Shetani's Sister Read Online Free PDF

twelve-to-sixteen-hour shifts on that fast track out there would drag the ass of an iron man. I will be happy to take a vacation.”
    Bleeson stood with his hand extended. “Russell, you and your guys won the war and set an example of grit and accomplishment for every vice cop in the department. Take three weeks, whenever you wish.”
    Rucker shook hands. “I appreciate that, and thanks so much, Lieutenant.”
    Rucker turned away and walked to the door. He stopped and faced Bleeson, seated behind the desk. “Lieutenant, someone in our squad will have to fill my spot while I’m away. I’d like to recommend Leo Crane.”
    Bleeson smiled and nodded his head. “That’s a very good choice, Russell.”
    Rucker opened the door. “Thanks again, Lieutenant,” he said as he pulled the door shut behind him. He walked toward the front of the building. He paused beside lanky, fortyish Leo Crane at the sign-in desk. Crane’s sleepy gray eyes widened for an instant when Rucker banged a palm against his shoulder as he turned away from the desk.
    “Hey, Russ, what the hell are you so happy about?” Crane said as he studied Rucker’s grinning face.
    “I’m taking three weeks off from the fucking sewer, and guess who is covering my spot?” Rucker said as they walked toward a briefing room a few yards away.
    “Shit, that’s easy. It’s gonna be me, the cop that makes the pimps and whores piss on themselves before they flee into the wind.”
    They laughed as they entered the medium-sized room where Rucker would brief the first shift. The four members of the special team were seated at a rectangular table, joking and shooting the breeze. The squad worked two five-man shifts, from 3:00 to 11 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    The room became silent as Crane seated himself, followed by Rucker, who took his seat at the head of the table. The group’s ages were between twenty-eight and forty-three, with Rucker, at fifty-two, the oldest member.
    Rucker glanced at his wristwatch. “Men, it’s late, so I’ll be brief with my remarks. I’ve got myself a three-week vacation, and Leo will be in charge in my absence. You guys are gonna be all right so long as you don’t rest on your laurels and let the bad guys and broads get another foothold. True, there are a lot of Hollywood hookers doing bits at Sybil Brand. But there is an army of them working sections of L.A. and Vegas and Albuquerque. That army is waiting to get the message that the heat is off in Hollywood, hooker heaven. You guys are the best cops there are, and I’m confident they will never get that message from you. I know you’re gonna keep the streets of Hollywood clean for decent people. They deserve it.”
    Rucker got to his feet as the group applauded. He turned and moved into the hallway, followed by the others.
    Two days after Rucker’s meeting with his squad, he arrived at New York’s Kennedy Airport. Opal Lenski and her mother, Rebecca, met Rucker. He was surprised to see how closely they resembled each other. Like Opal, Rebecca was a statuesque, shapely woman with magnetic dark eyes and a mane of blue-black hair slightly streaked with gray.
    They rushed him with hugs and kisses before he claimed his luggage. They went to the Lenskis’ vintage Packard. Rucker insisted that he would do the driving to their home in distant Brooklyn. He opened doors for them and got under the wheel, beside Opal.
    “Russell, when you leave the airport, I’ll give you directions for the shortest way home,” Rebecca said from the back seat.
    Rucker said thanks as he half turned toward her. He froze for an instant before he keyed on the engine and moved the Packard. Rebecca was holding a
Christian Science Monitor
publication! His prejudice against and opposition to the cult were white-hot and soul-deep. He thought of Ray, his lovable and late older brother. He had been a Christian Scientist when he got pneumonia. Rucker had begged him, even tried to force him to get medical attention.