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Instead, he places his Stetson on his head. “So about that lunch? One of Millie’s greasy burgers is calling my name.”
I grab my phone. “Yeah, sure. Let me give Sadie a call first.”
It rings.
And it rings.
Finally I get sent to voicemail.
This is Sadie. Sorry I can’t get to my phone right now but let me know who you are and I’ll call you right back.
Just the sound of her recorded voice brings a smile to my face.
“Hey, baby. It’s Miles. Where’d you run off to? Austin, Chance, and I are headed over to Millie’s for lunch. Meet us there, okay?”
Then I follow my brothers a couple buildings down to Millie’s Diner. I know a burger won’t solve our problems, but it sure can’t hurt to try.
24
SADIE
Call it detective’s intuition.
Or call it an old-fashioned hunch.
I walked back to my place after I left the conference room at the station, but I didn’t go in. Instead, I got straight into my car and started driving.
I knew I had to go somewhere, though I wasn’t sure where.
So it was as big a surprise to me as anyone when I ended up back at my father’s place. I sit in my car staring across the street at the dilapidated house.
He’s probably working, but if there’s a way to get into his house I’m going to find it. Breaking and entering isn’t a good look on a cop, for sure, but I can always pull the “it’s my dad’s house” line. It’s not even a lie.
Something has been itching at the back of my neck since yesterday. I feel like I missed something.
I pull into the rocky driveway and park my VW Beetle. Then I make my way to the ripped screen door, open it, and knock.
No response, not that I expected one. This neighborhood works during the day, or they keep to themselves.
I knock again, louder this time.
Again, nothing. So I turn the door by knob, and I’m surprised when it opens.
I didn’t think my father would leave his home unlocked. I expected to have to find an unlocked window to crawl through. But it makes sense. There’s nothing in here worth stealing.
I walk inside, and the stench of stale cigarette smoke and sour beer assaults me.
No problem. I’ll breathe through my mouth. Time to have a look around.
“Who the hell is out there?”
I know that voice—that gravelly-sounding cigarette voice.
“Hello, Rainey,” I call. “It’s me. Sadie. Curt’s daughter.”
Rainey comes out from the kitchen, wearing a magenta fluffy robe and holding a cigarette. “Don’t you know how to knock?”
“I did knock. Several times. Very loudly.”
