“Yes.”
“Good. McMillon owns those townhouses, so I’ll add a few more cars to the area. I’ll shoot a text to her dad, too. She should go home with him for the night, just to be safe.”
“Good. Thanks. I’ll head out now.”
“Careful, son.”
“Always.”
I met Trevor in McMillon’s room. The grouchy old man was beat up and pissed off. He pointed a crooked finger at me as I approached his bed. “Good, you’re here too. I want you to catch that jerk immediately. He took my keys and all the information on my rentals. I can’t have my tenants getting messed with. Do you know what that will do to my reputation? I got three vacant properties to fill!”
“Your reputation?” I was aghast. “What about the safety of your tenants?”
“What about it? Who cares! Just catch that asshole and do it fast. I want it done tonight.”
He was unbelievable. Charlotte needed to find a new place to live. “You won’t have to worry too much about the townhouses on Pine, right? If someone tries to get into one of those, they’ll probably slide all over the mossy front porches and cause a ruckus. Plenty of warning for whoever is inside.”
He glared at me for a moment then looked away.
“Let’s get out of here.” Trevor was as disgusted as I was. “He didn’t see anything. He was jumped from behind.”
I nodded, ready to get out of here and find this guy.
“An officer will be standing outside your door all night.” Trevor informed McMillon. “You’ll be safe, okay?”
He grumbled, “Yeah, fine,” and switched on the television. “Send a nurse in here when you leave. I need some food.”
“Sure thing.” I exchanged a glance with Trevor before he turned to leave. “Get some rest, Mr. McMillon.”
“Catch that bastard!” he shouted at our backs as we left.
As we headed out of the hospital, Trevor grumbled, “What a prick.”
“Yeah, he’s always been that way. So, we’re basically just cruising around looking for anything out of the ordinary. This should be easy,” I deadpanned.
“Matt and Quinn are at McMillon’s trying to lift prints, but no luck so far. The only thing McMillon remembered was the thick leather gloves the suspect was wearing.”
“Great. I know where I’m going to start.”
“Meet you at the Mountain Breeze to check on our new friend, Howard Winthrop?” He chuckled.
“You got it.”
We got into our respective vehicles and left.
Winthrop’s rental wasn’t parked in front of his room and the lights were off. Nothing about that was against the law. I had no reason to put out the call to find him and I would not abuse my position and malign his name in such a way without probable cause.
“Damn it.” I waved Trevor off and took off behind him with the feeling I was missing something.
And that Charlotte held the key.