They were plunged into darkness.
Chandler shoved Jack ahead of him and up the stairs. Jack’s hand hit the metal door and he shoved. The door creaked open. Jack reached back and grabbed Chandler’s shirt. Pushing and pulling each other, they rushed through the rooms and outside.
The warm night air felt like a cool breeze on Jack’s face. As they hurried toward the fence, the door behind them slammed shut with such force that one of the thick windows on the wall cracked. They both jumped.
Chandler pushed the gate open so Jack could squeeze through. “I told you that was a crazy idea.”
Jack pulled himself through and then tugged on the gate for Chandler. “I totally agree. Going in there was stupid. Sorry. Do you know who that was?”
“Dracula? He said his name was Alex Hernandez. Oh, snap—he’s that Alex Hernandez?” Chandler’s hands went to the sides of his face and his eyes went wide at the realization of who he’d just met. “Damn. His wife was the lady who got slaughtered?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know he knew my dad.”
Chandler walked away from the fence fast. “Dracula is off-the-rails nuts. He thinks he’s still on active duty. Did you hear him talking about messengers? Does he see imaginary people?”
“I don’t think so. I think I know exactly who he’s talking about.”
“He’s crazy. He said the messengers were wired together to a clock.”
“No, he said they’re wired to the RO so they could talk to the Tock. RO is marine speak for radio operator. Alex was saying that runners are connected to tactical operations command: TOC. He’s talking about joggers out for a run. I think Alex believes that the joggers’ music players are radios.”
“You know that’s the textbook definition of officially crazy.”
“Yeah. He may be nuts, but he did see a runner near the fountain.”
“So? There have to be fifty runners a day in that park.”
“Not with bright-green sneakers. We need to take another look at Leland Chambers.”
20
Friends
Tuesday morning, Jack sat in the Impala outside H.T. Wells. Chandler was helping Mr. Emerson again today, so Jack was alone. He watched the crowd walking up and down the street until he saw the person he was looking for: Betty Robinson, stepping out of the building for a smoke break.
He hopped out of the car and caught up to her just as she lit a cigarette. “Excuse me, Mrs. Robinson? Jack Stratton. We met the other day.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I have a favor to ask.”
Betty exhaled, and the smoke coiled out like a snake. “With what?”
“The man they arrested for Stacy’s murder—I don’t believe he did it. I’m trying to find out who did. You’re Stacy’s friend. I’m hoping you’ll help me again.”
“Why are you looking into this? Is the man they arrested a friend of yours or something?”
“Not really. But I know him, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t do it. I really need your help.”
Betty eyed Jack up and down. “Okay. I’ll listen, but over there.” She led Jack over to the farthest corner of the building. Foot traffic was light, and no one paid them any attention. Betty flicked a long ash onto the ground. “Why do you think I can help?”
“I read your bio on the website. You’ve been at the company twenty-five years. You started as a receptionist. You probably know more about this company than the owner.”
She smiled.
“I need you to look up a report.”
She took a long, slow drag of her cigarette. As the paper burned away, she watched Jack with the interest of a fisherman scrutinizing a bobber. Smoke slowly drifted up as she silently studied him. She wet her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue. “What’s the report?”
“The Right-A-Way Shipping report that Stacy was working on. You trained her, so you must have access to it.”
“I’m not giving you company material, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I don’t even need to see it. But if something’s wrong with that report, I need to know.”
Betty took another long drag of her cigarette. “You think Leland Chambers had something to do with Stacy’s murder, don’t you?”
Now it was Jack’s turn to stare. He didn’t know how much to say.
But Jack’s hesitation caused Betty’s expression to sour. “If you’re asking me to help you, you’ll have to trust me,” she said.
Jack sighed. “Okay. Stacy and her boss argued the night she disappeared. And it was over that report. When I asked Mr. Chambers about it…” Jack searched for the right word. “It bothered him. A lot.”