Page 15 of Canyon of Deceit
The young woman handed him an envelope. “A man entered the restaurant and asked me to give this to you.”
Rurik opened the envelope, and a lock of white-blonde hair fell onto his palm. He enclosed it in his fist and openly sobbed.
“What did the man look like?” I said to the server.
“Average height. Wore an Astros baseball cap, and from the bulge in the back of it, he had a man-bun. Khaki pants and a light-blue shirt. Said delivering the envelope was important, then he left.”
My gaze flew to the front entrance, and I hurried past customers and on to the parking lot. With no one in sight and rush hour traffic, I had no way of identifying a vehicle. I jogged to the rear of the building with the same empty results.
Rurik and Therese met me outside. They hadn’t seen anyone either, but the security cams would have captured the man’s image.
Rurik held up the envelope. “This is my daughter’s hair.”
—
Rurik left Therese and me alone to sort through what had been said—and what hadn’t. The restaurant manager verified my ID and allowed us to view the security-cam footage—a guy in his early thirties.
“Do you recognize him?” I said to Therese.
“No one I’ve ever seen.”
I sent the footage to Sergio with a note that the man was a person of interest in a crime. We returned to the restaurant booth and ordered more coffee.
“Do you believe Rurik told us everything?” she said. “I probed him more and so did you. Each time, he shared another aspect of the crimes.”
“He’s not been entirely forthright. Fear has a way of crippling our senses and causing us to look at the world irrationally. Whoever is behind the crimes followed him here. The person who called Rurik might not have been the one who delivered the envelope. The timing’s a bit off but not impossible.”
“Have you heard and seen enough to consider a search for Alina?”
“I’m heading to the Ranger office. As soon as I have an ID from the footage, I’ll update you.” I kept my voice barely above a whisper. “I must share with the major what I’ve learned. He might refuse my participation, claiming this is a Federal case.”
“I’ve been thinking the whole time Rurik talked, and I can’t abandon a child.” The resolve in her eyes left no doubt.
“If you’ve invested empathy for Rurik and his family, you are one strong woman, and your intentions are honorable. But sympathy could lead you to make a rash or poor decision. Both are good traits. Empathy in understanding Rurik’s loss and grief is what we both need, but not sympathy unless sharing an experience helps us find Alina.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just think about it, okay?”
Her shoulders lifted and didn’t budge. “I’m leaving today to find Alina. With or without you.”
“All right. I respect your stand.” We stood, and I walked her to her car, a high-end SUV. I groaned. Her tires had been slashed. Doubtful she had more than one spare. “I’ll call AAA.”
She frowned. “Better check your truck first.”
I’d been left the same calling card. “This just makes me mad.” I cursed. “If the coward thinks he can slice my tires and run me off, he’s messed with the wrong man.”
“And the wrong woman.”
SEVEN
Major Sergio Montoya and I had dodged trouble, partied more times than we remembered, and became Texas Rangers together, resulting in a solid friendship. But that didn’t mean he approved of everything I attempted to do. Sitting across from his desk, I stared into his earth-colored eyes.
“Rusty, this undertaking could get you killed. Two years ago, you were assigned to a protection detail involving a former cartel member who’d given state evidence.”
My risk-taking personality had opened dangerous doors in the past. I bit back a smirk and listened to make sure he didn’t leave anything out.
“We needed more direction to stop a rumored plan to assassinate the governor, and the informant feared for himself and his family.” Sergio squinted. “You chose to dress in the man’s clothes during the drive to Austin and took two bullets.”
