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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.”