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“Like a hawk.”
“Jasper went to the country club to swim that morning.”
“He left at ten something.”
“The time isn’t so important. Did you see him return?”
“I saw him pull into the garage, around—”
“But you didn’t see him?”
“Only the car.”
“I don’t think he came back with his gym bag.”
“Maybe he left it in the trunk of his car.”
“He didn’t. I was with him when he loaded our suitcases for the airport. The bag wasn’t there.” She leaned forward and said to Gif, “Do you know where the country club is?”
“No, but I can take directions.”
She told him the first turn to take, then said to Drex, “I have the code to his locker. He left his wristwatch in it once. I was at the club having lunch with a couple of girlfriends. He called and asked me to retrieve his watch. He didn’t trust the attendant with the code to his locker, so he gave it to me, then alerted the attendant that I would need brief access when no one was in there.”
“He might have changed the code since then.” That from Mike.
Talia said, “It’s worth a try.”
“How will you get into the men’s locker room?” Drex asked.
“Can’t you tell that I’m on the verge of a meltdown, worried sick over what’s become of my husband, frantic over the failure of the authorities to find him? Possibly there’s something in his locker that would prove helpful to the search. Who’s going to deny me access?”
Mike harrumphed his opinion of the plan. Gif raised his eyebrows in the mirror. Drex grinned. “I’m rubbing off on you.”
“God help us,” Mike grumbled.
She insisted on going in alone. “If we all go, it’ll look like a parade and call attention.”
“Not all of us have to go. Just me,” Drex said. “If I’m with you, and someone denies you access, all I have to do is flash my
—” He broke off.
Talia gave him an arch look.
Gif offered to go in with her. “If the occasion calls for it, I’ll use my badge.”
“Since you’re not stupid enough to have surrendered it,” Mike said, turning his head to glower at Drex. “Still, somebody should go with her.”
She addressed the back of Mike’s head. “So I won’t skip out on you?”
“Just sayin’. Somebody should go.”
By the time they’d reached the country club, it had been decided that Gif would accompany her into the clubhouse. As she got out at the entrance, Drex wished her good luck and squeezed her hand. He waved off the valet and took Gif’s place behind the wheel. “I’ll park over there.” He pointed out an area of the lot.
Talia was recognized by staff, but all seemed shocked to see her looking so bedraggled. Her trek through the green belt in the rain had contributed to the overall impression of a woman in desperation.
The attendant on duty at the desk outside the men’s locker room seemed downright alarmed. “Mrs. Ford?”
“Hi, Todd. It is Todd, isn’t it?”
