Power Play. Beverly Long

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СКАЧАТЬ wasn’t any space in the timeline for her to dawdle or think about next steps.

      Why the hell would she have thought her only option was to run? This had to be something serious. His first thought was drugs. Was she dealing? He just couldn’t see that. She was the picture of the all-American girl. She certainly wasn’t using. Too healthy.

      Could it be more personal? Had she gotten involved with a married man and now the wife was causing her trouble? Maybe. But again, didn’t fit in his head.

      Or had she gotten involved with a man and tried to break it off and was he now trying to convince her that she’d made a wrong decision. He knew it was a long shot but he picked up his phone and dialed a friend in the police department.

      “Hi, Trey,” Gus Warren answered. “How’s it going?”

      “Fine,” he said. “Hey, I’ve got a case and I just need to know what I’m getting myself into,” he said. “Can you tell me if there have been any police responses to 5331 North Maggie, Apartment 2C in the last six months?”

      “Sure, hang on.” There was a few minutes of silence. “Nope. Nothing.”

      “Any protection orders for a Kellie McGarry?”

      Again, silence. “I got nothing,” Gus said.

      Trey didn’t know if he felt better or worse. Everything was a dead end. “Great. Thank you,” he said.

      “No problem. Call me when you want to lose some money at cards.”

      “I’ll do that,” Trey said. He liked playing with Gus. He was a smart card player. Still, Trey very rarely lost to him.

      He pulled into his driveway and quickly got out of his car. It took him less than five minutes to pack what he needed. He tossed everything into the bed of his truck, on top of the tools that he always carried with him. He made sure the top was affixed and then took off.

      He drove directly back to the bus depot, pulling in at 7:05. When he walked in, he picked the shortest line to stand in. Finally got to the window and pulled up the text that he’d sent to Anthony. The middle-aged Hispanic woman looked at it. Eyes on sister. Was that going to be enough that she’d believe his story? Since it was all he had, he was going with it.

      “I’m looking for my sister,” Trey said. “She bought a ticket very early this morning, probably around 4:30 a.m. We have a family emergency and must get in contact with her. Were you working last night?”

      “I was,” the woman said, staring at the photo. “Such lovely hair.”

      Trey discreetly slid a fifty dollar bill across the counter. The woman barely glanced at it before pushing it back in his direction. “I’m sorry, sir, but we’re not allowed to give out any information about passengers.”

      “Our mother,” Trey said, “is dying. I have to let her know.”

      The woman sighed. “Sorry. Are you buying a ticket or not?” she asked.

      He shook his head. He would try the other windows. Maybe somebody would be swayed by the money. He stepped away and almost bumped into the young man with the nose ring who he’d spoken to earlier. “Sorry,” Trey mumbled.

      “Hey, you came back,” the kid said. “You were looking for...”

      “My sister.” He showed him Kellie’s picture.

      “Right.” The kid looked smug. “She is pretty hot, I admit, and it probably takes some talent to have two guys running after her.”

      Trey’s brain scrambled to catch up. “Two?” he said.

      “Yeah. Fifteen minutes after you were in earlier, another guy came in. He talked to two other agents before he got to me. His also had a picture, although a different one, and his story was a little different, too. He said she was his wife, that they’d quarreled and he wanted to apologize. Even had a dozen roses with him.”

      Kellie McGarry wasn’t married, he was confident of that. Somebody else was spinning stories and looking for her. A cold chill ran up the length of Trey’s spine.

      “You get this man’s name?”

      “Nope.”

      “Got a description?”

      The kid shrugged. “Thirty or forty, I guess. Brown hair. Maybe. I can’t really remember.”

      “Tall or short?” Trey asked.

      “About your height. Maybe your weight. You know, I got to get going. My ride is waiting.”

      Trey wanted to press him for details but knew it was likely fruitless. Firsthand witnesses were notoriously bad at remembering pertinent details. “What did you tell him?” he asked.

      “The same thing I told you. Nothing. Because I don’t know nothing. Good luck, man, whatever the truth is.” He walked around Trey and left through a door marked Employees Only.

      There was little doubt in Trey’s mind that the man searching for Kellie was somehow connected to the damage at her apartment. Trey had known to come here because Hagney had told him. Who the hell else had he told?

      He went back to his car and dialed the man’s cell. It rang four times before going to voice mail. “Hagney, this is Trey Riker. I really need to talk with you again. It’s important. Please call me back as soon as you get this.”

      The man was no doubt busy with his bartending duties. His cell might not even be on him. Trey knew there were places that made their employees keep their cell phones out of customer areas.

      Still, he tried twice more before deciding that he had no choice but to go back to Lavender. He was frustrated as he drove to the bar, weaving in and out of traffic, honking when other drivers didn’t get out of his way. He parked in a no-parking zone and ran up the stairs. Hagney was waiting on another customer and Trey barely controlled himself. Finally, he got the bartender’s attention.

      “Who else did you tell that you dropped Kellie off at the bus station?” he asked, not willing to spend any time on pleasantries.

      Hagney shook his head. “Nobody.”

      Was he lying? Trey didn’t think so. But of all the places to look for Kellie, what was the likelihood they would just happen to go to the bus station. Almost none. “You’re sure?”

      “Yes.”

      “Could anyone have overheard our phone conversation?”

      “I don’t think so,” he said. “I was back in the kitchen when I called. I guess it’s possible but I didn’t see anybody.” Two new customers came and sat down. Hagney made eye contact with them, letting them know he’d seen them. “Look, I have to go. Is Kellie okay?”

      “I don’t know. Listen, if anybody comes around asking about her, please don’t tell them anything. Try to get their names. Then call me.”

      He left Lavender as quickly as he’d entered. His truck had thankfully not yet been towed. He got in, pulled away and tried to think СКАЧАТЬ