Page 131 of The Kingpin's Call Girl

My pulse races. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. “And you’ll tell me where my sister is?”

“Yes. In fact, she’s been asking for you.”

“So... you talked to her? Is she okay?”

“As okay as she can be in rehab. I know she’s been complaining about the food.”

“She’s in rehab? Where?”

“Here in the city.” He puts out his hands. “But don’t you have something for me first?”

“The story,” I say.

“All ears.”

I did tell him I had the story, but something about all of this feels too easy. But he’s watching my face, waiting. Luka did say he didn’t care if we had to tell him.

“He was in South America. Some reformatory in the jungle. When the place was attacked, he and Orton got out and went into the mercenary life.”

“Hold on. He was in a correctional school?”

“Yes, and they were kept under lock and key and taught by harsh priests. The whole thing.”

“Did you happen to get the name?”

“Saint something?”

“You don’t remember?” He pulls in a breath like he’sstruggling to keep his voice pleasant. “You were supposed to remember. Fine, never mind. And now I suppose you want your sister,” he says mockingly.

The whole thing feels weird, but I can’t tell if it’s because I’m still so freaked out about Darren or the fact that Bender is being so pleasant. “Yes, I want to know about my sister.”

He sighs dramatically. “I suppose you’ve earned it. She’s in the south wing of St. Benhilda. It’s a locked rehab facility.”

“And she’s been in that rehab this whole time?”

“It was the only way to keep her on ice for you, and no offense, but she wasn’t gonna clean up on her own. It’s a little bit beyond the pale, I know, but I think you’ll agree we’ve both gone beyond the pale.”

“So if I go there... I mean, can I just show up?”

“No, I’d have to sign her into your custody. She’s on what is known as a ten-week lockup. We could take care of that right now.” He checks his phone. “Otherwise, you’re going to have to wait for the weekend. I’ll sign her into your custody, and we’ll call it even. Your record’ll be clean, and we never met. Got it?”

He nods his head at a police car double-parked near the crosswalk.

I feel so confused. What if he didn’t kill Darren? What if this is exactly what it looks like: that Luka has a half-brother who’s obsessed with knowing about him? One thing I know for sure is he has my sister. She’s alive and well. There’s no other way he could have gotten that information.

“Where is this place?”

“Queens. Just over the bridge.”

“Why didn’t she contact me?”

“Rules. Like I said, it’s a locked facility. Come on. I have to be back across town at three. We’re doing this now or next week. Up to you.” He walks to his car.

I catch up. “All this time and they didn’t let her contact family?”

“What part of locked rehab rules do you not understand?”

“But isn’t it illegal to hold someone against their will for more than seventy-two hours?”

---