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“There are many common factors, Detective,” Jacqui said curtly.
Mendes’s eyes narrowed and, for a moment, Theo thought he might have more questions to ask, or the same ones again. But if he did, he thought better of it. “We’ll be in touch, Miss Benton.”
Mac and Gus were waiting for them. “There are reporters outside,” Gus said quietly. “Someone’s tipped them off.”
“We’re going to go to the Oread, check in, and then leave through the kitchen.” Mac had clearly made arrangements. “Sam will pick us up outside the delivery door.”
So they made their way through the media pack in the Kansas PD car lot to a police vehicle that took them to the Oread Hotel, a multistory late art deco construction. Mac checked them all in. Security was called to push the members of the press who had followed them, out of the hotel lobby. They entered the Bird Dog Bar ostensibly to have lunch, and then slipped into the kitchen. The chef greeted Gus and Mac like brothers long lost, and took them through to the back door where a catering truck was waiting.
Mac swore. Clearly the catering truck was something of a surprise.
“It’s Sam,” Gus told Theo as Mac called his brother an idiot.
“Sam drives a catering truck?” Theo asked.
“Occasionally.”
“He’s a caterer?”
“No, I think he’s still a mechanic.”
Mac opened the back of the truck shaking his head. “Apparently my brother knows a caterer who lends him the truck, no questions asked, in exchange for maintenance.”
Theo wondered how often Sam had had cause to borrow a caterer’s truck—but now was probably not the time to ask. They climbed into the back, among crates of bakers’ rolls and stacks of white tablecloths.
“Hold tight.” Sam Etheridge shut the doors and the hold of the truck became dark as well as cold.
“Where is he taking us?” Theo asked, shivering.
Gus put his arm around her. “Fort Etheridge. It’s out of town and…defended.” Theo could almost hear the grimace in his voice. “As far as we know, Mary died without revealing your current residence, but the police are searching both Mac’s place and mine.”
“Searching them for what?”
“Mary Cowell’s phone.”
“Oh.” Theo realized now why the police had been so interested in the comings and goings of Mac and Gus. Perhaps they believed Mary had been killed to keep her from publishing the photographs of Mac Etheridge’s house. It was stupid and ludicrous and utterly implausible, but Mendes seemed committed to believing she was somehow related to every crime and misdemeanor committed in Lawrence.
Gus called Crane, Hayes and Benton to ask his secretary to reorganize his calendar and Jacqui’s for the day. Clearly their absence was being felt. Gus listened for a while and then said, “Well, tell Philip to—” He stopped and exhaled before finishing. “Tell Mr. Hayes that I shall speak to him when I get back.”
He hung up, tight-lipped. Jacqui cursed for them both.
“Has something new come to light about Dan’s murder?” Theo asked.
“Not that I’m aware,” Mac replied. “Jacqui?”
“Nope—I’ve not heard anything.”
“They were asking me a lot of questions about Benders,” Theo confessed. “I thought perhaps—”
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Mary Cowell’s body was discovered this morning on the back porch of Benders.”
CHAPTER 26
Caleb clenched his fists in his hair. He felt sick. She was dead—Jesus! What the fuck had he done? And the cops were looking at Mac for it. He wasn’t going to be able to keep this quiet—especially if they were going after Mac. And then it would be out, and his brothers would kill him first.
