Storm Season Read Online Free PDF Page B

arrived. Neither of them looked her directly in the eyes.
    Typhoid Mary. Get involved with Mary Catherine Riggio and it ended badly for you. Always.
    She marched up to them. “You tell me you’ve got this. Look me in the eyes and tell me that. No fucking up."
    “We’ve got this, Riggio,” Baker said. “I promise you."
    Canataldi concurred. “For you, Riggio. We’ll locate him."
    “I found a smashed iPhone near the pond. It could be Erik’s. "She cleared her throat. “We need to know the last call he made and received. The cell tower pings."
    “We’ll take care of it."
    This was Erik. How did she let go?
    “I want to know everything,” she said. “Every step of the way."
    “Absolutely."
    “I’ll be on you like white on fricking rice. Don’t even contemplate slacking off or giving up, because I’ll kick your--”
    “We won’t. "Baker laid a hand on her shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze. “You have my word."

2:25 p.m.
    THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS were a nightmare. Baker and Canataldi questioned her, then questioned her again. Personal questions. About her and Erik’s relationship, the events of the night before and about his state of mind.
    As of this moment, no one had heard from him. Every possible contact had been called, from the various divisions of his company, SunCorp, to the members of the many boards he sat on. His personal calendar had been clear for this morning. Warrant to access mobile phone tracks had been given and delivered to Erik’s carrier.
    The weather had begun to turn. The wind had kicked up, the sky turning an ominous slate gray.
    The squad room went silent as M.C. entered. Suddenly everybody was too busy to even look up. News travelled fast in the ranks; bad news travelled faster.
    Kitt touched her arm. “I need to bring Sal up to speed. You’ll be okay.”
    It wasn’t a question but an affirmation. M.C. smiled grimly. “Thanks.”
    “Detective Riggio?”
    She looked over her shoulder at Nan, the unit secretary. “Messages?”
    “Your pizza.”
    “I didn’t order a pizza.”
    “It came for you an hour and a half ago. A Mama Riggio’s. Maybe your brothers sent it?”
    Her three youngest brothers, Tony, Max and Frank, did that sometimes. Sent over a pie when the restaurant was slow or they knew she was in the middle of an intense investigation and needed nourishment.
    “I was afraid to leave it on your desk or in the lunch room. Figured it’d be gone before you got back.”
    “Thanks, Nan." She retrieved the pie.
    “Detective Riggio?" M.C. looked back. The woman’s face puckered with concern. “I heard about . . . your friend and . . . I hope everything turns out okay.”
    A lump formed in her throat. Unable to speak, she just nodded then walked away.
    The lunch room was deserted. Usually just the thought of one of her brother’s pies had her mouth watering. Today, nothing. Though she had no desire to eat, her body needed the fuel.
    She flipped open the box. And caught her breath. A smiley face. Made out of pepperoni.
    It grinned up at her, mocking. Somehow sinister. Gotcha! it seemed to say.  Joke’s on you!
    Her brothers didn’t mean it that way. Even if they were three sadistic sons-of-bitches who hated her guts, they didn’t know about Erik. Sal had put a gag order on the case. Erik was an important man in Rockford, from an important family. His disappearance would be big news.
    But the timing was like a kick in the gut anyway.
    She stared at it, a sick feeling forming in the pit of her stomach. She opened her phone and dialed Mama Riggio’s. The hostess answered. “Hey Judy. One of my ass kissing brothers around?”
    “They’re in a meeting. And judging by the volume of their discussion, interrupting would be a very bad idea.”
    They did that. Loved each other to death and wanted to kill each other at the same time.
    “Just wanted to thank them for the pizza they sent over this afternoon.”
    “Wasn’t that cute?”
    Not quite how she’d describe