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His eyes glinted with promise as he smiled back at her, and she couldn’t wait to see what he had planned for the evening.
***
Eric Bell lived in a neat bungalow with a million-dollar view of the Porkies. The lush green foliage on the mountain slopes drew Annie’s eye for a moment as she walked with the deputies toward the yellow front door. She didn’t expect to find him home on a Thursday afternoon.
After getting no response at the door, she led the way across the gravel drive to the big barn on the other side of the driveway that housed his vintage tractor sales. There was only one vehicle in the parking lot, so she hoped they’d be able to have a privateconversation with the man. The sliding barn door stood open to let in the summer breeze, and the windows had screens. Inside, the place smelled of oil and old hay. Rows of vintage tractors were parked along the walls, and she spotted several Massey Fergusons.
A red-haired man in a green plaid shirt and jeans lifted a hand in greeting. “Be right with you, folks.” He appeared to be in his late thirties.
He handed an older man in bib overalls some kind of part and ushered the guy to the door before he stepped to where they stood examining a tractor. “What can I do for you?”
Annie took out a pen and pad of paper. “I’m LEO Annie Pederson, and these are Deputies Montgomery and Lewis. We have a few questions for you.”
The man’s smile faded, and a frown crouched between his brown eyes. “Okay.”
“We understand you are friends with Glenn Hussert?” Annie said.
“Yeah, so what?” Bell yanked a greasy red bandana from his back pocket and bent over to wipe a smear off a tractor.
“Three men took Hussert out of the hospital around two o’clock Tuesday morning. Would you happen to know anything about that?”
Bell stuffed the bandana back in his pocket. “We’re just hunting buddies. That’s it.”
He didn’t seem worried about Glenn at all. Maybe because he knew all about it? Annie pulled up the picture she’d taken of the photo they’d found of Glenn in the Massey Ferguson hat. She showed him the front and back of the picture. “Why would he wear that hat when he was a big John Deere guy?”
“No idea.” But he didn’t look at her.
He wasn’t a good liar. “I think you do. The words on the back, ‘Your turn next.’ What did he mean by that?”
“Look, I already told you I don’t know anything about the picture or Glenn’s escape. Unless you’ve got a warrant, you can get out of here. I have work to do, and you have no right to hassle me. Glenn was a hunting buddy, nothing more. I’m sorry he’s in trouble, but it’s not my worry.”
Annie handed him her card. “If you remember anything that might help us find him, please give me a call.”
He grunted and threw the card in the trash. “Out.” He pointed at the door.
Annie lifted a brow and glanced at the deputies in case they had any other questions, but Doug shrugged and moved to the exit. Deja followed him.
While they hadn’t gotten anywhere, Annie was sure Eric Bell knew more than he said.
Eleven
Jon sat on a park bench at the end of Jack Pine Lane. Children squealed on the merry-go-round, and Milo lay at his feet with his head resting on Jon’s shoe. The blue sky had that color of late afternoon with a few lazy clouds floating past.
It hadn’t taken long for Jon to hatch a plan for a romantic evening with Annie. If only he already had the ring, but there was no rush. They had their entire future ahead of them.
He’d found a charter boat and had arranged a chef to bring steaks and a grill on board to cook for them. The only thing he lacked was music, but he could connect a speaker to his phone and have some of their favorite songs playing. Would she be disappointed they weren’t going to a movie? The dinner cruise would take several hours, and he hadn’t wanted to cut that time short on such a beautiful night.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
He glanced up to see his dad leaning on his cane. “Dad.” After scooting over to make room for his father, Jon patted the seat beside him. “You probably need to rest after that walk. Thanks again for reassuring Kylie.”
“Glad to reassure my little girl.”
His dad’s recovery from the stroke had been slow and painful. Dad put his weight on his cane as he eased onto the bench.
“I’m glad you came by,” Jon said. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“I already know you asked for your mom’s ring.” His dad’s sly smile told Jon he approved. “It’s on its way.”
