Cut and Run(39)

Brogan picked up the phone. “Looks like a burner, like the one Ledbetter said Crow bought.”

“Ledbetter said Crow bought two phones.”

“The phone found on Macy was her own personal phone. There is only one burner that I see.”

“Any activity on the phone?”

“No call, text, or email history,” Brogan said. “But there are three addresses in the Maps application.”

“Where are they?”

“The first is out in the Texas Hill Country, the second is in East Austin near where she was hit, and the third is for the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.”

“Jack Crow left Faith’s work address for Macy?”

“Looks like it.”

“That explains Macy’s search for Faith. She had to have been floored.”

Macy had been to Crow’s trailer, but then she’d driven deeper west into the Hill Country, doubled back to this hotel, and finally gone to East Austin.

“She had a call in to me on her personal phone,” Hayden said. “Because she found something out there in the country.”

Brogan opened Macy’s email account on the computer and scanned the received emails and then the sent folder. “You’re going to love this. She sent an email message to Faith McIntyre. She scheduled it to arrive today at five.”

“Put a call in to Savage. Have her people process this room and the truck completely. And tell them it’s a priority.”

He reached for his phone and dialed Faith. The call went to her voicemail. “Faith, check your email. There’s a message from Macy, sent today.”



It was nearly seven when Hayden and Brogan arrived at the Second Chances bar on Third Street. Stepping inside, they removed their hats, knowing there’d be no hiding the fact they were Rangers. But then, neither cared.

The bar had a decent-size crowd for a weeknight. Most of the patrons looked like working-class men. Only one or two in cheap suits were sitting in the booths. Behind the bar was a long mirror framed with barnwood, and in front of it were long shelves covered in countless liquor bottles. Hayden glanced at the flyers behind the bar and spotted the one for Paige Sheldon. Why had it caught Macy Crow’s attention? This was the kind of work Crow did for the FBI, so maybe it had simply been reflex.

There were a few men at the bar hunched over their drinks, and standing before them was a tall man with gray hair brushed off a long, lean face tanned by the sun. He wore a bright-red T-shirt that read SECOND CHANCES, jeans, and worn cowboy boots.

He grinned when he spotted the pair. “How can I assist two of Texas’s finest?”

Hayden made the introduction as each showed his badge. “You are?”

“Danny Garnet. I own the joint.” He set the bottle of booze on the bar. “What can I do for you?”

“We’re following up on a case lead. We had a hit-and-run at the park.”

“I heard about that. Cops weren’t giving out many details. What can I do to help?”

“Victim snapped a picture a block from the bar. Thought she might have come in here.”

“Last night was hopping. We have a two-for-one special between eight and eleven, and that brings ’em out of the woodwork.”

Hayden pulled out a picture of Macy Crow. “Ever seen her in here?”

Garnet studied the picture, nodding. “I do remember her. She’s not the average gal that comes in this bar, and she stood out. There were several guys staring at her last night. One tried to hit on her.” He handed back the picture. “How is she?”

“She didn’t make it.” Hayden watched Garnet’s face, carefully searching for any hint that he knew more than he was saying.

“Shit.” His face crumpled, and he looked down, shaking his head, rubbing the bar rag over an already-clean section. “Where was she hit?”

“Right down the street near Comal Pocket Park. And you were here the whole night?”

“I was,” he said. “Slinging drinks. Like I said, two-for-one night is crazy.”

“And you got people that can confirm it?” Brogan asked.

“Sure. Dozens. Say the word, and I’ll find a few folks to back me up.” Garnet shook his head and then seemed to think better of holding back. “Look, I don’t like to share what my customers say, but Macy was here to ask me about her dad, Jack Crow. She told me he died on Sunday. Terrible. Crow and I served in the military together. He saved my ass a couple of times. Hell of a guy. And I told her so. I was sorry to hear he passed.” He leaned in closer. “And for the record, I’ve been clean since I got out thirty years ago. Not even a speeding ticket.”

“Did she tell you Jack Crow was murdered?” Hayden asked.

“Shit. No. She never said a word about that. What the hell is going on?” Garnet asked.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Hayden said. “When was the last time Crow came by here?”

“Years.”

“You sure about that?”

“Definitely. I wouldn’t forget my old buddy. Maybe he dropped by, but I wasn’t here. During the day I’m often off property dealing with suppliers.”

“Did she speak to anyone while she was here?” Brogan asked.