Free Mystery: Missing Rita: (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Suspense Thriller Mystery) by James Kipling

usual bickering and scrutiny.
    “O.k.”
    “So does that mean you have a follow up appointment with her?” Lohan asked.
    “Yes I do, tomorrow same time as now.”
    “O.k., I will not say a thing but I will be here and stand next to you as I wait for your plan to go up in flames.”
    “It will not go up in flames, Lohan! Come on, have faith in me.”
    “I barely have faith in myself, dear boy,” he answered and got into the passenger’s seat. Sam automatically took the driver’s seat and started the car.
    “Let's go get some lunch,” Lohan said as Sam drove out of the parking lot.
    “It is barely midday.”
    “My watch says it’s 11:45,” he said. “We should beat the midday rush if we go to my favorite burger joint right around the corner.”
    “O.k.” Sam was not in the mood to argue. He drove towards the suggested destination with a lot on his mind. He had taken a liking to Tracy, he loved her ‘I don’t care’ attitude, her raw, unattended appearance and her strong, almost manly features. As much as Lohan doubted him, he knew he was on to something with her and she could help a great deal in the case, particularly from knowing about Rita’s childhood. He had come to a conclusion from what he knew so far and couldn't wait to know more about the case. Both women were unpleasant and wicked in their own way. He couldn’t understand why but he strongly suspected it had something to do with their upbringing. He threw a side glance at Lohan who was equally immersed in his own thoughts and decided to tell him his conclusion later on. He concentrated on the road ahead but knew they were in for the ride of their lives.
     
    *****
     
    Ryan sat in his living room with a bag of chips in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other. It was only 10:00 in the morning and he was feeling tipsy. He flipped through the channels for the millionth time that day before settling on a cooking show. His cell phone vibrated right next to him and he reluctantly had to place his glass of scotch aside. He picked up the phone and loved the sweet voice that echoed from the other side.
    “Morning, Ryan.”
    “Morning, Yvonne.”
    “How are you holding up today?”
    “I am thinking of taking a bath today.”
    “That is progress,” she said and Ryan could tell she was holding back on what she really wanted to say.
    “Have you eaten anything today?”
    “Not yet but I was thinking about it.”
    “That is again progress,” she said. “I am going to leave work early today and I was wondering if I could come over and cook for you.”
    “That depends.”
    “On what?” Yvonne asked curiously.
    “On what you want to cook.”
    “Why your favorite of course – pork roast just how you like it.”
    “That sounds like a good plan,” Ryan answered.
    “Alright, I will see you then.”
    “See you then,” Ryan asked and hung up the phone. He took back his glass of scotch and took a sip from it before looking at the television screen. He could not shake off the thought of Yvonne making him the pork roast but was distracted by the doorbell.
    He was not in the mood to entertain any company especially any police officers who he suspected were at his door. He decided to ignore it but got to his feet when the knock grew more persistent. The walk to his front door seemed to be miles and he silently cursed whoever was behind it. He did not bother to check the peephole and swung open the door with a very unpleasant look on his face.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Ryan did not know what exactly to be shocked at the question or the person on the other side of the door.
    “And good morning to you too, Tracy.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me about her death?”
    “I assumed you would know.”
    “Are you going to let me in?”
    Ryan hesitated for a moment after being asked the question and stepped aside. He watched as she strolled into his house and noticed the different changes that were apparent on her.
    “I haven’t seen you in a