by Chad Zunker
“If the guy is a potential killer, do you really think we should be knocking on his front door right now?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
“How?”
Jess pulled up the front of her shirt enough to show him a waistband holster holding a gun. “In my line of work, you have to be prepared for anything. Just comes with the territory.”
“Great. Let’s have an old-fashioned shoot-out.”
“We’ll be fine; don’t worry. Plus, we have your pals in the Buick over there as backup if things get really nuts.”
“Harry Zegers would probably love to hear that I got shot.”
But with Parker in danger, David knew they needed to be bold right now. They couldn’t waste any time. So he led the way up the dirt driveway to the trailer.
Two small windows were in front. Jess did a quick peek in both but shook her head like she didn’t see anything. Swallowing, David knocked. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Jess put her hand inside her jacket near her waist. No one answered the door. He looked down toward the door handle and noticed it wasn’t there. Instead, there was a big hole in the door with chunks of fiberglass material missing all around it.
“Looks like someone busted up the door.”
Jess studied it. “That’s actually a gunshot.”
David sighed. “This just keeps getting better and better. Maybe he’s dead in there.”
“Only one way to find out.” Jess pulled slightly at the door. It was open. “Let’s have a look around inside.”
“What about the feds?”
“What are they going to do? Arrest us?”
“You were the kid that got everyone else detention, weren’t you?”
She smiled, winked at him. “I promise to be quick.”
David pulled the door open and poked his head inside. “Hello? Anyone home?”
No answer. No sounds from anywhere in the trailer. They both stepped fully inside. The smell of the place nearly made him gag. A mix of beer, marijuana, old food, and sweaty laundry. To their right was a small sitting area with a tiny couch and chair. Both furniture items were dated and looked dirty and stained. To their left was a small kitchen. Beyond that was a bathroom and a bedroom.
“This guy is a slob,” Jess said.
“Wonder if he’s even been here this week.”
Jess wandered into the kitchen. She rummaged through a few fast-food bags sitting on the counter and held up a receipt. “He’s been here. This is from last night.”
David began searching around the living room. There was a stack of magazines sitting in the chair. Most were about cars and hunting. A few nudie mags. Clothes were strewn all about. There were dirty ashtrays and empty beer cans everywhere.
Thankfully, there were no dead bodies.
“This is definitely his place,” Jess said from the kitchen. “Maylor’s name is on all of these unopened bills.”
David joined her in the kitchen. Dirty dishes and dozens of take-out food containers and sacks covered nearly every square inch of counter space. He opened the small refrigerator and found a couple of dishes inside with what looked like mold growing on them along with two six-packs of Coors Light. David moved into the tiny bedroom. It was basically just a queen-size mattress on the floor. There wasn’t much room for anything other than sleeping. The bed was unmade. He found a pile of empty cigarette cartons sitting next to an overflowing ashtray. The smoke smell was overwhelming and made him start coughing up a fit. When he stopped, he heard a car door slam right outside the trailer.
“We’ve got company,” Jess announced.
David hurried back through the kitchen. Jess was peering out a front window.
“Who is it?” David asked.
“Not Maylor. Some chick.”
David leaned in beside Jess, stared out the dirty window. A woman in her twenties had just stepped out of a dusty black Hyundai. She had curly bleached-blonde hair and an ample bosom that she gladly showcased beneath a tight pink T-shirt that looked like it had exploded with glitter. She also had a serious frown on her face.
“She doesn’t look too happy,” David mentioned.
“You’d better let me handle this.”
Jess moved to the door and opened it. David watched from the window. The sight of Jess standing in the door of the trailer made the woman pause a few feet away.
“Who the hell are you?” she said to Jess.
“Hey, have you seen Richie?” Jess casually asked.
“I’ll ask you the same damn thing. Are you his latest cheat?”
The woman looked like she wanted to charge and attack Jess. David wondered if Jess was going to have to pull out her handgun after all.
“Uh, no,” Jess replied. “I’m just looking for Richie.”
“Why? He’s already got a girlfriend.”
“I’m guessing that would be you.”
“You’re damn right, honey.”
“Look, I’m not here to cause you any grief. I’m only here on business. Do you know where I can find Richie?”
“Hell if I know. I haven’t seen him all week. That ass won’t answer his phone. I swear he’s out there cheating again. If I catch him, he’s a dead man.”
“How long have you and Richie been dating?”
“Six months.”
“Richie ever mention someone named Rick Kingston?”
“No. Who is that?”
“What about Max Legley?”
She shook her head. “Don’t know that name, either. Who are you again? You said you was here on business. But Richie ain’t even got a job right now. Other than some work he’s doing for that one guy.”
David stepped into the doorway with Jess. “What one guy?”
The woman looked over to David. “Who are you?”
“I’m with her,” David said, nodding at Jess. “You said Richie was working for a guy. Who?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know him.”
“Do you know his name?” David asked.
Her face bunched up. “Why should I talk to you? As a matter of fact, why the hell are you guys inside Richie’s trailer? That’s trespassing. I should call the cops on you right now.”
“The cops are already here, ma’am,” David replied, thinking fast.
“Where?” the woman asked.
“You see that Buick parked on the road over there? That’s the FBI. Those two federal agents are working with us. So this can go two ways for you. You can tell us what you know, and you’ll be free to go. Otherwise, we might have to bring you down to FBI headquarters for more questioning.”
She glanced over at the Buick. “You’re lying. I don’t believe you.”
“Then go ask to see their IDs.”
She studied David a moment, calling his bluff.
But David just crossed his arms. “Go on, we’ll wait here.”
“Fine, I will,” the woman huffed.
She turned and stomped up the dirt driveway toward the street.
“You think this will work?” Jess whispered to him.
“I have no idea. But worth a try.”
David watched as the woman reached the Buick a few seconds later. Looking confused, the FBI agent on the driver’s side rolled down the window. The woman said something and then pointed over toward David and Jess. In response, the agent pulled out his wallet and showed her his identification. Examining it, the woman stiffened a bit. She said another quick word to the agent and then turned to walk back. David could see a clear change in her facial demeanor. The scowl had been replaced by wide-eyed worry.
“I think it worked,” David said. “Come on.”
David stepped out of the trailer, Jess behind him, and they met the woman at the foot of the dirt driveway.
“Well?” David asked.
“Look, I’m real sorry I yelled at you,” the woman said, a complete change in her tone. “I’m just on edge. I’m worried about Richie. Is he in trouble with the FBI or something?”
“Not
yet,” Jess said, stepping in closer to the woman. She put a comforting hand on the woman’s arm. “But it’s important for you to tell us the truth. For Richie’s sake. Do you know the name of the guy Richie has been doing work for?”
“No, he just said he had to do a job for someone he called Dilly. That’s all.”
David and Jess shared a glance. That name didn’t register anything.
“You ever heard that name before?” David asked the woman.
“Nope. But Richie don’t ever tell me much.”
“He mention anything else about what this job entailed?” Jess asked her.
She shook her head. “No, but he promised me he was going to buy me a diamond necklace when he finished it. So I guess he was going to make some good money. Unless he was lying to me again. You never know with Richie.”
“When did he tell you this?”
“Sunday. When we were fishing.”
“And you haven’t seen him since Sunday?”
“No. Doesn’t make any sense. He’s disappeared on me before. But not this long.”
“Thank you for your help,” Jess said.
“Can I go now?”
“Yes,” Jess replied.
They watched as the woman got back into her Hyundai and drove away.
Jess turned to him. “You’re a genius.”
“We make a good team. But who is Dilly?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Zegers hit ninety on the speedometer in his Jeep Wrangler as he raced up US 183 to his ex-wife’s house. She had called him a few minutes ago, a blabbering mess, unable to keep control of her emotions long enough to make any sense over the phone. All he knew was that it had something to do with their son, Josh. So he left in the middle of a meeting with his team and jumped on the road. On the way, he called Josh’s phone but didn’t get an answer. This was nothing new. His son rarely took his calls.
Zegers let out a frustrated sigh. He really didn’t have time to deal with this kind of crap from his ex-wife right now. He’d gotten nowhere today in his search for Parker Barnes. His team had been in and out of nearly every crack and crevice of the city, and the boy was still nowhere to be found. Several street kids said they recognized his photo but hadn’t seen him around lately. Zegers was now considering posting bulletins about Parker on street corners and promising a financial reward for any info that led to locating him. He knew the move was desperate and would likely bring out a host of crazy calls, but he had to somehow find that damn kid.
Zegers traversed the quaint neighborhood of nearly matching brick homes before finally skidding to a stop at the curb outside his house—or his former house. He jumped from the Jeep and hurried up to the front door. Lisa answered immediately. She was still sobbing, with tears streaming down her face.
“What the hell, Lisa? Talk to me already.”
“I’m sorry. It’s Josh—”
“I know it’s Josh. I got that much on the phone before you cracked up on me. Is he hurt? Is he okay?”
Zegers looked past her into the house but spotted no sign of his son.
“I don’t know,” Lisa stammered. “Because I can’t find him.”
More sobs. Zegers wanted to scream at his ex-wife for further information but knew that wouldn’t do any good. Lisa never was able to control herself. So instead, he put two hands on her shoulders, gently squeezed, and looked her in the eyes.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’m here. Just calm down. Let’s go inside, and you can tell me what happened.”
She nodded. They moved inside the house and sat down at a small round table in the front room. The room used to be Zegers’s home office, but Lisa had turned it into some kind of artsy room. There was an easel in the corner with a half-painted canvas on it. Looked like a vase with flowers. The table was covered in all kinds of craft materials. It always felt like a kick in the gut to come back inside his own house and see it completely changed. Which was why he usually just waited in the car for Josh to come out. Of course, that hadn’t been happening too much lately—thanks to Lisa and the judge. But he didn’t have time for those emotions right now.
Lisa caught her breath. “Josh didn’t come home from football practice today. He was supposed to catch a ride with Andrew’s dad. But Andrew said he watched Josh get into someone else’s car. When he didn’t show up, I started calling his phone, but he didn’t answer.”
“Okay, so what? Maybe he’s goofing off with some other friends. Boys will be boys, Lisa. Even when you try to make him into a girl.”
She shot him daggers, and he regretted saying it.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s more than that, Harry. I wouldn’t be freaking out because he ditched his ride and won’t answer my phone calls.”
“Then why’re you freaking out?”
“He sent me this text twenty minutes ago.”
She pulled out her phone and showed it to Zegers. A simple five-word text from Josh: The food here is great.
He looked back at Lisa with a furrowed brow.
“What the hell does that mean?” he asked.
“It’s a code we had when he was in middle school. He was supposed to text me this phrase if he felt like he was ever in trouble somewhere. Maybe if someone was doing drugs, or he felt like he was in a bad spot somehow. He would send me this, and I would come and get him so he wouldn’t look bad with any of his friends. I’d just look like the overprotective mom.”
“That’s smart. Did he ever use it?”
She shook her head. “Not once. Until today.”
That left a sinking feeling in Zegers’s stomach. “Andrew didn’t recognize who picked Josh up?”
“Andrew didn’t know. He said it was a yellow Camaro with black racing stripes. A cool car, he said. But he’d never seen it before today.”
“But Josh willingly got into the car?”
“I guess. Andrew didn’t act like it was a big deal.”
“It’s probably not. Did you use Find My Phone?”
“I tried. His phone is turned off.”
Zegers considered what Lisa had said. Josh never turned his phone off. His son treated the device like it was his oxygen supply. Why would he do it now? Could someone have forced him to do it? And why did Josh feel like he was in some kind of trouble? Zegers shook his head, again frustrated at having to deal with this right now. It was probably not a big deal. Teenage boys do dumb things. Hell, Zegers had done more than his fair share in high school. Josh had probably just fallen in with a bad crowd. This could be nothing more than him sitting around in someone’s bedroom where other boys were smoking weed. A big part of Zegers wanted to start yelling at his ex-wife, berating her for allowing Josh too many freedoms. This is why she should’ve never forced the custody issue. Josh needed his father around. But at the same time, he knew she had plenty of ammunition to yell right back at him. If Josh had gotten involved in something bad, it was equally his fault. He’d driven his whole family away. Now was not the time to point fingers.
“I didn’t know what else to do but call you,” Lisa explained.
“No, you did the right thing. I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“You have to find him, Harry. I’m so worried.”
“Hey, I’ll find him. I promise. Josh will be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”
TWENTY-SIX
David sat across a café booth from Jess. He ate a cheeseburger while Jess munched on a BLT. A few papers were spread out on the table between them. Jess had taken Maylor’s latest phone bill from his trailer. They were searching phone numbers online, trying to see if any were registered to someone with the name Dilly. So far, no luck. Unfortunately, the last phone call registered on the phone bill was from ten days ago. So they had no clue about Maylor’s latest calls. They’d already searched Google for any mention of the name Dilly with some kind of connection to Maylor or their current situation, but found nothing. They were getting nowhe
re fast. And typing in Dilly + Austin only brought up a list of hundreds of random names and businesses. All of which led them down pointless rabbit holes.
“You think Parker’s okay?” Jess asked, nibbling on a fry.
David sighed, glanced out a front window. “He’s a tough kid.”
“And resourceful. You really seem to be fond of him.”
“I think I see a lot of myself in him. We both lost our parents young, so I understand a lot of the pain and anger he’s carrying around. Parker needs someone consistent in his life who can encourage him in a positive way. Someone he can learn to trust. I hoped to offer him that—but now everything has blown up on us.”
“You’re doing everything you can, David.”
“I know. But if something happens to him—and by something, I think you know what I mean—it will haunt me my whole life. I probably should have made him talk to the FBI yesterday instead of shielding him. I thought I was protecting him, but I only made matters worse.”
“You made the decision you felt was best in the moment. You didn’t know everything.”
“I guess. But I can’t lie and say my pride didn’t influence it. Zegers was challenging me, and it felt good to stand up to him.”
“Well, Zegers has that effect on people. He didn’t bring out the best in me, either.”
They shared a slight smile.
“Still nothing on your end?” David asked, nodding at the phone numbers.
She shook her head. “Not yet.”
“I’m going to call the boys, see if they have any updates for us.”
David stood, walked out in front of the café, and began checking in with his crew. Larue was hitting all the hot spots around campus. He mentioned that a couple of street kids told him “FBI dudes” were out there showing everyone a photo of Parker. He’d managed to track down Skater, whose cell phone had been turned off since yesterday because he couldn’t make the payment. Skater claimed he hadn’t seen or heard from the boy since the night Parker was arrested. But he wanted to help them with the search. Curly and Shifty had had no luck so far, either. They were walking a fifteen-block radius around the Hand-Up Home in case Parker hadn’t traveled a great distance from the facility before hunkering down somewhere. Doc was checking hospitals, just in case an unidentified boy matching Parker’s description showed up at one of them. But he hadn’t.