driveway. Scared the shit out of me. I walked over to him and asked what he wanted. He just stared at me with that sick grin on his face. Then he made a gesture of a gun with his forefinger and thumb, and pointed it at me. I asked him if that was supposed to be a threat. He didn’t say a word. Just started his car and drove away slowly, staring at me. I considered calling the police, but I don’t think that would do any good. They won’t arrest him until he’s killed me.”
    “He’s just trying to scare you into doing something incriminating,” Snow said.
    “Incriminating?” Miller snapped. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
    “He thinks you have,” Snow said. He nodded at the shotgun. “Where’d you get that?”
    “A friend of mine dropped it off. I thought it would ease my mind, but it just scares the shit out of me. I don’t like guns. I’ve never had one, never shot one, never even touched one until now. I just look at it and it gives me the jitters. I really don’t think I could ever shoot anybody with it if I had to.”
    Snow nodded. “I know how you feel. I’ve never been that crazy about guns myself.”
    “You don’t carry one?” Miller asked.
    “I’ve asked him to,” Alice insisted.
    Snow shrugged. “I honestly can’t remember where I put it. I hid it somewhere one night after a party. I didn’t want some kid wandering around my house someday, finding it, and shooting himself with it.”
    “When was the last time there was a kid in your house?” Alice asked.
    Snow turned his head to her. “You never know, Alice. Someday I may invite the neighborhood over for a barbeque.”
    Miller’s eyes wandered back to the shotgun. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe it would be a good idea to hire someone to watch my house from the street.” He turned back to Snow. “Could I hire you to put somebody on that?”
    “We don’t have any extra people,” Snow said. “It’s the just the two of us, and we’re both tied up with this investigation. But I could recommend someone. When would you want him to start?”
    Miller’s eyebrows shot up. “Right now would be good.”
    “I tell you what.” Snow leaned back and dug into his front jeans pocket for his cell phone. He pulled it out and flipped it open. “I can call someone right now and check to see if he’s available.” He looked at Miller, and Miller nodded.
    He brought up a number from the directory and pressed the call button.
    Two rings and a deep voice came through the receiver. “Duke Ellis.”
    “Duke,” Snow said. “How goes it?”
    “It’s been worse,” Duke said. “That you, Jimbo? Didn’t recognize your number. Long time no hear.”
    “It’s been a while,” Snow said.
    “How’s the poker business? You back in it, or doing something else?”
    “Something else.”
    “Anything fun?”
    “Same thing you’re doing,” Snow said.
    “Oh shit. You poor bastard.”
    “Tell me about it,” Snow said. “But I do have a partner, which helps.”
    “Misery loves company,” Ellis said. “Who is he? Anybody I know?”
    “He’s a she . Alice James. She was in homicide.”
    “Never met her. Sounds like a nice setup. Ironic as it may sound, I’ve got a new female partner, too. Sent me her résumé. She’d been working for a national outfit, doing investigations, and wanted to get out on her own. I wasn’t looking for a partner, but I get tired of having to call around to find somebody to relieve me on surveillance. Plus, I figured she’d help bring in more female-type business. That hasn’t happened yet, but we’ve only been working together for three months. Her name is Sally Hollister, and she’s the smartest, cutest little thing.”
    Snow grinned. “She moved in with you yet?”
    “You know me too well, Jimbo. We’re talking about it.” Ellis chuckled. “I traded my van in on a pickup camper. We use that for surveillance. We can both be there and trade off the watch.”
    “You got good shocks on that thing?” Snow asked.
    Ellis