Page 100 of For the Birds

“Fenway Manufacturing. It went bankrupt a couple of years ago and filed for bankruptcy. It’s owned by thebank.”

“Fenway Manufacturing. Any connection to Henryetta or Fenton County?”

“None that we know about. They probably picked it because it’s been vacant for so long and it’s out in the middle of nowhere.”

We’d look into that too. “Have you heard anything about a parrot?”

“What?”

“Heard of anyone looking for one or wanting to buy one on the black market?”

Disgust washed over his face. “You using me for your own private purposes? We worked out your payment . . . unless this is it.” He lifted his eyebrows.

I gave him a long hard stare. “The deal’s off. Let’sgo.”

I turned around and started to walk out, Witt falling in line in front of me and Neely Kate behind. Both of them were still holding their guns at their sides. Buck didn’t holler after me, so I kept going.

We’d all opened our car doors by the time Buck appeared in the doorway. “You sure are a touchy bitch.”

“And that disrespectful remark, Mr. Reynolds,” I said, slowly turning to face him, “is strike three.” I took a step toward him. “You really are a shortsighted man, aren’t you? There’s a reason Skeeter Malcolm is running this county, and it has everything to do with his ability to use the brains God gavehim.”

His face turned red. “I knew you were workin’ forhim.”

“No, Mr. Reynolds, I still stand by my original statement that I’m workin’ for the good of the county. It’s my belief that Skeeter Malcolm is the better leader.”

“I could killyou.”

“You could,” I conceded dryly. “But it would only be further proof that I’m right.”

His chest rose and fell in heavy pants, and he looked like he couldn’t decide what todo.

I took a step closer, my gun still at my side. “When I ask a question, it’s for a reason, Mr. Reynolds. If you knew where I was going with my questions about the parrot, then you wouldn’t need me, would you? Turns out I have information you don’t.”

I took another step closer. “You asked for me,” I said slowly. “Think about that when Skeeter Malcolm finally comes callin’ to string you up for killin’ his brother.”

I turned around again to walk back to thecar.

“I didn’t do it!” Buck shouted after me. “You knowthat!”

“No longer my concern.”

“You’d let the kidnappers gofree?”

“You made sure that didn’t happen,” I said, although I wasn’t as convinced as everyone else seemed to be that they’d killed the two guys to keep them quiet. “As far as I know, there’s no more threat and we can presume Scooter’s dead.” It killed me to say it so cavalierly, but I was beginning to suspect it was true. Especially if Squawker had heard someone talk about cleaning up Scooter’s blood.

“There’s evidence of a thirdguy.”

I stopped again. I’d suspected as much, but it still pissed me off that he was holding out on me. “And you’re just now tellin’ me that?” I asked in disbelief. “Seriously?”

“We were gonna see if you could figure itout.”

“Did it ever occur to you that time was of the essence?” I asked. “That Skeeter Malcolm is close to gathering his troops and coming foryou?”

The look on his face suggested he hadn’t. He really was a stupid man, and his stupidity would probably help him meet his maker sooner rather than later, but I wasn’t going to let him destroy the county on his waydown.

“I’m feelin’ generous,” I said. “You have two minutes to tell me everything.”

“The second guy didn’t have ID,” Tim Dermot said, pushing past Buck and standing in front of him. “But he had a burner phone in his pocket with one programmed number. We called it and got a liquor store. Henryetta Package Store. They asked if it wasBud.”

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