Page 9 of Oz Wisdom

"What'd you find?"

She dropped off the grid a little over a year ago. Before that there were signs.”

"Sucked in and turned out,” Nova guessed.

"That's my guess. But she does still have a bank account. No activity on it, but it's there and that's a positive note."

"Surprised they didn't clean it out."

"Most likely an extra she had for some reason and kept hidden from them.”

"Enough to disappear on?”

"Three hundred twenty-seven dollars,” Oz informed Nova.

"That won't go far."

"Want to hit the road and see what we can dig up?" Oz asked.

“Think Drifter has her?”

Could Drifter have her? Possible. But the look on her face when he slapped her the day before. “My gut says no,” Oz told him.

“Always go with the gut. I’ll see you early,” Nova agreed.

***

"Haven't seen you in a minute. Checking out the competition?"

Oz laughed and accepted the offered hand before him. The landlord of a small apartment building that Oz had at one time considered buying. But he preferred to stick to houses, so he'd passed the deal on to his neighbor at the time. “Just looking for a little information.” He pulled out the photo he had downloaded from the internet. "This woman rented from you some time back."

The man leaned in studying the picture. "Taylor Arison. I recall she was a good tenant until that boyfriend of hers practically moved in. He was trouble. Never made sense to me how she got hooked up with someone like that.”

"Something happen?"

"Oh, just the little tell-tell signs. He rarely left. I noticed bruises once. She said she was just clumsy and tripped bringing in groceries.”

"Did she leave a forwarding address?"

The man shook his head. “No. Didn't take any furniture when she left, either. Which was fine by me. I considered it payment for the mess that was left.”

"Thanks, man."

"I hope you find what you need."

"So do I,” Oz said and walked back to his bike with Nova.

"You know, Drifter looked pretty messed up that day, and if he used up Taylor's money. . .” Nova’s voice faded.

Oz nodded. "I didn't check his record. She could have been bailing him out and ran dry.”

"She could have been questioned but not charged. If so, someone has contact info."

Oz pulled his phone from his cut. He punched a number and waited.

"Oz. What can I do for you?" Marcel, the club’s lawyer, answered.

"You got a few minutes? Need help on something.”

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