“Do you have eyes on her?”
“No.Sorry.I … uh … I’m at home with my mother.But I was able to track one of her credit cards.She’s here.”
“Here as in…?”
“The Austin area.South, to be exact.”
“How far south?”
“I don’t have it nailed down just yet, but she’s used her credit card at a couple of places in Johnson City and at another in Dripping Springs.I’m not familiar with those areas, but I can tell you they aren’t too far apart on the map.”
“Can you tell what’s down there?”
“I’m guessing a member of Censorious.I was looking at the spreadsheet Simon started this morning, and he shows one of the members lives in Blanco.Maybe she was hanging out down there.”
Maybe.
“Can you tell when she was in Coyote Ridge last?”
“She doesn’t have any charges here or close to here that I can tell.If she’s been in town, she’s payin’ cash or not spending anything.I’m gonna see if I can get her cell phone pings next.”
So she wasn’t keeping an eye out for Meredith?Was someone else?Were they even worried about Meredith anymore?It had been nearly two years since Kylie died.What would make them think she’d come back now?
“Atticus?”
“You happen to get any information on her parents?I was hopin’ we could chat with them while we’re up here.”
“From what I can tell, her mother moved to Arkansas a couple of years ago.And her dad … he’s in prison.”
“Prison?”How the hell had he missed that during their initial search?
“Yep.Armed robbery.”
Sounded like a great guy.
“If you track Allison down, do you think you could trail her for a bit?”
“I wish I could,” she said, sounding sincere.“I need to stay here with my mom.”
Atticus knew Charlie’s mother suffered from dementia and they’d had problems with her wandering off.
“Understood.I’ll give Slade a call,” he told her.“See if he can spare some time.”
“I’ll send you the stores where she used her card.If I can shuffle some stuff, I’ll let you know.”
“No worries.Thanks, Charlie.”
As soon as the call ended, he dialed Slade’s number.He was surprised when the man answered.He thought for sure he was going to be ignored.
“Hey.Any chance you can follow up on a lead for me?”
“What lead?”
“Allison Bogart.Charlie was able to track her down.I’d like to get eyes on her.”
“Sorry.No can do.”
“Why not?”
