Page 82 of Blood Moon

“I have nothing to say about Billy Oliver.” Before he could plead further, she clicked off. “Damn!”

“What in the world, John?” Beth said. “She sounded scared to death.”

“She was.”

“Of you?”

“Of talking to me. Somebody issued her a warning against it.”

“You really think so?”

“Had to be.” He palmed his phone and accessed another number. “I didn’t even mention Billy Oliver. She did.”

Beth digested that, then asked who he was calling now.

“Molly. The ogre and his men aren’t screwing around. They’re threatening family members now. I told Molly to be on alert. I need to underscore that.”

From behind his desk, Tom Barker asked, “Was Sanchez at home alone?”

“Best I could tell,” the ogre replied.

“How’d she react to seeing you at her door?”

“She started crying.”

Tom laughed before remembering that it made his nose hurt like hell. “The first time your mother saw you, she must’ve cried, too.”

Rather than take offense, Frank grinned. “It scared that Sanchez woman out of her wits when I asked how old her kids were now. Believe me, she’s not gonna talk to Bowie.”

“Bowie may contact Billy Oliver’s lawyer. The old coot was there when it happened.”

“I thought of that,” Frank said. “We’re in luck. The old coot has since died.”

“What about Mitch Haskell?”

“He finally called me back. Said he hadn’t seen Bowie for months. So long ago he couldn’t remember exactlywhen it was. They had a falling-out over Bowie’s binge drinking.”

“Do you believe that?”

“I wouldn’t, except that he said his wife had laid down the law for him to stay away from Bowie, or else no pussy. Between Bowie and the wife, the wife won.”

Tom was still doubtful of Haskell, but he moved on. “Learn anything more about how they got out of the hotel?”

The ogre shook his head. “The security camera videos are only good for twelve hours before they’re recorded over. We don’t even have him entering the lobby.”

“Fabulous.” Tom picked up a pen on his desk and began fiddling with it. “Who else would Bowie try to contact?”

“That Mellin harpy. I sent one of my men to the trailer park where she’d lived. She’s no longer there. He’s trying to track her down.”

“She can’t be far. She gaveCrisis Pointan interview.”

“They could have recorded the interview in Key West or freakin’ Anchorage. Besides, she wouldn’t give Bowie the time of day. She despises him for not finding her daughter.”

“I guess.” Making Tom more miserable than his throbbing nose was the thought of John Bowie getting the better of him. “You know what would help?”

“Bowie getting hit by a Mack truck?”

“If the Mellin girl’s body was discovered.”

---