Quinn removed her cell phone from the center console of the car, trying to decide who to call first. She chose the road less traveled, and dialed. “Kyle, I have a problem. I think one of Evie’s workers is missing. Her name is Marissa Lewis. I sent Bo a text message, but he hasn’t responded.”
Not that she expected him to. Simone was back. She needed to get used to it.
“You mean you have two problems, right?”
Kyle’s voice was harsh and deep, nothing like the light, playful tone she was used to hearing.
“Uhh ... no, just the one.”
“You must have really wanted to keep Roy from leavin’ town.”
“I don’t,” she said. “There’s no reason for me to care what happens to him. Not anymore.”
“Wanna guess where I am right now?”
Why was he asking such pointed questions?
“I don’t know where you are. How could I?”
“I’m at Roy’s house, standin’ on his front lawn, admirin’ your handiwork.”
“What handiwork?”
“You can cut the innocent act, Quinn. Roy says he knows you did it.”
“Did what?”
“Really? We’re still playin’ this game?”
His tone was annoying. “I suppose we are.”
“All four of his truck tires are flat, Quinn. They’ve been slashed.”
Quinn reflected back to earlier, to the words Ruby had uttered outside the office. She’d said Roy wasn’t going anywhere. And she was right. He wasn’t. Not tonight.
“Roy can think whatever he likes. I didn’t do it. How could I? Aren’t the cops watching him?”
“A witness came forward tonight, an alibi who stated she was with Roy when Evie was murdered. He’s a free man. We’ve been lookin’ in the wrong direction this entire time.”
“I really didn’t have anything to do with Roy’s tires, Kyle. I was in a work meeting at Evie’s business until a couple hours ago.”
“Are you going to look into the whereabouts of Marissa Lewis or not?”
“Oh, I dunno. Maybe you should wait until your guard dog’s available, get him to help you. And hey, it was nice hanging out with you last night, but I got the message. I’ll back off.”
Guard dog? Did he mean Bo? And what wasn’t she telling him that had Kyle so agitated?
“What message?”
“I talked to Bo today, told him I had plans to ask you out again. He told me to back off, said you weren’t interested. Message received. And hey, next time you want to use me for information, call someone else.”