Page 50 of 25 Alive

“Yes, and I’ll get more when she’s on the table. Sarge, we have got to get the body out of here right now. That’s a flatbed truck you hear, and it’s taking the dumpster and its contents to the lab. I’ll call you later.”

There was a click, then dead air. I had just reconnected my phone to the charger when it rang again. I grabbed at the night table, knocking the phone onto the floor, whereit scurried under the bed. I grabbed the charger cord and pulled, begging the universe to show me Joe’s name when I looked at the screen.

But no.

“Linds?” It was Cindy.

CHAPTER75

“LINDSAY. WHERE’S JOE?”

“He’s still on a job in Mexico. Monterrey, I think. Do you know what time it is?”

“Almost six. I haven’t been to bed yet. I have to tell you about Angela Palmer, the hanged woman. The one I talked about at Susie’s. Remember? The one who—”

“Right, right, right. Suicide or murder, no one knows. ‘I said,’ written on the sole of one shoe with a ballpoint pen, and ‘You dead’ written on the other.”

“You got it. Linds. Listen to me. I have a lead on her ex-husband. Agent Brett Palmer, FBI. I think he could be the ‘I said. You dead’ killer. Call me back when you’re awake. I hate to grovel.”

“I promise I’ll call you later, but right now I’m waiting on a call from Joe.”

After signing off with Cindy, I woke Julie. I called Mrs. Rose and told her I had to leave for work earlier than expected, then I fed my daughter Cheerios and orange juice,filled Martha’s bowl with kibble, and despite Julie’s protests that it was too soon, I got her dressed and ready for the day.

At 6:45 a.m. Julie, Martha, and I crossed the hall to Mrs. Rose’s apartment. She hugged the little ones first and I got a good hug, too. Then I ran down the stairs to the street. I tried Joe’s number yet again, letting it ring and ring, but he didn’t answer.

Was the satellite connection weak? Had he lost his phone? Had it been stolen? Was it ringing in a drawer at a car rental? Was Joe in the hospital? Or were his circumstances so dire that I couldn’t bring myself to think about where he was being kept and in what condition?

I called Craig Steinmetz’s office line as I jogged to my car, expecting to leave a message.

To my surprise, he picked up on the fourth ring.

“Craig. Have you heard from Joe?” I asked after identifying myself.

“Not recently. I’ve called him and his Monterrey contacts. Do you know Mick Dougherty?”

“I know his name.”

“Dougherty is working with Joe and Bao, but he told me that they ran into some trouble yesterday. Joe and Bao had to defend themselves, and they shot some armed cartel brutes. Shot and killed. Joe was fine, but Bao needed to go to the hospital and get checked out. Last thing I heard was that Joe had to testify at a hearing. He could be in a cell for his own safety right now, because of the shootings.”

“Oh, nooo.”

“If that’s the case, his phone will have been confiscated.”

I swore under my breath. Was Joe in custody? Or was hedead? I was powerless to get the answer I wanted. Steinmetz had to know. He had to find out. But he gave me no answers, just assurances. He said he was sending people to Monterrey, that he had faith in Joe and Bao.

“Dougherty is a good man. So is his partner, Ruiz. I’m getting more of our people on this. They’ll find out where Joe is at and call me. They’re smart, and whatever’s happening, they know what to do. Keep your phone nearby, Lindsay. Joe will be fine. He will.”

I must have said, “Okay,” and thanked him. I only know for sure that the line went dead.

CHAPTER76

CINDY CALLED ME again when I was driving to the Hall. I told her, “You’re on speaker. I’m driving in the car.”

Cindy said, “Fine,” over the staticky crackle. “You haven’t heard from Joe? Is everything okay?”

“I can’t talk about it, Cindy, even off the record. Talk to me about Brett Palmer.”

Cindy said, “He’s here. In town.Brett Palmer is in San Francisco. I’m having breakfast with him and I want you to join us.”

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