“I’m not saying a word unless we come to terms.”
“You don’t have the right to bargain.” Hud raked his fingers across his jaw. “But I’ll see what I can do.”
A flicker of relief crossed Roby’s face. “I’d appreciate that.”
“Where is White?”
Roby exhaled, eyes dropping to the grimy floor. “Last I heard he was headed to Sunburst.”
“Sunburst.” Hud’s eyebrows rose. “Heading for Canada?”
“Could be. It’s close enough.”
“We have Canadian authorities on alert. Who else is involved?”
Roby licked his dry lips. “White, his brother, two cousins and an insurance adjuster. I don’t know their names.”
“Adjuster I already know about. Anyone else?”
“Not that I know of.”
“White’s ex-wife?”
Roby glanced away. “He called her a couple of times. She hates him.”
“Good.” Hud smiled. “Fewer loose ends.” He swung his leg over the chair and stood, leaning forward to press both hands flat on the table. His voice dropped to a slow, measured growl. “If any of this turns out tobe a lie, I will walk back through that door and personally make sure every man in here knows exactly why you’re inside. They’d open your throat faster than you could blink.” He held Roby’s gaze until the man looked away. “Animal cruelty has a price in places like this.”
Roby swallowed. “I’m telling the truth.”
“You’d better be.” Hud straightened and looked toward the door. “Guard.”
The heavy door swung open. The guard stepped in, expression bored.
“Take him back.”
The guard nodded, unlocked the cuffs from the table, grabbed Roby by the collar and hauled him upright, hustling him out. The door banged shut behind them, leaving Hud alone beneath the flickering light.
He walked out to the parking lot, the cool air sharp against his face after the stuffiness of the interrogation room. He slid into his dust-covered pickup, turned the key and called Dave, staring out through the windshield while the engine idled.
“I bet Roby nearly pissed himself,” Dave said, the grin audible in his voice. “Some folks just don’t understand how far people will go for animals.”
“He does now.”
“You headed back tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Call Creed when you get a chance. If White’s making for Canada we need to move before he crosses.”
“Will do.”
“Be safe. Talk tomorrow.”
Hud ended the call, shifted into drive and rolled out toward the highway under the afternoon sun.
****
Friday morning Blair pushed through the glass door of the office, her steps light at the thought of their one o’clock closing time. The early dismissal stretched the weekend into a luxurious expanse of free hours. Unless files piled up unexpectedly, everyone scattered at one sharp. The morning’s workload looked manageable, and Blair could almost feel the smooth fabric of a new dress sliding over her skin for tomorrow night’s date.
