Page 23 of Wyatt
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The small bar just off base was infinitely better than the one they’d just left. Wings was specifically built and designed for pilots. There were propellor ceiling fans, wings used as high-top tables, photos of past pilots. It was flying overload.
“You Allison?” asked Abe.
“That’s me, honey. Did Asa send you?” They all nodded, and she pointed to a table in the corner. There was a laptop all set up and ready for them.
“Thank you for calling us about this,” said Abe.
“CID and local police took my video footage but said they didn’t see anything. I felt terrible about what was happening to those pilots. They’re like my kids. They come in here during training, and I get to know them. My son teaches at San Diego State, videography.”
“Very handy,” smirked Ethan.
“This time it was. He went through the footage and saw several things that I’m guessing they missed.” She took a seat in front of the laptop and pushed play on the screen. “This is Zane Jackson. He came in here like clockwork. Only Thursday nights, usually around six, and he was gone by eight. You can see he hugs me, takes a seat at the bar, orders buffalo wings, fries, and a beer.”
“All normal,” said U-Jin.
“All normal, honey. Then he gets up to take a piss, covers his beer with a coaster.”
“Smart. Just like Wyatt did,” said Abe.
“Yep. But watch. It suddenly blows off. Now these aren’t paper coasters. They’re made of heavy, almost cardboard-likematerial to absorb the liquid. The guy sitting at the bar next to him lifts it, sets it back on top of the beer, then leaves.”
“I’m missing something,” said Ethan.
“Watch again in slow motion.” She played the video again, and all the men opened their mouths to speak. “He lifts it, drops something in the drink beneath the coaster as he’s setting it down.”
“I’ll be damned,” said Dan.
“Lucas sits back down, finishes his food and his beer, and suddenly, here’s his angel.”
A woman with long, dark hair and a short skirt sat beside him, smiling in his direction. She turned, leaning on her elbow, and smiled at him. He starts to wobble on the stool, and she whispers to him, laying her hand on his upper thigh. Nodding, he stands and points the way to the door.
“He had enough in the drink to make him compliant, then took her home. It was pretty easy,” said Dan. “Did he leave with women often?”
“Never. Not that I saw, and I’m usually here in the evenings. I watch out for these boys. My son was a pilot and my ex-husband. I feel a kindred spirit with them.”
“Had you ever seen the girl before?” asked Ethan.
“Never. That’s the other thing. I usually notice the women, and I keep an eye on them as well. I love my flyboys, but I’m not stupid. Things can get out of hand when alcohol is involved. Young girls come in here with dreams of being a pilot’s wife, and they don’t realize what their actions are going to get them.
“That one looked young, and she was beautiful. A girl like that in San Diego would be swept off her feet fast.”
“Well, this at least gives us a photo of her,” said Abe. “I’m curious why CID or SDPD didn’t catch this.”
“Like I said, the original quality was pretty shitty. Not sure why. I’ve never had an issue with my equipment before. My son cleaned it all up for me.”
“Well, thank your son for us. This might be the first good clue we have.” Ethan stood and shook the woman’s hand, the others doing the same. “If you think of anything else, or see anything else, let us know.”
“I’ve told my staff that if they see this girl again, to let me know. You’ll be my first call,” she said, taking the card from Ethan.
Outside, they looked up and down the street. The bar was pretty much the only thing on the block. There was an empty cinderblock building on the other side of the street, but no active business.
“They are not just targeting these guys. They’re stalking them. These women know who they are and what they do,” said Ethan.
“We always think it’s the women who talk too much, but we all know guys let their egos take hold and start yapping about shit they shouldn’t,” said Abe.
“Perhaps the men talked before, although the woman said Lucas was a nice man who never left with a woman. What changed this time? Just the drugs?” asked U-Jin.
