Page 20 of Harrison Hyde and the Runaway Bride

Willow said, “We need that footage. I can’t believe I didn’t think to ask.”

“To be fair,” Harry said, “I’d have never guessed there were security cameras in that bar.” His tone was as kind as Maria’s father’s had been a moment ago.

“Yeah, well, you’re not a cop. But youarea genius, so thank you for that. You guys want to ride along?”

Maria said, “Sure, if it means more of Manny’s tacos.” She grinned up at Harry.

He smiled into her eyes. “Youwereright about those tacos,” he said. “Best I’ve ever had.”

“Well, youarefrom New York.” Then with a sassy wink, she added, “That was not an insult. Except to whatever passes for tacos up there.”

“Hey, my favorite customer’s back,” Manny said, smiling at Maria when they all entered the cantina. Then he looked at Harrison. “You look a lot better already.”

“Thanks for helping me out yesterday.”

“I don’t know you from Adam, mister, but any friend of the Brands is a friend of mine,” Manny said. “Besides, Maria’d do the same for me.”

Harrison glanced at Maria as she murmured, “Damn straight.”

Willow went on, “Is your parking lot camera working, Manny?”

“Workin’ fine.” He blinked then got it. “You need the footage from yesterday!”

“Yep,” she said. “Billy Bob’s denying he stole Harry’s car.”

Harrison almost said, “Harrison,” but bit it back. It was no use. He would forevermore be Harry in the state of Texas.

“Come on back, then.” Manny flipped up part of the bar to let them in and left it that way. With a quick glance at the patrons. The silent guy in the sombrero was there, and Harrison wondered if he’d been there all night, or had left and come back.

Manny went into his tiny office, but he left the door open, giving him a clear view of the cash register.

The room was the size of a closet with a desk and rolling chair, which Manny took immediately. He clicked computer keys as the three of them formed a tight half circle behind him. They all leaned in as Manny rewound the recording to the moment Billy Bob’s big black pickup had roared to a stop in the parking lot. Harrison leaned closer. Billy Bob got out, red-faced, slammed the door hard and stomped toward the entrance, vanishing from the camera’s eye.

Then there was quiet for a while. A semi passed, pulling a dust cloud behind it. And then a large black SUV pulled into the parking lot, but not directly in. Sideways, as if the driver planned to keep right on going. And that was what they did as soon as a man got out of the passenger side, walked over to Harrison’s little blue Volvo, got in, and after a moment, started it up.

“I must’ve left the keys in it.”

“No, no,” Manny said. “I found them under a table after you left.” He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a keyring, passed it to Harrison. Sure enough, his keys. “Must’ve hot-wired it,” Manny said.

As the car backed around sideways, Harrison said, “Stop it right there,” and when Manuel did so, “Can you zoom in on his face?”

“I’m not the FBI, son.”

“Can you send the footage to my phone?” Willow asked.

“Um…” Manny picked up a pen to write down the phone number she recited. Not a great sign.

“Doesn’t matter,” Maria said. “Harry knows who that is.”

“I don’t,” Harrison said. “He’s wearing a baseball hat and keeping his head down.”

“But there’s his shape, his stance, his walk. You recognized him, Harry. I saw it in your eyes when he first got out of the car. That’s why you asked Manny to zoom.”

Harrison blinked and realized she was right, but it couldn’t be. “At first, I thought it was Robert. Robert Phillipson, one of my research partners. But there’s no reason for him to do something like that.”

“It couldn’t be a prank, could it?” Maria asked.

“We’re scientists. We don’t pull pranks.”

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