Missing and Endangered (Joanna Brady #19)(71)

“Really?” a disbelieving Lyn Hogan demanded. “Are you sure?”

Joanna nodded. “I’m sure.” She then went on to tell him the story of how, shortly after Leon moved out, Madison had brought the dog to Animal Control, asking that Coon be put down.

“What a dreadful woman she is,” Lyn muttered under his breath. “I’m the one who gave the dog to Leon in the first place when Coon was little more than a pup. Where is he, then? Where’s Coon?”

“He was adopted by a fellow who lives out near Double Adobe.”

“Where’s that?”

“A few miles east of here,” Joanna answered. “The guy’s name is Rusty Miller. He lives on a ranch and apparently has a soft spot in his heart for bluetick hounds. I don’t know him personally, but I know of him. As far as I can tell, he’s a good guy, but here’s the thing. If I showed up and told him how all of this came about, there’s a possibility he might be willing to give Coon back.”

“What good would that do?” Lyn asked. “He can’t go back home to Sierra Vista, not with Madison in charge. She obviously hates him.”

“That’s all true,” Joanna agreed, “but I wondered if you and Izzy would be willing to take Coon? That way he wouldn’t be lost to Peter and Kendall completely. They might even be able to visit with him on occasion.”

A long pause followed. Finally, without replying, Lyn Hogan got to his feet. “Hold on a minute,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

Joanna hoped he’d go up to the room and maybe check with his wife. Instead he walked over to the front desk and exchanged a few quiet words with the desk clerk.

“Okay,” Lyn said when he returned. “The fellow over there tells me this here hotel is what they call pet-friendly. Do you want me to ride out to Double Adobe with you?”

Joanna shook her head. “That might make for too much pressure. After all, since Rusty was kind enough to take the dog in the first place, it’s not fair to force his hand on giving him up. Let me go there first and test the water. If he’s willing, we can make an appointment to effect the transfer.”

Lyndell Hogan nodded. “Sounds like this Rusty fellow is a good enough sort. It wouldn’t be fair to paint the poor guy into a corner. If he wants to keep Coon, he should.”





Chapter 31





It took the better part of an hour for Jenny to cajole Beth into eating something and getting dressed, but when it came time to leave the room and head for the interview, Beth shut down.

“I can’t go out in public,” she said tearfully. “I can’t face the people out there. I just can’t.”

“But you have to,” Jenny insisted. “You can’t stay in our room forever. I know it seems like everyone you meet will know what happened, but most of them won’t. And if the few who do know about it try to hassle you, that will say more about them than it does about you. You were used, Beth, used and taken advantage of. You’re the victim here, and doing this FBI interview is the only way to fight back.”

“All right,” Beth agreed at last, “but I’m not going unless you come with me.”

Twenty minutes later they were in Jenny’s dual-cab Ford F-150 and headed for the campus police department on Pine Knoll Drive. Once there, they met up with FBI Special Agents Adele Norris and Pete Flores. When Beth made it clear that she wanted Jenny’s company in the interview room, Agent Flores shook his head, saying that wouldn’t be possible.

“Then I’m not going in either,” Beth told him, stopping just short of the door. “If it weren’t for Jenny, I wouldn’t be here in the first place. If she can’t sit in on the interview, I won’t do it.”

Jenny was both surprised and gratified to see Beth sticking up for herself.

“It’ll be all right, Pete,” Agent Norris said. “What we’re really looking for here is a comprehensive history, and maybe Jennifer will be able to add a bit of context from time to time.”

Flores conceded grudgingly, and Jenny was allowed to enter. Once they were all seated, Jenny was relieved when Agent Norris seemed to take charge of the interview.

“Here’s what we have so far,” she told them. “As I told you last night, we’re quite sure that the man you know as Ronald Cameron doesn’t exist in the real world. So far the FBI has been able to find a number of Ronald Camerons, but none of those appear to be the one you have in mind. For the purposes of this interview, however, that’s how we’ll refer to him, as Mr. Cameron. Is that all right with you?”

“I guess,” Beth said.

“So tell us again exactly how you and Mr. Cameron became acquainted.”

“It was right after school started,” Beth answered. “We met on a dating site. I posted a profile, and he responded.”

“Which dating site?”

Beth told them. “It’s one of the better sites,” she said. “At least that’s what I was told—that everyone who was on it was properly screened.”

“Of course they were,” Agent Norris said, but it was clear she didn’t believe a word of it. “So how did you post the profile?” she continued. “Did you use your phone?”

Beth nodded.