“And then the FBI, in case it was a kidnapping. Funny, when the Feds were called in, that’s when we heard from some folks in DC. Maybe your folks.”
“Nothing funny about it,” replied Robie, though he didn’t elaborate. “No sightings? No other strangers around here?”
“Not that we could connect to Mr. Walton,” said Malloy.
“So he just vanished,” said Reel. “From a place this isolated. Unless he went somewhere on his own, we have to assume that someone came and took him away.” She looked at Malloy. “Any ideas on that? You have any criminal elements around here?”
“Every place in America has criminal elements.”
“You have any that are unique or obvious?”
She glanced at Bender before answering. “This place is isolated. Some folks like that isolation for good reasons, you know, get off the beaten path, off the grid.”
“And other folks?” asked Robie.
Bender said, “They come here because they can more or less do what they want. I don’t mean break the law necessarily, you know, but live their lives how they want.”
“What exactly does that mean?” asked Reel.
Malloy said, “That means they can build communities with like-minded people.”
“And what sort of communities would those be?” asked Reel.
“Most are innocuous. Some not so much.”
Robie said, “Care to elaborate?”
“I’m talking about people who don’t want to live in the mainstream. They have their own rules, don’t get in trouble, and they keep to themselves,” said Malloy.
“I’m more interested in the ones that don’t keep to themselves, that get in trouble and maybe kidnap people,” said Reel.
Bender shot a glance at Malloy.
She said quietly, “I can’t say we don’t have any of those.”
CHAPTER
10
“I don’t like getting played,” said Reel.
Robie sat across from Reel in the front seat of their Yukon. She had pulled off the road after they had left Malloy and Bender.
He looked at her. “Meaning?”
“Meaning Malloy was being less than forthcoming about bad elements being here. She gave no specifics.”
“It was clear she was fudging her answer.”
“So why’d you ask what I meant?” she barked, staring at him.
“Because I like things to be absolutely precise, so there’s no misunderstanding,” he shot back.
She put the truck in gear and drove on into town.
They had reservations at the only hotel in Grand. It was at the end of the main street, a surprisingly modern-looking structure with clean lines and an inviting entrance.
As they hauled their bags in Robie commented on this incongruity in the poor, isolated town.
Reel said, “Tourism. It’s all about dollars. I can’t imagine they have much more to live on.”
The young woman at the front desk kept giving them curious glances.
“I see that you don’t have a departure date,” the woman said.
“When we know, you’ll know,” said Reel.
“Will you need help with your bags?” she asked.
“No,” said Reel curtly.
“And just to confirm, it’s two rooms?”
“Absolutely,” said Reel, just as curtly.
They went to their rooms on the second floor, which were next to each other, with one interconnecting door. The rooms were nicely if a bit fussily furnished, like the designer wanted to see how much stuff could be crammed into each. Robie and Reel unpacked and met back down in the lobby.
“What now?” asked Reel.
“You hungry?”
“No.”
“Then maybe we look around and find people to ask questions about Blue Man.”
She looked uncomfortable with this suggestion.
“What’s the problem?” asked Robie.
“I work much better behind a scope than a badge.”
“Well, now we work behind both, apparently. Actually I hope it’s more badge than scope.”
They walked outside. Reel noticed the group of people staring at them from down the street.
Four men and one woman. They all looked as rugged as the Eastern Plains.
And they each carried guns in holsters. One of the men also had a long gun on a strap over his shoulder. It was a Remington 700 with a scope on the Picatinny rail.
“Forgot Colorado was an open-carry state,” said Reel.
Robie said, “Legal pot and lots of guns. Like chocolate and peanut butter.”
“You mean oil and water.”
“You think they might know anything?”
“We won’t know until we ask.”
They moved in that direction and both watched as the group stiffened on their approach. Hands flicked closer to weapons.
Robie’s and Reel’s pistols were concealed under their jackets. They kept their hands at their sides. Yet if the time came, their gun pulls still would be faster than the opposition’s. Practicing the motion thousands of times tended to give one the edge on deploying and firing one’s weapons.
They stopped in front of the group. Two of the men were tall and lanky, and two were shorter and barrel-chested, with guts that drooped over their too-small waistbands. The men all wore dirty cammie pants, dusty work boots, and ball caps. The woman was in her late thirties and of average height. She was wearing faded jeans and a tank top that showed her arms and shoulders to be sinewy and well developed. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Her expression was suspicious, and in that it neatly matched her colleagues’.
Robie slipped a picture of Blue Man out of his pocket and held it up. “We’re looking for this man. He rented a cabin up on Kiowa Butte. He’s gone missing. Have you seen him? Did you ever talk to him?”
The men shuffled their feet and eyed one another. The woman stepped forward.
“That’s Roger Walton.”
“That’s right, it is.”
“He was engaged to my mother way back till she broke it off.”
“And you are . . . ?” asked Reel, her eyes widening at this piece of information.
“Patti Bender.”
“Are you related—”
“Derrick’s my brother,” she interjected.
“We just met with him and Sheriff Malloy,” said Robie.
“Why do you want to find Walton?” asked Patti.
“Because he’s missing and he shouldn’t be,” replied Reel.
“I hear you’re from Washington, DC.”
“And who did you hear that from?” asked Robie.
“Everybody, basically.”
The men all nodded.
“News travels fast here, I take it,” noted Reel.
Patti said, “It doesn’t have far to go.”
Reel nodded. “Still, it’s nice to know you folks are observant. With your help we should be able to find Mr. Walton in no time.”
“He works for the government, doesn’t he?” asked Patti. “Something high up?”
“Do you have any idea where he might be?” asked Robie, ignoring her query.
She shook her head. “I didn’t see him this trip.”
“I understand from Derrick that he had dinner with your mother when he came to visit.”
“He did sometimes. They were still good friends, even after all these years.” She paused. “And even after what happened.”
“Her breaking up with him,” said Robie.
“That’s right.”
“Can you give us her address?”
“Drive out of town to the west. Second road take a right. Go about three miles and she’s the only one down there.”
Reel ran her gaze over their weapons. “You look loaded for bear.”
One of the men laughed. “Actually, we’re going light today.”
“And what is it that you do?”
He said, “People come here to hunt and fish, and we act as guides. Or they want to do some rafting, or bird watching or rock climbing or hiking. Pays pretty well, though it’s not regular work. Lots of stuff to do out here. But you can’t be no couch potato.”
Reel eyed the two men with guts. “Yeah, I can see that.” She settled her gaze on Patti. “And is that what you do as well?”
“I do what I need to do to get by.”
“You live with your mom?” asked Robie.
“Not for a long time.”
“So why do you think she broke off the engagement with Walton?” asked Robie.
Patti considered this for a moment. “I think he didn’t want to stay here but she did. It was her home. But he apparently didn’t think of it as his home anymore.”
Robie looked around the area. “I can see why that might be a problem.”