They arrived at Harv’s house to find he was alone. His wife had gone to a meeting at the church, taking the kids with her, he told them as he led them into the large living room. After asking if they wanted a beer, he went in the kitchen to get some while Joey called the chief to let him know what little they’d found out. Harv returned just as Joey said, “He’s going to pass it on so everyone’s on the lookout.”
“For what?” Harv asked, handing him and the Glenn a beer.
Joey explained, and then asked if Harv had seen an El Camino around.
“It wasn’t an El Camino; it was a ’70 Ranchero, yellow with brown paneling.”
“When?”
“Earlier today, ‘round about three I’d say. Probably wouldn’t have noticed if it had been anything else, but that one’s almost a classic. Shame the owner let it get so messed up.”
Joey nodded. “So we heard. I don’t suppose you saw the driver.”
“Nope, sorry.” Harv chuckled. “I was more interested in the car than who was driving it.”
“Which way was it going?” Glenn asked.
“North.”
“Driving slow?”
“Yeah sort of.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Hope it helped.”
Since Joey was back on his phone, relaying the latest information to the chief, Glenn told Harv he had. “Now we just have to try and find out where he’s gone to ground.”
“My bet would be out of town. Maybe some vacant property.”
“Oh great,” Glenn muttered. He remembered the last time he’d gone looking for some one doing that. It had been Joey’s father and he’d ended up getting shot in the process.
Harv nodded since he knew the whole story. “Just a thought. Hopefully if he has it’s also where he stashed the kid and you can rescue him while the man’s not there.”
“If…” Joey said, having finished his call. “The chief put out an APB on the car.”
Glenn chuckled. “You mean he called all five deputies?”
“Four. I’m the fifth.”
“I know.” Glenn tossed back the last of his beer. “We should get going and let Harv get to bed.”
“We should.” Joey got up, collected the bottles and took them into the kitchen. When he got back Glenn was standing by the door with Harv.
“Of course I’ll let you know,” Harv was saying.
“Thanks.” Glenn waited for Joey to join them after which they said their good-nights and left.
* * * *
“Let you know what?” Joey wanted to know once they were in the car.
“If he hears about anyone making inquiries about someone in town. The same way the coffeehouse is for the ladies, his garage is a local hangout for the men in town. He’ll keep an ear open just in case.”
“Okay. So what now?”
“Now we go home. There’s nothing more we can do. It’s too dark to go searching abandoned properties safely.”
“But…”
“Joey, if Nate’s alive the man’s not going to kill him. He’d have done it already if that was his intention. He might even be keeping him alive to use as a hostage if things go wrong.”
“Did you do that?”
“No, but then I planned ahead and I was the best of the best at what I did. Well, at what I still do, although now I’m on the side of the angels.” He chuckled.
Joey laughed. “Since when does the government have angels work for them?”
Keeping a straight face, Glenn replied, “Since I joined?”
“Yeah right.”
Glenn grinned. “When we get home I’ll show you how ‘angelic’ I can be.”
“I believe the word you’re looking for is devilish.”
Glenn looked at him in mock horror, glad that for a few moments at least he could make Joey relax and smile. He knew it wouldn’t last long, but for tonight he would do his best to make him forget the world outside their home and their bed.
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