88
The following morning, Loren did not wait to be called into her boss’s office. She knocked on Zeke Bailey’s door.
“Come in.”
She stepped inside.
His face drooped at the sight of her. “Close the door.”
Loren complied—knowing that a private conversation in such situations was never a good sign.
“Take a seat.”
She sat. “Any news on my sister-in-law?”
“Maybe I should be asking you that.”
Loren drew her chin back. “Not sure what you mean.”
“Loren. Can we talk honestly?”
“Always, sir.”
“Hill filed a report last night at …” He consulted something on his desk. “One o’clock. In the morning.”
“It was a late night.”
“Yeah, that’s what it sounds like.” He lifted a thin sheaf of papers from his desk. “Just to be clear, your sister-in-law, who lives a half mile from you, abducts a young girl and you suddenly go off the grid for twelve hours?”
“Was it that long?”
“Close enough.”
“I got a flat t—”
“Flat tire. Yes, Hill mentioned that in his report.” He paged to the right spot and followed the words with an index finger. “You fell into a ditch and lost consciousness for several hours. And your cell battery went dead. Around 10:00 AM? Does that sound right?”
“Something like that, yes. Must’ve forgotten to charge it the night before.”
Bailey nodded slowly, maintaining eye contact with her the whole time. “Uh-huh. And your radio? You turned it off.”
“I don’t remember doing that.”
“I bet you don’t.” He shook his head. “And during the hours you were unconscious, lying in a ditch, your sister-in-law was spotted near San Luis Obispo, only about ninety minutes or so from Soledad, where you had that flat tire, dead phone, and unfortunate trip and fall.”
“Yes sir.”
“Well that’s awful convenient.”
“Convenient?” Loren canted her head left. “Sir, don’t take my word for it. Have someone in the office check my phone records, email, text—”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot, Loren. I know how to work a case.”
“Sorry sir.”
He leaned across the desk and extended his thick right index finger. “If we find anything, anything placing you near San Luis Obispo, you can kiss your career good-bye.”
“Understood,” Loren said. “I’d expect nothing less.”
“No,” he said slowly. “That much I believe. You’re a damn good agent and I’d hate to have you throw away everything you’ve worked for. Just to help out a family member.”
Loren took a deep breath. “You know, there are worse things in life than making sacrifices for family. Hypothetically speaking, of course.”
“Yeah.” Bailey narrowed both eyes. “Hypothetically speaking. You better hope we don’t find anything because if we do—”
“If you do, you’ll have my badge, my creds, and my gun, within the hour.” But not my integrity. Or my family.
Bailey maintained eye contact a long moment. Loren stared back, not willing to give in to him. Finally he leaned back in his seat and pulled a document from the stack to his right. “There is one other thing that hit my desk this morning. Know anything about Christine Ellis?”
Loren glanced at the ceiling, searching it for a moment. “Which case?”
“Same one. Mrs. Ellis is Melissa’s mother. Melissa is the girl your sister-in-law abducted.”
“Okay.”
“She was found dead at the lake.”
Loren leaned forward. “Dead?”
“Apparent suicide. Or murder. Not sure yet what the hell happened. Ate her gun. Looks like some bruising on the lips, like the barrel was forced against her teeth.”
“Whose gun?”
“Hers. She had a concealed carry permit.”
“Hmm. Was she depressed?”
“OPD just started investigating. But as you know there aren’t many cameras around the lake.”
“No eyewitnesses?”
“Nothing yet. OPD said they’ll share whatever they get.” He sat forward again. “Where were you between 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM?”
“I was … in the car with Hill. He dropped me off … I don’t know, sometime around 9:30 or so. I was with my husband after that.”
“He’ll corroborate?”
“I’m sure.”
Bailey nodded but held her gaze a long moment.
“Are we done here, sir?”
“For now.”
Loren nodded. “Thank you, sir.” She rose and walked out, headed for her cubicle.