The Sentry - By Robert Crais Page 0,26
for the report. All we’re doing is letting in flies.”
Pike said, “Have you called Button?”
Hydeck’s irritation turned to annoyance.
“Yes, Pike, I put in a call. I’m waiting to hear back from him, too. Right now I’m more interested in getting the owners out here so they can get this place cleaned up and secure.”
Pike stepped around the goat heads to the front door. He studied the gas station and buildings across the street, and wondered if Straw’s people had seen anything, and whether they had stood by and watched this happen.
Hydeck said, “Let’s go, Pike. I mean it. You shouldn’t even be in here.”
Pike followed them out.
Betsy Harmon still had her arms locked across her chest.
“Are we going to have the CSIs out here and all of that?”
McIntosh said, “That’s on TV. Our people are SIDs.”
Hydeck pushed the door closed. The bent frame made it difficult, so McIntosh leaned in to help. It still didn’t close all the way.
“Those are animal parts, Ms. Harmon. The people who did this probably robbed a Latin market. Latin butchers sell a lot of goat meat. What time does Mr. Smith usually get here?”
“Wilson is always here by nine, every day but Sunday. If they get a food delivery, he’ll come in earlier, but one of them should have been here. They’re always here by now.”
Pike checked his watch and saw it was almost ten-thirty. Hydeck glanced at her watch at exactly the same time, then frowned with impatience.
“Maybe they’re not coming in, him with the concussion. He should be in bed, anyway.”
Betsy Harmon held herself even tighter.
“In bed doesn’t mean you turn off your phones. Someone has to clean up that mess.”
“We’ve left messages. There isn’t anything else we can do.”
“What if they don’t check their messages? That mess in there is going to rot. I can’t have my customers smelling it. People can see it from the street.”
Hydeck’s cell phone buzzed. She glanced at the incoming number, then turned away to take the call.
Pike said, “Is it them?”
“It’s Button. Let me see what he wants to do.”
As Hydeck walked away, Betsy Harmon turned to Pike.
“They can’t just leave it like this, can they? Aren’t they supposed to do something?”
Pike had nothing to say. He didn’t like it that Dru and her uncle weren’t answering their phones. The blood and heads and the message on the wall felt like more than an act of malicious vandalism. There was a darkness to what had been done that left him feeling as if a shadow had passed beneath him out on the open sea.
Hydeck glanced over as she spoke with Button, and Pike could see something was wrong in the way she held herself. Her agitation grew as their conversation went on, then she put away the phone and returned.
“Mr. Smith and Ms. Rayne won’t be coming in today. They’re leaving for Oregon.”
Betsy Harmon stepped back as if she had been kicked.
“Oregon? Who said they’re going to Oregon?”
“Mr. Smith. Apparently, he came by earlier and decided enough was enough. He phoned Detective Button about it this morning.”
“He’s going to leave it like this?”
“I don’t know.”
“But who’s going to clean up the mess?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s all I know. I’m sure he’ll take care of it before they go.”
Pike was surprised, and wondered why Dru hadn’t called him.
“Were they threatened?”
“Pike, look inside again and open your eyes. I’d say that’s a threat. The guy’s scared. He wants to get out of town until these idiots cool down, and he says he won’t cooperate with any further investigation. I don’t know any more than that, and frankly, if he doesn’t give a shit, neither do I.”
She glanced at McIntosh.
“We’re done here. Let’s roll.”
Pike said, “Is Button coming out?”
“Don’t hold your breath. He was pretty pissed off.”
Betsy Harmon’s face pulled tight with anxiety.
“But Wilson isn’t answering his phone. What if he leaves it like this?”
“If it’s determined to be a health hazard, Mr. Smith will be cited. If Mr. Smith doesn’t take care of it, I suggest you call the landlord or leasing agency.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to do?”
“That’s all we can do. I’m sorry.”
Pike watched Hydeck and McIntosh head back to their radio car, then took out his phone and tried Dru again. His call went to voice mail, but this time he did not leave a message.
Beside him, Betsy Harmon said, “I don’t think they would leave it like this. I just don’t believe it.”
Pike didn’t believe it, either, thinking that anyone who would