Against the Edge (The Raines of Wind Can - By Kat Martin Page 0,20
type. We met at the club. Troy was good-looking in a rough sort of way. He worked for Vector Crane as one of the operators.”
“You know where he came from?” Claire asked. “Where he was born?”
“The South someplace. Every once in a while his drawl would slip out. I know he lived in Alabama for a while, but I don’t think he was born there. He had a couple of brothers in Louisiana. I don’t know where.”
Louisiana. If Troy was going home the way Tracy Ferber had believed, he might be headed to Louisiana.
“How’d he get along with the kids?” Ben asked, watching Sadie closely.
She took a deep drag, blew out a stream of smoke. “Okay, when he was sober. He was mean when he got drunk. I think it bothered him that Billy was a mixed-blood kid, but mostly he ignored them.”
“How about you? He treat you okay?”
Sadie shrugged her shoulders. “Troy knocked me around a couple of times when he’d been drinking. Once in a while he popped off how men were superior to women. He never hit the kids, but I think they were glad when he left.”
Ben exchanged a glance with Claire. He could read the worry on her face. He was just beginning to understand how much she cared about his son. It touched him unexpectedly. Having a child made him see life in a way he hadn’t since the day he’d found Laura in bed with another man.
He listened as Claire asked about Sadie’s kids, then Claire told her about Sam and that he was missing. Ben didn’t know his son, but Claire did. Hearing her say what a good kid he was, how smart and loyal, gave him a picture of the child he had fathered.
He fought down a wave of fury at the man who had taken him.
Ben focused his attention on the blonde woman across from him. “Is there anyone else in Vegas we could talk to, Sadie? Someone who might know where Troy could have gone?”
She took a drink of her tea. “There was a guy he worked with, but he’s not here anymore. Eddie Jeffries. I heard Eddie quit his job about the same time Troy did. I think they went down to L.A. together.”
The trail led back to L.A. Maybe they’d get lucky this time.
Ben stood up from his chair. Pulling his silver money clip out of his pocket, he peeled off five hundred-dollar bills. “You’ve been a big help, Sadie.” He handed her the money. “Thanks.”
“I hope you find the prick.”
Ben gave her one of his business cards. “If you think of anything that might help, give me a call.”
Sadie walked them to the door. “There is one thing.”
Ben stopped and turned. “What’s that?”
“I don’t think Bennett was really Troy’s last name.”
Ben nodded. “Yeah, well, that’s pretty much what I figured.” From what Sol had said, Troy Bennett had been born full grown, just another alias to be discarded.
Claire leaned over and hugged the buxom blonde. “Thank you, Sadie. We’re both so worried. We really appreciate your help.” It was clear Claire felt a deep sense of responsibility for Sam’s disappearance. The pain she suffered was almost palpable.
And yet he couldn’t help thinking that some of it was deserved. If she had come to him when Laura had first given her his name, or even after Laura got sick, none of this would have happened.
Sadie looked at Ben. “Troy’s bad about holding grudges. Once you’ve pissed him off, he can’t seem to let it go. But I don’t think he’d hurt your boy. At least not when he’s sober.”
Ben’s jaw hardened. Troy Bennett had better not hurt his son. If he did, he wouldn’t have to worry about going to prison.
He would be dead.
* * *
Claire was exhausted by the time the plane landed back in Santa Monica and they started the drive to her apartment. It was late but the trip had been worth it.
“Let’s get something to eat,” Ben said, spotting a row of fast-food restaurants up ahead. “McDonald’s all right?”
“At this point anything is good.” She rarely ate fast food, but she was starving. They ordered from the drive-through, then sat in the parking lot to eat so the food wouldn’t get cold.
“I’m mostly a steak-and-potatoes guy,” Ben said as he unwrapped his burger. “I cook for myself at home. Mostly steaks or chops on the grill and salad. It’s not gourmet, but it’s healthier than this stuff.” He took a big bite, talked