For My Brother by John C. Dalglish Read Free Book Online Page B

coming down the stairs and her heart started to pound.
    “Were those footsteps?”
    It was Ed. He hadn’t said anything in hours.
    “Yes.”
    The steps got closer until her captor’s face peered through the bars. He unlocked her door, came in, and set a tray down on the floor. Chelsea was trying to be strong, to not give this man any satisfaction by keeping her, but she couldn’t stop herself from pleading.
    “Please…please let me go. I won’t say anything. I don’t even know where we are.”
    “Sorry. Can’t.”
    “Why? Why can’t you?”
    “Look, just shut up and eat your food!”
    He left the cell and locked it. Chelsea started to cry again, and lunged toward the door, but her chain stopped her. She spotted the food and hunger took over. She devoured the bar and drank the shake in one gulp.
    The man gave food to Ed before returning upstairs, the eerie silence falling over her again. She curled up on her blanket, making herself as small as possible. She wanted to disappear.
     
    *******
     
    Donnie closed the door at the top of the basement steps. Pulling out a kitchen chair, he sat at the table and laid his head in his hands. It had not been a good day.
    He’d been rude to the girl downstairs, something his momma wouldn’t tolerate, and become angry with Billy. He knew the fight with Billy was causing him to be so unhappy.
    I’ll focus on getting Suzanne; that’ll patch things up with Billy. When I have her, I’ll go tell him I’m sorry and give him the good news. He’ll be much happier once I have his girlfriend in a cell.
    He fell asleep at the kitchen table.

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
    The next morning, Devin James was waiting for Jason in the parking lot of the police station. A crime reporter for the San Antonio News, he was quickly becoming a thorn in Jason’s side.
    Black, six-foot-three, balding, with a big smile that hid a cynical mind, he had a way of asking the questions Jason didn’t want to answer.
    “Morning, JD.”
    “What did I tell you about calling me that?”
    The reporter ignored the rebuke.
    “Word on the street has you investigating missing persons. Not your usual gig. Any truth to that?”
    Jason didn’t like being ambushed, especially first thing in the morning. On top of that, it annoyed him how James managed to get info he shouldn’t have.
    “You know I can’t comment about ongoing investigations.”
    Jason noticed the reporter seemed to be looking past him, ignoring his response. When Jason turned to see what caught James’s eye, he saw Nina coming across the lot from her car. He gave her a wave. “Watch out. You’re being stalked!”
    Nina laughed. “I don’t see any predators around here.”
    “Actually, it’s a reporterus ignoramus . Pretty tame, really.”
    James feigned injury by clutching at his chest. “Detective Strong! You cut me and I bleed.”
    Smiling, he took Nina’s hand.
    “I don’t believe we’ve met. Jason, who is this angel?”
    “That’s Nina Jefferson. Nina, this is Devin James. I believe I mentioned him.”
    Devin practically purred. “Enchanted.”
    Jason chuckled. “That ‘angel’ you refer to, Devin, might just break your arm if you get out of line.”
    It was Nina’s turn to smile. “Excuse me, Mr. James. We have work to do.”
    With that, she unwound herself from the reporter’s grip and joined Jason walking toward the station doors.
    Once inside, they went by Lieutenant Banks’s office, but she wasn’t in yet. Jason suggested they go see Chelsea Morris’s friend at Daylight Donuts. Nina agreed.
    When they returned to the parking lot, Devin was gone. Nina grabbed the file out of her car, and they left for the north side of the city.
     
    *******
     
    Suzanne Cooper was having a good day. Her chair at ‘TINA’S HAIR SALON’ had stayed busy since early morning. The tall woman with auburn hair was popular with her clients, and today they had tipped her especially well.
    “Mrs. Harkin, can I get you to move over to