Lucas Read Online Free PDF Page B

right, that he was going to enjoy a few days of civilization and head back.
    When Penny had first called her, saying Dan had missed his regular check-in, the first thing she’d done was access his phone records. Since he traveled to a lot of places where cell service was spotty, he always carried a satellite phone with him, which enabled him to make calls without being within range of the town’s cell tower. She found only one other call after the one Dan had made to her, and that was to Penelope in San Francisco . Unfortunately, Dan also had a tendency to pick up a disposable phone whenever he was in range of a cell signal, using that and then throwing it away, instead of carrying around the more expensive, and heavier, satellite phone. So while Kathryn knew when he’d called her and Penny, she had no way of knowing whom else he might have called locally.
    On the one hand, it was good to know that her brother had been well and happy when he’d left the park two weeks ago. But on the other hand, so far she hadn’t learned anything she didn’t already know.
    She beeped the locks on her rental SUV, opened the door, and then just stood there for a moment, leaning her forehead on the warm metal of the door frame. Her chest ached, and tears threatened as she fought off a wave of despair. If she could find even one clue, a single hint that would tell her what had happened . . . she needed a direction, and she didn’t have it.
    The slam of a truck door behind her had her straightening, blinking away the tears. She turned quickly, afraid someone might have seen her. But there was only a flash of khaki as one of the rangers disappeared through the side door of the visitor center.
    Kathryn drew a deep breath and slid into the driver’s seat, surreptitiously wiping away the few tears. She pulled over her laptop and checked the list she’d already memorized. Next stop was the motel where Dan had stayed. His room was still there, still racking up nightly charges. She’d assured the motel manager on the phone that she would pay for it, although she suspected the motel was pretty empty this time of year anyway. But she didn’t care about the money. She’d just wanted to be sure Dan’s things were left untouched. Maybe that was where she’d find that one clue she was looking for.
    The motel was the only one in town—flat-roofed, one story, and without a single identifying characteristic. Even its color was a boring beige that blended so well into the desert one could probably miss the building entirely on a hot day, with the heat rippling the air. It was a long step down from the type of hotel her brother usually stayed in, although, as with the backcountry camping, Daniel was more than willing to rough it to get the shot he wanted.
    Kathryn parked in front of the office and went inside. The day manager’s name was Jason Kenton.
    “Mister Kenton,” she said, “I’m Kathryn Hunter. We spoke on the phone.” She didn’t use her FBI ID for this one. She was already feeling guilty about that, and it wasn’t necessary in this case since she was paying the bill.
    “Daniel’s sister,” Kenton said, looking up from a cluttered desk behind the check-in counter. He looked groggy, as if she’d woken him from a nap. He stood slowly, stretching out his muscles and yawning without any attempt to conceal it. Kathryn waited impatiently until he finally strolled across the six feet separating them and reached for a key hanging on a numbered board.
    “His things are all in there, just like you asked. I haven’t even let the maid clean. Didn’t see much point, and I didn’t want to mess anything up, just in case.”
    “Thanks,” Kathryn said, smiling as she took the key. “I’ll be staying a few days, so I might as well use the room, if that’s all right with you.”
    Kenton shrugged. “You’re paying the bill. Don’t matter to me who sleeps there, as long as there’s nothing funny goin ’ on.”
    Kathryn blinked,