Virgil watched from the window as Christopher Romo’s car pulled out onto Main Street and disappeared in a jungle of red lights. What a crazy and confusing few days it had been.
He owed Mitch. Without the information and personal analysis he had shared, Virgil would truly have been operating in the dark.
And Billy Gene … how many times had his instincts been right on? Too bad Virgil couldn’t brag on Billy Gene, at least to his peers, but the FBI covert operation would remain classified. There would be no newspaper article, no spot on the news, no interviews given. What had happened at Angel View today would be known only by those who were directly involved. The guests who were aware of a gun going off were told by a quick-thinking FBI special agent that it was a training exercise for law enforcement involved in crowd control, and that the gun, loaded only with blanks, went off by mistake. It was a nonissue within five minutes.
Virgil smiled. He doubted it was a nonissue at Kate and Elliot’s. He knew how relieved they must be that the ordeal was over. He took his phone out of his pocket and keyed in Kate’s number.
“Hello, Virgil,” Kate said. “I was hoping you’d call. What a day. I can’t thank you enough for sending Billy Gene up here to keep you informed. I would love to have seen the look on that arrogant Romo’s face when he realized it was one of your deputies who had saved his operation.”
“For what it’s worth, he was humbled and very appreciative. Romo’s not such a bad guy once you get past the surface.”
“Really, Virgil? I’m surprised to hear you, of all people, say that.”
“Opinions can change. You really never know what people are made of until you see them in action. He did an amazing job of coordinating every aspect of the operation. I prejudged him, and that was a mistake. And he was great with Hawk. He had his people watching him carefully. Hawk is the one who wanted to ramp things up and draw out the bounty hunter. He said it was less stressful than sitting around waiting with a target on his back.”
“Hawk told us the same thing,” Kate said. “I’ll take your word for it. Maybe when Romo left, he regretted saying that there was no need to rely on God because his people were the best and they would protect Hawk.”
Virgil smiled. “Oh, I’m quite sure that he ate those words.”
“Did he ever tell you who the bounty hunter was and why the big effort to bring him in totally unharmed? Or who the shooter was? Or who killed Kennedy Taylor? Hawk told us that he’s known about her death since he agreed to help Romo. He’s been through so much, and now he’s grieving on top of everything else.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Romo didn’t want anyone to know until they had the bounty hunter in custody. The whole operation was based on his believing she was alive and that Hawk knew where she was.”
“Did he tell you how she died?”
“No, he didn’t,” Virgil said. “It’s classified.”
“So no one knows who kidnapped her?”
“He didn’t say. I think we’d all like to know. But it could be for the best that we don’t.”
Kate sighed. “What about Brody’s death? Are you going to investigate it now?”
“Several FBI special agents were assigned to investigate while the covert operation was going on. I was told the skid marks indicated only one car—Brody’s. There’s no evidence of foul play.”
“But what about Brody’s claim that he was being followed? Everything else he said made sense. Why would that be any different?”
“Kate, the young man had mental issues. The stress of seeing the drone attack and kidnapping could easily have triggered enough anxiety to make him think he was being followed. And make him restless so he couldn’t sleep. It’s certainly possible he got up around ten o’clock the night of the accident and just went for a drive and took a curve too fast.”
“Do you really believe that?” Kate said.
“I believe that the science shows only one set of skid marks. Beyond that, I can only speculate.”
Kate laughed. “Since when? Your hunches are almost always right. What’s your hunch?”
“Honestly, I haven’t had any mental time to give to it,” Virgil said. “The FBI has one of the best labs in the world. They said there was no evidence of foul play. They were sure enough that they told Brody’s parents, who were immensely relieved.”
“What about Dennis? Is he buying it?”
“I haven’t talked to him. Kate, there is no case anymore. The FBI told me that the men who kidnapped Kennedy were professionals and didn’t leave a speck of evidence. They checked out Kennedy’s house. It was wiped clean with bleach. They interviewed the people at the realty company that listed her house. It is owned by the FAMPRO Corporation out of Little Rock, which is what they told Hawk. They said the house has been vacant since it was listed last fall. FAMPRO had been using it as a perk for their executives to enjoy a weekend getaway, and decided to sell it and buy something closer to Little Rock. And the FBI found nothing suspicious about Brody’s death.”
“Good heavens, Virgil. When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I didn’t find out until this afternoon when I went back to the office, but Kevin has been working with the FBI on the case. There’s just nothing there for us to justify using the manpower to investigate what’s already been investigated.”
“You don’t find it odd that the realty company told the FBI that the house had been vacant since last fall, when we know Kennedy had lived there for at least six weeks?”
“Of course I do,” Virgil said. “But the FBI also checked the post office, and they didn’t show Kennedy Taylor getting mail delivered there. Or any bank in Foggy Ridge that had an account under that name.”
“Maybe she used another name.”
“Maybe she did, Kate. But there’s no way to know that. It’s as if she never existed.”
“Hawk is going to be disappointed.”
“Maybe not,” Virgil said. “He’s known since Wednesday that Kennedy’s dead. It’s the FBI’s case, not mine. It’s better not to step on their toes, especially when they have been forthcoming with their findings.”
Kate sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”
“On a lighter note, is Hawk still up? I’d like to speak with him for a minute.”
“Sure, I’ll walk the phone into the kitchen. I think he and Jesse are eating the last of tonight’s cheesecake.”
“Riley’s coming home from camp tomorrow, isn’t she?”
“Yes, and I can hardly wait. I’ll talk to you soon. Hawk, Virgil would like to speak to you for a minute. Here, just use my phone …”
“Hello, Sheriff.”
“How’re you holding up, Hawk? You’ve had quite a week.”
“I’m all right. I think I’m feeling the letdown after the hype. It’s a lot to take in. I hope now that it’s over, I’ll be able to get Kennedy off my mind.”
“Give it time,” Virgil said. “I think we men want everything that hurts to go away too quickly. I think pain is supposed to be a symptom of something that needs to be treated. Whether it’s the physical variety or an aching heart.”
“I don’t think there’s an effective treatment for an aching heart.”
“Time,” Virgil said.
“I’m not sure even time will be enough for this ache. What I need are answers. And there aren’t any.”
“I know, Hawk. I’m sorry. I was proud of the way you handled yourself throughout this ordeal. Romo hit you with Kennedy’s death right off the bat, and yet you stepped up, put your feelings on hold, and did what you had to do. You deserve a little time to be alone with the pain. The one thing I can promise you is that it won’t hurt like this forever. It does get better.”
“That’s what I hear,” Hawk said. “By the way, thanks again for letting Deputy Duncan stay at Angel View and keep an eye on things for you. Now that it’s over, I realize that part of the reason I stayed focused was because I saw him hanging out around the lodge and knew that he and you were in touch.”
“Thanks, Hawk. I care a lot about you and your family. I wasn’t about to be shut out on my own turf. It worked out. And Romo turned out to be a nice guy after all.”
“Yeah, he did.”
“Well, I’ll let you go. Get some rest. Be good to yourself.”
“I will. Good night, Sheriff.”
Virgil disconnected the call and just listened to the silence. His body was tired, but he would have to wind down before he went home.
He knew Kate was expecting him to find out the answers to all her questions. What she would have to accept is that all of them were classified. Romo had taken a big risk letting Virgil see the video, which confirmed most of what Mitch had revealed in secret. Virgil could not, in good conscience, pursue any unanswered questions. He already knew far more than he should and would never expose any information they trusted him to withhold.
Virgil felt bad for Hawk. What a whirlwind of emotions that young man had been caught up in this past week. Virgil knew Hawk was hurting more than he let on, and hoped that, in time, he would accept Kennedy’s death and move on.
Hawk sat in the living room, telling and retelling snippets of the past week’s saga—in no particular order. Jesse had reluctantly gone to bed after falling asleep twice, but the others were wide eyed and all ears.
Hawk finally slouched in his chair. “I’m talked out. My brain is fried.”
“I’m surprised you lasted this long,” Kate said. “I think I’ve aged ten years, realizing what you’ve been through.”
Abby sat on the couch, holding hands with Jay. “We didn’t mean to keep you so late, but Riley will be home tomorrow and we really can’t talk about this when she’s around.”
Elliot nodded. “That’s for sure.”
Grandpa Buck groaned as he rose to his feet. “Well, it’s already the Lord’s Day. And if I’m going to be fit for church, I best get some shut-eye.” He walked over to Hawk and patted the top of his head. “You’re a hero in my book. Get some sleep.”
Kate and Elliot said their good nights and went to their room.
Hawk got up and stretched. “See you two tomorrow.”
“I should go.” Jay rose to his feet.
Hawk smiled and pushed him back on the couch. “Not so fast, Romeo. The lady wants a proper good-night kiss.”
Abby’s face was pinker than her sundress.
Jay laughed. “Look at you.”
Hawk turned around and walked toward the stairs. “Good night, lovebirds.” He walked up the steps, his heart heavier than it had been all week. He guessed he was finally feeling the full force of his losses.
Hawk opened the door to his room and closed it behind him, careful not to wake Jesse. He turned around and was stopped abruptly by something pressed against his chest.
“Do not move, or you will die.” The intruder’s voice was deep. He spoke with an accent.
“Jesse, are you okay?” Hawk felt as if his heart had fallen down an elevator shaft.
The man turned on a flashlight and shone it on Jesse. He was bound and gagged.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Hawk said. Had they gotten the wrong man? Could this be the bounty hunter? Terror seized him.
“I am Reza Turan. You will come with me. And we will talk.”
He turned Hawk around and shoved him toward the window, which was open.
“It’s too far to jump,” Hawk said. “We’ll break our legs.”
“I attached metal steps for you.” Reza shined the light on what appeared to be a portable fire escape ladder. “First, you go.”
Hawk turned around and gingerly stepped down until he felt a thin metal step securely under his foot, and then with the other foot, stepped down on the metal step below it. He couldn’t see anything, but he was able to feel the steps and descend slowly, one foot at a time. He planned to grab Reza from behind and get the gun away from him as soon as he reached the bottom.
Hawk sensed something moving on his left. He reached out and groped the air, grabbing on to what felt like taut cloth. He heard a loud thud below, just as the cloth went limp.
“Reza?” Hawk said.
“I am down here. Why do you take so long?”
Hawk kept descending until he had both feet on the ground. “I thought you were above me on the ladder.”
Reza laughed. “I am not stupid. I brought rope made with torn sheets. I go down faster. And you do not have the chance to take my gun.”
“What now?” Hawk’s voice was shaking. He knew full well that, this time, no special agents had his back. If this was the bounty hunter, he was a dead man.
“Now you come with me. We will talk. And if you do not talk, you will die.”