Fay tookthe binoculars that Walker handed her and brought them to her eyes, trying to ignore the man sitting in the back seat. For the last forty minutes, Lee had been grilling them for information about the case. Every single time she opened her mouth to express an opinion, Lee spoke over her with his ideas. Not that his were bad or wrong, because even she could admit he had some interesting theories that were worth exploring, but she didn’t appreciate being treated as though she were invisible.
At least Walker continued to pull her in and do his best to shut Lee up, without insulting the man too badly.
She handed the binoculars back and lifted her tablet, tapping on the email that had just arrived from Tuck. “Helen’s son, Randall, was released from prison ten months ago.”
“Seriously?” Walker leaned over.
She lifted the device. “He’s living in Denver where he’s on parole for the next two years.”
“I’m looking at his rap sheet now and he was a drug dealer, no known affiliations with any cartel or major drug runners,” Lee said. “My sources tell me he’s found God or some such shit and he’s been hanging out with Bible thumpers these days.”
“A lot of criminals dress themselves up as good Christians,” Walker said. “That means nothing. We need to find out if he’s been anywhere near Fool’s Gold or been in touch with his mother.”
Fay glanced at the digital clock on the dash. “We’re not going to be doing that tonight.”
“Nope,” Walker agreed. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t poke around.”
“I’ll take the back of the house,” Lee said. “Walker can take the barn and the side yard and why don’t you just hang tight here.”
Fay resisted the urge to turn around and punch Lee in the nose.
“Not your mission. Not your call.” Walker turned and caught her gaze.
“It’s not hers either,” Lee said. “She doesn’t even work for the Brotherhood Protectors, so I’m not even sure why she’s out here.”
“Neither do you,” Walker reminded him.
Fay had enough of this bullshit. She leaned across the console and palmed his cheek before taking his mouth in a hard, passionate kiss. “I’ve got your six.”
“I’d rather have yours,” Walker whispered. “Let me know if there’s anything we should be worried about while we’re breaking a dozen or so laws.”
“You’ve got it, babe.” She smiled.
Lee slammed the rear door.
“Be careful out there,” she said.
“You do the same.” Walker brushed his lips over hers, letting them linger longer than necessary, especially since Lee was already slinking through the trees, disappearing into the night.
“I might go talk to the cops and see if anyone will talk to me,” she whispered. “But I’ll keep an eye out. Don’t worry.”
“I know you’ve got my back.” He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “For the record, regardless of what I think of his abilities, he’s an ass.”
“I appreciate that.” She slipped from the passenger seat and pressed the communications device into her ear. She leaned against the hood for a long moment as she watched Walker make a beeline for the back of Helen’s house. “I see Lee. He’s by the barn.”
“Good to know. Anything else?” Walker’s voice was barely a faint whisper.
“Not that I can tell. I’m heading to the scene.” She tapped the earpiece and strolled down the side of the road.
One of the deputies flashed his light in her face. She held up her hands. “It’s Fay Clayton. I’m a friend of Walker Nash’s.”
“What are you doing out here?” Wilder said. He adjusted his light and jogged toward her. “Is Walker with you?” he asked in a hushed voice as he glanced over his shoulder.
“Let’s say I’m alone.”
“Fair enough.” Wilder nodded.
“What can you tell me?” Fay made sure she did her best to keep an eye on Helen’s property. The house and the barn were set back from the road, and there were very few lights, making it difficult to see anything. Every few minutes, Walker checked in, letting her know where he was and what he was doing, and if he saw Lee.
“How about you ask and I’ll let you know if I can tell.”
“Where exactly did you find the phone and backpack and what else was in the bag?” She took a quick glance over her shoulder.
“The backpack was found by another hiker about three miles from the road and a quarter of a mile from the trail that loops around the town and toward Stephensville Ghost Town. As far as what else was in the backpack, we’re not releasing that information to the public. If Sparrow wants to tell you, that’s on her.”
“Any signs of a struggle?”
“None that we could tell, but forensics is on it,” Wilder said.
“What about Helen’s son, Randall? Did you know he’s been released from prison?”
Wilder nodded. “Already been in touch with his parole officer and Randall is exactly where he’s supposed to be. No reason to believe he’s set foot in this town. Besides, his mother told him after he was sentenced if he ever came back to Fool’s Gold, she’d string him by his balls. I think she meant it. There was no love lost there.”
“People change,” Fay said. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but have you talked with her since you found the phone? Considering it was relatively close to her property.”
“We have and again, you’ll have to speak to Sparrow on that one.”
“Understood,” Fay said. “Was Randall ever questioned regarding the missing young men in the past?”
“He was.” Wilder nodded. “Only after he went to prison. The feds don’t believe he fits the profile of a serial kidnapper. They searched his mother’s house and property, which was where he was living, and found nothing. It’s believed whoever did the kidnapping took the boys out of state and isn’t someone local, but maybe someone who comes through town once or twice a year. We started looking at gamblers coming in to play tournaments. Traveling salesmen. We had a list of people who had stopped coming and questioned them, but the trail went cold.”
“I’d like that list.”
“Not a problem,” Wilder said.