Killertrust by Sharon Woods Hopkins Read Free Book Online Page A

the
fluorescent lighting. They were lined up numerically with the lower numbers
starting on her left and continuing  around the U. Rhetta estimated there were
about one hundred fifty total. All were closed, but some had keys sticking out,
waiting to be rented. Off to the right, one locker stood ajar. Rhetta followed
the sequence of numbers until she stood smack in front of the open one. In
fact, it was obvious from the angle of the door, which listed forlornly, that
it wasn’t merely open. The locker door was jimmied off one of its hinges.
Rhetta stared at the number on the front: 127. Then, she peered inside.
    Empty.
     
     
Chapter 10
Monday late morning, December 10
    Rhetta’s hand shook as she held the key aloft. She squinted to compare the number on it to the number on
the locker. She didn’t trust her eyes. She reached into her purse and felt
around until she located the case for her glasses. She put them on and resumed
examining the locker. The numbers were the same. Someone had found the locker
before she did, and forced it open. Who? Why? Who else could have known about
the locker? And what was in it?
    She whirled around and
marched back to the information booth. Woody continued examining the locker a
moment before following her.
    She waved the key at the
attendant. “I want to file a complaint. Someone broke into my locker.” His eyes
tried to focus on the key as she waved it in front of him. “Have you seen
anyone go to these lockers? Mine is number 127 and it’s been broken open. The
door is barely on its hinges, and, of course, it’s empty.”
    She finally stopped flapping
the key and the boy peered at it. “Lady, did you just ask me if I saw anyone go
to the lockers? Shoot, that’s just about everyone who flies. Most of the time
passengers can’t carry on all the stuff they think they can, so they have to
rent a locker until they get back. There’s always someone going back there.” He
rose, scratched at a patch of acne on his face and let himself out through the
half door that sealed him in the information booth. Rhetta’s first thought when
he stood was that his height was due to a raised floor, but when he strode up
alongside her, she had to stare up at him. She guessed he was even taller than
Woody, who was a foot taller than her. Maybe this kid was actually older than
twelve after all.
    “Can you show me some ID and
your rental receipt?” asked the young man, whose badge Rhetta noticed bore the
name Haldane. Who
names a kid Haldane? Isn’t that a poisonous gas?
    “I didn’t bring a receipt. I
didn’t think I’d need it. I do have the key.” She shook it at Haldane. She glanced
sideways at Woody and caught him rubbing his head. She ignored the gesture and
returned her attention to Haldane. “Someone must have done this today, or you
would have noticed it, right?”
    She hoped she’d put Haldane
on the defensive and get him to quit asking her for dumb things like a receipt.
He returned to his booth and tapped on the keyboard.
    “Says here Number 127 was
rented to…” He peered myopically at the name. “Frank Caldwell.” He turned to
Rhetta. “Are you Mrs. Caldwell?”
    Rhetta’s heart thundered
against her chest bones at hearing the name. Whoever had rented this locker had
used her father’s name!
    “No, actually, I’m his
daughter. He asked me to pick up his stuff for him.” That part, at least, was
mostly true. She stole a look at Woody, but couldn’t read his expression. When
he saw her glance at him, he looked away.
    “I’ll file a complaint with
security, notifying them that someone broke into this locker. You have to fill
in a form and let us know what was in the locker.” He rummaged around in a drawer
and came up with a sheaf of papers. He selected one and slid it toward her. She
stared at it, uncomprehendingly. The only thing that she knew for certain was
that the man claiming to be her father had told her “what’s inside will explain
all this.” She had no