He listened and then grabbed Reid’s shirt sleeve to tug him into an alcove, where he put his phone on speaker. “Surprised to hear from you in the morning, Oakley.”
Oakley? The bartender?Reid’s interest piqued.
“I’m surprised to be calling you.” A nervous laugh sounded over the speaker. “I came in this morning to get my paycheck. Our day manager, Pat, said a vehicle was left in the lot overnight, and he had it towed. He wondered if I knew anything about it.”
“And do you?” Russ asked.
“Well, kinda.” She fell silent for a moment. “When those two guys were leaving last night, the one whose picture you showed me said his truck had broken down. I didn’t mention it cause I forgot until now, but…”
“But you think this is the vehicle that was towed?” Russ asked.
“Don’t know, but Pat said it was a pickup.”
“Where was it towed?”
“All our vehicles go to First Class Towing.”
“Anything else you forgot to tell us last night?” Russ asked, not sounding pleased at her failure to share this bit of news on a timely basis.
“I don’t think so.”
“Make sure everyone at the bar knows to call me if this guy comes looking for his truck.” Russ disconnected.
“We can’t trust them to follow through on that,” Reid said. “We need our own eyes on the place. I’ll get Dev over there.”
“Tell him not to be conspicuous. We don’t want to spook Fowler if he does show.”
Reid got out his phone but caught sight of the time on his watch. “We have plenty of time to check the towing company before Ella’s party.”
“I’ll drive.” Russ headed for the door.
Reid could text Dev in the car, so he followed Russ, taking in the early morning visitors and staff in the lobby as he strode through. He half hoped to see Fowler’s ugly mug among the groups so he could cuff the creep and haul him in.
After all, arresting the man was the only way Reid could ensure Ella’s and Megan’s safety today.
The towing company was located a few miles down the road from the hospital, and even with Russ’s tendency to speed, it was enough time for Reid to call Devan out to the bar.
“He a go?” Russ asked after Reid hung up.
“Yep.”
“You have to agree having our team on our side right now is a huge win.” Russ clicked on a blinker and slowed near the towing company’s driveway.
“Ditto for Veritas,” Reid said. “Trent brought a new guy with him. One of his specialties is, get this, firearm audio forensics.”
Russ shot him a wide-eyed look. “Say what?”
“My reaction too.” Reid explained as best he could the information Landon had shared. “He came along because they didn’t know if the bomb switch was patched through the electronics of Megan’s car, plus he’s shadowing Trent for a few weeks.”
Russ shook his head. “I can’t begin to stay current with forensics these days. Specialties I’ve never heard of are popping up everywhere. No way we’ll ever stay current in a rural county.”
“As usual, sounds like the Veritas Center is on the cutting edge.”
“Too bad they cost so much.” Russ swung into the towing company driveway and parked in a spot that said it was for towing company customers only and violators would be towed.
Russ snorted. “See them try to tow me.”
He climbed out and Reid followed suit. The morning sun beat down on them, warming Reid’s back as they made their way across the paved lot to a booth connected to a high fence with barbed wire that surrounded the property. The burly man in the booth had hair as greasy as his coveralls, and he was chowing down on a breakfast burrito. Signs were plastered everywhere, giving people unfortunate enough to have their vehicles towed the rates and procedures for reclaiming them.
