“Let me see if Lainie is still here. She should hear all of this.” Shea sent a text and a few minutes later, Lainie walked in. Ben smiled when he saw her, glad that she was still in the station despite her injury.
“Lainie, we just interviewed Crystal Benton. She opened up, gave us some good information,” Ben said.
Surprise crossed her features. “I’m amazed that she talked to you.”
“It was not an easy conversation. We promised her protection. She was cold and pragmatic.” Then Ben let Mark detail the interview they had with Crystal Benton.
“You’re sure your agent is gone?” Shea asked.
“San Bernardino is dragging the lake.”
“I’m so sorry, Ben.” Lainie placed a hand on his forearm, and he appreciated the gesture and genuine care behind it.
He nodded. “What we really wanted you to hear was when we asked her where Vine would go to hide.” They played that portion of the interview.
Collins shook his head. “I was there with the team that searched Smokey Dreams, his cigar lounge. Secret room? I don’t think so.”
“Well, he’s afraid to fly,” Ben said. “We’re reasonably sure he’s not left the state, as sure as we can be without any kind of digital footprint. Maybe we should take another shot at the club.”
“And if the staff of the club is hiding him,” Mark added, “there’s no telling how long he could stay holed up there.”
“She doesn’t give you any hints at all about where the secret room is. Maybe Vine pulled one over on her, and there is no secret room.”
“Lainie, any suggestions?” Shea asked.
“I can’t see him hiding in the cigar lounge no matter how much of a hermit he is. Secret room?” She waved her hand. “Benton was playing you. We should dig deeper into Quartz Enterprises, or maybe work on his men who are still in custody.”
“I wouldn’t doubt that she was manipulating us,” Ben agreed. “Andwe have been over the company with a fine-tooth comb. Tracking a man who is completely off-grid is near impossible.”
Shea laughed.
“What’s funny?”
“It’s the twenty-first century, and a man can evade everyone with a nineteenth-century attitude. It just struck me as funny.”
CHAPTER 63
“I’m not supposed to be here working. As much as I want to beat my head against a wall, wondering where Vine is, I’m tired. I’ll pray for you guys.” Lainie got up to leave.
“I’ll walk you out,” Ben said.
“It’s funny,” Lainie said as she and Ben walked toward the elevator. “I want Vine caught more than anyone, but now I feel like I can wait. He can’t stay hidden forever. He will be found.”
The elevator doors opened and they stepped on. “I agree, and I have other things to attend to right now.”
Lainie caught his eye. “I’m sorry, I should have realized. You’re waiting to hear from San Bernardino.” They exited into the lobby and walked toward the parking lot.
“Yeah, I am. And I have to tell Efren’s wife. That won’t be easy.”
Lainie started to say something then stopped. Callen West was leaning against her car. “What do you want, West?”
“I’ve been calling you, Detective. You don’t return my calls.”
“You going to be okay, Lainie?” Ben asked.
“Yeah, this is Callen West, reporter for the local paper.”
“Oh, the one with the Vine obsession.”
