Page 116 of Half Baked

“Leavewhatalone?” Lance asked.

“Her mother. Everything to do with Gordy.”

“Did Gordy take Maddie?”

“Gordy?” she asked in disbelief. “He wouldn’t hurt a hair on her head.”

“Then who took her?”

“I told you I don’t know!” she shouted. “But I suspect I know why.”

“Then why?” I barked, getting pissed she wouldn’t just spit to out.

“They’re trying to punish Gordy, and they’re using her to do it.”

“Why would using Maddie hurt Gordy?”

“Because of Billy Hauser. Or whoever killed Andrea. I don’t know.”

“Wait,” I said, shaking my head. “Billy Hauser owned the Mad Hatter’s. He was murdered a week after Andrea Baker was killed.”

“She’d worked out some deal with him to keep Gordy from having to work for Billy. But I caught wind that he was reneging on the deal. He wanted Gordy to start working for him again.”

I leaned forward. “I’m gonna need you to start from the beginning.”

She did, telling me about how Gordy and Maddie’s mother got connected to Billy.

“Do you know where Gordy is now?” I asked.

“He’s here in Cockamamie under all y’all’s nose,” she said in disgust. “He goes by George now, and he has a shop.”

My eyes flew wide as I glanced at Lance. I could tell he’d also made the connection.

“George’s Garage?” I asked.

“How many are there in town?Yes, George’s Garage.”

Lance got up. “I’ll send someone to the garage and his residence to bring him in for questioning.” Then he exited the room.

“He ain’t gonna be there,” Gina said. “They probably already had him come see Maddie so they could get whatever pound of flesh they’re wanting from him.”

“And you have no idea who’s wanting their pound of flesh?” I asked.

“Not a clue.”

“Noah,” Lance said, his voice tight. “I need to speak to you in the hall. Now.”

I glanced up at him, surprised by the anxious look in his eyes, and followed him into the hallway.

“You know something,” I said, forcing myself to stay calm.

“You know we’ve been watching George’s Garage.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I grunted, getting pissed. “I was there the first day we did surveillance.”

“Well, I got one of those kids to finally talk a little bit last night, and a familiar name popped up.”

“Joe Kipsey,” I said. Finally.

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