The Blood of Brothers: A Sycamore Moon Novel (Sycamore Moon Series Book 2) by Domino Finn Page A
Authors: Domino Finn
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detective. "Well, thanks for saving me a trip to the station, Chuck. That was nice of you."
The officer's face tightened. He hadn't meant this as a sincere courtesy, but he had in fact made things easier on the detective. Still, Maxim didn't know if Chuck was going to let it go at that. After a moment passed, the officer relaxed and began chewing a piece of gum that Maxim hadn't noticed was already in his mouth.
"No problem," said Chuck. "It beats doing the rounds at an empty casino. I'm not just some security guard, you know."
Maxim nodded. Chuck obviously had some issues, but who could blame him? The tribal department was small, like the marshal's office, but there was much less to do. Crime on the reservation was notoriously low. Maxim always figured it had to do with the mercenaries. They were the ones running the show, probably even running the police. But Chuck was a white guy. He didn't seem to have overflowing love for the Yavapai. Maxim wondered if he was even part of the tribe.
He considered asking about those details before something else Chuck had said stuck out to him. "Wait, what do you mean empty casino?"
"The new one," answered the officer with aplomb, as if the casino was the biggest thing in the news. In Prescott, it probably was. "There's an opening ceremony tonight."
"Oh," said Maxim. He knew there was another casino or two on the reservation, but they were old. Outdated. The new one was the casino of the future to replace them all. Maxim had no idea it was just opening. "Maybe I'll head over there after I talk to the family."
Chuck shook his head emphatically. "It's a soft opening only. You can't go without a personal invitation from somebody important."
The detective beheld the officer with obvious amusement. "Well it's a good thing I know you, Chuck."
Officer Winston worked his jaw hard on the gum in his mouth. Maxim figured it was a stress reliever or something. Finally, Chuck reached for the roof of the car, pulled his frame halfway out, then paused. "Maybe I can work it in after we do the rounds."
"Rounds?"
Chuck winked. "The notification to the family. I'm coming with you."
Maxim didn't want an escort. He still had to check for a match with the dentist. "Hey, Chuck. That's another nice gesture, but it's really not necessary."
"Yes, it is," he said, struggling to pull free from the bucket seat. When Chuck was finally on his feet, he slammed the car door and turned away. "You and me are gonna be real good friends."
Chapter 13
Kayda knocked on the warped front door. The house was older than she remembered, but already she was comforted. This was, after all, why she was here. She would work herself up to facing everybody else, but her grandfather would be the first and most enjoyable visit.
While waiting for the old man to answer, the wind chime hanging from the metal lattice caught her ear. It brought back a flood of memories as a child, stretching her arms high in an attempt to reach it. It was funny. She had so many memories of jumping up at it, but she couldn't remember the first time she was tall enough to grab it. It was one of those milestones that wasn't a big deal as soon as it could be done. There was always something better to reach for. She brushed her fingers across the clay and string, as if to prove she was taller now.
While pacing on the small porch, Kayda's thoughts turned to the old neighborhood. Her eyes eventually moved to the street. That's when she saw the red pickup. She thought her grandfather would be here alone. Now she knew she would have to say hi to her brother as well.
The door swung open and a man with wiry skin browned by the Arizona sun stood on the threshold. "Kayda."
Kelan was her half brother, really. The younger of two big brothers from another father, they were ten years apart. She had always looked up to him and Carlos. They were cool. Confident. Leaders of men. But their status had made them tough and distant.
At first Kayda
The officer's face tightened. He hadn't meant this as a sincere courtesy, but he had in fact made things easier on the detective. Still, Maxim didn't know if Chuck was going to let it go at that. After a moment passed, the officer relaxed and began chewing a piece of gum that Maxim hadn't noticed was already in his mouth.
"No problem," said Chuck. "It beats doing the rounds at an empty casino. I'm not just some security guard, you know."
Maxim nodded. Chuck obviously had some issues, but who could blame him? The tribal department was small, like the marshal's office, but there was much less to do. Crime on the reservation was notoriously low. Maxim always figured it had to do with the mercenaries. They were the ones running the show, probably even running the police. But Chuck was a white guy. He didn't seem to have overflowing love for the Yavapai. Maxim wondered if he was even part of the tribe.
He considered asking about those details before something else Chuck had said stuck out to him. "Wait, what do you mean empty casino?"
"The new one," answered the officer with aplomb, as if the casino was the biggest thing in the news. In Prescott, it probably was. "There's an opening ceremony tonight."
"Oh," said Maxim. He knew there was another casino or two on the reservation, but they were old. Outdated. The new one was the casino of the future to replace them all. Maxim had no idea it was just opening. "Maybe I'll head over there after I talk to the family."
Chuck shook his head emphatically. "It's a soft opening only. You can't go without a personal invitation from somebody important."
The detective beheld the officer with obvious amusement. "Well it's a good thing I know you, Chuck."
Officer Winston worked his jaw hard on the gum in his mouth. Maxim figured it was a stress reliever or something. Finally, Chuck reached for the roof of the car, pulled his frame halfway out, then paused. "Maybe I can work it in after we do the rounds."
"Rounds?"
Chuck winked. "The notification to the family. I'm coming with you."
Maxim didn't want an escort. He still had to check for a match with the dentist. "Hey, Chuck. That's another nice gesture, but it's really not necessary."
"Yes, it is," he said, struggling to pull free from the bucket seat. When Chuck was finally on his feet, he slammed the car door and turned away. "You and me are gonna be real good friends."
Chapter 13
Kayda knocked on the warped front door. The house was older than she remembered, but already she was comforted. This was, after all, why she was here. She would work herself up to facing everybody else, but her grandfather would be the first and most enjoyable visit.
While waiting for the old man to answer, the wind chime hanging from the metal lattice caught her ear. It brought back a flood of memories as a child, stretching her arms high in an attempt to reach it. It was funny. She had so many memories of jumping up at it, but she couldn't remember the first time she was tall enough to grab it. It was one of those milestones that wasn't a big deal as soon as it could be done. There was always something better to reach for. She brushed her fingers across the clay and string, as if to prove she was taller now.
While pacing on the small porch, Kayda's thoughts turned to the old neighborhood. Her eyes eventually moved to the street. That's when she saw the red pickup. She thought her grandfather would be here alone. Now she knew she would have to say hi to her brother as well.
The door swung open and a man with wiry skin browned by the Arizona sun stood on the threshold. "Kayda."
Kelan was her half brother, really. The younger of two big brothers from another father, they were ten years apart. She had always looked up to him and Carlos. They were cool. Confident. Leaders of men. But their status had made them tough and distant.
At first Kayda
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