Page 52 of High Velocity

I take time to shower and change, but twenty minutes later, I’m in my truck. I could’ve called or sent a message, but Stephanie deserves a face-to-face explanation. I just hope I haven’t already done too much damage.

As a peace offering, I pick up a couple of brisket sandwiches at Foxy’s on the way. I’m sure I can put away both if it turns out she’s already eaten, but I don’t want to show up empty-handed, and there isn’t anything else between the ranch and her trailer.

When I take the turn that brings the trailer into view, I immediately notice the dark SUV parked out front.

Fucking Vallard.

Stephanie

“What do you mean, she’s gone?”

I ignored his first three attempts and know I shouldn’t have answered this call, but curiosity got the better of me. Or maybe I just wanted to hear a human voice.

It’s been crickets here the past few days. I’ve tried to connect with Jackson a few times, but for some reason he seems to be avoiding me. Now, I know they probably have their hands full with arrangements for Thomas’s funeral and all that entails, but maybe a one-line text wouldn’t have been too much to ask. Just a simple “hey, now is not a good time,” would’ve sufficed. It would at least have stopped me from going full stalker mode and calling the main house to check up on him.

Yeah, I sank that low. I’ve never chased a man in my life and, to be honest, it doesn’t feel good on this side. But I’m worried, I wonder how he is coping, and I can’t help thinking his silence holds a more ominous message than a simple, “I’m busy.”

All that to say, it was messing with my head and in an unguarded moment I took Vallard’s call instead of ignoring it, like I’d done the other times. He didn’t waste any time hooking me back in by announcing he can’t locate Tracy Elliston.

“I’ve been sitting on her place for days. According to the salon where she works, she took time off to look after her ailing mother in Helena, except some research revealed her mother died of cancer five years ago. I need your help. I’m coming over.”

“No, I don’t—” I start, but I’m talking to dead air. The bastard hung up on me.

Barely five minutes later there’s a sharp knock. I grab Ash by the collar and hold on to him while I open the door.

“How’d you get here so fast?”

I’m at least a ten-minute drive from Libby.

He shrugs and smirks. “I was having dinner at that little dive down the road. I was giving you one last chance to answer my damn call, or I would’ve shown up on your doorstep unannounced.”

Ben lets Ash sniff his hands and I let go of his collar.

“Not sure what you want from me.” I state, a little less than gracious as Ben closes the door behind him.

“My gut says Laine is in this area but If I don’t produce some proof of that in the next few days, my boss will send me to South Dakota. I need to talk to Tracy Elliston, but I have a suspicion she’s hiding somewhere and my time is running out.”

“If you’re right, and Laine came here, who’s to say the two of them aren’t in Canada by now?”

He shakes his head stubbornly.

“No. I don’t buy it. Laine is still here somewhere; I can feel it.”

I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t do any good to try and point out his gut feeling could well be indigestion, so I don’t bother. Besides, he may be right. Tracy never mentioned his name to me, but the details she gave me about the man in her life leave me no doubt he’s at least been in the area.

“For argument’s sake, let’s suppose you’re right. I still don’t understand what you want from me?”

“You have a connection with her, use it to see if you can flush her out. Try to call and see if she’ll answer when she sees your number. I haven’t had much luck.”

“Have you tried tracking her cell phone?”

“That wouldn’t necessarily tell us anything, she could’ve had her calls forwarded to a burner phone, and right now I don’t have time to wait for warrants to follow that trail. I need something concrete.”

“What about her car?”

“I’ve asked the sheriff’s department to keep an eye out, but I doubt she’d leave it out in the open if she’s trying to stay hidden.”

He spreads his hands and with a sad puppy look on his face, pleads his case.

---