“The plan is ever-evolving depending on conditions on the ground.”
He reached into the backseat and pulled out the bag he’d taken from his apartment. He slid out a pair of binoculars.
“Here’s the plan. I go in and ask some questions. You keep a lookout. Anybody seems to be paying me too much attention, take his picture with your camera.”
“How will you explain why you’re asking questions in the diner?”
He reached into the bag again and pulled out two power packs, an earwig, and a headset. He handed the latter to her.
“You’re command central. You speak into that, I’ll be able to hear you in there but no one else will, okay? And you’ll be able to hear everything from in there clearly. You feed me information as you see fit. Okay?”
Julie smiled. “Okay. Cool.”
He put on his earwig, powered up his pack, and clipped it onto his belt, where it was covered by his jacket He got out and then leaned back in.
“Anything looks weird, you feel bad vibes, just say, ‘Come,’ and I’ll be here in five seconds, okay?”
“Okay.”
He shut the door, looked left and right, and then headed to the diner.
Through the binoculars Julie watched him every step of the way.
CHAPTER
41
ROBIE DROPPED ONTO a free stool and picked up a dingy menu from a rack on the countertop. A waitress in a frayed blue uniform with a not overly clean apron over it faced him. A pencil was stuck behind her right ear. She was about fifty, wide in the hips, with gray roots running through her otherwise blonde hair.
“What can I get you?” she asked.
“Cup of black coffee to start.”
“Coming up. I just put on a fresh pot.”
In Robie’s ear Julie said, “Her name is Cheryl Kosmann. She’s my mom’s friend. She’s a good person.”
Robie nodded slightly to show he’d gotten the info.
Cheryl brought his cup of coffee and set it down. “You look like you could use some meat on your bones. Our meatloaf is really good. Sticks to your ribs. Lord knows I’ve had enough of it. Haven’t seen my ribs for about twenty years.” She laughed.
“You’re Cheryl Kosmann?”
The laugh caught in her throat. “Who wants to know?”
Robie pulled out his cred pack, flashed first the badge and then the ID card.
Cheryl stiffened. “Am I in trouble?”
“Should you be?”
“Not unless working your ass off for pennies is a crime.”
“No, you’re not in trouble, Ms. Kosmann.”
“Just make it Cheryl. I know this is a four-star fancy place, but we try to keep things informal.”
“How long you worked here?”
“Too long. Came here out of high school to work one summer and here I am all these years later. If I think about it too much I start to cry. I know where my life went. Right in the crapper.”
Robie pulled out the picture of Julie and her parents, which he’d taken from the duplex.
“What can you tell me about these folks?”
Kosmann glanced at the photo. “You’re interested in the Gettys? Why? Are they in trouble?”
“Again, any reason you know of why they should be?”
“No, they’re just good people who got into some bad stuff and never could find their way back out. That little girl of theirs is something, a real piece of work. Now, I mean that in a good way. If she had half a chance in life she’d make something of herself. Smart as a whip she is. Gets real good grades in school. She works hard at it. Many the times she’s been here with books piled high. Tried to help her once on a math problem. That was a joke. I can barely add up numbers on a customer’s bill. But Julie is special. I love that girl.”
“But she’s in foster care.”
“Well, she is and she isn’t. Sara, that’s her mom, does all she can to get her back each time.”
“And her dad?”
“Curtis loves her too, but the man is a mess. Too many coke snorts, if you ask me. After a while how much brain do you have left, right? Even Einstein would be a dumbass with that much white stuff up there.”
“When was the last time you saw any of them?”
Kosmann folded her arms across her chest. “Funny you should ask that. Sara was supposed to work today, but she never came in. Never called. Not like her either, well, unless something had happened.”
“Like a binge maybe?” suggested Robie.
“Or Curtis couldn’t get out of bed and she had to take care of him. I expect she’ll