the federal government.”
“Under the Investigative Branch of the National Park Service,” Hank said.
“Yes, but you’re still a Fed. And I’m assuming if someone confesses to a crime committed on federal property, you have the authority to arrest them.”
Hank chuckled. “You would assume correctly. But they’d have to confess.”
“Oh...they’re going to, because Wyrick will be with me. She scared the shit out of them enough on the first interview she had with them that they gave more info up to her than they did the park rangers when they reported Tony Dawson missing.”
Hank remembered all too well how Wyrick had reacted when he’d tried to confiscate one of her “inventions.”
“Okay, I’ll buy that, and yeah, sure. I’ll get my partner and meet you at your office later. What time?”
“Eleven o’clock. I’ve got to get the parents to bring their boys into my office, which means they’ll have to get them out of school.”
“See you then,” Hank said.
Charlie disconnected, then went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Toasted frozen waffles and more coffee would have to suffice. No time to make eggs.
He called the Wells family first while his waffles were in the toaster, and Randall’s mother answered.
“Hello, this is Nita.”
“Mrs. Wells, this is Charlie Dodge, of Dodge Investigations.”
“Oh! Yes! Mr. Dodge! Do you have news?”
“I have information you and your family need to hear. Will you please bring your son to my office this morning at 11:00 a.m.?”
“What? Wait! Why can’t you just tell me now?”
“Because I’m only going to tell it once, and I want both families here.”
“Well, Randall is in school and—”
“Check him out, Mrs. Wells, and bring him to this address,” he said, and then gave her the address to his office.
There was a long moment of silence as the tone of her voice shifted.
“Do we need a lawyer?”
“I don’t know. Do you?” Charlie asked.
Nita froze. It was the same response Wyrick had given her.
“I’ll call my husband. We’ll be there at eleven, but I just want you to know I do not appreciate all this secrecy.”
“This isn’t about appreciating anything, ma’am. It never has been,” Charlie said, and disconnected.Then he made the same call to the Young family, but it was Peter Young who answered.
“This is Peter.”
“Mr. Young, this is Charlie Dodge, of Dodge Investigations.”
Peter’s heart dropped. He already knew Justin hadn’t told the whole truth, and he still wasn’t talking. But he hadn’t expected a call from the investigator.
“Do you have news?” Peter asked.
“I have information. I’ve already spoken to the Wells family, and now I’m asking the same thing of you as I asked of them. I need you to bring Justin to my office this morning.” He gave him the address and then added, “Be there at eleven.”
Peter’s heart skipped. “What’s happening?”
“All will be explained then.”
“We’re all going to be there together?” Peter asked.
“Yes, sir,” Charlie said. There was a long moment of silence, and then he heard the man sigh.
“Yes, okay. We’ll be there,” Peter said.
“Thank you,” Charlie said, and disconnected.
He heard the toaster pop up the waffles and grabbed a plate. One thing at a time, Charlie. One thing at a time. After he’d eaten, he sent Wyrick a text about the eleven o’clock appointment, but that was all. She would find out Raines was coming when he showed up.
* * *
Randall Wells was in shock when his parents showed up at school and checked him out, and when he found out where they were going, he seemed anxious. The closer they got to the address, the more nervous he became.
“Why do we have to go talk to that man?” he asked.
Harve Wells glanced at his wife, who was unusually silent.
“I don’t know, but if it helps them find Tony, we’re doing it,” he said.
“Yeah, of course,” Randall said.
“I suspect none of this would be happening if you’d been honest with the rangers when this all began,” Nita said.
At that point, Randall shut up. His mother had been riding him ever since that Wyrick woman’s visit, and he’d be glad when all of this was over.
It was ten minutes to eleven when they arrived and parked.
Randall looked around as they got out, recognized the same Mercedes he’d seen Wyrick driving and frowned, then reminded himself she worked for Dodge. Of course she would be there.
The family was silent in the elevator, and walked down the hall to Dodge Investigations without talking.
Wyrick glanced up as they walked in.
“Be seated,” she said, and then went back to what she was doing.
The trio did as