Free Relatively Rainey by R. E. Bradshaw

‘we best get at it.’ ”
    Katie spun away from her. “You want foreplay?” she asked playfully.
    She then reached for the bottom of her long red dress, shimmied it over her head, threw it on the floor, and started dancing down the hall with her back turned to Rainey. She peeled the remaining layers from her body and tossed them over her shoulder. Rainey stood frozen in place. Katie disappeared into the bedroom and crooked a finger out the door, beckoning Rainey to come hither. A few seconds had passed, before Katie stuck her head out the door to see why her invitation was being ignored.
    “Oh, hi Constance,” Katie said to Rainey’s mother, who was standing next to her daughter. “Sorry about that.”
    “Oh no, nothing to be sorry about. I heard noise on the baby monitor. I just came to make sure they were still asleep. Sorry to interrupt. Good night.” Constance elbowed Rainey as she turned to leave, trying desperately not to burst out laughing. “If I looked like that, I’d dance naked in the hall for John too.”
    Rainey didn’t speak or move until she heard the door close on the guest bedroom her mother occupied. Katie leaned on the bedroom doorframe giggling.
    Rainey sighed heavily. “That’s going to take a while to forget. I may never have sex again.”

    #

    10:35 AM, Monday, February 23, 2015
    Durham County Sherriff’s Office
    Criminal Investigations Division
    Interview Room

    The soldier stood when she entered the room.
    “Good afternoon, I’m Detective Robertson.”
    “Good afternoon, ma’am. Staff Sergeant Russell Whitaker,” he said, shaking her extended hand.
    Sizing up the young soldier, a living recruitment poster for the armed services, Sheila commented, “You’re mighty young for a Staff Sergeant.”
    Russell Whitaker smiled. “I just received the promotion. The Army has an up or out policy. I like to keep the Army happy, ma’am.”
    “Please, have a seat.” Sheila gestured to his chair. She took the one opposite and continued, “A career man, I take it—be all you can be.”
    “Hooah, ma’am.”
    “I understand you think something may have happened to your sister.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been to her house. Drove up from Bragg this morning. I got worried when Kaitlyn didn’t check in this weekend.”
    “You and your sister, you stay in touch regularly?”
    “Yes, ma’am. We have a standing appointment to check with each other on Friday nights. Our parents are abusive alcoholics. Me and sis, we fought our way out of that life. She’s four years younger, so when I was eighteen and joined the Army, I came back to get her after I got out of basic. I got custody of her from the state. While I was deployed she stayed with my Colonel’s family. She went through high school pretty much on her own.”
    He became emotional but smiled through the welling tears.
    “She made straight As. Got a four-year scholarship, graduated magna cum laude from State College last spring. She started graduate school and working at the research library on campus in the fall. She loves books and—” His voice cracked with emotion, saying, “Oh, God,” before he broke into sobs.
    Russell Whitaker was scared and helpless. A big tough soldier, straight and tall, who was realizing that even with all his warrior skills, he could not protect his baby sister.
    Sheila gave him the time he needed to recompose, before seeking more information.
    “So, am I to understand your sister missed a standing check in time on Friday?”
    Russell’s breathing calmed. He wiped the tears from his cheeks, before visibly resuming a soldier’s posture, eyes forward.
    “Yes, ma’am, but that was prearranged. Kaitlyn had dinner plans with colleagues after work, before attending a lecture she had been looking forward to Friday evening. We agreed to speak on Saturday morning. She did not respond to my calls, texts, or emails. That is very out of character, ma’am.”
    Sheila smiled, trying to ease the impact of the