Free Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Saving Sarah (Kindle Worlds Novella) (New Orleans Connection Series Book 7) by Kathy Ivan Page A

remember Walter?"  He directed the question to Ranger.  With his nod, he continued, "Walter's been hanging out down in The Quarter most evenings lately.  Panhandling, figured the tourists would be soft touches.  Been sleeping in a bolt-hole behind a couple of clubs." 
    "Dad, get to the point.  Sarah would rather hear the unvarnished truth.  You don't have to pretty things up." 
    Gator frowned at him, his eyes narrowed.  "Don't you be telling me how to tell my story, boy.  Gonna do things my way."  His frown turned into a smile when he looked at Sarah.  "I can tell you're a strong woman, sugar, and more than able to handle the truth.  But, I'm gonna tell it like Walter told me, regardless of what my hardheaded son wants." 
    Sarah chuckled.  "You tell it any way you want, Gator.  We'll listen and not interrupt again."  She shot Ranger a glare, but he read the humor in her eyes.  He played along and threw his hands in the air in an exaggerated movement. 
    "Fine." 
    Gator snorted.  "Anyway, Walter said he saw a couple coming out the back of Bimini Jack's.  Thinks it was a Friday or Saturday night, but he isn't positive.  Only reason he remembers is 'cos most folks don't leave through the back door.  It's one of them employees-only kind."
    Gator paused to take a sip of his iced tea, and Ranger wanted to reach across and throttle him.  His daddy had a way of telling a story, and he wouldn't be rushed.  He ought to be used to it by now, but he'd rather just get the facts so they could head back into town and keep looking for Anna.  Because he knew deep in his gut time was running out.  He'd allowed himself to hope after the last dream that she really was still alive, and waiting for them to find her. 
    "Walter said the girl was kinda unsteady on her feet, like maybe she'd had too much to drink.  Only the guy, a big hulking fella he said, grabbed her arm and started hustling her along, and she tried to yank her arm away from the guy.  They tussled a bit, but not so much he felt like he should interfere.  The way Walter figured, they were having a lover's quarrel, and he wasn't about to get in the middle of that.  The little gal stumbled and lost her shoes.  Said she mumbled under her breath, but didn't stop to pick 'em up.  Went along with the big fellow willingly after that.  Just walked around the corner barefoot, and he didn't see them again after that."
    Gator reached onto the chair beside him and lifted a brown paper sack Ranger hadn't noticed.  Reaching inside, he pulled out a pair of women's shoes.  Dainty and pretty, they had about three inch heels and were covered with multicolored sparkles that glittered in the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window.
    Sarah's gasp said it all.  He didn't need to see the color leach from her cheeks, to know she recognized them.  Those pretty heels belonged to her sister. 
    "Those are Anna's."  Her hand shook as it reached for one shoe, her fingertip stroking along its glittering surface.  "We each picked up a pair of cheap heels on the clearance rack at the store, and stopped at the craft store and bought the sparkles and glitter.  We thought it would be a great idea to make matching sets, the shoes and these little clutch purses.  It was a project we worked on together, for our parent's anniversary party."  Her voice hitched on the last word.  "I didn't know she'd taken them with her when she left for school." 
    Gator reached across and gently patted her hand.  "You gotta understand, hon, there's only so much credence you can pay Walter's story.  He's a good man, but living on the streets, he tends to be drunk more than sober most of the time, or high when he can score the money for a fix.  He picked up the shoes to sell 'em, except I got to him before he had a chance." 
    Ranger looked at his dad, who was watching him closely, before turning to her.  "We're gonna find her, Sarah." 
    "I know," she whispered.  Wiping away the tears,