“We could check local auto body shops to find out if his truck was ever worked on there. I was also wondering where he got his tattoos.”
Vic nodded. “We’ll check out the local tattoo parlors.”
“I’ve never been in one.”
“It can be an illuminating experience.”
She got up from the table. “I’ll hurry and clean up the kitchen so we can leave.”
“I’ll help.”
Claire eyed him for a moment. “Are you going to tell anyone what we’re doing?”
“Not unless it becomes necessary. I suggest you don’t tell your family, either.”
“I won’t. They’re worried sick over Jeremy as it is.”
A shadow passed over his face. “I need to find a connection to the person who got Leroy released from prison early. But we’re going to have to do it the hard way because I can’t let anyone know I’m a Ranger.”
“Maybe we’re private investigators working on a case for an insurance company. You’re Jim and I’m Elaine. We’ll wear sunglasses.”
Low laughter escaped his throat. “When I hired you to work for me, I had no idea how amazing you are.”
She looked away. “Not amazing, just desperate to find Jeremy.” Being his father, Vic knew all about that.
They cleaned up together. “Thanks for fixing lunch. It hit the spot.”
“I’m glad. Give me a second to find my sunglasses and I’ll meet you at the car.”
“I’ll run off a picture of Leroy for both of us. If I crop them, no one will know it came from his prison mug shot. While I do that, I’ll tell the guys in the surveillance van they can leave until further notice because I’m on vacation.”
“It’s a good thing you’re the Ranger,” she said. “The thought wouldn’t have occurred to me until after we reached Buda.”
It wasn’t long before they were driving away from the house wearing their disguises. He turned to her and smiled. With his thick, black hair and handsome features, Claire thought Vic was much better looking than any movie star or celebrity. She smiled back, trying to quell the rapid pounding of her heart.
They couldn’t see each other’s eyes. This was fun. In spite of the agonizing pain they were both suffering, it was fun to be doing something so important together.
“I need you to be my navigator.” He reached in the glove compartment and handed her his iPad. “It’s charged. Let’s visit some tattoo places first. We don’t want to go to the bar until evening.”
Claire was thrilled to be given something to do. She started looking up addresses. “There are thirty listings throughout Austin. Buda has two shops.”
“That’ll make our job easy.”
Buda was only fifteen miles south of downtown along the I-35 corridor. They found the first parlor using the GPS in his car. When they went inside, it reminded her of a beauty salon with the workers’ individual areas. Two guys were getting tattoos.
“Hi!” An employee walked up to them. “Which one of you wants a tattoo?” He eyed Claire. “I can match a tattoo to the beautiful copper tint of your hair. It would look amazing.”
“Thanks, but we’re not here to get tattoos. My name’s Elaine. This is Jim. We’re private investigators working for an insurance company and wonder if you’ve ever seen this man in your shop.” She pulled out the picture and showed it to h
im. “He has a green eye tattoo on the inside of his left wrist, and two snakes tattooed on his chest.”
The guy shook his head. “Nope. I’ve done snakes and some eyes, but this dude isn’t familiar.”
“Maybe the other employees would recognize him?” Vic suggested.
“No. I run this shop and know everyone who comes in to get a tattoo.”
“Okay, then. Thanks for your time,” Claire said.