The Investigator Read Online Free PDF

evening.
    “I see you made it out of there, after all. You certainly smell a lot fresher.”
    Riley glanced up as Chase pulled out the empty stool next to him and ordered a beer.
    “Yeah, it didn’t take as long as I thought.”
    “So, what was the story? They found the old girl wandering down the road, right?”
    Picking up his glass, Riley took another swallow. “Nope, nothing like that. The daughter took offence to my manner and stormed out of the office before I could do more than cover the basics.”
    “Sounds like you’re losing your city-boy charm. Maybe the women of Watervale have started to catch on?”
    Riley ignored Chase’s jest. “For your information, she’s not a local, although she did spend most of her childhood in town.”
    Chase looked curious. “Really? I’ve lived here all my life. Who is it? I might be able to shed some light on her.”
    “Kathryn Collins. Goes by Kate.”
    Chase frowned. “Kate Collins. Can’t say I remember her. How old is she?”
    “She’s a couple of years younger than you, but she says she left town ten years ago. Her mother’s married to Commander Watson.”
    Chase’s eyes widened. “Kate Watson? Christ, is she back in town? I wonder how she turned out? I had a hard-on for her all through high school. She was a real looker!”
    Riley bit back an instinctive protest. “Yeah, well nothing much has changed. She’s a looker all right.”
    Sonia placed a schooner of beer in front of Chase and hovered close, making no attempt to disguise her interest in their conversation.
    Picking up the glass, Chase nodded his thanks and took a sip before turning back to Riley. “So, Kate came in to report her mother missing?”
    “Yeah, but she went further than that. She thinks the commander’s murdered her.” Riley shook his head. “Can you believe it?”
    “She always was a bit of a drama queen,” Chase replied. “I was a couple of grades ahead of her at school, but I remember her having a reputation for being a bit of a troublemaker. She was always getting into strife with the principal, Mr Savage. Not that it mattered to me. With looks like hers, she could get away with anything. Besides, old man Savage was a bit of a jerk.”
    Chase nodded toward Sonia. “You remember Kate Watson, don’t you? You were in the same class. What do you think she was like?”
    Glad for the invitation to participate in their conversation, Sonia leaned across the bar. Her breasts in full view, pressed provocatively against the wood.
    “Kate Watson. Yeah, I remember her. She took off halfway through the eighth grade. Never saw her after that. It was right before the athletics carnival. Most of us were glad. It meant at least some of us had a chance at winning a ribbon or two.”
    “She was an athlete,” Riley stated, raising his eyes from Sonia’s chest.
    She shrugged. The movement sent her cleavage wobbling. Riley braced himself, half-expecting the bountiful flesh to spill out onto the bar.
    “I guess so. She wasn’t competitive or anything. You never saw her training. But she was fast. She used to win all the sprints.”
    “What was she like in school? Did she have many friends?” Riley asked.
    Sonia looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. I guess she did. Like Chase said, she was really pretty. A lot of the girls didn’t like her. Mainly because of that, I think—jealous, most of them. She was always popular with the boys.” She gave Chase a pointed look. “Not that she paid them any attention. She kept to herself a lot of the time. You’d best talk to Cally Savage. She knew her better than anyone.”
    Riley turned to Chase with a raised eyebrow. “Any relation to the principal?”
    Chase nodded slowly. “Yeah, his daughter. I remember Kate used to hang around Cally a bit. Before Kate took off.”
    “Where can I find Cally?” Riley asked. “Is she still in town?”
    “No, she fell pregnant at sixteen,” Chase replied. “Not a good look for the principal of Watervale