Page 32 of Seeking Evil

Megan shook her head. “Not that we’ve been able to find. They don’t have children. Both sets of parents are dead. Florence has a sister, but they aren’t close. She hasn’t spoken to Florence in years.”

“What about Irv? No siblings?”

Megan told him no. “Only child.”

Zeke ran a hand through his hair. “What about friends?”

“I can answer that one,” Patrick told him. “Those two kept to themselves mostly. I don’t remember seeing them anywhere outside their work.”

Zeke drummed his fingers absently.

“This is interesting.” Jack sat up in his chair. Using the word “interesting” was Jack’s way of saying he’d found something.

Zeke zeroed in on his boss’s face.

“The lab is still examining the strap you two found, but I did a little reading about them. They’re not only used for securing vehicles but can be used in different types of jobs—”

“Such as odd jobs,” Zeke finished for him.

Jack smiled. “That’s right. Do we have any idea where Irv worked last?”

Patrick frowned and rubbed his chin. “It might be hard to figure out. Irv was his own boss. Deb,” he called for his wife.

Deb came into the conference room sipping coffee. “You bellowed?”

Patrick grinned. “Sorry, my love. I need to pick your brain. You said you saw Irv last week working on something. You remember where?”

She nodded. “Sure do. Over at the doctor’s office. He said Dr. Flannigan needed some steps repaired around the back of his office.”

“Robert—Dr. Flannigan’s one of our local physicians,” Patrick told them. “He’s got to be in his seventies by now. He still practices three days a week and sees patients at the hospital. His mind is as sharp as a tack. Robert can get just about anyone to open up to him.”

“Doc has a bunch of rental houses,” his wife reminded him. “Maybe Irv has been working on one of them. If so, it might be the perfect place for him and Florence to hide out.”

“Good thinking, hon.” Patrick rose and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll go speak with him.”

“I’d like to come along.” Zeke shot Jack a look and got the go-ahead.

Jack nodded. “Take Cooper.”

“I wouldn’t think of leaving without him.” But Zeke was halfway out the door by the time Cooper caught up with him.

“The doctor works at the hospital too?” Zeke asked as he claimed shotgun.

Cooper grumbled but got in the back.

“Yeah, small town living. Dr. Flannigan has been working in the same office since he opened his practice. He’s a nice old guy.”

Patrick drove a short distance from the station to Main Street, where there were a string of storefronts. Many were tourist traps, selling items with the town and Wind River Mountains on them. There was an old movie theater and a general store.

Patrick parked in front of one shop with “Dr. Flannigan, General Practitioner” written on the door.

The three got out and went inside. The waiting room was empty. Patrick went to the receptionist and asked to see the doctor.

“He’s not here yet. He’s running late. He should be here in another half hour. Do you want to wait or can I have him call you, Sheriff?”

“Maybe you can help instead.” Patrick asked her about Irv.

“Oh, sure. He did a nice job on the steps out back. You know, I think Doc mentioned having Irv do some work on his ranch outside of town. I think he wanted some changes since his wife passed away.” She smiled. “You want me to have Doc call you with the details?” The phone rang. She reached to answer it, her hand hovering as she waited for Patrick to confirm.

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