Page 69 of Forever Gone

His attention returned to Kelly.

“If you won’t account for your time,” Kelly continued, “we’ll have to ask you to come into the station for a formal interview while we seek your phone and vehicle records. We’ll also need to arrange care for your mother while you’re with us.”

The mention of his mother changed the calculation.

Boyd rubbed both palms over his trousers. “I was with somebody.”

“Who?” Selena asked.

“A woman.”

“Name?”

He shook his head.

Kelly said, “Boyd, protecting her identity won’t help either of you if we have to find her ourselves.”

“She won’t want police calling.”

“We’re federal agents,” Selena said. “The question remains the same.”

Boyd bent forward, keeping his voice low. “Her name’s Trina Vale. She sees men for money.”

“What time were you with her?” Kelly asked.

“About three-thirty until after two.”

“Where?”

“Motel outside Harlan. The Pine Ridge.”

“Room number?”

“Fourteen.”

“Who paid for it?” Selena asked.

“Me. Cash.”

“Did you use your phone while you were there?”

“Probably. Trina used hers, too.”

Selena held out her notebook. “Give me her number, please.”

Boyd recited it slowly. Kelly copied the digits as a backup.

“Did you see Trina last night?” Selena asked.

“No. I was here with Mom.”

“Can anyone confirm that?”

“The home-health aide left at six. I didn’t go out after.”

“We’ll need the aide’s details,” Kelly said.

Boyd provided them without argument.