by Aimée Thurlo
* * *
KYLE KNEW PRESTON would soon be taking prints at Frieda’s house and looking for hair and other trace evidence. With Daniel’s help, maybe they’d be able to come up with her real name.
“We’re going to the Quarter Horse Bar?” Erin asked, bringing Kyle’s thoughts back to the present.
“Yes. I want to ask the bartender about Frieda. While I’m talking to him, I’d like you to keep watch. If you see her, or if you think someone else is watching us, let me know right away. I’ll take it from there.”
While parking near the bar’s smaller side entrance, he noted that the lot was less than half full.
“Our timing’s just right. It’s not so crowded the bartender won’t have a few minutes to spare. Stay beside me.”
Moments later, they walked across the dimly lit room. Kyle flashed his badge as the bartender came over. “I’m looking for an employee of yours, Frieda Martinez.”
“She should have been here an hour ago. If you see her, tell her she’s fired,” the man spat out.
“Are you the owner?”
“Nah, I just manage the place. My name’s Ed Huff, detective.”
Kyle didn’t bother to correct him. If Huff thought he was with the local P.D., so be it.
“Tell me more about Frieda. Does she hang out with anyone special, customers or staff?”
“Like everyone else, she seems to have her favorites,” he said. “So why are the police suddenly interested in her?”
“We need to ask her a few questions, that’s all.” He brought out two photos—one of Bruce and another of Hank Leland. “Either of these men look familiar?”
“Yeah, that’s Bruce Leland and that’s his brother Hank,” he said, pointing. “They’re both regulars—Bruce more so than Hank. Hank’s been gone for a while, some overseas business, but Bruce is here almost every night. In fact, Bruce introduced Hank to Frieda. From what I could tell, Frieda and Hank really hit it off.”
Ed signaled another employee. “Alex, take over!” he called out, then glanced back at Kyle. “Come to my office.”
Instead of following them, Erin pointed to a vending machine a few feet down the hall. “Would you excuse me for a moment? I need some quick energy.”
“Go ahead,” Kyle said.
Ed led the way into a tiny, cramped office. “The employee files are here, but since we have a high rate of turnover, we keep application forms short and simple. No one here is big on paperwork.”
Ed pulled out a manila file folder with a hand-lettered tab and dropped it on the desk. “There you go, detective. That’s everything I’ve got.”
Kyle studied its contents. As Ed had promised, the file contained only a one-page application which listed Frieda’s known address and last job as an inventory specialist for Zia Limited. The company sounded familiar, then he remembered why.
“I’m sick and tired of dealing with her, so Frieda’s going to be looking for a new job.”
“Don’t let me be the one responsible for that. All I’ve got is a few questions for her. Hank Leland was killed this morning.”
Ed’s eyes grew wide. “That’s terrible news, Hank dead. That’s probably why she never showed up for work. What the heck happened? If you officers are asking questions, it wasn’t just an accident, was it?”
“I’m afraid not,” he said. “I just need to ask Frieda what she knows about the Leland brothers.”
“She might be able to help,” he agreed. “She’s real outgoing with the customers, especially the guys.”
“I’ve never met her, so tell me. What makes Frieda so easy to talk to?”
“Frieda just draws you in. She’s got beautiful green eyes and copper hair that shines like silk. You get what I’m saying?”
“Yeah, she’s hot.”
“Scalding, and she knows it. Frieda would have never given Bruce Leland the time of day unless she’d had an angle. Bruce is a loser so I’m betting she used him to meet Hank. Frieda strikes me as someone with a lot of street savvy, a woman who plans to be rich someday.”
Hearing a commotion in the hall, Kyle glanced out the open doorway. A tall, muscular man in baggy slacks and a tight green T-shirt was standing inches from Erin, his hands on her, pressing her shoulders against the wall.
Kyle flew across the gap that separated them. Grabbing one of the man’s arms, he twisted it around, and shoved him face first against the wall. “You have a problem with her—you have a problem with me.”
Ed hurried over. “Bubba, what the hell are you doing back here? You know this area’s employees only.”
A tall, flashy redhead in tight slacks and blouse stepped up. “It’s my fault, Ed. I came in to pick up my check and brought Bubba with me. When this woman reached for my arm, Bubba maybe thought she was trying to rough me up or steal my purse.”
“I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression,” Erin said, catching her breath. “I thought you were someone else.”
Kyle eased up on the big man’s arm, letting him turn around. “I’m going to let you go, dude, but keep your hands off the ladies or you’ll find yourself in handcuffs.”
Bubba rose to full height and stared down at Kyle with fire in his eyes.
“Guess you thought I was Frieda didn’t you?” the red-haired woman said with a wry smile. “I’m Rosalie, the taller one. Bubba’s had my back since last week, when a guy out in the parking lot came up from behind and grabbed my arm. He thought I was Frieda too until he saw my face. From the back we get mistaken for each other all the time.”
“Did you recognize the man who tried to grab you?” Kyle asked her.
“I’ve seen him around, so I guess he’s a customer, ’cause he sure doesn’t work here,” Rosalie said. “He was pissed off at Frieda, grumbling about her not playing by the rules, or some such bull. Just about the time he realized I wasn’t her, Bubba jumped in and hammered him with a couple of punches to his face.”
“I’m really sorry I startled you,” Erin said.
The young woman smiled. “It’s fine. I’m sorry, and so’s Bubba,” she said. Looking directly at her friend, she added, “Apologize.”
“Yeah, sure. It was a mistake, that’s all,” Bubba responded.
“Let’s go,” Kyle said.
Once outside the bar, Kyle glared at her. “You decided to approach a woman you thought was Frieda all by yourself? What were you thinking? What if she’d pulled a gun?”
“I was afraid she’d get away the second I called out to you.”
“Do not do anything like that again,” he growled. “You’re with me because you saw at least one of the remaining kidnappers up close. The other ones have no way of knowing if you can provide a link to them or not, so you’re in their sights, too.”
“The longer I stick with you, the more they’re bound to think I know more than I do.”
“Maybe, but I stand between you and them. All things considered, you’re better off following my game plan.”
“Yeah, I get that, but I don’t want to be dead weight, either. By helping you, I’ll be helping myself. I’m going to take a more active role.”
“How exactly do you plan to do that?” he asked, biting off each word.
“For one, I’m going to keep my eyes open, like I did just now at the Quarter Horse Bar, and take action if necessary—within reason, of course,” she added. “You should start adapting your tactics and figuring out ways to use my help more effectively. If you don’t, I’ll just have to get creative.”
“So now you’ve got a death wish?”
“No, just the opposite. The sooner you find answers, the faster I’ll get back to my—” She stopped speaking abruptly, and looked away.
“What?”
“My life...but there’s no going back to the way things were, not e
ver,” she said in a heavy voice. “For starters, I’m probably jobless. Hank’s the sole owner of the company and now that he’s gone, I’ll have to call his attorney to find out what the company’s status is. Will the doors stay open so we can wrap things up? We’ve got work contracted out and employees that’ll need to be paid.”
“You’ll be able to contact the lawyer once we’re in a secure location and the call can’t be traced.”
“Hank trusted me. I can’t just walk away and leave things in chaos. I have to finish whatever needs to be done.”
Despite the fact that her job may have come to a close, and that responsibility could now lie in the hands of another, she still wanted to see things through. It was clear to him that she found comfort in rules, even self-imposed ones. Yet predictability of any kind could be her downfall.
“I hear you,” he said, as they got back into the SUV.
He remembered Hosteen Silver’s teachings. To restore order, you first had to find the pattern, he’d say. The first step was identifying what didn’t fit within the framework of harmony.
As he considered it, Kyle realized he’d been going about things wrong. To find answers, he had to start with what now stood at the center of the chaos—Erin Barrett.
Chapter Seven
As Kyle pulled out into the street, a white van, parked against the curb, started up, did a one-eighty, and nearly got hit by an oncoming car. The other driver, who’d had to stand on his brakes to avoid a collision, honked loudly.
“The crazy driver in that van could have killed someone! The jerk’s probably drunk. We have way too many DWIs around here,” Erin said.
Or the guy is stone sober but real anxious to follow us. On his guard now, Kyle decided to play it out.
“There’s also a chance we’re being followed,” he said, looking in the rearview mirror.
“You’re talking about that same van, the one with the electrical company sign on the side?” she asked.
“Yeah, the suspects we’re dealing with seem to prefer vans, and that sign’s magnetic and easy to slap on.”
Using the SUV’s voice recognition capability, he spoke clearly. “Search Consolidated Electric,” he said, and waited for the computer to complete its task.
“No business by that name is listed in Hartley. Closest match—Denver,” came the disembodied reply.
“Your instincts were right. Can we turn the tables on the driver?” she asked.
“Maybe.” A high-threat environment was never an easy thing to deal with, but Erin was adapting quickly. “Let me get some backup first.
“Call Preston,” Kyle told the computer as he checked the rearview mirror again for the van. The vehicle had changed lanes and was behind them now, about ten car lengths back. It appeared to be pacing them.
“Pres,” he said, “I’m being followed by a white van with a Consolidated Electric sign on the driver’s door. Can you get behind him?”
“What’s your current location?” Preston asked.
“Erin and I are headed east on Crestview, next cross street is Twenty-first.”
“Okay. Take Twenty-first south, but try to get caught by the red light so I can have some time to catch up. I’m at the taco place west on Fourteenth having dinner, but can probably reach Twenty-first in five. If the van drops off, let me know.”
“Copy,” Kyle said.
“It’s still back there,” Erin said, glancing into the side mirror.
Kyle managed to go slow enough to catch the next red light.
Straight ahead past the intersection, he noted that Crestview Mall was busy this evening.
As he began the right turn onto Twenty-first with the van two car lengths away, he saw red-and-blue flashing lights coming up Crestview, heading in their direction.
Erin saw the squad car at the same time. “Is that Preston? Not very subtle, is he?”
“It’s not me, dammit. It’s a uniform answering an emergency call,” Preston’s voice came from the speaker. “Just act normal and hope your tail doesn’t panic.”
Suddenly the van sped up. It raced through the intersection and pulled into the mall’s parking lot.
“He spooked!” Erin said, turning in her seat.
“He went past Twenty-first into the mall parking lot,” Kyle informed his brother. “Hang on, Erin!” Kyle slipped into the inside lane, hit the brakes, then whipped into the mall lot.
“There’s the van and it’s on the move!” Erin said, pointing. “He’s headed for the theater parking area.”
“I see him,” Kyle said, circling around the outside perimeter. “East side, Preston,” he called out.
“I’m making the turn onto Twenty-first now,” Preston replied. “I’ll head for the back of the theater and cut him off.”
Kyle had to slow down for a group of teenagers gathered around a car, then lost visual.
“There’s the van!” Erin said a second later, pointing to the curb alongside the massive building. “The driver’s getting out and running for the entrance.”
“Good eye!” Kyle replied. He raced down a line of parked cars and pulled up alongside the van.
Erin jumped out as soon as the SUV came to a stop. “Hurry, before we lose him in the crowd.”
“Wait!” Kyle yelled, grabbing the phone and sliding out of the vehicle.
He stopped by the van, and looked inside. The keys weren’t in the ignition, and the vehicle was unoccupied. Taking out his pocket knife, he quickly punctured a tire.
As he looked up, he realized Erin had shot ahead and was already at the mall entrance.
“Hurry up!” she called, then went inside.
Cursing, Kyle raced into the building. “Erin and the subject are in the structure, racing toward Twenty-first along the outside hall,” he told Preston. “Move in and cut them off.”
Erin was running down the tile walkway, and he had to weave in and out of the crowd to keep her in view.
Finally she stopped, turned in a circle, then looked back at him, clearly frustrated.
He caught up to her a second later. “Are you nuts? You could get yourself killed running after—”
Noticing a woman in her mid-twenties holding two toddlers by the hand and watching him closely, Kyle realized she’d seen the pistol at his belt.
“I’m a law enforcement officer, ma’am,” he said quietly, pulling out his badge. “You’re in no danger.”
Erin gave the woman and her children a big smile. “Did you notice a man in a gray shirt, baseball cap and tan pants hurry by?”
The woman nodded. “He ran in there.” She pointed to an all-night drugstore.
“Thanks, ma’am,” Kyle answered. “Do you know if that place has a street side exit?”
“No, not for sure, but most of the stores here don’t have one,” she said.
Kyle looked past the woman at Preston, who was approaching at a brisk walk. Signaling his brother with a quick wave of his hand, he went with Erin into the large drugstore. “Stick close,” he told her.
“I know what you’re trying to do, but your plan would work better if we split up,” she said.
“No. You’re not armed,” he snapped.
They checked the entire store, aisle by aisle, then with the manager’s permission checked the back. There was a door there marked Emergency Exit.
“Maybe he’s running back to his van,” she said. By then Preston had joined them.
“I’ve got a security guard out front and a uniform over by the van now,” he announced. “If the suspect goes back there, we’ve got him.”
“I also punctured a tire. He won’t be going anywhere quickly,” Kyle said.
They hurried out to the parking lot, but the only person near the van was the uniformed officer.
“Di
d anyone fitting the description I sent you approach or pass by?” Preston asked him.
“No. I also double-checked the interior for stowaways but no one’s there.”
Kyle cursed. “We almost had him.”
“Let’s go through the van and see what we can get. I’m guessing it’s stolen, but we may be able to lift some prints.” Preston put on a pair of gloves, handed Kyle a second set, then opened the side door.
The two men climbed in, then Erin stepped closer to look inside. Several dark blue, flat plastic fibers in the carpeted area in the back caught her eye. They reminded her of the synthetic material used on sandbags or... “Guys, take a look at those fibers, and the white crystals scattered among them. The color and material match the ammonium nitrate bags Hank buys from Zia Limited.”
Preston took a closer look. “I’ll have the lab check this out ASAP.”
“Did you say Zia Limited?” Kyle verified.
“Yeah, they’re a solid company with plenty of experience handling explosives used by the mining and construction industries,” Erin answered.
“That’s where Frieda worked prior to getting a job at the bar,” Kyle said.
“I’ll check that out for you,” Preston said.
“No. Hang back. It’s better if they don’t know we’re onto them, at least until we find out what they’ve got targeted.”
“So how do you want to deal with this? Have more feds come in?” Preston asked.
“No, that’s the last thing I want. Get Daniel on this. I bet he deals with that company during training ops. See what he can get for us on Frieda.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Preston answered. “Dan’s friends with Clark Duncan, the owner.”
“He can’t let Clark know what he’s doing,” Kyle warned.
“No problem. I’ll talk to him,” Preston said. “Have you given any serious thought to where you’ll hole up tonight?”
Kyle rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “No, and I’m beat. We both are,” he said. Erin nodded. “We need a secure place, but nothing obvious.”
