Tailspin(84)

Standing barefoot behind the screen door, wearing a white t-shirt and red flannel pajama bottoms with penguins on them, was Wes O’Neal. He said, “I didn’t do it.”

Wilson smiled. “Been a long time, Wes.”

“I’ve lost track. Where’d all your hair go to?”

He asked it with such good humor, Wilson didn’t take umbrage. “How are you getting on these days?”

“Up till two minutes ago, I was sleeping with a clear conscience. Can’t imagine what brought you all the way down here from Howardville. I haven’t been up there in a coon’s age. Whatever’s missing, I didn’t take it. I’ve gone straight.”

“Mind if we come in?”

“Why?”

“If you’ve gone straight, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Wes seemed to debate it, then flipped up the hook lock on the screen door. Its hinges squeaked when he pushed it open. Turning his back to them, he went ahead to switch on a lamp.

The living area was separated from the galley kitchen by a Formica-topped bar with one barstool. The small, round dining table had two mismatched chairs. On the table was a chessboard, a game seemingly in progress. Taking up most of the floor space was a recliner, an ugly maroon leather monstrosity.

“I don’t have much company, so seating is limited,” Wes said, claiming the recliner for himself.

“Nice chair,” Wilson remarked.

“I didn’t steal it.”

“You’ve gone straight.”

“That’s not the reason. I couldn’t carry the damn thing.” Wes rubbed his hands up and down the padded arms. “I got it at a yard sale. Paid cash. I have a job. Working nine to five at the Walmart.”

“Stocking shelves?” Wilson asked.

“Spotting shoplifters.”

Rawlins guffawed. “The fox guarding the chicken coop.”

“Which is why I’m good at it.” Squinting up at Rawlins, he said, “I can’t remember your name, but I recognize your face. Football player for Clemson, correct?”

“That’s right. Don Rawlins. My rookie year with the Howardville SO, I arrested you for B and E. Auto parts store.”

Wes grinned. “Charges were dropped. The owner had told me I could borrow some jumper cables. He didn’t tell me I had to wait until he opened the next morning to pick them up.”

Wilson chuckled. Rawlins failed to see the humor. He looked like he was about to face off against Alabama for the national championship. He said, “Mind if I take a look around?”

Wes spread his arms wide. “Knock yourself out. What you see is about it. Bedroom and bathroom through there.” He pointed at an open doorway. “My bathrobe is hanging on the back of the door. Bring it, please. It’s chilly in here.”

With over-politeness, Rawlins asked, “Anything else?”

“Thanks for asking. My slippers should be at the side of the bed.”

Rawlins turned and stalked off.

Wes came back around to Wilson. “He’s a barrel of laughs. What’s he looking for, anyway?”

“Just checking things out.”

Under his breath, Wes said, “Pull my other one.”

Wilson walked over to the table where the chess set was. “Who’re you playing?”

“Myself mostly.”

“Do you cheat?”

“Of course.”

Wilson pulled one of the chairs from beneath the table and turned it around so he would be sitting facing Wes. When Rawlins returned, he shook his head at Wilson to indicate that Brynn O’Neal wasn’t hiding in the back rooms. He dropped the slippers in front of Wes’s chair and tossed the robe at him, then sat down on the barstool.

Wes pushed his arms through the sleeves of his flannel robe. “Better. Now, what brought y’all?”

“We’re here about Brynn.”

Wes’s smile vanished. “Oh, Lord.” He slapped his hand over his heart and fell sideways, catching himself on the arm of the recliner.

Wilson swiftly assured him that she was fine. “At least to our knowledge, she’s all right.”

Wes, his hand still on his heart, took several restorative breaths. “This isn’t a next-of-kin call, then?”

“No. Didn’t mean to give you that idea,” Wilson said. “I’m sorry.”

“Well, you should be. You scared the hell out of me.” Wes pushed himself upright and puffed out his cheeks as he exhaled. “If nothing’s happened to her, then what’s going on?”

“We’re not sure what’s going on, Wes, and that’s the God’s truth. But I’ll tell you as much as we know.”

Wilson began with the crash of the airplane that Brynn was scheduled to meet. Her father listened without interrupting. Wilson could tell he was dismayed by the bizarre sequence of events, and by the time Wilson related those of the past few hours, Wes was in obvious distress.

He swiveled his head around to Rawlins as though hoping he would deny it all, or tell him it was a joke, then came back to Wilson. “Y’all are saying she’s gone missing?”

“We’re saying that the circumstances are murky. She lied to her colleague about who she was meeting down in the parking garage. Security cameras caught her leaving with that man Mallett.”