A girl had to have her secrets, after all.
Chapter 19
The factory floor was loud. Injection molding machines stood everywhere. Pierce had been in factories before; each one had a different feel all its own. This just felt hot and dusty and a little on the cheap side. He tried to tune out the sounds of pressurized doors opening them slamming shut.
Knight walked beside him. They’d spent the hour-long drive that morning through the southern Indiana countryside discussing every aspect of the case possible. Then from every angle. Knight was a very analytical man, who based his opinions on statistics. Pierce had always been more of the type to go with his gut. Still, he liked the other man. Knight was one who didn’t mess around. And he’d researched the guy over the past week—Knight was supposed to be really good at what he did. So was Dr. Miranda Talley.
The receptionist had the manager waiting on them. He led the way to the loading dock. Snow was plowed out of the paths, piles everywhere. Walkways were cleared, but not much else. And it was damned icy.
He hated ice. And always had.
At least in Texas ice wouldn’t be too much of a problem going forward.
There were trucks being loaded by men and women operating half a dozen forklifts now.
"That’s him, there.” The manager pointed toward a man loading the fourth forklift from the front. He matched the photo and description they had of Peter Graves.
A man in a hard hat walked toward them. “Can I help you?”
"We’re looking for Pete Graves," Pierce said, showing his ID.
“What's this about?"
"We just need to talk to him about a few things,” Knight said, flashing his own badge. The guy’s eyes widened seeing the FBI emblazoned there. “If you can pull him over here, please? We’d appreciate it, and will let you get back to what you are doing. We know time is money.”
The foreman nodded. “Will do. Pete! Get your ass over here! Cops want to talk to you!”
Graves looked up. He saw Pierce and Knight walking toward him across the lot.
Something changed in his face. Pierce tensed. He’d seen that kind of look before.
Graves stood there for a second, watching them approach.
Pierce was about twenty feet away when Graves made his decision.
He ran. Of course he did. Pierce’s day couldn’t get any better than an idiot moron running.
"Damn it," Knight said. "I hate it when they make me run."
Graves took off toward the far end of the lot, cutting between stacked pallets and parked trailers. Graves was fast for such a little guy. Pierce went after him, Knight right beside him.
Graves dodged around a parked forklift. Lurched left toward a gap between two trailers. Pierce jerked toward him. That was all it took. To make Pierce’s morning a really shitty morning. Pierce's foot hit a slick patch and twisted, almost bringing him down. He caught himself, kept going.
Fifteen feet behind Graves now.
Ten.
Knight pulled ahead. Guy could run, even in that business suit. No denying that.
Graves just kept going; if anything the little asshole just ran faster.
"Get the bastard!"
Someone nearby was yelling encouragement.
Eight feet ahead. Graves hit the gap between the trailers and disappeared into the narrow space.
Pierce went in after him; somehow, he’d gotten in front of Knight again.
