Thirty-Six and a Half Motives
Page 45

Is he coming after me?
She immediately typed back. No. A good thirty seconds later she sent: But he’s good and ticked. A good minute after that she sent: I’m walking to our office. I’ll let you know when the coast is clear.
“Would he arrest you?” Jed asked. We didn’t have a destination, so he started driving in a big square several blocks around the courthouse.
“No. He wouldn’t have any grounds to, would he?”
“If he knew you were anywhere around that shed, he could arrest you for impeding an investigation.”
Hell’s bells. Jed was right. For all I knew, Joe might try to pull such a gambit to keep me from his father. “Well, he tried it once, and I didn’t take it well. It almost cost us our friendship. I hope he’d have better sense this time.”
Jed didn’t answer.
We drove past the nursery, and the sight of a sheriff’s car parked out back made my heart stop. Even though Mason had told me Joe was investigating the matter, it felt different to see the evidence of it in front of my face. Had Bruce Wayne and Anna really been kidnapped? I’d thought Bruce Wayne had been kidnapped before, but both times he’d left of his own free will. Maybe this was a similar situation. I could only hope.
I called Maeve.
“Oh, Rose. It’s just horrible. I’m sure you’ve heard, but Joe thinks Anna and Bruce Wayne may have been kidnapped.”
“I heard Joe came by?” I asked.
“Yes. He didn’t say anything about what he found, but he said he was sending a deputy over to do a formal look-over. They’re out back now.”
“What happened, Maeve?”
“I don’t really know. Bruce Wayne was working out back, shoveling a fresh batch of mulch. We were all caught up inside, so Anna went to check on him, although you and I both know it’s probably because she likes him.”
“Yeah, and he likes her,” I said. “So they were both out back. Did you see anything?”
“I saw a dark van turn onto the side street next to the nursery. I remember it because it was moving so slowly. I was sure it was going to turn into the parking lot, but then it sped up and went around back.”
“Do you remember what time that was?”
“Um . . . about nine thirty.”
“Did you see the van again?”
“Yes. It came back on the same side street and turned right, heading south.”
“Did you see who was driving? Was there someone in the passenger seat?”
“Yeah, a younger man, maybe in his twenties, wearing a gray stocking cap.”
Sounded a lot like Sam Teagen. “And the passenger?”
“An older guy, black coat. No hat.”
Marshal. This didn’t sound good. “Did you hear any shouts or anything?”
“Not a peep. I went back there to check on them at around ten. They were gone, but both of their cars are still here.”
“Do you remember anything about the van?”
“It was black with darkened windows in the back. Like those old conversion vans. I saw an image on the passenger side that looked like it had been covered with black spray paint.”
“Could you tell what it was?”
“Just the top was still showing. It kind of looked like wings. Large ones.”
“No license plate or anything?”
“No, but I wasn’t looking. I only paid attention because it was moving so slowly and the two guys looked into the shop. Oh, wait! There was something else. It had one of those things on the hood that all the street cars have, you know with all the pipes. Only they looked defective. The ones in the middle were shorter than the ones on the ends.”
“Thanks, Maeve. That’s really helpful.”
“I hope they’re okay.”
“Me too. We’re looking into it. Can you give me a call if you think of anything else?” I asked.
“Of course . . . Rose?”
“Yeah.”
“I talked to Mason this morning.”
“He told me.”
“You talked to him, too?”
“Yeah.” I saw no reason to elaborate.
“I know you have bigger things to worry about, but he regrets so many things.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to get into it right now.
“I know I told you this once, but it bears saying again. No matter what path you choose, I’ll still be here for you.”
My voice broke. “Thanks, Maeve.”
“There’s one more thing,” she said, with hesitation. “Skeeter Malcolm came by the shop looking for Anna and asking questions. Twice.”
My back stiffened. Was she going to demand answers? “That’s what I heard from Mason.”
“I didn’t tell him much. Mason told me to keep everything to myself and share it only with Joe and you.”
Mason was looking out for me. While he might trust Skeeter to keep me safe, that didn’t mean he trusted him with information.
“Thanks, Maeve.”
“Now you be safe, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I hung up and stared out the window. The day was much too bright and sunny to be so full of sadness and despair.
“Nothin’ usable?” Jed asked.
“Actually, there was.” I described the van to him, strange pipes, covered-up wings, and all.
“An air cooler on a conversion van?”
I shrugged. “That’s what Maeve said.”
“That should be easy to spot.”
“I’ve never seen it before.”
“Maybe we can ask around at a couple shops, see if they know anything about Teagen and Marshal.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, and Jed’s gaze lifted in the mirror. “Ted’s Garage, where Neely Kate’s husband works. Her cousin works with him, and he said some of the guys there pledged themselves to Mick Gentry. Teagen’s working for Kate and J.R., so he might have gone there.”
Jed looked furious. “Looks like we need to drop in and pay them a visit.”
“You can’t do that, Jed,” I said in disbelief. “Nobody’s goin’ to tell you anything.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve actually done this a time or two.”
“How do you know they won’t just tell you what they think you want to know?”