End Game (Will Robie #5)(95)

“I don’t know, Valerie. I really don’t. Unless it was for revenge because of what we did to Dolph.”

“I guess that would be a good motive. I’ll see you at the station in one hour.”

He clicked off and kept driving.

Nearly fifty minutes later he arrived at the police station. Malloy’s car was parked out front.

He went inside, preparing in his head what his “statement” might consist of.

The overturned chair got his attention first.

Then the smashed glass on the floor.

And some blood on the floor by her desk.

He pulled his gun and quickly searched the space.

He reached the rear of the building and saw the door standing open.

Outside, he saw tire tracks.

Malloy was gone.

And it clearly wasn’t voluntary.





CHAPTER





56


Reel pulled the stretch limo back in front of the bar and, despite the late hour, noted that things were still going strong inside the place.

She had taken photos of the map and the ammo box and had used a cloth she found in the cabin to take samples of the dirt and other grime from the boots. If they could get it analyzed, it might provide an answer as to where the boots had been.

She climbed out of the limo and walked over to the bar and peered through the front window.

Tommy Page was still at the bar and he was still sipping on a beer. How many he had drunk since she had left and taken his car, she didn’t know. And really didn’t care.

She looked around the space and saw that some of the Apostles were still there. As were some of the burly guys wearing Confederate caps. The same couples were on the dance floor doing the same moves.

But there were others there now who hadn’t been there before.

Claire and Patti Bender were sitting at a table off to the side. Claire was dressed elegantly if simply in black slacks, a white blouse, and high heels. Her daughter had on cammie pants, an Army green T-shirt, and work boots.

Somewhat in keeping with their dress, Claire was sipping on a glass of white wine while Patti had her fingers curled around the neck of a beer.

Reel walked over to them. “Having a nightcap?” she asked.

Claire smiled up at her. “Actually, we’re just getting started. Care to join? Women out here are outnumbered and I haven’t had a real girls’ night out in ages.”

Reel sat and ordered a beer. When it arrived she took a swig and studied the other two women. They could not have been more dissimilar in appearance.

She set the bottle down and looked around. “Place is hopping.”

“What else is out here?” said Patti. “You want another drinking hole you have to drive a long way. Might as well go to Denver.”

“How’s your investigation coming?” asked Claire, her features turning serious.

“It’s a puzzler,” admitted Reel. “I’m not sure we’re much further along than when we started.”

“Did you speak to the skinheads?” asked Claire. “They’re disgusting people. If anyone had something to do with Roger’s disappearance I have to believe it was them.”

“We did interact with them,” said Reel slowly. “And I agree that they could have had something to do with whatever happened. Apparently, Dolph has gone underground.”

“If you mean underground as in dead, that would be wonderful news,” said Claire.

Patti cracked a smile at this.

Reel said, “I wish I could tell you that was so, but what I meant was he’s lying low.”

Claire took another sip of wine and eyed her appraisingly. “Is that because of your interaction?”

“Can neither confirm nor deny,” said Reel, but a smile played over her lips.

“Well, then I hope you get to interact with him again soon,” said Claire.

“Where’s Will?” asked Patti. “I saw him driving off tonight.”

“He was running down some things,” Reel replied quickly.

“Really? He told me was just getting some fresh air.”

“He keeps things close to the vest.”

“I guess you have to,” noted Claire.

“So how’s the medical marijuana business?” said Reel.

Claire lifted her glass. “Better than ever. I’m trying to get my daughter here to join the cause. Lead it into the future. But she wants to keep playing tomboy.”

“I’m not cut out to sit behind a desk,” said Patti. “And are you surprised? Look where I grew up. In the great outdoors. I never even went to college.”

“You could have,” said Claire pointedly. She looked at Reel. “In high school she was a straight-A student. National Honor Society and everything. One of her teachers said he’d never seen a more talented student.” She looked back at her daughter. “You could have been a great scientist or something. Or a writer.”

“College wasn’t my thing.”

Claire said, “Okay, but you don’t have to have a sheepskin to run a business. Look at Bill Gates. He dropped out of Harvard. I’ve built up a great company. Your brother has no interest in it. I’d like at least one of you to take it over.”

Patti glanced at Reel. “Mom rarely accepts defeat in any argument.”