The Lost Souls Of The Keys by Mac Fortner

Author:Mac Fortner [Fortner, Mac]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

“Hello,” I said, answering the phone.

“Cam, it’s Ryan.”

I should have known that, but I didn’t recognize the number.

“Where are you?”

“At the office. I just came from talking to Roland Starkey. He claims someone hired him to watch Barbie. When you came toward him, he panicked and fled. He said he wasn’t trying to hit you.”

“He’s a terrible driver then. If I hadn’t jumped behind that car, I would have been squashed.”

“I’m not sure why, but I believe him.”

“Does he know who hired him?”

“Some guy he ran into outside a liquor store. He said he was coming out and the guy seemed to be waiting for him. The guy gave him a name and told him where she lived and to call him if he saw Barbie leave her boat. He also gave him five thousand dollars. He said the other five was waiting if he had good enough information.”

“Does he know how to contact the man who hired him?”

“He has a number.”

“Do you have it?”

Ryan hesitated a few seconds then said, “I have it, but I’m not going to give it to you.”

“You’re not much help, Ryan.”

“More than you think. I’m keeping you out of trouble.”

“I can keep myself out of trouble. My main concern is keeping the girls safe.”

Stacy had answered the door. Jack and Diane were there. They came in and took a seat on the sofa while I moved down the gangway so I could hear.

“Let me give this number a call first,” Ryan said, “then I’ll let you know what I find out. I’m not trying to cut you out of this, but I need some room to work.”

“Yeah, I need some room too,” I said, my temper starting to rise.

“I understand. I’ll call you shortly.”

We hung up and I went back into the parlor. “Did you find anything new?” I asked Jack.

“Diane’s next-door neighbor told me he saw Diego’s car sitting in front of the house around ten o’clock last night. He said he heard another car speeding away about a half-hour later. When he looked out the window, all he could tell was that it was a newer red SUV.”

“Didn’t he tell the police?”

“He was asleep until we were ready to leave. He came over and asked what was going on.”

I thought about calling Ryan and telling him about the car but then decided it might better to wait until he called me. He might give away the location of this guy and then I could pay him a visit myself.

“Diane, can you get off work today?” I asked.

“I’ve already changed my appointment today. I only had one. I have a client in about an hour.”

“Good. I want you to go to Casey’s boat with the others.”

“We have plenty of room,” Casey said. “Have you called Brittany about all of this?”

“Yeah. She’s a little busy right now, but she knows about it.”

“I have someone taking my charter out this morning,” Jack said. “I’m free to help you.”

I nodded. I was glad to hear that.

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