Page 16 of So Insane

Kinzel lifted an eye at the two agents, and Faith felt heat creep up her neck. First impressions were key, and Faith and Michael had just given the impression that they were unprepared and disorganized.

“Two people have gone missing in the mountains behind Granger,” Kinzel replied. “Tyler Stone and Clara Montpelier. No connection between the victims that we can find. They were both last seen near the area of the construction site.”

“Construction site?” Faith asked.

“Norwesco’s building a distribution center just outside of town,” Jones explained. “They broke ground a few weeks ago.”

Northwest Shipping Company was the largest freight company in the Western United States. Faith wasn’t sure why they’d build a distribution center in a small town on the foothills of the Rockies, but she wasn’t a businesswoman. It didn’t really matter anyway. What mattered was the missing persons.

"Do you have Tooley’s cell?" Michael asked. “Maybe he got stupid and texted someone his plan like he did last time.”

Faith recalled the Tooley case now. He had tried to kidnap the daughter of a state senator for ransom, but thanks to texts recovered from an associate’s phone, they were able to locate and arrest him.

"It’s on its way from Florence,” Kinzel replied.

"Florence?" Faith asked. "The supermax." The United States Penitentiary Florence was what was known as an administrative maximum prison, the only facility of its kind that remained. That the government allowed people to know about anyway.

Kinzel nodded. "The senator whose daughter he kidnapped was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

“Ah.”

“Fool around and find out,” Jones interjected.

Kinzel nodded. “He was on his way to court. The prison staff didn't notify the Marshals Office, so it was just a corrections officer driving the van. They stopped for gas, and when the officer got back in to drive, the prisoner was gone."

The story didn't make much sense, and she imagined it was a whitewashed version of events that put the Marshals in the best possible light. She didn't challenge him, though.

"Do these victims fit Tooley’s MO?" Michael asked.

Kinzel was silent.

"There's our answer," Faith said.

Kinzel said, "But he's desperate, and his kidnapping MO is to take victims as leverage."

Ultimately, the marshals had managed to get help from the FBI to catch their fugitive. That was all this amounted to, but Faith couldn’t really moan about it since five dozen marshals were currently helping the FBI look for West.

“So this is a manhunt,” Michael said.

“The Marshals Office will be handling the manhunt,” Kinzel informed them. “We would appreciate it if you two—” he glanced at Turk “—you three, would lead the search for the victims.”

“We can do that,” Faith said.

“Wonderful,” Kinzel replied. “I’ll be borrowing Mr. Jones—”

“Detective Jones—” Jones corrected.

Kinzel’s lips thinned slightly as he regarded the slovenly detective. “Detective Jones… for a while. However, if you need anything, I am sure the Granger Police Department will be happy to assist. As soon as I no longer require Detective Jones, he will be at your disposal.”

Jones smiled slightly at Kinzel’s patronizing tone, but there was more humor than irritation in his smile, another sure sign that he had settled into a holding pattern he intended to fly until he earned his pension.

“Thank you,” Faith said. “We’ll keep you posted.”

***

"I understand," Michael said.

Faith tried to give the couple a reassuring smile. Michael absolutely understood. Mrs. Stone was worried for her son's safety and trying desperately not to let on that her son was a failure to launch. Her husband was trying not to say, admit, or face that his son was a disappointment to him.

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