Page 31 of Half Baked

“Do you have an address for this guy?” Noah asked.

Bergan gave him a sneer. “If you’re as good as you think you are, you’ll be able to find it on your own.” He sat back in his recliner. “Now get the fuck out of here because I’m not telling you another word.” His eyes hardened as he looked at Noah. “And if anything happens to my family, I’m breakin’ out of this place, and I’m coming foryou.”

ChapterEight

Maddie

Noah and I didn’t waste any time leaving Bergan’s room and heading toward the front desk.

“Ms. Farrow’s ready to meet with you now,” Lisa said as I handed her the keycard.

“I’ll have to reschedule,” I said, glancing at Noah for confirmation. He gave me a slight nod. “Something came up at home. I’m sorry to have to leave like this…”

Sympathy filled her eyes. “Don’t say another word. We understand the difficulty of having dementia patients in a home setting, which is why we’re eager to help.”

Noah and I didn’t say anything until we were sitting in his SUV. “I’m going to drop you off at your car, then head to Galena.”

“What?” I cried out in dismay. “That wasn’t our agreement.”

“I know, but for all we know, Stewie Pitcavage will greet us with a shotgun.”

“It’s not like you’re on duty, Noah,” I countered, my anger rising. “Do you even have a gun with you?”

“Of course I have a gun with me,” he shot back. “I’m a police officer. I carry one just about everywhere I go.”

Which I knew from experience. I’d seen the piece he carried strapped to his ankle. “I thought you were on administrative leave.”

“I am, but I’m still allowed to carry.” He gave me a pointed look. “I know how to handle things if he starts shooting. You don’t.”

I lifted my chin. “I’ve been shot at multiple times and survived, so don’t you dare tell me I don’t know how to handle myself. I’m going, Noah, whether you like it or not.”

He grumbled, then said, “Maddie, that’s not the same thing.”

“Just shut up and drive,” I said, knowing I’d already won. “We don’t want to be looking for this place in the dark. Not in Galena. It’s a mountain town and more than a little rough.”

He turned to face me. “We don’t have an address.”

“Then I guess we start by looking this guy up.”

Scowling, Noah pulled out his phone and started tapping.

“You’re Googling it?” I asked.

He kept his gaze on the screen. “I’m texting Lance.”

“So does this mean you’re not going to fight me about going?”

His gaze lifted. “Would it do any good?”

“No.”

“Then there’s your answer.” He set his phone in the cup holder in the console and backed out of the parking space. “Do you know Galena very well?”

“No, but take Highway 23 out of town. It’s about twenty miles to the northwest.”

“So let’s head in that direction and hope Lance gets back to me before we hit the city limits.” His gaze met mine and held it. “Talk to me. How are you doing after that?”

Some of the tension eased between my shoulders. “I can’t believe Bergan never looked for my mother’s killer at all. I get that he was worried about his family…”

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