Karbo and Bender had found her.”
DeLako said, “The friend thinks they kidnapped her, but Karbo and Bender are dead. They got popped last night.”
Braun made a grunt.
“So if she got took, someone else took her. Maybe the same turds who murdered Kemp.”
Braun leaned forward.
“Pike isn’t a target here, Cole. Nobody thinks he killed Kemp or harmed Ms. Roland. But if he knows something that can help us, we need to know.”
“I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Where’s Pike?”
“I don’t know.”
Steinaway said it again.
“Liar.”
Cole tried to figure out how much he could give.
“After you left, I called him. He hasn’t called back. I’m not his keeper, Gregg. He has a business. Other interests.”
Steinaway rapped the table.
“We tried his business. They weren’t cooperative.”
“They’re all former LEOs, Steinaway. Maybe it’s you.”
A LEO was a Law Enforcement Officer.
Gregg seemed to be studying him. Cole wondered what he was thinking. Gregg had brought the full weight of the U.S. Marshals Service to bear, and probably had half the marshals in California working the case. Cole found himself liking Gregg’s determined loyalty, and wondered how deep it ran.
Cole said, “Are we finished?”
Steinaway smirked.
“Not even close.”
Cole placed his palms on the table.
“Talking about killers makes me concerned for my partner. I think I’ll go try to find him.”
Cole watched Gregg, and Gregg watched him back. Cole slowly stood.
DeLako jumped to her feet and opened the door.
“Sit down, Cole. Officer, inside.”
A uniformed cop the size of a mountain was waiting outside. The cop started in, but Gregg raised a hand. His eyes remained calm.
“Where will you look?”
“Dunno. Something will come to me.”
Steinaway said, “It better come to you right goddamned now or you’ll never leave.”
Cole didn’t look at Steinaway. His eyes didn’t leave Gregg.
“I’ve answered your questions as a courtesy. Since I haven’t been placed under arrest, I did so voluntarily. Am I being placed under arrest?”
Gregg was thinking. Calm.
“I understand you and Mr. Pike co-own your agency.”
Gregg wasn’t asking. He was making a statement.
“I’m sure you know we do. Yes.”
“Together, you and he purchased the agency from a Mr. George Feider, so you’ve been partners since the beginning.”
“We have.”
“No office staff. No other employees. Only the two of you.”
Cole wondered where he was going.
“That’s right.”
“So in many ways, you and Mr. Pike, you’re a very small family.”
Cole nodded, and this time said nothing.
“The Marshals Service is a small family. If someone murdered your family, what would you do?”
“I’d find them. I would do whatever it took to find them. And I would have justice.”
Gregg slowly stood.
“You can go.”
Braun jerked back and glared at Gregg.
“That’s it?”
Steinaway gripped his arm.
“Settle down, Sparky. That’s it.”
Gregg wasn’t finished.
“I have two priorities here, Mr. Cole. To assure the safety of Ms. Roland, and to identify the person or persons responsible for killing a member of my family.”
Cole had laid out his offer. Gregg had responded.
Cole turned to the door. The big uniform still blocked the way, but he stepped aside. Cole looked back at Gregg.
“I’ll see what I can do, Inspector. If I can help find whoever killed your marshal, I will.”
Gregg nodded.
“All right then.”
Gregg sat, took out his phone, and didn’t look up again. Cole was dismissed.
Steinaway returned Cole’s phone, wallet, and watch, and the mountainous uniform showed him out. A marshal was waiting outside with his Corvette, and tossed him the keys.
“You should wash this thing. It’s a mess.”
“You have a good evening, too.”
Cole pulled out of the parking lot, and immediately phoned Pike.
34.
Pryor Gregg
Urman joined them as Gregg finished checking his messages. The two city cops, Braun and DeLako, simmered like irate alley cats. The moment Gregg lowered his phone, Braun started.
“We should’ve kept him. I’ve sweated guys like Cole for days. Whatever Pike knows, he knows. Trust me.”
Gregg leaned back, and turned to Urman.
“How we doing?”
Urman dropped into Cole’s seat.
“All good. We’ll have his phone records before midnight.”
Steinaway said, “Pike’s, too?”
“Affirm. Landlines, cell, business lines, all of it.”
DeLako glowered at Braun.
“You see these guys? Takes us forever, but these guys? The government.”
Urman arched his eyebrows at Gregg, asking a question.
“What about the other thing?”
“It’s on.”
Braun glanced from Urman to Gregg.
“What other thing?”
Steinaway went to the door.
“I’ll get the car. Urman. You walking?”
Urman pushed to his feet and followed her out.
Braun asked again.
“What other thing? What’s going on?”
Gregg placed his hat on his head, adjusted the fit, and stood.
“We appreciate your cooperation, Detectives. You’ve been invaluable. Thank you.”
Braun glanced at DeLako.
“Do we look like office help?”
He turned back to Gregg, and spread his arms to encompass the room.
“This is