A call from Joyce Walker flashed up on Lock’s screen. He debated answering it. He’d have preferred to speak with her when they had found her daughter. Leaving it unanswered felt unfair. It was better to know, even if the only news was that there was no news.
“Ryan Lock.”
“Mr. Lock, I’m sorry to bother you.”
“You’re not bothering me. We have a tip that Kristin may be in Las Vegas. We’re heading there now to check it out.”
“Oh, that’s great. You’ve no idea what a relief that is.”
“Like I said, right now it’s only a tip. We don’t know if it’s true or not.”
On the other end of the line, she let out a loud sigh. “Still, I can’t tell you how nice it is to hear something positive finally. Especially after the news earlier about Angie. I can’t believe it.”
Lock looked over at Ty, both men thinking the same thing. What news?
“What’s the news about Angie, Mrs. Miller?”
“You haven’t heard.”
Lock was hoping that she was talking about the fire at the refuge. She probably was.
“I know the refuge was the subject of an arson attack and that Angie was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but I think it was mostly precautionary.”
There was silence from Joyce Walker. Not a good sign.
“Mrs. Walker, are you still there?”
“Yes, I am. I’m sorry. I thought you would have heard.”
“No,” said Lock.
“I guess there were complications or something. I think Angie already had some trouble with her heart, you know, from all those years back when she was using drugs and drinking.”
“What’s happened?” said Lock. “Is she okay?”
“No, I’m sorry to say she’s not. She passed away.”
Next to him, Ty’s face was stone cold, a reflection of his own. If they’d been weighing Andre’s fate, this had sealed it.
Lock wrapped up the call as gently as he could, telling Joyce he’d call her the second they found Kristin or knew anything more. She thanked him again.
“That’s murder right there,” said Ty.
“It sure is,” said Lock. “How long do we have to go?”
Ty checked the time to destination.
“An hour and twenty.”
“Let’s see if we can make it an hour ten,” said Lock.