Page 101 of Cougar Point

Ronnie’s sitting out on the porch with Vinnie. As I step outside, she’s patting his knee, “I told you not to let him get to you, Uncle.”

Vinnie puts a hand over hers. “He didn’t. I just didn’t want to tell him anything more.”

“Uncle Vinnie, I think we’re going to need his help.”

“Maybe help from the sheriff but not him.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” Ronnie asks, and Vinnie squeezes her hand.

“The SUV I saw Duke get into belongs to Lucas.” He nods toward the black SUV parked in the driveway. “I think Lucas is behind all of this.”

“Who’s behind what?” Rebecca asks, coming onto the porch.

Ronnie looks up at her sister. “Uncle Vinnie says the SUV he saw Duke get into is Lucas’s,” Ronnie says. “He thinks there’s something off about Lucas.”

“Something off?” I repeat, looking at Vinnie.

He’s quiet for a moment. Then he simply says, “I know what desperation looks like. And I see it in Lucas.”

I ask Vinnie, “You think Lucas could be behind this whole thing?”

Before Vinnie can answer, Lucas comes out, followed closely by his team. The search team heads to their cars and Lucas stops and faces us. “Mr. Lombardi, I apologize for being sharp with you. Mr. Marsh doesn’t believe you’ve had any ill intentions toward his family and is convinced you are helping with the search.” He hands Vinnie a business card. “If you think of anything that can help me, please call. My personal cell phone number is on there as well.”

With that Lucas gets in his SUV and drives away.

Ronnie says, “I’m convinced.”

Rebecca says, “Yeah. Lucas is not helping.”

Jack comes outside and leans in the doorway. “Good. He’s gone.”

Vinnie stands and says, “I have an idea where Duke might go.”

Ronnie says, “Uncle Vinnie will stay with Rebecca and Dad. The kidnapper has been here twice. I don’t want my family getting hurt.”

Good thinking. We’ll know where Vinnie and Jack are.

SIXTY-SIX

Vinnie agreed to stay with Rebecca while Ronnie and I went back to the Mom & Pop store. He didn’t want Jack to meet with the kidnappers alone, and Jack didn’t trust Vinnie to go alone with the money.

We arrive in the area of the store, and I park a block away.

“I’ll go in alone,” I say.

“The hell you will,” Ronnie says. “Someone killed Roger to keep him quiet. I’ll bet it was Thundercloud. It seems he always knows what we’re doing and where we’re going.”

We go in the side door, guns drawn, and quietly take the stairs. Ronnie checks the other rooms, and I check the room where Duke said Vinnie had card games. Nothing has changed since I was there with Lucas. Vinnie has misled us.

“I can’t believe Vinnie would do something like this. He can’t be trusted. Everyone is lying to us.”

I say, “We need to know more about Vinnie and Lucas. Vinnie doesn’t trust Lucas but I don’t think Vinnie was telling us everything.”

“I have an idea,” Ronnie says, and makes a call. “Lieutenant Sitzman, please?” Ronnie says. “Yes. I’ll hold.”

“I hope Sitzman doesn’t spread it around that he’s checking on Lucas. Longbow and Captain Roberts are close friends with Lucas. The police station and jail are like a bucket full of holes. But if Lucas finds out, he can stuff it.”

Sitzman comes on the line.

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