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“We’re early.” Styles checked his watch. “Isn’t that a delivery van parked in the alleyway?”
Beth increased her pace. “Yeah, maybe he’s early.”
They waited patiently for the driver to unload his goods and close his van doors before approaching him. He was the right size for the shooter and she’d seen this man on the CCTV footage in the store before the shooting. She waited for Styles to take the lead and took out a notebook and pen.
“Austin Buck?” Styles held up his cred pack. “Agents Styles and Katz. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?”
“No, but I can’t be too long. I’m on a schedule.” Buck folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the back of his van. “What can I do for you? If it’s about illegal tobacco products, I don’t touch any of that stuff. All my deliveries are legit.”
“I believe you were in town the night the convenience store was robbed.” Styles stood relaxed, his expression unreadable.
“Yeah, I had a stopover.” He shrugged. “We’re only allowed to drive a certain number of hours. I was over my limit, so took a room at the motel.”
“Did you go to the convenience store during your time here?” Styles narrowed his gaze. “As in, were you in the vicinity of the convenience store anytime after dark?”
“Yeah, well, you know I was, right?” Buck gave him a direct stare. “They’ve got CCTV cameras. So what’s this really all about?”
Beth looked up from taking notes. “What did you see that night? The night of the shooting.”
“I’m not sure.” Buck shrugged. “I went in for a soda and some snacks, is all. You know, to eat watching TV?”
“Did you see anyone hanging around the store or along the sidewalk, parked outside and sitting in a vehicle, that you can recall?” Styles was staring as if looking straight through him.
“Nope. There was a girl walking toward the store as I came out, she was really pretty and had long hair. Too young for me though.” Buck checked his watch. “There were people in the store. Vehicles parked outside. I don’t recall how many. I just grabbed my stuff and walked back to my van. I was tired. It had been a long day.”
Beth exchanged a glance with Styles. “What time was this?”
“Around nine, I guess.” Buck looked from one to the other. “That’s all I have. I heard about the shootings on the news the next morning. I guess I’m lucky to be alive, huh?”
“Yeah, seems that way.” Styles handed him a card. “If anything else comes to mind, give me a call. Thanks for your time.” He turned to go and glanced at Beth. “It’s not him.”
Not understanding, Beth stared at him. “How do you know?”
“Half of his right index finger is missing.” He raised both eyebrows. “When he removed his gloves just before, I noticed. The shooter was right-handed and used that finger to pull the trigger.”
The wind whipped Beth’s hair into her eyes as they headed for the diner. As she stepped inside, she gathered it up and secured it with a band from around her wrist. She’d let it down from the ponytail to get the stink of the funeral parlor out of it. That smell could sure cling. She approached the counter andsmiled at the woman waiting to serve them. She glanced at Styles. “We’re early, want coffee?”
“Might as well.” He smiled at the woman behind the counter. “You’d be Elizabeth McGill?”
“That’s me. I’m guessing you’re the FBI agents come to speak with Clay Maverick?” She smiled back. “I’ve known Clay for a long time. He lives here in town and has been delivering small goods to us for a few years now. I’ve never had a problem with him. What’s he done?”
“We don’t believe he’s done anything, ma’am.” Styles shook his head. “We’re interviewing anyone who was around town the night of the shooting, is all. We’re looking for witnesses. Were you here at that time? Did you see anyone hanging around the convenience store?”
“I was here at the time.” Elizabeth McGill indicated behind her. “I live out back and didn’t hear anything. It’s a ways away from here and with the TV on I don’t hear much of what goes on outside.”
Beth ordered coffee and two slices of pie. She’d suddenly gotten her appetite back after the funeral parlor and had missed lunch. “That’s fine. We’ll wait for Clay to arrive. It’s just routine questions, nothing for him to worry about.” She waited for the pie and coffee, and they carried their meal to a table in the window. “Hmm, the nice guy. Now that sets off alarm bells right away.”
“We’ll see.” Styles dug into his pie and smiled at her. “How did you know I wanted a slice of pie?”
Shaking her head, Beth shrugged and looked him straight in the eye. “Really? You have to ask me? When don’t you want a slice of pie?”
“True.” Styles ate slowly. “Nice, but not as good as TJ’s and those pies we bought from Aunt Betty’s Café out at Black Rock Falls. Man, I’ve never eaten a cherry pie so good.”
Beth sipped her coffee and peered at him over the rim. “Next time we find a body, maybe you can ask Wolfe to bring one with him.”
“What?” Styles spluttered his coffee, grabbing a wad of paper napkins to press to his mouth. “Oh, Beth, you’ll be the death of me. I can imagine the conversation.Wolfe, can you get here ASAP. We have a homicide, and can I get a slice of cherry pie with that?Can you imagine his reaction?”
Beth savored a forkful of pie and chuckled. “It was just a suggestion. We’re heading there in the morning. You want pie, we’ll grab some before we leave. It’s only a few minutes out of our day.”
