Page 101 of Concrete Evidence
“What kind of tennis shoes do you wear?”
Jake huffed again. “None of your business.”
“Do you own a pair of Nikes?”
“I own lots of tennis shoes. No clue of the brands.”
“Do you have any information regarding the disappearance of Craig Holcombe, the deaths of Bruce Ingles or Colonel Abbott Wilkins, the attempt on Donita Wilkins’s or Miss Elliott’s lives, the shooting of Special Agent Roden Clement, or the threats to any of these people including Avery Quinn ElliottSr.?”
“I told you, no. How many times are you going to ask the same questions?”
“As many as it takes.” Marc stared into the face of the young man hardened by his attitude and behavior.
“There you are,” Drendle said. “My son’s ignorant of any of these crimes.”
Roden slowly stood, his enormous frame filling the room. “Looks like your son will have time to think about his answers while he’s in jail for attacking a federal officer.” He turned to Marc. “Agent Wilkins, you can stop the recording.” Roden leaned over Jake’s bed. “The bullet fired from the rifle and dug out of my shoulder matches the one you used last night.” He turned and nodded at Marc and Avery. “I think we’re done here. A little time might jar Jake’s poor memory.”
The three left the room.
At the end of the hall, Marc’s curiosity got the best of him. “We haven’t had time to compare the bullets.”
Roden grinned. “The three back there don’t know what we’ve done.”
“Priceless,” Avery said. “Jake has a solid role model in his daddy. Surprised he hasn’t been in trouble before now. Guys, I made an observation back there. Jake isn’t the one who threatened me in Houston or the man who wore Nikes when the car bomb exploded.”
“You saw the guy in the Nikes after the explosion, right?” Roden said.
“No, I was facedown on the pavement.”
“While your head and ears were ringing?”
She gasped. “I wouldn’t have recognized his voice.”
“Right, and once Jake figures that out, he’s in deeper trouble than he thought. From his answers, he owns the Nikes.”
Marc pressed the down arrow on the elevator. “Roden, would you mind checking his financials on the drive to the Drendle property? If he took on the kill orders, someone paid him.”
“And before you two serve your warrant, would you take me back to the ranch? I want to keep Tessa company.”
After returning Avery to the ranch, Marc drove to the Drendle farm with the search warrant. The element of their unexpected arrival could be their ace, but only if Jake’s mother answered the door. Marc admired a well-maintained farmhouse, and a beagle barked and sniffed at them. Marc rang the doorbell while Roden stood back.
“How about taking over the interview with Mrs. Drendle?” Marc stepped back for Roden to take the lead.
“I’ll turn on the charm.”
“Thanks.” Marc noted his drawn features. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’ll nap when we’re done here.”
The door opened, and a round-faced woman appeared wearing a kind smile.
“Mrs. Drendle?” Roden said. She nodded, and he continued. “I’m FBI Special Agent Roden Clement, and this is Special Agent Marc Wilkins. We have a search warrant for Jake’s room and any areas where he stores his vehicle.”
“He’s in the hospital.”
“Yes, ma’am. We just came from there.” He offered his creds, and Marc followed suit.
She looked at both IDs and returned them. “I have no idea if these are real or fake. Let’s see the search warrant.”
