“But he was home?” she prompted.
He covered his phone and answered her without pulling it away from his ear. “Yes. She said he confirmed his identity when he answered the door.” He went back to the call. “When we talk to her again, we need to ask her if he said anything about a brother.”
Biting her lip, she turned away as she processed the information. Southwest Little Rock meant he didn’t live far from the fairgrounds. It was entirely possible the person who carried out the attack on Agent Parker was nearby.
“Can we get a location on the Baker home?”
One corner of his mouth rose as he held up a finger to ask her to wait as he took in more information. He scribbled something on the edge of the battered paper map, bobbing his head as the person on the other end of the call continued to talk.
Growing impatient, Cassidy unlaced her fingers and shifted to sit on her hands, flattening them beneath her legs and anchoring herself to the bench. The second he ended the call, she pounced.
“Where is the house?”
He gave her a wry smirk. “Over on West 32nd Street.”
“West 32nd?” she repeated as she tried to get her bearings. “You mean…” Her words trailing off, she hooked a thumb over her shoulder, momentarily oblivious to the fact they were riding in circles.
“A few blocks west of here. Maybe five minutes’ walk?” He blew out a breath. “According to Emma Parker’s superior, she’s convinced the elder Baker is connected, if not the culprit. They’re checking her out at the hospital now, but she wanted to let us know she thinks we’re on the trail.”
“It’s possible for someone to get over to 32nd and back quickly.” Cassidy turned the possibility over in her mind. Then she recalled another possibly crucial piece. “They missed four o’clock,” she pointed out.
“It’s been noted.” He heaved a sigh, then scrubbed a hand over his face.
Sensing he was getting ready to leave, she scrambled to get some of her own questioned answered. “Hey, did Bud get the guy from the attractions company yet?”
“Not that I know of,” he said, gazing out at the midway.
“I’ll nudge him to reach out again,” she told him.
Jake grimaced. “I have to get back to the search. Can you document everything you can remember about the Baker case? Make a voice memo if you don’t think you can type it into your phone.” He sucked in a deep breath then squeezed his eyes shut. “I have no idea how you’re still holding it together on here. This would be killing me.”
“Everyone underestimates my stubborn streak.”
“Not me.” Jake rose and Max clattered to get his paws under him again. “I know exactly how stubborn you can be.”
She would have objected to his statement, but he’d already moved to the edge of the platform, preparing to jump. “Hey!” When he turned back, she tried for a stern stare. “Be careful, okay? At this point, I’m willing to let them blow the whole place to pieces, but I don’t think I can handle anyone else getting hurt.”
“I will,” he promised her, his gentle smile reassuring. “Focus on dredging up every little detail you can. At this point, we have no idea what may be useful, so don’t leave anything out.”
“I won’t.”
He bent his knees, as if preparing to jump, but then he turned back. “Hey, Cass?”
“Yeah?”
“If you don’t care about the property damage, we could get you out of this pack and off this thing,” he noted.
She swallowed hard. The same thought popped into her head every few minutes. She could save herself, but then what? Whoever was doing this would still be out there.
Waiting.
Watching.
Willing to strike again at the first opportunity.
Could she live that way? No.
“Yeah, but…if they don’t have me, we’ll never get them,” she pointed out.
