“Both,” Peter said.
“Dang, that’s bad. I’d offer to call my guys, put a fire team together, but we’re shut down for hunting season and they’re all in Montana or Wyoming.” Most of Manny’s employees had served with Manny and Peter. They were, among other things, avid elk hunters. To Peter’s knowledge, there was no more heavily armed and dangerous group of roofers on the planet.
“Okay,” Manny said. “I’ll grab some hardware from the shop and meet you at Stella’s place. Gimme ninety minutes.”
“Actually, things are a little fluid right now,” he said. “I picked up a, uh, high-value package. Kind of delicate.” He glanced at Ellie again, but she didn’t seem to be listening. “How about tomorrow, 0900?”
“Roger that. You can catch me up then. But you better get your butt over here for supper before you blow town, or Carlotta gonna wring my neck.”
Peter was still watching Ellie. “I have a better idea. Could Carlotta come tomorrow, too?”
—
The carhop still hadn’t come for the trash, so Peter got out of his seat, collected the trays, and carried them to the garbage can. Instead of heading back to the truck, he lingered on the covered walkway, his bare feet freezing on the cold concrete. He didn’t want to make his next call where Ellie could hear it.
June picked up quickly. “Hey, Marine. How was the pizza?”
“There was another shooter,” Peter said. “At the motel. He killed KT.”
“Dear God,” June breathed. “What about Ellie?”
Peter looked back at the truck. The girl still had her head back and her eyes closed. “I’ve got her with me. It’s bad, Juniper.”
June let out a low moan. She and KT had been close. KT had been June’s mentor, teaching her the basics of investigative reporting. But really, Peter knew, more like a big sister.
Then June cleared her throat, pulling herself together. “I get in at noon tomorrow. We’ll sort this shit out together.”
“I wish you’d stay home,” Peter said. “I have enough to worry about with keeping Ellie safe. These guys came out of nowhere, and I still have no clue what this is all about.”
“Listen, Marine, if you want to know why they went after KT, you need me there to figure it out. So fuck you, I’m coming.”
Peter sighed. He knew better than to try to talk June out of doing something she was determined to do. Also, she was right. He did need her. In more ways than one. “Okay,” he said. “Text me your flight info, I’ll pick you up.”
“You bet your ass you will. I’m calling Lewis, too. Maybe he can get on the same flight. Did you reach out to Manny?”
“He’s coming over first thing. But I don’t want to involve him any more than I have to. He’s got a wife and four daughters. I’m not willing to put him at risk.”
“You know Manny’d do anything for you,” she said.
“I know,” he said. “But Ellie’s already lost her mother. I won’t have Manny’s four girls lose their father, too.”
“What are you going to do with Ellie?”
“I have no idea. Did KT have any family in the area?”
“No. Her parents were back in Minneapolis, but they’re both dead. She had a brother in Portland, but he had a heart attack last year, and he’d never married.”
“What about Ellie’s dad?”
“He’s been out of the picture for a long time. I don’t even know his name. The last I heard, he was working for a software company overseas somewhere. The police will reach out to the State Department, they’ll try to find him. Given the legal system for minors, she’ll most likely end up with her dad when the dust settles.”
Peter looked at Ellie again. So young, so fragile. Losing her mother, especially like this, was really going to mess her up. He hoped her father was a good guy.
If he wasn’t, Peter would have to set him right.
—
He always felt better on the move, so after he and June said goodbye, he got back on the road, circling restlessly until Durant called.
