“And tell ’em what?” he demanded. “That you want his address?”
“This really shouldn’t be this hard,” I said, irritation slipping into my voice. “If you can’t help me, then I might as well kill you and find someone who will.”
He gritted his teeth while his one-handed grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“When and where is the shipment coming in?” I asked again.
“The industrial park,” he grunted. “Four a.m.”
“And Knox?”
“He’s gonna be there,” he said, starting to pant. “Just show up at the industrial park and introduce yourself.”
“Maybe I will,” I said. “But where will he be before then?”
“The fuck I know.”
“Try again.”
“He’s not my boss!” he shouted, leaning over the steering wheel. “I don’t know!”
“Who would know?” I asked. “Who tells you what you need to know?”
He was silent for several seconds, and he looked like he was struggling to make a decision before he said, “Nixon.”
“And where would Nixon be right now?”
“Gettin’ ready for the shipment.” He was starting to breathe heavier.
“Pull over in that parking lot over there,” I said, motioning to an empty gravel lot ahead. “Then shut off the engine.”
He gave me a cautious look. I expected him to keep driving, but he turned in once we reached it. He pulled into the middle of the lot, put the truck in park, and turned it off.
“What now?” he sneered. “You gonna kill me?”
“No, you’re gonna call Nixon.”
“The hell I will.”
“Then I guess I will kill you.”
“All right!” he shouted, then reached for his pocket.
“If you pull out anything resembling a weapon, you’ll have a hole in your chest next,” I said coldly.
He slowly pulled out his phone.
“Good, now grab your car keys too.”
He set his phone on the seat and pulled a key fob out of his pocket. I grabbed it and stuffed it into my jacket pocket.
“Now get your phone and hold it so I can see who you’re calling,” I said.
He typed in his passcode to open the phone, and I made note of the numbers. He pulled up his contacts, and the name Nixon appeared on the screen.
“Okay,” I said, “Now call him and put it on speaker. You’re gonna find out two things. Where Knox is right now. And if someone found me, what Knox wants them to do with me.”
He shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “He’s never gonna tell me the first part.”
