Desolation Point

by Lisa Phillips

  “Let’s go inside.”

  He moved and tugged the door open. “You shouldn’t be on the street for long.”

  Ellie paused before she stepped inside. “I’m not going to get shot at on Main Street in broad daylight.”

  “No, you won’t be.” He shrugged and followed her in.

  Sounded like he was going to make sure of that. “The shooter is in jail.”

  He walked to the counter.

  “I’m a deputy sheriff. I know how to take care of myself.” She moved her cup close to her lips while they waited. “Besides, how do we know that guy wasn’t shooting at you?” She took a sip, not liking how those words tasted.

  He shrugged and said, “Americano,” to the barista.

  The teen girl glanced at Ellie, then at Drew. “Popular choice today.”

  When he looked at Ellie, she shrugged.

  “Any word from the sheriff about that guy he took in last night?”

  “Not yet,” she said. “My shift starts at noon, so I’ll find out when I get there.”

  Drew took his coffee, and they sat down. He got right down to business, flipping open the file. “According to what I found last night—” He took a sip of coffee. “—the company who purchased Brad and Sheila Harrison’s land from underneath them is called Northcorp Inland Holdings. Which is a subsidiary of another company, that’s a subsidiary of another company, etcetera, etcetera. And the only place Northcorp has any accounts are in Belize.”

  “Tax haven.” Ellie fingered the sleeve on her cup. “A shell company?”

  “Looks that way.”

  She sighed, leaning back in her chair. “So it’s a dead end.”

  “Not necessarily.” He sat back in the chair and studied her for a full minute.

  “You can trust me.” Why she felt the need to tell him that, she wasn’t all the way sure.

  Maybe because she wanted him to trust her. Or she was just desperate to rid herself of that memory of the look in Sheila’s eyes, and he was the first person who came along. The sheriff had told her not to look into it.

  She’d known who Drew was for years. He kept a cool head in stressful situations—at least he had last night. Still, they didn’t know each other. Not really. Not yet. It was almost like they were testing each other to get a feel for how this would go.

  Would they end up friends? She wasn’t after more—not with anyone. Too much water under that bridge. She’d lit a match and now the bridge was just ashes. The destruction her past had wrought in her life.

  Ellie was going to do her job and make a difference in the lives of the people in this county, and it was going to be enough.

  He seemed to come to some sort of decision, because he said, “Nothing I do is illegal. My job has put me in contact with…people who have security clearance.”

  “So you do have access to stuff I don’t.” She stared him down. “What is it?”

  The barista brought over a steaming hot burrito. Drew unwrapped it and took a bite. “You already ate?”

  She shook her head, a slight smile tugging at her lips. Didn’t want to answer the question, or couldn’t?

  She said, “It isn’t like I thought you were a criminal.” Not like the sheriff had tried to imply to her last night. “I just couldn’t figure out how you make a living in a small town like this. There can’t be many big paying jobs.”

  “There aren’t. I supplement my income in a few different ways, one of which is skip tracing.”

  Realization dawned. “You’re a bounty hunter.”

  “Occasionally.” He tipped his burrito in her direction. “Want some?”

  “I don’t eat breakfast.”

  “Ever?”

  She shook her head, not wanting to get into that discussion. People always thought it was weird. So she said, “A bounty hunter,” and sat back in her chair, studying him. “I can see that.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Come on.” She felt her lips curl up. “That whole bad-boy thing you had going on in high school? That totally says, ‘bounty hunter.’”

  Drew chuckled. “Not sure that makes sense, but okay.”

  He finished his burrito and they stepped outside together, standing close for a second as she moved out the door. He held it again for her, of course. It was like a dance. One with steps she was unfamiliar with.

  “Okay?”

  He’d caught her in her thoughts. She said, “Where to?” Totally avoiding the question the same way he had done.

  “The real estate office.”

  They set off in that direction. Waved to a few people. Ellie ignored the looks they got from an older couple who gave Drew a wide berth. Whatever. When they reached the storefront of her best friend’s gift shop and bookstore, Ellie picked up her pace so Laney didn’t see her. Usually she rapped on the glass of the window and waved.

  She glanced inside to make sure her friend hadn’t noticed them.

  Laney looked over, a stack of books to be shelved in her hands. She grinned at Ellie, then saw Drew. Her reaction was like a tennis match in middle school. Look at him. Look at her. Giggle.

  Great. Her phone was going to start buzzing a mile a minute in a second. Laney always wanted to know everything.

  Even when her life was at its worst, Laney had dragged everything out of her. Ellie had tried to break up with her as well, ditching her best friend for the sweet solitude of being alone and in pain. Laney hadn’t accepted.

  Drew chuckled.

  Ellie shifted to look at him. “What’s that?”

  “She’s sweet.”

  Her foot caught and she stumbled forward.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Sure. You know Laney?” They continued walking.

  Not that Ellie cared if Drew knew her friend. Much. Laney was in a relationship, though evidently it might end soon. She’d told Ellie that a couple of nights ago.

  He shrugged. “Just as a shop owner for the most part.”

  Okay, so apparently she was wrong. There wasn’t anything there.

  Ellie glanced at her watch even though she didn’t especially need to know what time it was. Why should she be so concerned with how Drew felt about her best friend? She should be satisfied he thought Laney was sweet, a business owner. She was. Both of those.

  But the real issue was how Ellie felt about herself. It didn’t take anyone long to agree that Laney really was sweet, as well as being completely gorgeous. Meanwhile Ellie had her hair pulled back in a ponytail ready for work. Minimal makeup. Her style was more about function than trying to attract attention to herself, which she knew wouldn’t keep her from being hurt again.

  But if they did get into a relationship—no thanks—then he’d eventually leave anyway. Or she would drive him away. It was how every relationship she’d ever had ended. And the last one had been the worst of all.

  Ellie sighed. “Let’s go.”

  . . .

  He had listened to Laney speak about her best friend many times over the years. That was Ellie? He still remembered the time Laney told him that her own name was actually Elenor even though everyone called her “Laney,” and that her best friend’s name was Eleanor, too. Same name, two spellings. She’d literally written it down for him, as though it were pertinent information.

  The knowledge that Ellie was the best friend Laney had been referring to slipped through his mind like several puzzle pieces clicking into place at once. Nothing that could be considered a betrayal of confidence. But he realized now that maybe he knew Ellie better than he’d thought.

  Better than she knew.

  There was no time to think on it, though. Not with all the stuff swirling around them right now.

  She got to the real estate office first and pulled the door open herself. The bell jangled. The receptionist looked up from the open lid of the copier that was toward the back of the waiting area.

  “Morning.”

  The woman blinked. “Good morning.” Her straight blond hair s
hifted as she turned and sauntered to them, her attention on Drew.

  He shifted and wandered away. Forward, toward a rack of flyers showing houses for sale. Ellie could take point with this. It had only cost him a second to assess this woman, and he didn’t want to buy what he knew she would try to sell him.

  “We’re looking for Simon Mills,” Ellie said, her voice all business. Did she flash the woman her sheriff’s badge? “Is he here?”

  “Uh.” The woman stuttered. “You’re with the sheriff’s department.” Yes, Ellie had shown her the badge. “He has an appointment this morning, but he’ll be back after lunch.”

  “And your name?”

  “Natalie.” Her voice broke. “Natalie Benson.”

  Drew lifted a flyer for a forty-acre spread northwest of town. He’d driven out that way, and there was a nice view of the mountains.

  Ellie said, “Here’s my card. If you could have him call me when he gets in. I’ll swing by.”

  “Of course.” If there was any friendliness there, it was all for show. “I’m happy to.”

  Drew resisted the urge to snort. There was a woman in this room who seemed genuine, and it wasn’t the receptionist for the real estate agency. Natalie Benson didn’t like being questioned by a cop. She might know what Simon Mills was up to and be acting squirrely because of it. Or she had secrets of her own.

  Then there was Ellie.

  Drew had friends now, sure, but back in school no one had been that for him. The only peace he’d found was at home with Eric and Alma. He’d been the kid whose father committed suicide. Just that. Not someone to take the time to get to know, only pity. And certainly not someone to go to great lengths for—what Laney did for her friend.

  Maybe he and Ellie were more similar than he’d first thought. Had she suffered a loss? He wanted to ask her, but it was probably better they kept this about her investigation. After all, her life was in danger. They didn’t need to be friends. They needed to trust each other’s professional skills more than find some footing on a personal level.

  Keep it professional. That was the important thing, right?

  Drew’s phone rang in his pocket. He turned and saw Ellie glance over to him. He pulled out his phone, then opened the door. Cold air buffeted his face. Maybe she would get some information about Northcorp out of the receptionist while he was outside on the phone. Or maybe she wouldn’t. But he knew she was going to stay in there and at least try.

  He answered the phone. “Turner.”

  “I found something.” Mark sounded distracted, not normal for the FBI assistant director. Mark Welvern had laser focus. “About that company you asked me to look into.”

  “Yeah?” He and Mark had worked a few federal contracts together, crossing paths to the point they’d become friends.

  When Mark needed a particular skillset—or someone he trusted with no visible ties to law enforcement—he called Drew. This was one of the first times since they met that Drew had called him for something, instead of the other way around. Now Mark was finding information to help Drew with his investigation.

  “After I got done trying to dig up something that wasn’t there, I went after the accounts. Got a list of everyone with check writing authority on the account from the bank in Belize.”

  Drew’s eyebrows rose. “How’d you get that?”

  “I asked nicely.”

  “Right.” Drew didn’t believe it for one second, but the guy was a fed. Some people got one look at the badge and started talking.

  “Fine,” Mark said. “I phoned a friend who has a friend.”

  “Talia?” The woman was an NSA analyst and a member of the Northwest Counter-Terrorism Taskforce. If anyone could get information, it was her.

  Drew had worked with them on a couple of cases. Victoria hadn’t offered him a job but he figured that was because if she had asked, he wouldn’t have taken it. He had no interest in a badge. Or a career that tied him down to a particular region, or a certain type of case.

  “Fine, so you know all my friends,” Mark said. “Do you want the information, or not?”

  “Hit me.”

  “Your real estate agent there in town? His name is listed on the board of Northcorp Inland Holdings.”

  Drew paced the sidewalk. “Isn’t that stuff public record?”

  “Not the way you think, and not how they set this whole thing up. There’s a website, I’m sending you a link, that’s all we found. Other than this one guy, Simon Mills, we have no idea who is behind that company.”

  Drew watched a car drive past and turned back to the real estate office. “There’s no one else?”

  “No one who is actually a real person.”

  “Huh.”

  “Now you see my dilemma.” Mark was quiet for a second. “Wanna tell me why you’re suddenly interested in something homegrown instead of getting into everything you can that takes you out of town?”

  “I’m not trying to escape.” Where did Mark get that idea?

  “Not like you can just move. What will Alma and Eric do with their house then?”

  “Rent it out, like they do for me. Or sell it.” Drew sidestepped for the mail lady, frowning at Mark’s insinuation. He could leave whenever he wanted.

  He’d been their only tenant since they retired to Florida and left the house to him. Drew had turned down their offer to gift him the house. He wanted it to remain in their names. In return, they kept the rent so low Drew often sent them extra money. Sure, they had retirement accounts, but he also knew they weren’t flush. Who was these days?

  “Sure,” Mark said. “But you don’t want to leave them in the lurch.”

  “Except you just argued that I do want to leave.” Drew was super confused.

  “It’s called self-sabotage, duh.”

  “Have you been seeing the shrink again?” Drew shook his head. “You sure are getting some funny ideas.”

  Mark was quiet for a minute, then said, “I’m listening to this book while I run.”

  “You should probably switch back to music.” Even though Drew did the same thing. He got all kinds of ideas from reading books. But he would admit, to himself at least, that he steered clear of books designed to dig up the past. Or analyze his feelings. Neither of those would help him move forward with his life.

  “I still think I’m right.”

  “That I’m running from something but also not willing to go anywhere? That makes no sense, you know.”

  “I’m still right.”

  Drew hung up, ready to laugh. If he wasn’t standing alone on the sidewalk, maybe he would have. He would look like a crazy person if he started laughing to himself.

  He scanned the street and the sidewalks on both sides, mostly out of habit. Situational awareness was key. Mostly due to the fact that, if he didn’t maintain it, he’d have already been killed. Maybe not here, but certainly working one of those federal jobs.

  His truck sat at an angle. Like…

  Drew ran the three steps to the door and called for Ellie. When she spun around he said, “Someone slashed my tires.”

  Chapter 4

  “Did you know you parked your truck perfectly between the bank’s ATM camera—” Ellie pointed to it, then shifted. “—and this traffic camera. Making it completely invisible.”

  He scratched at his jaw. Maybe he hadn’t known that. He said, “You aren’t saying this is my fault?”

  She tapped her foot on the sidewalk. “No. I’m not.” She looked at her watch. “Listen, I have to get to my shift. Can you call Frank to tow it, or you want me to?” She set off toward the sheriff’s office across the grassy area.

  “I can call for a tow.” He stepped onto the crosswalk with her, heading for the moment in the same direction she was. The grassy area in front of the mayor’s office was peppered with people—even a class full of kids enjoying a picnic. Field trip? The sheriff’s office was the next building down from the mayor and his staff. The county court was a block over.

  “
Good idea.” Ellie blew out a breath, mostly frustrated about the lack of progress she’d made with the receptionist, Natalie Benson. Never heard of Northcorp Inland Holdings. Didn’t know how many properties they’d bought. What kind of person did what they were told without asking any questions? That was just weird.

  “One second.” Drew halted her with a hand on her arm before she could head across the path that cut through the grass. “I need to tell you about my call.”

  A minute later she glanced back at the real estate office, contemplating the knowledge that Simon Mills was so immersed in Northcorp Inland Holdings that he was actually listed as a board member. “Now I wish I’d known that before I went in there and talked to Natalie.”

  “Puts it all in a different light, knowing Simon Mills is behind the company buying up property all over town. And they’ve been doing it for years.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He rifled in that manila envelope again. The one he’d been holding this whole time. “Here.”

  She looked at the paper he’d given her. “Northcorp Inland Holdings bought…oh.”

  “Right.”

  They’d bought his father’s land a month after the man committed suicide. She lifted her gaze and tried to read him. “They’ve been doing deals for that long?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Is the real estate agent even that old?”

  A light dawned on his face. “If he isn’t, then he can’t have been part of it back then. And he’s only been in town a few months, right?”

  Ellie nodded and handed him the paper. “I really do have to get to work. My shift starts soon and I need to talk to the sheriff about the guy he took in last night.”

  “Lead the way.”

  She frowned. “You’re coming?”

  “I’ll have to, if I want to make a report about my slashed tires.”

  Why hadn’t she thought of that? Because she wasn’t on duty right now, so it wasn’t her job. That was the worst excuse ever.

  Something about today, and Drew being here with her, was throwing her off. She was out of her element. And yeah, she hadn’t slept all that well replaying through her mind getting shot at and then racing away with a man on horseback.