| |
“Hello.” L.J.’s greeting was brusque. Any call after eleven p.m. meant someone had screwed the pooch.
“John?”
Even with the added quaver, he recognized Miz Pearl’s well-modulated soprano.
“I’m so sorry to bother, but I’m very worried about Riley.”
L.J. changed his tune from gruff to gracious. “Miz Pearl, don’t you fret. I’m a night owl, and you’re never a bother. What’s wrong?”
This ought to be good.
“Something woke me half an hour ago. When I opened my eyes, Riley stood in my doorway dressed like a cat burglar. She wore that clunky watch-thing that acts like a compass. A few minutes later, her car started.
“I don’t know why I didn’t call out.” She paused. “Riley hasn’t been herself. So angry and upset. If I’d asked what she was doing, she’d have told me to mind my own p’s and q’s.”
L.J. was all ears. “We both know Riley’s under a lot of stress. Perhaps she couldn’t sleep and decided to go into the office for a spell.”
“Oh, no. Not dressed like that. She wouldn’t take a backpack. She’d take her briefcase and laptop. The computer’s still here. She left a note. Said she might not be home until ten tomorrow morning. What on earth is she planning to do all night?”
“You have no idea where she went?”
He heard Pearl suck in a toke of oxygen. Glad my substitute canister actually delivers air.
“I’m afraid she’s trying to help this Wolf person. She has it in her head he’s innocent.”
“She didn’t give any hint where he might be hiding?”
“Well, I overheard a snatch of conversation with her ex-husband. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but when they moved toward the door, their voices carried. Gary warned her not to go off on some solo crusade. Oh, John, she thinks this professor was framed. But what if she’s wrong? What if he’s a murderer?”
Pearl’s voice climbed toward hysteria. “Should I call the sheriff? Have him search for Riley’s car?”
“Now, Miz Pearl. Don’t you worry. I have friends at the sheriff’s office. I’ll ask them to look for Riley on the QT. Wouldn’t want to broadcast that your daughter might be helping a fugitive, now would we?”
He almost chuckled at the woman’s relieved sigh.
“I knew you’d know how to handle this. I’d have called my brother, but he’s not due home till morning. I hope your friends can find Riley before then.”
“So do I. Now get some sleep. Good night.”
Damn. What was the bitch up to? How could he find her? L.J. closed his eyes. Think!
A second later, he smiled. Who said generosity didn’t pay?
He walked to the desk in his home office and rummaged through the top drawer.
“Time to see how well our products perform.”