End Game (Will Robie 5)

Tommy Page was still at the bar and he was still sipping on a beer. How many he had drunk since she had left and taken his car, she didn’t know. And really didn’t care.

She looked around the space and saw that some of the Apostles were still there. As were some

of the burly guys wearing Confederate caps. The same couples were on the dance floor doing the same moves.

But there were others there now who hadn’t been there before.

Claire and Patti Bender were sitting at a table off to the side. Claire was dressed elegantly if simply in black slacks, a white blouse, and high heels. Her daughter had on cammie pants, an Army green T-shirt, and work boots.

Somewhat in keeping with their dress, Claire was sipping on a glass of white wine while Patti had her fingers curled around the neck of a beer.

Reel walked over to them. “Having a nightcap?” she asked.

Claire smiled up at her. “Actually, we’re just getting started. Care to join? Women out here are outnumbered and I haven’t had a real girls’ night out in ages.”

Reel sat and ordered a beer. When it arrived she took a swig and studied the other two women. They could not have been more dissimilar in appearance.

She set the bottle down and looked around. “Place is hopping.”

“What else is out here?” said Patti. “You want another drinking hole you have to drive a long way. Might as well go to Denver.”

“How’s your investigation coming?” asked Claire, her features turning serious.

“It’s a puzzler,” admitted Reel. “I’m not sure we’re much further along than when we started.”

“Did you speak to the skinheads?” asked Claire. “They’re disgusting people. If anyone had something to do with Roger’s disappearance I have to believe it was them.”

“We did interact with them,” said Reel slowly. “And I agree that they could have had something to do with whatever happened. Apparently, Dolph has gone underground.”

“If you mean underground as in dead, that would be wonderful news,” said Claire.

Patti cracked a smile at this.

Reel said, “I wish I could tell you that was so, but what I meant was he’s lying low.”

Claire took another sip of wine and eyed her appraisingly. “Is that because of your interaction?”

“Can neither confirm nor deny,” said Reel, but a smile played over her lips.

“Well, then I hope you get to interact with him again soon,” said Claire.

“Where’s Will?” asked Patti. “I saw him driving off tonight.”

“He was running down some things,” Reel replied quickly.

“Really? He told me was just getting some fresh air.”

“He keeps things close to the vest.”

“I guess you have to,” noted Claire.

“So how’s the medical marijuana business?” said Reel.

Claire lifted her glass. “Better than ever. I’m trying to get my daughter here to join the cause. Lead it into the future. But she wants to keep playing tomboy.”

“I’m not cut out to sit behind a desk,” said Patti. “And are you surprised? Look where I grew up. In the great outdoors. I never even went to college.”

“You could have,” said Claire pointedly. She looked at Reel. “In high school she was a straight-A student. National Honor Society and everything. One of her teachers said he’d never seen a more talented student.” She looked back at her daughter. “You could have been a great scientist or something. Or a writer.”

“College wasn’t my thing.”

Claire said, “Okay, but you don’t have to have a sheepskin to run a business. Look at Bill Gates. He dropped out of Harvard. I’ve built up a great company. Your brother has no interest in it. I’d like at least one of you to take it over.”

Patti glanced at Reel. “Mom rarely accepts defeat in any argument.”

“I wasn’t aware that we were arguing,” said Claire, her tone turning a bit icy.

“Actually, we’re not, since my decision has already been made. And I wouldn’t call it being a tomboy. I just like my guns, the country, and being my own boss. And I’m not that much into weed, really.”

Claire smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Well, you can’t blame a mother for trying.”

They both fell silent. Reel finally said, “Do either of you know Scott Randall?”

Claire looked at her curiously. “He bought one of Roark’s places in the bunker, right? Roark mentioned him to me before.”

“He’s the one whose daddy left him a ton of money and he runs around with that bitch of a wife,” observed Patti.

Reel looked at her. “How do you know that?”

“They came into town a while back. I think when they were first purchasing the unit. They came into the bar. You could tell that he thought he was the cock of the walk and he just wanted to show off his wife. She wiped the chair before she sat down and refused to drink anything here. She thought it was all cheap shit.”

“Well, I ran into the lady too, and I have to agree with your assessment,” said Reel.

“Why do you ask about Randall?” said Claire.

“I found out that he comes back here from time to time, but he doesn’t go to the silo. He stays in a cabin a ways from here. And he goes there with folks who have been described to me as serious dudes.” She looked at both of them. “You two know anything about any of that?”

Claire shook her head. “I have no idea. Unless he was hunting or fishing.”

Reel focused on Patti. “How about you? You get around, see things. Maybe Randall without his wife?”

Patti shrugged. “Yeah. I saw Randall around here a few times. I didn’t see these other people you’re talking about.”

“What was he doing when you saw him?” asked Claire curiously.

“One time he was driving. Another time he was walking.”

“Was he armed?” asked Reel.

“Not that I could see.”

“Where was he walking?”

“Bluff Point Road. Around there.”

“That’s where his cabin is.”

“Didn’t know that,” said Patti.

“You think that Roger is dead, don’t you?” Claire asked Reel abruptly.

They both looked at her.

“Why do you ask that?” said Reel.