Free The Bloodline War by Tracy Tappan Page B

it’s only been a few days, but she doesn’t seem like the type to blow me off.” Waterson shoved a hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a rubber band. “You can imagine my concern when I showed up at Scripps Memorial Hospital early Wednesday morning to investigate a violent crime, only to find out it’d been committed in your sister’s hospital room.”
    Alex startled. “What? You’re kidding?”
    “Unfortunately, I’m not.” Waterson circled the rubber band around his two index fingers like a pulley. Snappity-snappity . Over and over. “Toni wasn’t anywhere to be found, and none of the damned nurses working that morning could remember if the crime had been committed before or after Toni was transferred to Sharp Rehabilitation Hospital, so I—”
    Alex frowned. Huh ?
    “—immediately hauled my butt out to Sharp to check on her there. And guess what?” Snappity-snappity . “They have no record of her whatsoever. By now, of course, my detective alarms are clanging like crazy. I don’t like it when things don’t add up. So I head back to Scripps to find out what the F about your sister, and this time I talk to the folks up in Admin. They now inform me that Dr. Parthen has had to leave town suddenly on a personal family emergency, return date unspecified. But, hey, lo and behold, here I am talking to you, her brother, who’s clearly not off on a family emergency and seems fine and dandy.”
    “Holy cow, man.” Alex ran a hand through his hair. “Sounds like a screw up of the highest order. You can mellow out about Toni, though, okay. She’s at a hematology seminar in St. Louis. She emailed me just today.”
    Waterson’s brows flew up. “Really?” Then he blew out his cheeks. “Jesus Christ, what a relief.” He shoved the rubber band back into his pocket. “Hey, do you mind if I come inside for a minute? It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.”
    “Oh, sure.” Alex stepped aside to allow Waterson to walk past him, smiling apologetically. “California’s sun can be deceiving.” He closed the door. “You want some coffee? It’s hot.”
    “Thanks, that’d be great.” Waterson followed Alex into the kitchen. “I’m going to need Toni’s contact information. She’s not answering her cell, and I have to question her about what she might’ve witnessed in or near her hospital room Wednesday morning. But, mostly, hell, I just want to hear her voice and make sure she’s truly okay.”
    Alex pulled his Yes, I practice safe text mug out of the cupboard and crossed to the coffee pot. After this conversation, he needed the same. “Sure, man, as soon as I get her number, I’ll pass it on to you.” He handed the steaming mug to Waterson. “Cream and sugar?
    “Black’s fine.” Waterson took the mug, cupping his hands around it. “You don’t know her hotel info?”
    “No.” Alex leaned back against the kitchen counter.
    A flicker of surprise crossed Waterson’s face. “Have you asked her for the information?” He sipped the coffee.
    “Of course. Several times. But she keeps forgetting to tell me. This seminar’s keeping her super busy, and I think she’s just exceptionally distracted because of that.”
    Waterson took another sip. “This is really good coffee, by the way.” He was silent for a moment, just drinking. “Is that…unusual for your sister not to give you any contact information?”
    “Um….” Alex’s stomach felt funny all of a sudden. “Yeah, actually, it’s extremely unusual.”
    Waterson peered down into his mug for a long moment, then looked up. “My detective alarms are clanging again,” he said quietly.
    “Aw, c’mon, man.” Alex pushed off the counter. “Don’t say that.”
    Waterson set his coffee cup on the kitchen table. “Would you mind if I take a look at her emails?”
    “Shit.” Alex exhaled. “All right, yeah.” He led the way out of the kitchen.
    His office was nothing special, simply furnished with everything IKEA could