Page 151 of Cold, Cold Bones
“Tell that to the scumbag who dimed ’em.”
“What’s the demand?”
“Two hundred thousand. The usual horseshit. Further instructions to follow. Don’t call the cops or the kid’s toast.”
“Yet the parents contacted you,” Ryan said.
“Daddy. After strenuous argument with Mommy.”
“How are they doing?” I asked.
“How do you think they’re doing?”
“Their phone is wired, right?”
“Yeah. But the incoming number will trace to some burner at the bottom of Steele Creek.”
“Now what?”
“Byrd’s got guys sitting at the house. Now we wait.”
“It makes no sense,” I said, buckling my seat belt, still reeling from Slidell’s bombshell. “Could Olivia’s abduction be unrelated to the copycat killings?”
“Anything’s possible,” Ryan said.
“Olivia’s parents aren’t wealthy. Could the ransom demand be an attempt to throw us off?”
Ryan shrugged. Who knows?
We were discussing other possibilities when Ryan’s phone pingedto indicate an incoming text. He glanced at the screen. Seconds later, the device rang. He answered, this time did not go to speaker.
I recognized Slidell’s blustery cadence but couldn’t make out his words. Listening to Ryan’s monosyllabic responses, I felt miffed that he wasn’t including me in the conversation.
“A tip came in on the main hotline,” Ryan said, after disconnecting.
“Classified intel?” Dripping with sarcasm. “I lack proper clearance?”
Ryan considered that for a moment. Then, “Slidell asked me not to use speakerphone.”
Slidell’s request didn’t surprise me. Ryan’s compliance did. I said nothing.
“A female caller said the Lakin kid is at a construction site off Highway 51 in a town called Matthews. She claimed to have witnessed a kid with braids and matching Olivia’s description being led into a trailer by a scruffy gorilla in a baseball cap. Her turn of phrase.”
“Colorful.” Chilly. “When did she see this?”
“Ninety minutes ago. She continued on to her condo, saw Olivia’s picture on the evening news, decided to call 911.”
“Is the tip credible?”
“Byrd thinks so. Slidell agrees.”
“Matthews isn’t far. Let’s go.”
“No.”
“No?” Swiveling to face Ryan.
“Slidell also asked that I take you home. I know you’ll be pissed, but I agree with him. If Olivia is at that location, this could—”
