“Shane’s associates demanded payment,” Ryan supplied for him.
Jason looked his way. “That’s right. They messed Shane up. Broke his arm and a few ribs. Shane told them about us and so they came after me and Tyler. My dad was able to pay off my debt and Shane’s, but Tyler, well, his family wasn’t wealthy.”
“What happened to Tyler? Did they kill him?” The words slipped out before Charlie could stop them.
Jason appeared shocked. “Kill him? No. They needed him alive to get their money back. Tyler told me they forced him to steal from his family and others until he had enough money to pay them back. But there was something else. Tyler was protecting someone. He never would tell me who, but it was someone he was involved with. I think whoever this person is, she’s the one Tyler bought the drugs for.”
Fear slithered into the pit of Charlie’s stomach. “Was it Abby?”
Jason shrugged. “He wouldn’t tell me. He said he couldn’t say because he wanted to keep her identity secret. I think he was worried they’d come after her.”
What if the dealers had found out about Abby? Maybe they’d tried to force her to give them money or had threatened to kill Tyler if she didn’t. Maybe they’d threatened her, and it went too far?
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter because Tyler was able to get the money, and he paid them off. They had nothing to do with Abby’s disappearance. Or Tyler’s death.”
Charlie wasn’t so sure.
“What else can you tell us about back then?” Boone asked while jotting notes.
Jason smiled. “Not much. My brain isn’t too clear on that time period. I used a lot of drugs then and for most of my life,” he confessed. “Thankfully, my rehab finally stuck. I’ve been clean for a couple of years now.”
As happy as Charlie was for Jason, nothing he said helped clear up the mystery of what happened to Abby, and Charlie wondered if her tragedy would prove to be her uncle’s as well. Would they ever find the answers Abby’s family and Charlie needed?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ryan waited until they were in the cruiser before expressing his frustration. He shut the passenger door a little too hard. “Now what?” So far, it seemed as if every lead had fallen flat and they were no closer to the answers needed than when he found Charlie at Pete’s place.
“We go back to the station and regroup,” Boone told him without hesitation. “I want to speak with Junior, and I don’t care what Eddie says. If he’s innocent like Eddie claims, then he won’t mind speaking with us.” Boone sighed. “The answers are out there somewhere and although it may not seem so, we’re getting closer to them. The killer is nervous. He’s striking back. He’ll get reckless.”
Ryan wanted to believe this, but right now it seemed they were years behind the killer and barely catching up.
“I’m going to try Lila again.”
Ryan grunted at Charlie’s announcement while he went over what Jason and Grant told them. He’d known drugs were around back then. Ryan hadn’t been naïve enough to think their small town was exempt. But he had no idea the extent it had invaded Pine Haven.
“She’s still not answering.” The worry in Charlie’s tone grabbed his attention.
“Try the café’s number.” He looked over his shoulder as she called the business.
“Hello, can I speak to Lila?” She paused for a moment. “When did you last see her?”
Ryan frowned. Lila wasn’t at the café. Something was definitely wrong.
“Hang on.” Charlie moved the phone away from her mouth. “She hasn’t been in the café at all today. The person on the phone is one of the waitresses. She said the last time she saw Lila was when they were closing last night.”
“We need to go to her house.” Ryan told Boone while the scope of Lila missing settled around him. This was bad. Had the killer taken Lila?
“On my way now.” Boone hit the lights and siren and floored the gas pedal.
Lila’s place was in town. Boone made the necessary turns until they were sitting in her drive.
Ryan looked over at Charlie. “Wait here.” Her huge fearful eyes didn’t need any further confirmation she understood.
He exited the cruiser with his weapon drawn. He and Boone advanced on the house. Boone looked through the windows in front of the garage. “Car’s inside.”
Ryan wanted to believe that was a good sign. The knot in his stomach wouldn’t let him.
As they approached the front door another disturbing sight. The door stood slightly ajar.
