Read Online The Case of the Sin City Sister by Lynne Hinton - Free Book Online

shook her head, even though she was well aware that her father’s former partner knew her as well as anyone. He knew she liked to ride when she needed to clear her mind.
    He studied her, appearing as if he didn’t believe her or was waiting for more.
    “Okay, a little, yes,” she confessed.
    Daniel waited.“The Captain acting up?”
    She shook her head. “No, he’s actually behaving himself these days,” she replied. “Takes his insulin, comes to the clinic in Cerrillos, eats pretty good. He hasn’t even picked a fight in two weeks,” she added.

    Daniel reached up and rubbed his chin as if he were perplexed. “Your father?” he asked. “In two weeks?” He paused. “You slipping him something in his sugar-free milk shakes?”
    “Nah. I know,” she responded, “doesn’t sound like him, but he’s mellowing.”
    “Well, I’m glad I came today to see this. I’d say you’ve got your own hometown miracle out here. You think the Pope will come and bless him?”
    “I didn’t say he was a saint, just that he had mellowed. He’s still the Captain.”
    “Right,” Daniel agreed.
    He waited.
    Eve shrugged. “It’s Dorisanne,” she said.
    He frowned. “What’s little sister gotten herself into now?” He leaned against the car.
    Eve moved next to him. “I just can’t reach her is all.”
    “Well, from what I remember, your sister was never one to make herself easily available. Wasn’t she missing her entire senior year of high school?”
    Eve smiled. “Yeah, I know. That’s what the Captain says too. But I’ve just got a bad feeling about her. I’m worried something’s wrong.”
    “You try the Rio?” He knew where Dorisanne worked.
    Eve nodded. “They said she called in last week. She fell about a month ago, sprained her ankle. She’s been out of work since the accident.”
    “But somebody’s talked to her?”
    “Yeah,” Eve answered.
    There was no response and she stood up away from the car. “Iknow. I know. She’s fine. She has never been good about staying in touch. She’ll call in a couple of days.”
    “She will. I’m sure,” Daniel responded.
    Eve was not convinced, but she didn’t say as much. “Enjoy your time with the Captain, and don’t let him get dessert,” she said. “I know how he likes the pie at the Tavern.”
    “Green-chile burger, fries, no pie,” Daniel noted.
    There was a pause as the two friends watched a few cars travel past them on the highway, most of them slowing down when they saw the police car.
    “So, are you giving me a ticket or not?” she asked.
    He shook his head and smiled. “No, there’s no ticket.”
    She turned and headed toward her bike.
    “Get a helmet on your head,” he instructed as she walked away.
    “Okay,” she replied. “When I get home.”
    And she jumped onto her bike, cranked up the engine, and drove away, thinking that just like herself, Daniel seemed a bit bothered about something too.

TWELVE

    After reading police files all evening, Eve slept fitfully. The Captain had retired to his bedroom before ten o’clock. She tried going to bed herself around eleven but was unable to quit thinking about what she had read and what had been on her mind all day, so she eventually got back up, threw on her old terrycloth robe, and headed for the kitchen. She took down her favorite mug, the one her mother had liked best, the thick one with a bear’s claw painted on the front that she had bought at a thrift shop. After filling it with milk, she stuck it in the microwave and waited. She leaned on the counter, her chin resting in her hand, and looked out the window above the sink. The night was a typical New Mexico night with a sky full of stars and an easy desert wind. When the microwave dinged, she walked over, retrieved the mug now filled with steaming hot milk, and headed back to the living room to continue looking over the contents of the box that Daniel had delivered to the Captain.

    She read more missing person reports filed