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“I’m not armed, if that’s what you’re worried about.”He does a slow circle, allowing me to scan the rest of his frame.When he faces me again, he asks, “We good?”
“Fine.But I’m keeping my weapon on me.”
“Your brother said the same thing to me.”He chuckles, then steps into his house, holding the door for me.
As I follow him inside, I scan my surroundings, remaining alert for any potential dangers.But I doubt I’ll find any.The place is surprisingly homey.A soft brown couch and matching love seat are nestled against one wall of the living room, a dining table just beyond it.It’s not particularly spacious, but I doubt he ever entertains anyone.
That would be too risky.
Instead, he’s made a life out here where his closest neighbor is easily several miles away.
“Would you like some tea?”He heads toward the sink and turns on the faucet, running his hands under it.“Or perhaps something a bit stronger?”
“That depends on what you’re about to share with me.”
He turns off the water and dries his hands on a dish towel.“Something stronger it is.”Removing two glasses from a cabinet, he pours a few fingers of a deep amber liquid into each one and brings them to the table, placing them on the surface.
“It’s that bad?”I pull out one of the chairs and sit down.
“I’ll let you decide for yourself.”He lowers himself across from me, bringing his glass to his lips.
I leave mine on the table for now, wanting to keep a clear head.“What did you tell my brother about the man with the scar?”
“Just that I noticed him following me a few days after I…assaulted Jameson Gates.”He rolls his eyes.“Which was a load of crap to begin with.”
“You’d mentioned that Callie had claimed to see a man with a scar following her in the days before she disappeared, too.Correct?”
Hayes nods.“As did Jack, at least according to Callie.”
I furrow my brow.“Who’s Jack?”
“Callie’s brother.”
“Callie has a brother?”I open my notebook and make a few notes.
“Had,” he corrects.
“Right.Sorry.”I meet his eyes, trying to sound apologetic.“Do you know where I can find him?”
He takes another long sip from his drink, then glances at the ceiling.“Last I checked, he’s not too far from you in Oak Lawn.”
“Oak Lawn?Isn’t that—”
“A cemetery.”
“He’s dead?”
“Died about six months before Callie disappeared.In a car accident.”He gives me a knowing look, an insinuation in his expression.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know the details.Only what the authorities claimed.Although, based on my experience, that may not be all that reliable.Even so, they said he was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control of his vehicle when rounding a bend, which forced him to swerve off the road, down an embankment, and crash into a tree.The impact caused the car to catch on fire, according to the police.”
“So he died in a car fire?”
Hayes nods.“Sound familiar?”
“Just because Callie’s brother died in a car wreck doesn’t mean anything.People die in car accidents all the time.”
