Read Diner Knock Out (A Rose Strickland Mystery Book 4) for Free Online

good look at his torso—nice muscles, but not excessive. And he came equipped with an attitude, scowling at me through the screen door.
    “We already got Jesus, lady. Go away.” A TV and a crying baby blared in the background.
    “My name is Rose Strickland. I’m here to see Sofia,” I said, loud enough to be heard over the din.
    As he looked me up and down, his surly expression didn’t change. “Just a minute.” He turned and yelled over his shoulder, “Sof, somebody’s asking for you.”
    A moment later, Sofia Morales popped into view. She was even more beautiful than her license picture. Long, dark waves fell over her shoulders. Her chocolate brown eyes smoldered with just the right amount of smoky shadow. “Can I help you with something?”
    “I’m looking into the disappearance of Rob Huggins.” That sounded more dramatic and official than I’d intended, but it got her attention. “Kai Adams contacted me. I work for the Thomas Detective Agency.”
    Sofia’s brows swooped downward. “So Rob’s really missing?” Inside the house, the baby’s shrill scream rose in pitch. Sofia nudged the young guy out of the way. I took them for brother and sister—they shared the same straight nose, the same almond-shaped eyes. “Go put a shirt on, Franco. It’s almost time for dinner.”
    With a sneer, he walked away.
    Sofia motioned me inside. I followed her around a wall which partitioned the rest of the house from the entryway. The living room was crammed with furniture and a small playpen had been shoved into one corner.
    She switched off the TV before scooping the baby from its cot. It stopped crying the minute she picked it up. Tears and snot and drool mixed together, and the whole disgusting combination dripped off the kid’s chin. Kind of gross, but I guessed once you gave birth to it, you became immune.
    “This is my daughter, Olivia.” Sofia perched on the edge of a blue rocker, holding the baby on her lap.
    “She’s gorgeous.” This kid was no Scotty, but her brown eyes and long, wet lashes were pretty cute. I sat on the sofa and tried to ignore the spicy aroma wafting from the next room. An older woman moved in and out of view, placing bowls of food in the center of the kitchen table. “I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, but I need to ask you about Rob.”
    As Sofia bounced Olivia on her knee, she frowned. “I didn’t take Kai seriously when he said Rob was missing. But I was running late for work this morning, so I didn’t have much time to chat. Are you sure about this? Maybe…” She stopped talking and smoothed one hand over the baby’s head. “Maybe he finally had enough and left us.” Whatever their differences, it was obvious she still cared.
    “When was the last time you talked to him?”
    “Tuesday night.” She still didn’t glance up, but stroked a tuft of Olivia’s thin hair. “We had a big argument a few weeks ago, and I moved out. When I didn’t hear from him, I figured he was giving me time to cool off.” She shook her head and lifted her chin. When her eyes met mine, they were filled with tears. “Rob loves me. Us. But we’re not a priority.”
    “And what is Rob’s priority?” I asked.
    “I don’t know if Kai told you, but Rob is into mixed martial arts. Fighting is the only thing he really cares about. I’m tired of being second place.”
    “Has he ever done this before? Taken off without telling anyone?”
    “No. But he’s always talking about moving to a bigger city, where he could train at a better gym. Maybe St. Louis or Chicago.”
    “So you think it’s possible he up and left? Without saying a word?”
    “I don’t know,” she whispered, and lowered her shoulders. “Not really.”
    “What about his family?”
    “He wouldn’t go there. He’s not close to his parents.”
    “Kai said no one from the gym has heard from him either.”
    Sofia worked her knee up and down, bouncing the baby faster. “You’re starting to worry me. What should