Page 20 of Colorado K-9 Rescue
“I did,” Rex said. “Saw her around a bit here and there.”
“How well did you know her?” Evan asked, feeling a bit of jealousy. He pushed it away, but there was something about Mckenna that brought out emotions he didn’t know what to do with. He tried not to think about the kiss earlier, but it was hard to forget that. He hoped he was keeping somewhat of a straight face.
“Well enough,” Rex answered. “Why are you asking all these questions? My brother has served his time. I know why Keith is here, but why are you here?”
“Fair enough,” Evan said. “I don’t know if you heard, but there was another kidnapping. Two girls. One of them is deceased. I’m helping the sheriff’s office investigate.”
“And let me guess, you came here because I’ve been convicted of kidnapping,” Toby said, an edge of sarcasm in his voice.
“Yes. I need to know where you were three nights ago. And don’t lie to me. Officer Warren has the information about where your ankle monitor was.” Evan decided to up his game and drop the “nice guy” act. It was time to get some information.
“I didn’t do it,” Toby said.
“That’s not what I asked. I asked where you were three nights ago.” Evan noticed Rex’s face flush red. Toby didn’t say a word. “You can answer me here. Or you can answer my questions down at the FBI office. Your choice.”
Sighing heavily, Toby crossed his arms. “I was with a lady.”
“This lady have a name?”
“Yeah. She does.”
“Care to share it?” Evan asked, starting to feel annoyed. “Remember, we can do this here or at the FBI office. I’m sure your neighbors are watching right now. It won’t help the vandalism situation if you leave in cuffs sitting in the back of my vehicle.”
Toby and Evan locked eyes and then he finally said, “Penny Gardner.”
Evan turned to Rex. “You know Penny Gardner?”
Rex shrugged and then nodded, his face still red, and he studied the mountains on the horizon instead of looking at Evan.
There’s something off with these two, but what is it? Rex is upset. I wonder if Rex was investigated or just Toby? What’re the odds that Toby could have covered for Rex in Mckenna’skidnapping? Especially since Rex worked for Mckenna’s parents.
Evan continued his questioning. “Where were you three nights ago, Rex?”
“I was at a party. Same location as my brother.”
Evan perked up at the mention of a party. “You two go together?”
“We did.”
Pulling out his phone, Evan brought up a picture of Lily and then Autumn, showing it to the brothers. “Did you see either of these girls there?”
“Nope,” Rex said.
“Take a closer look,” Evan said. “Just to make sure.”
Rex and Toby looked at the pictures a little bit longer. Rex spoke first. “Still nope.”
“Okay,” Evan said. “I don’t want to take any more of your time or Officer Warren’s time. If you think of anything, please call me.”
Handing the brothers his card, Evan said goodbye and went back to his car. He sat in the driver’s seat waiting to start the vehicle. Toby went with Keith into the house to take care of business. Rex glared at Evan for a moment and then turned around and started scrubbing the paint on the garage.
Yes, something was off. They were hiding something. Was Toby covering for Rex? Did they work together and that was how two girls were abducted?
Evan knew one thing: he wanted more information from Mckenna, and he wanted to find Penny Gardner, because this case kept twisting and going in directions he wasn’t expecting.
CHAPTER 14
Confused, shaken and a bit hurt after Evan’s apology for the kiss, Mckenna drove back to the FBI office, working to gather herself together. This was not the morning she had expected. She was thrilled Mocha had helped Lily come out of her shell, but shocked to hear about Lily’s experience that was so eerily similar to her own.
