Zero Day (John Puller, #1)(29)

“More than most?”

“I guess we have more than our share,” admitted Cole. “But a lot of it is prescription drugs. So go on with your theory. Why kill Bitner and Treadwell?”

“Maybe they drew the line at murder and they had to be killed too, to keep them silent.”

“I don’t know. I guess that works,” Cole said.

“It only works with what we know so far. That can change. There weren’t wedding bands on either of their fingers.”

“From what I was able to find out they were just living together.”

“How long?”

“About three years.”

“Planning on tying the knot?”

“No, according to what I found out, they were just doing it for expenses.”

He looked at her curiously. “What?”

“Makes the paychecks stretch further if you have just one mortgage or rent payment. Common enough practice around here. People have to survive.”

“Okay. What else do you know about them?”

“Did a quick and dirty while you were playing biohazard boy. I didn’t know them personally, but it’s a small town. He went to Virginia Tech. He started up a business in Virginia that failed. Went through a series of jobs pretty quickly. He’d been a machinist here for years, but got laid off a while back. He’s been working at a chemical supply store on the western edge of town for about a year.”

“Chemicals? So he’d know his way around the equipment for a meth lab. And he might also be sticking his hand into the inventory if he is in the drug business. Any scuttlebutt that he was involved with drugs?”

“Not that I could find out. But that basically means he was never charged with any drug-related crimes. He was clean on our books.”

“Which means he might’ve been smart enough to not get caught. Or his meth business was a recent start-up. Like you said, hard times, trying to stretch the paycheck. And Bitner?”

“She worked in an office at the local Trent Mining and Exploration operation.”

Puller studied her. “So our mining mogul pops up again.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Cole said slowly, not meeting his gaze.

“That a problem?” he asked.

She eyed him coolly. “The way you say it you must think there is.”

“This Trent guy obviously has a lot of local pull.”

“No problems there, Puller, trust me.”

“Good. What did she do in the office?”

“Clerical and some related stuff, as far as I know. We’ll check it out more thoroughly.”

“So they both worked and had a meth lab on the side and lived together to save money and they still lived in a ratty house? Didn’t think the cost of living was that high around here.”

“Yeah, well, neither are the wages.”

Their food came and, ravenous, they plunged into their meals. Puller had two more cups of coffee.

“How are you going to be able to sleep?” asked Cole as he lifted the third cup to his mouth.

“My physiology is a little backwards. The more caffeine I consume the better I sleep.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Actually, the Army just teaches you to sleep when you need it. I’ll need it tonight, so I’ll sleep just fine.”

“Well, I know I can use it too. Only got a couple hours sack time.” She eyed him with a mock angry expression. “Thanks to you, Romeo.”

“Won’t happen again.”

“Famous last words.”

“Are the bodies being transported?”

“Already there.”

“You said Deputy Wellman was married?”

She nodded. “Sheriff Lindemann has been to see Larry’s wife. I’ll go tomorrow. I don’t know Angie that well, but she’ll need as much support as possible. I guess she’s a wreck. I would be.”

“She have family in the area?”

“Larry has. Angie moved here from southwest Virginia.”

“Why?”

She scowled. “I know it seems like people would just be moving out of here, not the other way.”

“Didn’t mean that. And you told me that people were trying to get out. I’m just trying to figure out the landscape.”

“Larry went to community college over in Virginia. It’s not that far as the crow flies. That’s where they met. He came back here and she joined him.”

“What about you?”

She set her glass of iced tea back down. “What about me?”

“I know you have a brother here and your dad’s dead. Anybody else in the area?”

He glanced at her hand. No wedding band. But maybe she didn’t wear one on the job. And maybe she was still on the job.

“Not married,” she said, catching this glance. “Both my parents are dead. My sister lives here too. What about you?”

“I have no family in the area.”

“You know that’s not what I meant, smartass.”

“Father and brother.”

“Are they in the military?”

“They were.”

“So they’re civilians now?”

“You could say that.” Puller put some cash down on the table. “What time do you want to meet tomorrow?”