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The name echoed throughout the house. Mike elbowed past Gif and went as fast as his waddle allowed into the dining room and then beyond into the living area. “Check upstairs.”
Gif mounted the staircase in a run. He checked all the rooms—empty rooms—before coming back down and shaking his head at Mike, who was returning from an inspection of all the first floor rooms. “Damn!” he said, wheezing. “It’s a friggin’ curse, being right all the time.”
Gif stepped past him. “What’s this?”
On the dining table was a cookbook with a note in Drex’s handwriting lying on top of it. Gif read it aloud. “Tear apart all the cookbooks. Hiding place for souvenirs?”
In addition to the cookbook was a manila envelope with a brass clasp. Drex had written on the envelope: Special Agent Rudkowski, congratulations. You’re getting your heart’s desire.
Mike and Gif looked at each other with dread. Gif unfastened the clasp and shook out the contents of the envelope.
It was the wallet containing Drex’s badge and ID.
A sheet of notepaper drifted out along with it. On it was written: P.S. I’m keeping my gun and the girl.
Chapter 26
His resignation?” Locke exclaimed.
Gif and Mike regretted having to lay this on the detective, who seemed like a conscientious cop and overall nice guy. They had anticipated the disbelief he expressed. It matched their own.
Gif said, “There’s more.” He then read aloud the last line of Drex’s note.
“You’re telling me he left and took Mrs. Ford with him?”
“Looks like.”
/> “The two of them just up and left?”
“Looks like.”
“Where would they have gone?”
“Your guess is as good as ours,” Gif said. “Last we saw of them, he was trying to wear her down, and I think making progress. Maybe he thought if he got her alone—”
“He gave up his authority to do that when he surrendered his badge. Which car did they take?”
“They didn’t. All four are still here. Hers, her husband’s, Drex’s, and mine.”
“They left on foot?”
“Unless they sprouted wings.”
“How in hell did they manage it? Why?”
“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”
“There is,” Locke said, speaking with more vexation than they’d heard from him before. “Easton is either harboring a material witness who requested him to do so or he’s kidnaped her, and I lean toward the latter.”
“Drex wouldn’t force or coerce her to go with him. I’m certain of that.” Gif looked over at Mike, who gave him a telling look back, and Gif amended his statement. “Fairly certain.”
Locke said, “Last night that woman was afraid of him.”
“She was apprehensive of all of us, not just Drex.” Gif didn’t share that Drex had spent a good half hour in a bedroom alone with her. “But he has impressed upon her that it’s her missing husband she should be scared of.”
Locke heaved a sigh. “On that, I’m afraid Easton is right. Following the autopsy, the coroner ruled Elaine Conner’s death a homicide. She didn’t drown; she was choked to death.”
Gif received the news without comment. Mike muttered a string of obscenities. Neither took pleasure in having foretold her fate.
