Down the Broken Road by J. R. Backlund

Author:J. R. Backlund
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

TWENTY-SIX

“Well, why in the hell am I just hearing about this now?” Lester Arnold, the Siler City Police chief, was red-faced and yelling into the handset. “Jesus H. Christmas, that was almost three hours ago.”

Hughes was in the doorway, waiting for an invitation. Arnold leaned back in his black leather office chair and waved him in. He stepped in quietly and eased into a seat facing Arnold’s desk.

“It doesn’t matter if you weren’t sure it was her.” Arnold looked over and shook his head with annoyance. “Let me tell you something. I have never, in all my years, seen this kind of incompetence. Your office needs a lesson in interagency cooperation. God forbid you ever want a little help from our end someday.” He slammed the handset down and dropped against the seat back. “Sorry sons o’ bitches.”

“What was that all about?” Hughes asked.

“That was the assistant chief of the damn Fayetteville PD. He says they responded to a call about your suspect today. Says a bar full of people saw her come in and pour a beer in some guy’s lap and leave.”

“She dumped a beer in a guy’s lap?”

“Yep.”

“And then just took off?”

“That’s what he said. He also said one of the regulars tried to stop her out in the street, and she popped him one good in the nose and pulled a gun on him.”

“No shit?”

“That’s what he said.”

Hughes slid to the edge of his chair. “That’s our girl. I know it is.”

“Well then, you’d best get on the phone with him and see what more he can tell you about it. I don’t think he’ll want to speak to me anymore.”

“Did he say what bar it was?”

“I think he said it was called Chappy’s.”

“In Fayetteville…” Hughes glanced at his watch. “I can probably be there by nine thirty.”

“Just check in with Assistant Chief Dipshit over there. Maybe he can loan you somebody.”

“You know I’d rather not.”

“Aw come on, Chad…”

“Seriously, boss. You gotta let me off this leash.”

Arnold leaned his head back and cast his eyes up to the ceiling.

Hughes asked, “You heard anything more from Raleigh?” Arnold didn’t bother to answer. They both knew things were moving too slow on that end. “That’s ’cause they’re stalling. I’m telling you, she worked there for years. She’s probably still friends with everyone in their homicide unit. You think they’re going to be in any hurry to help us?”

“What’s that got to do with these assholes in Fayetteville?” Arnold asked.

“Same deal,” Hughes said. “I bet she’s worked with them too. Back when she was an SBI agent. They probably think we’re crazy as hell for going after her.”

“Yeah…” He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Hughes sensed that he was wearing Arnold down. He said, “Let me run over there and talk to those people myself. See if I can find out what she was doing at that bar. Maybe I can get a lead on where she’s going next.”

“You get more than a mile outside of this town, you’re a civilian.

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