ABBY WAS ON HER WAY to talk to Molly. Luke read her text when he and Woody returned to their car. He thought about having her ask Molly if she’d seen Gil. They already knew that her sister had. But not knowing how Molly was doing made him hesitate. He’d wait until he talked to Abby. Right now he needed to ferret out the truth about Barone’s story.
He sat down with his laptop as soon as he and Woody returned to the hotel. Looking up ACME Transport was easy enough, but when he narrowed it down to a company that would have been operating in Northridge or the Antelope Valley, the areas they were most certain Barone had been in, he came up with a company that had gone bankrupt in 2008.
Sitting back in his chair, Luke ran a hand over his head. “Argh. No one to talk to at ACME. It’s a bust.”
“He knew that. That’s why he threw us that bone,” Woody said, but Luke noticed that he was looking down at his phone while he talked, working on a text.
“You got a new girlfriend?” Luke asked. He grinned when Woody looked up at him.
“I guess in a way you could say that. I’ve been in contact with that rescue agency lady, Carol. She’s trying to find me a dog. Ed’s been mopey since Ralph left us. The neighbor boy taking care of him while I’m here called me to say he was worried. So I want to find him a friend.” He put the phone down. “I’m not that handy with the computer, but I can put a hold on this until after we’re finished if you have something for me.”
Luke waved him off. “There’s not a lot for us to do right now. We’re kind of at a dead end. I’ve got to find someone to talk to me about ACME and then, depending on what I learn, get ahold of Jones and give him what we have so far. You’re fine. I hope you find a dog.”
“Thanks.” His attention went back to the phone.
“But you never cease to amaze me.” Luke shook his head in wonder. He picked up his own phone and called Orson, leaving a message, asking if there was any way he could find a contact person for ACME, a bankrupt civilian contractor for the Army.
He’d no sooner set the phone down than it rang.
“That was fast. Are you screening?”
There was silence for a moment and then a female voice said, “Excuse me?”
Luke double-checked the number and saw that it wasn’t Orson on the other end.
“I’m sorry. This is Luke Murphy. Can I help you?”
“You left a card at my house. You were looking for Lucy Harper.”
“Yes, I did. I am.” He sat up straight and tapped Woody on the shoulder, mouthing, “Lucy.” “I’m looking for Lucy Harper, a woman who used to live in Long Beach, California. Is that you?”
“How did you find us?”
“I’m a cold case investigator, a private investigator.”
There was a long pause and Luke held his breath.
“Why do you want her?”
“I think she may have information about a crime that happened a long time ago. I would just like to talk to her, ask her a couple of questions. She’s not in any trouble.”
“Mr. Murphy, my mother had a stroke. She doesn’t speak anymore.”
“Oh.” Luke closed his eyes, then looked at Woody, who understood that this was another dead end. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Does she communicate at all?”
“No. But there is something.” The woman paused. “I have something of hers I would like to give you. Maybe it’s what you want.”
“What is that?”
“Some papers. My mother had them in a safe-deposit box. She’s had them since she lived in Long Beach. I almost threw them away. If you want them, I’ll meet you somewhere and give them to you.”
Luke crossed his fingers, wondering if this was a bone, something helpful, or simply another waste of time. What would it hurt to take a look?
“Sure, I’ll meet you. Name the place. Right now I’m in Tehachapi.”
They made arrangements to meet the next morning at a gas station off the highway between Tehachapi and Bakersfield.
Luke disconnected, praying that this was the smoking gun, something both he and Abby could rejoice over.