Page 70 of Break Away
Levi moved to peer into the closet while Bradpulled out his phone. One of the dresses was billowy and white andwas obviously a wedding dress. The others were a kind of filmymaterial, all in the same pinkish color. He picked up a tag.“Maddy” had been scrawled in spidery writing. The next dress wastagged for Jenny, and one for Emma. “What the hell?”
“Bridesmaids’ dresses,” Jack said. “You gonnahave good food at the reception? I’ll only go if you’ll have goodfood. And if you allow kids. I’m not going if my kids aren’tinvited.”
“You’re a riot, Morgan.”
“I’ve put out an APB for Charissa Winslow,”Brad announced. “We need to log all this as evidence. Jack, searchthe rest of the house, see if there’s more.”
Levi moved to the doorway. “I’m going toZoey’s office. I’m not leaving her side until Charissa and Clausonare found.”
Brad handed Levi the keys to the policecruiser. “I’d do the same if she was my girl. Will shecooperate?”
“Zoey’s not liking me right now, and probablyshe’ll accuse me of bullying cop authority, but she’ll have to suckit up.”
***
Levi set his phone in the holder on theconsole as he drove and called Zoey. After several rings, it wentto voicemail. He had no way of knowing if she didn’t pick upbecause she was pissed at him, or she wasn’t available. The tonesounded, and Levi spoke, “Zoey, stay at your office. I’m on my waythere. Call me when you get this message.”
He disconnected, the worry that had beennagging at him all morning intensifying by about a hundred-fold.What they’d found in Charissa’s house put her in the red zone onthe bat-shit crazy scale. Add Clauson to the mix, and the feelingof impending danger was magnified.
The Forest Service office’s front lobby wasdecorated with framed photos of area wildlife, and two men withbackpacking gear were speaking with a uniformed ranger at thecounter.
Not willing to wait, Levi skirted the counterand strode through a doorway that opened to a wide office space. Hecircled the room so he could look in each of the cubicles. No Zoey.He approached a woman wearing civilian clothing who was standing ata copy machine. “I’m looking for Zoey Hardesty. You know where sheis?”
“She left a little while ago.” He stifled agroan when the woman batted her eyes. “Can I help you, officer?”She did a flip thing with her hair, never breaking eye contact.
Ignoring the flirtation, he asked, “Do youknow where she might have gone? It’s important.”
“I’ll take you to her boss, he might know.”Leaving her copies in the machine, she crooked her finger to beckonLevi to follow her.
The boss was more helpful, informing Levithat Zoey had left twenty minutes earlier to take Lucy home beforea scheduled meeting with a California Fish and Wildlife biologistin Bishop later that afternoon.
Figuring he might catch her, Levi got in thecruiser and used lights and sirens to race the five miles home.
Damn it. She wasn’t there. He parked and gotout. He knocked on her door, expecting to hear Lucy on the otherside, but there was nothing. Zoey must have stopped somewhere andhe’d beat her home. He crossed the driveway. He still had the sparekey for the cottage from when the security company had installedalarms. He’d get the key from the cabin, take a peek inside Zoey’shouse, see if maybe Lucy was there but snoozing, then figure outhis next step.
He was standing on his stoop, key in thelock, when a voice spoke from behind him.
“Hello, Levi.”
He turned slowly. Crazy-eyed with bleachedblonde hair and lipstick too bright for her pale complexion, andwhat looked like a .30-30 resting in the crook of her arm, CharissaWinslow had her index finger on the trigger, and the muzzle of herrifle pointed at him center mass. Shit.
“Charissa, what’s going on?”
“Everything’s ready. All our friends will bethere.”
“Be where?” Keeping his voice calm, he turnedto face her.
“You know, silly. At our wedding. A Gallagherwedding will be the social event of the summer.”
“Ah, I’m sure it will be. Hang on a sec.” Heraised his hand slowly to the mic at his shoulder. He depressed thebutton, but when he would have spoken Charissa gestured with thegun.
“No,” she screeched. “You’re going to callfor backup. Put that down.”
Levi released the mic. Dispatch would havealready heard Charissa. “No problem. Why don’t you give me that gunso we can have a conversation? You can fill me in on the weddingplans.”
Her smile bloomed across her face, showingsmall, even teeth. “Have you done your vows yet? I’m memorizingmine.”
“No, I need to get to that. Maybe you canhelp me.”
