The Siren Read Online Free PDF Page A

not dead?”
    I glared at him. “I’ve been looking at this photograph for months. She’s dead.”
    He pulled another piece of paper from the folder and put it on my lap. It was a still image from the video surveillance system of a convenience store. The image was date-stamped just two days before. The exact same girl was looking directly into the camera.
    “Are you sure she’s dead?” Nathan asked with a smile.

3.

    Warren walked behind the couch and looked over my shoulder as I sat up and examined every detail about the woman’s appearance. As if reading my mind, Nathan handed me the photo from her missing report again, and I compared them side by side. “This is impossible,” I said, knowing exactly how wrong I was.
    Nathan tapped the picture with his finger. “Is she alive or dead?”  
    “Dead,” Warren and I answered at the same time.
    One side of Nathan’s mouth tipped up in a half-cocked smile. “This was taken two days ago. Didn’t you think she was dead before then?”
    “This must be someone who looks like Rachel Smith,” I reasoned.  
    Nathan frowned. “You know it’s the same woman.”
    “I hate to say it, Sloan”—Warren shook his head—“but I think Nathan’s right. They’re the same.”
    Nathan laughed and turned to look at him. “How did those words taste coming out of your mouth?”
    “Don’t get used to it,” Warren said.
    Nathan leaned against the armrest of the sofa and angled his head to look at me sideways. “Do you remember saying you felt like Warren was dead when you first saw him?” Nathan jabbed his thumb toward Warren behind me. “Yet here he is, alive and irritating and—”
    “And living here with Sloan,” Warren interrupted with an evil grin.
    I gave them both dirty looks. “Stop it.” I returned my attention to the two photos of Rachel Smith in my hands. Finally, I looked up at Warren. “Do you really think this is possible?”
    Nathan laughed. “No offense, but how can the two of you be possible?”
    Warren walked around the couch and sat on the coffee table in front of us. “I guess we aren’t alone,” he said. “I’ve always wondered if there might be more people like us out there.”
    I held up the new picture and looked at Nathan. “How did you get this?”
    Nathan sat back with an annoying amount of satisfaction. “The FBI sent it over while I was gone to Greensboro. Rachel Smith—or whoever this woman really is—isn’t dead.”
    I handed the photos back to him. “Good. Case closed.”
    Warren and Nathan both stared at me, and as if on cue, they crossed their arms over their chests in unison.
    I blew out a deep sigh and looked between them. “You seriously want to go and hunt this woman down?” They both smiled. I groaned and dropped my face into my hands. “The two of you are going to end up getting me fired.”
    Nathan clapped his hands together with excitement.
    Warren winked at me.
    I pointed at them both. “If we do this, I’m laying down some ground rules. I’m not refereeing the two of you the whole time, and I’m not doing any more hiking trips searching for dead bodies.”  
    They both laughed.  
    Warren reached toward Nathan for the photograph. “Where was this picture taken?”  
    Nathan passed it to him. “San Antonio, Texas.”
    I thought it over. “I like San Antonio. Good food, good shopping…”
    Warren smiled at me. “Road trip?”
    I shook my head. “I don’t drive anywhere over six hours. That’s why God created airplanes.”
    “Is that a yes?” he asked.
    I put up my hand. “Hold up.” I looked over at Nathan. “This isn’t related to your work. Why are you so interested in this?”
    He shrugged and flashed me one of his tantalizing grins. “I guess since you helped me solve my big mystery, it’s time for me to return the favor and help solve yours.”
    “This isn’t exactly police work. How will you get the time off?” I asked.
    “Vacation time?” he suggested.
    Frowning, I scrunched