ORSON RETURNED LUKE’S CALL about ACME a short time after Lucy’s daughter called.

“I do have the name of someone from ACME. The CEO is retired now, but I met him once. He did some logistics consulting after the company failed. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to help you with simple personnel matters, but he might be able to put you in touch with someone who can.”

Luke thanked Orson and then spent the better part of an hour on the phone before he hit pay dirt. After three referrals, he reached a man who had been Gil Barone’s immediate supervisor.

“Barone, yeah. I remember that jerk.”

“Great. I’m trying to figure out the exact dates he was in Iraq and exactly how he was injured.”

“You’re lucky. I kept a file on the guy. I expected a big lawsuit from him, so I documented everything. He was gearing up to sue, but I remember that his dad died and left him some cash. I kept the file because guys like him never go away completely.”

“Why would he sue you? Rolling over an IED is hardly your fault.”

“IED? Is that what he told you? Ha!” The guy laughed for a moment; then he continued. “That’s rich. That coward didn’t get anywhere near any IEDs. The first week we were in Qatar, he got liquored up and crashed a company truck. Karma bit his butt. He ended up paralyzed. He was mad at me because there was a clause in his contract that said if he did get hurt in a combat-related situation, like an IED, he’d get a cash settlement. He wanted me to lie and not write the real reason for his crash on the paperwork that went home with him. Fat chance. I wasn’t putting my job in jeopardy lying for the likes of him.”

“I see.” Luke knew they were on the right track looking into Barone. Just one thing needed to be nailed down. “What day, exactly, did you leave for Qatar?”

“May 17, 2005. It’s funny, but back then Barone was a pain in my backside. He was only given the job because his dad knew the owner. Anyway, I’d have bet money he wasn’t going to show up. The closer our departure date got, the more squirrelly he was. But when it was time to stage for the flight, he was the first one at the warehouse all shiny and eager to go.”

Luke gave the man his e-mail and asked that he send him what he could about Barone. He’d forward everything to Jones at the Los Angeles County sheriff’s office. He thanked the man and disconnected. He grinned at Woody. “He left the day after Molly’s rape.”

“So he is a good suspect, looking better and better now. Are we going to give all that to Jones?”

“Yeah, he’ll have the power to pull Barone into an interrogation and pin him down about his whereabouts that day.” Luke checked the clock. “Why don’t you call him first thing in the morning and tell him what we’ve found. My meeting with Lucy’s daughter is early.”

“Will do. Not sure he’ll have enough to order a DNA swab, though.”

“Even with all the lies the guy has told?”

“I’m no lawyer. We could still try to pick up an opportunity sample.”

“Maybe.” Luke drummed his fingers on the desk. “It bothers me that he’s so close to Molly. Remember that her sister, Callie, seemed to think a lot of the guy.”

“Well, he’s not the same guy he was ten years ago, and he has a lot to lose now. He’s a businessman, ties to the community and all that. Going after Callie would be stupid. My guess is he’ll lawyer up and stonewall us and the sheriff.”

“Maybe you’re right, but what if we just spook him and he runs?”

Woody shrugged. “Not a whole lot we can do. We found a viable lead to give to the locals. We can warn Molly and her family.”

“Which reminds me —have you heard from Abby?”

“Yeah, while you were on the phone, she texted she was tired and turning in early.”

“Did she say how it went with Molly?”

“Nope, sorry. I did make plans to meet her for breakfast around eight or eight thirty. We’ll eat next door.” There was a restaurant adjacent to the hotel.

“Good idea. I might be back in time to grab a cup of coffee.”

When he went to sleep, Luke thought about Abby and Molly and winced inside for Abby as much as for Molly at the thought that the meeting might not have gone well. They all wanted to help the girl, especially Abby, but maybe it was all too much for Molly to recover from. Like that soldier he and Woody had found living under a bridge. At the time he’d wondered if the man would ever recover. The soldier’s mom didn’t think so, but she was committed to caring for him.

Maybe with Molly it was the same. She was lost and would need to be cared for by her parents. Luke fell asleep praying that whatever Lucy’s daughter had to give him would be helpful, at least to Abby.

“I’m not certain I helped her at all,” Abby said when she and Woody met for breakfast. She played with her eggs, sipped her coffee, and felt utterly defeated. “I tried a little tough love, but . . .” She threw her hands up. “So where’s Luke?”

She wouldn’t admit to Woody how disappointed she was to not see Luke with him. She wanted to talk to Luke, go over the discussion with Molly. For some reason she was sure Luke would understand more than Woody did. Maybe that wasn’t it. Maybe in reality she just wanted to see Luke.

What about Faye?

“He had an appointment to keep. Let me tell you about this guy Barone. He’s as dirty as they come.” Woody told her what they had found out, but Abby wondered why he dodged the question about Luke. Woody’s description of Barone sidetracked her for a minute.

“That sounds great, gold. If it were my case, I’d be all over him.”

“I called and left a message for the sheriff about all that we found.” His phone buzzed with a text.

“Is that Luke?”

“No, it’s that dog rescue lady, Carol. She’s found me a dog to look at. I figured since I was up here, if I had time, I’d look into adopting a rescued dog. Never thought she’d find one so quickly.”

“Woody, that’s great. What kind of dog?”

“Lab mix. If you guys don’t think you’ll need me, I’m going to head out there and take a look.”

“I think that would be fine. You’ve done all you can do by forwarding what you found to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Go get a dog. I’m happy for you.”

Woody smiled. He bent to text. “There, we’re set. As soon as Luke is back, I’m going to see a woman about a dog.”

His grin brightened Abby’s day, but it still bugged her. Where was Luke?