As he biked over to that area of town where he’d been accosted, he prepared himself for the fact that he might not be able to detect, much less follow, the guy’s scent.Not after three days and who knew how many people walking over that same area, nullifying the track.But there was a chance some of the nearby bars might be familiar with the guy.Might even be able to provide him with a name.
Once he crossed the street, he started with the first booze hall on the block,Doug’s Bar None.After padlocking his bike to the handicapped parking sign, Rhyne went inside.He was surprised to find two patrons already in attendance this early in the day when he entered.An older, gray-haired man was hunched over, nursing a beer at the far end of the bar.The other in a faded pair of camouflage pants was playing a solo game of pool at one of the tables in the rear.
“Can I help you?”
He glanced over to find a husky, muscular man standing in the doorway to what appeared to be an office.“Yes.I’m looking for a guy.”
The proprietor’s eyes narrowed as he took in Rhyne’s appearance, and Rhyne could guess any number of things the man might be thinking.To keep himself on the guy’s good side, he added, “He tried to rob me the other night.I want to find out who he is so in case he tries that shit again, I can call him out by name.Then maybe he’ll think twice about it if he suspects my friends and I’ll come after him.”
The manager snorted.“Fat chance that’ll happen.You obviously aren’t familiar with the sort of clientele we deal with.”
Rhyne nodded.“You’d be surprised.”He lifted a hand to chin level.“He’s a white guy, around five-ten, five-eleven.Skinny build.Long, dirty brown hair he wears in a ponytail.”Rhyne pointed to the side of his neck, below his jaw line.“He has a tat here.It looks like a stylized letter or crest.Hard to make out.”
“It’s an E for Elias.Elias Treech,” the proprietor informed him.“And you’re shit outta luck getting your hands on him.”
“Let me take a crack at it anyway,” Rhyne countered.“Do you know where he lives?Or frequents?”
The guy chuckled.“I’m guessing right now you can find him over at the county morgue.”
Rhyne stared at the man as the words sank in.Seeing his expression, the manager smirked.
“Elias finally pulled a gun on the wrong victim.Somebody put four holes in his chest sometime around closing this morning.Cops pronounced him dead before the ambulance arrived.”
Rhyne managed to thank the guy for that bit of news and exited the bar in spite of his semi-paralysis.His would-be attacker, a.k.a.Elias Treech, was dead.Along with his blood supply.
Fate had never stopped laughing at him.
CHAPTER7
Plan
Just for the hell of it, Grace visited that same dollar store at the same time she’d met that attractive man in the book section the other day.Naturally, he wasn’t there.Although she hadn’t expected to see him again, she still felt disappointed when her plan didn’t pan out.
“There’s always tomorrow,” she hoped as she went to pay for the bag of chips and can of bean dip she’d selected to give herself an excuse for being there.After she’d checked out and returned to her vehicle, she sighed.“I should have known he wouldn’t be here.There’s no bicycle.”
She gave a self-deprecating laugh.“Grace Jane.What in the world’s come over you?You chasing after a guy?That’s not like you at all.”Her gaze fell on the plastic bag with the chips and dip.“Well, at least I have something the girls and I can snack on during the day.”
Marcia was already checking in a new patient when she came through the office’s back door.Noting that Susan hadn’t arrived yet, she dumped her purse in her locker and the bag of snacks on the small side table where they put out the goodies to nibble on during the day.
Noticing there were two other people sitting in the waiting area, she took a seat at a station and entered her password into the computer.She was about to see who was next to be checked in when Marcia came up behind her and laid a small brown envelope beside her elbow.
“This came from the labs.”The woman grinned.“Congratulations.How much does that make now?”
Opening the envelope, Grace withdrew the small gold pin.It was shaped like a shield with the number 5 stamped on it.She held it up for the woman to see.
“It’s my five-gallon pin.”
“Good for you!”Marcia patted her on the shoulder.“I wish everyone who was capable was a regular donor.”
Reaching up, Grace gave the woman’s hand a little squeeze.Marcia was one of those who’d contracted HIV back in the college days from unprotected sex, making her ineligible to donate.
An older woman entered her booth and sat down.Pasting a smile on her face, Grace greeted her.“Good morning.Please show me your ID and your insurance card, if you have one.”
* * *
The day dragged.Rhyne caught himself checking the clock so often, even Andy noticed and called him out on it.
“Got someplace to go?Or someone waiting on you?”
