Bitter Waters by Wen Spencer Read Free Book Online Page B

my people.”
    Max shook his head as the phone rang. He crossed the kitchen to pick up the phone. “Bennett Detective Agency.” Ukiah couldn’t hear the voice on the other side, but judging by the sudden full smile, it was Sam. “You’re up and about early.”
    â€œI’m not up yet.” Sam’s voice was audible as Max glanced at the kitchen clock, visibly doing the math. In Wyoming, Sam was two hours behind them, meaning it was only six-thirty for her. “I’m just lolling around in bed, thinking about you.”
    â€œYou are?” Max all but purred as he turned his back to Ukiah.
    Ukiah couldn’t hear Sam’s response, but it made Max laugh. Ukiah concentrated on the messy diaper and not on the small prick of jealousy. After his wife was killed in 1998, Max fell into a near-suicidal depression; Sam was the first woman Max showed any interest in since then. For Max’s sake, Ukiah was glad. Still, after three years of being partners, it was hard being on the outside.
    Ukiah got a fresh diaper onto Kittanning, strapped him back into his car seat, and dropped the diaper into the bread bag, which he tied shut, effectively enclosing most of the foul odor.
    â€œNo, no, no,” Max said to Sam. “You don’t want to go that way. That puts you into Chicago. You should drop down to Route 70 at some point. Here, let me get a map.”
    The second line rang. Carrying Kittanning to his office, Ukiah picked up the phone. “Bennett Detective Agency.”
    â€œIs this Max Bennett?” a man’s voice asked.
    â€œNo. He’s not available at the moment. Can I help you?”
    â€œWho am I talking to?”
    â€œUkiah Oregon.” He identified himself reluctantly. “Who is this?”
    â€œYou’re the boy raised by wolves?”
    Ukiah looked at the caller ID display. It was Agent Hutchinson’s cell phone number. “Yes. I was a feral child, Agent Hutchinson. Is there something the Homeland Security needs help with? A tracking case?”
    â€œHow do you know who I am?”
    â€œWe had a missing persons case last night. Officer Ari Johnson was there. You gave him a business card. You’re calling from your cell phone.”
    â€œI see.” A stylus tapped out notes on a PDA close to Hutchinson’s receiver. “And Bennett lets you answer the phone?”
    â€œYes,” Ukiah said simply—Max held that the less you gave out, the more you kept the upper hand. “Can you tell me why you’re calling us?”
    â€œI want to talk to you both.” Hutchinson appeared to hold the same belief. “Face-to-face. Today.”
    â€œMax won’t be available until later today.”
    â€œI’ll be at your offices at four this afternoon. I’d advise both of you to be there.”

CHAPTER THREE
    Shadyside, Pennsylvania
Monday, September 13, 2004
    â€œWhy didn’t you get me?” Max had gone straight from talking to Sam to the shower, so Ukiah caught him on the way out to tell him about Hutchinson’s call and their afternoon appointment.
    Ukiah shrugged. “I was handling it.”
    Max looked at him as if surprised. “Is that a little bit of Magic Boy surfacing?”
    â€œPerhaps.”
    Max frowned at the news; he’d been against Ukiah taking in Magic Boy’s memories at the risk of losing himself. Obviously he was still worried about the consequences.
    Ukiah indicated the pile of luggage stacked in the foyer. “I see that the luggage made it home. Did you order the armor?”
    â€œYeah. It should be here in a day or two.” The grandfather clock struck nine, reminding Max that he had someplace to go. “I’ve got to go pick up the Volvo. Since I’m going to be over in the South Hills, I’m stopping by Kraynak’s to see if he and Alicia got home okay.” He snapped his fingers, remembering something else that needed to be done.