“What did she look like?”
Wheeler closed his eyes for a few seconds, shook his head and eventually he shrugged again. “I don’t know, like an Earther woman.”
“Tall, short, old, young, skinny, heavy? Could you give me a hint?”
Wheeler put both his hands to his head. “Let me think. She was very tall for a human, but not skinny or heavy, just average. She was not old or young, but middle-aged.”
“What color was her hair?”
“Light brown?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Don’t be a snot, Diesel.”
“I’m sorry, I know you aren’t feeling well, but this is important, Wheeler. Lucy’s sister Francine is missing and we are looking for information on who took her.” Diesel glanced at Raphael. The big bounty hunter looked poised to pounce on any and every word Wheeler uttered. One false move and Diesel expected he would leap onto Wheeler’s bed and shake the information out of him.
Wheeler looked instantly contrite. “Sorry. I didn’t see anyone truly out of place or odd.”
Raphael exhaled, seeming to calm slightly.
“You didn’t see Indigo Smith?”
Wheeler’s eyes widened. “No way. I would have rememberedthat.”
Gage spoke before Diesel could ask any more questions. “I need to run a few tests, Diesel. Are you finished?”
“For now. Thanks, Wheeler. Glad you’re back with us, little brother.”
Wheeler’s head jerked up. “Hey, I remember something! The woman wore expensive clothing and jewelry. I remember thinking she seemed too well-dressed for a truck stop. That was odd. And her height, that’s it.”
“Thanks, Wheeler. That will help.”I hope.
A theory as to what might be going on eluded Diesel as he mentally ran through the pertinent facts. A rich, tall woman, a.k.a. Indigo Smith in disguise, might have knocked out Wheeler and taken his car, kidnapped Francine, and returned to the car to a different location.
One way or another, he planned to foil Indigo Smith’s plans to retrieve the gold ingots and ensure Francine’s safe return. He also hoped his hiding place for Indigo’s ill-gotten gains was still a secret.
Chapter Seventeen
Raphael tucked away Wheeler’s information to consider later. He needed to find Francine. Nothing Wheeler told them offered clues that would immediately help them locate her. He’d have to wait until Wheeler could see the surveillance video of the pumps at the truck stop. He was barely able to contain his frustration. He wanted to go, run, find Francine. If only he had a hint of where to go.
But he didn’t.
He wondered what Diesel and the mysterious Miss Penny had talked about in the hall.
Given the unhappy look on Diesel’s face, Miss Penny likely hadn’t been very forthcoming about her instant cure. Raphael found Wheeler’s sudden consciousness interesting, but it was not his primary concern. Each moment Francine remained missing ratcheted up his stress level. He was becoming antsy and that was never a good look on a bounty hunter. His resolve was to remain strong outwardly. Thankfully, no one could see his insides, where anxiety writhed like a thousand snakes in an angry pit of despair.
They left Gage to continue his tests and reconvened in the hallway outside Wheeler’s room to discuss next steps.
Axel had to leave and take care of something so he kissed Lucy and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and watched him leave.
Lucy approached them. Now that Wheeler was awake, her focus had likely shifted back to her sister. “What do we need to do next to find Francine?”
Diesel released a long, silent sigh. “We should locate Wheeler’s car to see if there are any clues inside as to where Indigo Smith has taken her.”
Lucy nodded. “Great idea.”
