Page 103 of Night Watch
“In the morning. She stopped by to tell me she would be leaving and wanted to sell her mom’s place. She said a guy would contact me about it.”
“And you didn’t see her after that?” Erik had to work hard to keep the panic out of his tone.
He shook his head.
“Anyone strange or unusual go through the lot tonight?”
“Not that I noticed. I don’t know all the cars, but nothing suspicious.”
“Did you hear a boat take off from the vicinity of her place?”
“Heard a motor, but it’s hard to tell the location. Sound travels on the water.”
“When was that?”
He tapped his chin. “I’m not sure. An hour ago. Maybe less.”
“How long are you going to be here?” Erik asked. “In case I need your help.”
Villanueva glanced at his watch. “I can hang around for another hour or so.”
“I’m going to run to her sister’s place. Give me your phone number so, if I find her, I can call you.”
He handed a card to Erik. “And I got your card in case she shows up here.”
“Thanks, man.” Erik turned to go.
“Hey, one more thing,” Villanueva called out. “I remembered seeing that guy you told me about another time. And he was with another fella. They were arguing.”
Erik spun to lock eyes on the manager. “Did you hear the conversation?”
Villanueva shook his head. “Too far away, but I can tell you what he looked like. He was a big guy. Muscular. Wideset eyes. Black hair in a buzz cut.”
Erik knew that description. He thumbed through the photos on his phone until he found the former Major Hess’s picture. “This the guy you saw?”
“Yeah. Yeah. It’s him all right.”
Erik couldn’t imagine how Miller and Hess were connected, but they were. This could account for them having found the team bracelet at the shooting.
“Thanks.” Erik ran for the truck and texted Aiden to look into a connection between the two men. Erik darted through traffic as fast as he could to Finley’s apartment and pounded on the door.
Pong sat and looked up at him, his body trembling. Erik’s distress was causing the dog to worry.
“It’s okay, boy.” Erik squatted and stroked his head.
“Who’s there?” Finley’s voice came from the other side of the door.
“It’s Erik Byrd. Is Kennedy here?”
Finley opened the door and scratched her head. “No. Why?”
“She’s not at her place. She left her phone behind. Her gun is gone, and so is the boat. I’m worried someone might’ve forcibly taken her.”
Finley’s face paled and she stepped back so he could enter. The one-bedroom apartment was neat and tidy and smelled like vanilla. The minute Erik and Pong stepped in, Pong went into search mode. He charged across the room to a black cat with a white nose and paws that sat on the sofa, warily watching him.
“Sorry,” Erik said. “Pong is socialized, and he gets along great with cats, but he hasn’t seen one in some time.”
Erik tugged on Pong’s leash, but the dog remained firmly planted and stared up at him. “You don’t have any flash drives or anything like that in the couch do you?”
