In his glance he also saw they were destroyed. They loved their daughter, it was clear to see and this had broken them. They weren’t young anymore but they had life left in them and for the rest of it this break would never heal.
Denny Lowe had caused that and the second after Colt slid his gaze away from Marie’s parents, he felt a swift rage burn through him, worse than anything he felt at what Denny did to Feb or Jack and Jackie, Morrie and him. When they caught that fucker, his family’s fear and anguish would fade, time would heal their wounds. It’d leave a scar but it’d be a scar, a reminder, not an open, bleeding gash that would never close.
Only one thing Colt could do about his rage was what he intended to do. He headed out the front door and started toward the bank. It was two blocks and still, normally he would have driven it. But he hadn’t been to the gym since this business started and he found he had an abundance of energy. This shit wasn’t happening, he’d be taking the day off and working out that energy in his bed with Feb. Unfortunately, this shit was happening.
Dave Connolly was in his office with some clients when Colt got there. Colt scanned the teller’s stations and the name plates sitting on the high counters showed there were two Julies.
His scan also showed there was no Amy.
Colt gave Dave a chin lift and Dave gave Colt a “one minute” gesture with his hand. Colt nodded, headed back out, crossed the street and went to Mimi’s to get a coffee. Mimi eyed him the minute he came in and so did half of the dozen patrons she had in line and at her tables.
“Hey Colt.”
“Meems.”
Her eyes sparkled but then they usually did. Mimi VanderWal didn’t often get in bad moods not since he could remember. This was likely the cause of Al’s extreme devotion. Any man would count his lucky stars he woke up to that sparkle every day and went to bed beside it every night.
The sparkle turned playful and she asked loudly, “How’s Feb?”
Colt shook his head but answered, “Doin’ good.”
“She wup your ass at pool last night?”
“She took a game.”
“How many’d you have?”
“Four.”
Her smile went huge. “From what I hear, that’s four to you, one to her.”
There it was, Mimi announcing to the entire place that after years of avoidance Colt and Feb were now spending their time together playing pool. Most of them knew something was up, now Meems handed them another nuance.
It was time to put a lid on it. “Got work, Meems, can you get me an Americano?”
“Sure thing, you want a muffin?”
Colt decided to give her and his audience a bonus. “Nope, not hungry, had Feb’s frittata this mornin’.”
Mimi’s eyes got wide, she knew exactly what Feb making a frittata instead of some eggs and toast meant and she hooted, “Oowee, a February Owens Frittata Morning! Don’t tell Morrie, he’ll be pissed.”
Colt was done and his voice lowered when he said, “My coffee, Meems.”
She grinned when she replied, “Gotcha.”
When she finished his coffee and handed it to him as usual he reached for his wallet.
And as usual she said, “Colt, like I always say, money’s no good here. You serve and protect, I keep you caffeinated while you do it.”
And as usual he dug in his wallet, took out several ones and shoved them in the tip jar.
But not as usual when his fingers wrapped around the cardboard that surrounded the paper cup, Mimi didn’t let go.
“Cheerin’ for you, Colt,” she said quietly, words meant for him not her customers, “both you and Feb.”
Then she let his cup go and turned away before he could say a word.
When Colt returned to the bank, Dave was free and he didn’t hesitate in waving Colt into his glass-fronted office.
The minute Colt closed the door, Dave launched in, not sounding worried, sounding excited, fuck, the man was nearly jumping up and down in his chair. “Amy’s no call-no show today.”
Jesus, there it was. Amy was in thin air.
Colt, unlike Dave, was worried.
Seeing Angie Maroni and Marie Lowe and crime scene photos of Pete Hollister and Butch Miller would do that, considering instinct was telling him Amy was caught up in this shit. Colt barely knew her but he was learning about her and she lived her life protecting herself in a bubble of shyness. He found her hacked, he had no idea why, but it’d cut him deep.
He hid his reaction and took in Dave.
Some folk wanted nothing to do with cops or crime or crime investigation. Some did it when they had to but it was obvious they’d prefer their life had not veered down a course which would take them to a place they were involved. Some, like Dave, got off on it, their lives so small they welcomed any involvement in something bigger even if it had to do with hacked up bodies. Dave had no idea what this was about and he didn’t care. He was willing to play his role in this drama no matter what it was and he was going to play it to the full.