Page 76 of The Killing Plains

“Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning,” she murmured. It was part of a rhyme her grandfather, a marine in World War II, had taught her as a child. The hairs rose on the back of her neck. The sky had looked like that on the day Randy and Victoria died.

“It’s just atmospheric particles and light waves,” she told herself, turning away from the window.

After dropping Satchel at school, Colly permitted herself the minor indulgence of a detour to Starbucks for a flat white before heading to the police station. Raindrops began to pock the dust on her windshield as she pulled into the parking lot, where Avery and Russ were waiting.

Russ looked annoyed. “You’re late.”

“Too bad I’m doing thispro bono, or you could dock my pay.” Colly swallowed a mouthful of coffee. “Good morning to you, too, by the way.”

“Sorry.” Russ scratched his cheek. “Your eye’s looking better. Feel okay?”

“Bit of a headache.”

Avery, who had begun to fidget, now threw up her hands. “Can we get to work?”

“What’s our status?” Colly asked.

“Jolene’s awake—for now, at least,” Avery said.

“And we’re cleared to search the Hoyers’ place,” Russ added.

“The warrant came through?”

“Don’t need one. I called Carmen. Turns out the trailer’s half hers. She gave consent. She’s pissed as hell at Jace and wants us to find him.”

“Still nothing on his whereabouts?”

Russ shook his head. “How should we do this?”

Colly thought quickly. Despite her growing doubts about Russ, she couldn’t afford to alienate him until she knew more.

“Jolene used my skull for batting practice yesterday—I doubt she’ll talk to me. You go to Abilene. Avery and I’ll take the property search.”

Russ frowned. “If you figure out where Jace is, don’t confront him on your own.”

A thin drizzle was falling as Colly and Avery turned into the Lonestar Estates. They found a squad car in the Hoyers’ drive. Inside it, Jimmy Meggs was asleep with his forehead on the steering wheel and a rope of drool dangling from his lower lip.

Avery rapped on the window, and Meggs jumped. “You scared the shit out of me,” he gasped, wiping his mouth on his sleeve as he opened the door. “Are you my relief? I been on watch all night.” He clambered stiffly out of the cruiser and stretched.

“On watch?” Avery said. “Hoyer could’ve come and gone ten times, for all you’d—”

“We’re here to search the place,” Colly interrupted.

Meggs brightened. “I can go home?”

“Sorry, we need the backup. Hoyer’s armed. Can’t run the risk he’ll surprise us.”

“Can I take a leak?”

“When we’re finished.”

“And stay awake, numbnuts,” Avery added.

Grumbling, Meggs climbed back into his car. Colly handed Avery a pair of nitrile gloves.

“I’ve never done this before,” Avery said.

“We don’t have the time or personnel to do it right. We’re just doing a quick scan for clues to where Jace might’ve gone. Grab some evidence bags from the car. I’ll start with the house. You take the garage.”

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