Bannon Brothers Read Online Free PDF Page A

front doors. The cinder-block building was almost deserted. Late in the afternoon, the people on the day shift cleared out in a hurry. But he knew Doris would still be there. He went down the basement stairs, the small wrapped watercolor in his hand.
    Doris glanced up when he entered. She was sitting at the table, the documents from the Montgomery file spread out in front of her. “Back for more? You’re a glutton for punishment.” She straightened in her chair and rubbed her neck wearily. “I’ve been glued to this since you’ve been gone. Big mistake.”
    â€œTake a break.”
    She managed a smile. “That’s good advice. Did you get your errands done?”
    â€œYeah.” He’d almost forgotten that white lie. “I went by the Art Walk. Thanks for the tip.” He patted his stomach. “I scored some pie.”
    â€œDid you bring me some?” she asked with mock annoyance.
    â€œYou said you didn’t want anything to eat. But I got you a present. You like horses, right?” He held up the wrapped package.
    â€œI like to bet on horses. Other people can ride them. What’s that?”
    RJ handed it to her. “Open it and find out.”
    Doris slid off her swivel chair. “It isn’t my birthday, is it? Am I getting so old that I forget my own birthday?”
    He smiled. “Just open the damn thing.”
    Doris laughed and took her time, unpicking the knot in the string with care. The watercolor of the horse glowed under the overhead fluorescent lights, a touch of nature in the ugly basement. “That’s really nice, RJ,” she said with pleased surprise. “It’s not a print, is it?”
    â€œNo, it’s an original.”
    â€œLocal artist?”
    â€œShe didn’t say, but I think so.”
    â€œAha. She.” Doris put the small framed painting where she could see it and studied him for a moment. “Was she pretty?”
    â€œDamn straight.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought.” She grinned. “Still, it’s a beautiful little painting. Thanks.”
    â€œMy pleasure.”
    â€œSo, are you going to see her again?”
    RJ only shrugged.
    â€œYou don’t have to stay, you know,” she chided affectionately. “Go chase girls. Leave me in the basement to suffer.”
    â€œFeeling sorry for yourself?”
    Doris got up, stretching a little. “A little.”
    RJ glanced at the table and the rows of files. “Let’s just do what we can in an hour and call it a day, how about that?”
    â€œAll right with me.” Returning to her workstation, Doris clicked in and out of various programs as he handed her documents she asked for from the Montgomery files. He deliberately didn’t read them. Right now he didn’t want to be ensnared by the grim futility of the kidnapping case. He’d much rather be tracking down a certain artist with dark hair and incredible blue eyes.
    He handed the faded reward poster to Doris. She used the staple remover to unclip the bank document from it, pulling the thin metal prongs out with a hard yank.
    â€œIt’s just plain wrong for all this dough to go back to Hugh Montgomery,” she muttered. “The money ought to be given to Ann’s mother if no one’s going to claim it.” She slid the first page of the bank document into the scanner and closed the lid firmly. “Did you read the fine print in the trust?”
    â€œI glanced at it. Fine print or no fine print, Montgomery can’t be accused of stealing his own money,” Bannon reasoned. “And he doesn’t have to give it away if the trust is set to expire in another year. Considering the girl has never been found and the police are about to close the case on it, it’s a logical end.”
    â€œIt may be logical, but it still sucks,” Doris grumbled and picked up the last page of the bank document to slide it in the scanner.