Husker Road: A Jake Caldwell Thriller by James L. Weaver

Author:James L. Weaver [Weaver, James L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781647340650
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Published: 2020-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Marc Conover hit the Kearney hotels again in search of Juan’s girlfriend, Maria Almodavar, after checking she still wasn’t at her trailer. His deadline clock ticked hard and loud. Going back to California empty-handed wasn’t an option. He hadn’t given up on a case in thirty years and he wasn’t starting now.

Lena scored him Maria’s picture from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles and Conover spent the morning showing it to hotel managers. Cooperation was spotty among the staff who were convinced he was with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Abandoned housekeeping carts littered more than one hallway he traveled down.

He struck pay dirt at a Holiday Inn Express south of I-80 behind some barbecue restaurant. The petite manager’s face fell with concern when Conover flashed Maria’s picture. Though a relatively new employee, Maria was sweet and hardworking but hadn’t shown up for work for a couple of days. She’d heard Maria talk about Juan, but never met him. She rounded up the housekeeping crew, and Conover explained why he was looking for Maria and received a sea of blank, disbelieving stares. Except for one.

A slender Hispanic woman in her mid-twenties with long, midnight hair tied in a braid stood in the back, unwilling to meet Conover’s eyes. She shifted on her feet and chewed her fingernails. The second the manager dismissed everyone, she darted out the back door. Conover asked the manager about her, but she declined to give out any information. Conover walked the halls of the hotel again and lurked in his car for an hour but saw no sign of her.

He slumped in a booth at Freddy’s Burgers around noon, rubbing the white band of skin where his wedding ring used to rest while waiting on his burger and fries. His cell rang. Mabel from the trailer park. Conover jerked upright. Neither Maria nor Juan was at their trailer, but a woman just entered.

Conover darted out the front door, abandoning his food order. “Let me guess. Hispanic woman, long hair, mid-twenties?”

Mabel exclaimed. “How on earth did you know that?”

“Lucky guess. What’s she driving?”

“Something white. I told you I’m not good with cars.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Will you please call me if she leaves?”

“Certainly, Mr. Conover. Shall I put out the Sara Lee cake?”

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