workroom. Alex came over, clapping him on the shoulder. “I get it, Kyle, I do. You want nothing more than to tear Kilton apart piece by piece. But that’s not going to help you find who’s behind the stolen drugs or who called a hit on Kimberly.”
Even though he knew what happened, hearing the words ‘called a hit on Kimberly’ leave his partner’s mouth sent shivers down Kyle’s spine.
News traveled fast, and he fielded calls from Sean, Brody, Brock, and Kallie as well as his dad. Assuring everyone that Kimberly was fine, he had to assure them that he was also.
“Son, I get it, but you have to stay cool,” his dad warned. “I can’t tell you to not make it personal because it is, but you want to get them. That’s more important than your personal vendetta. Chauncey won’t call you now… he called me instead. But you’ve got his support.”
Finally shoving his phone into his pocket, he planted his hands on his hips and stared at the evidence board. His eyes drifted over what they already had. Alex sidled up next to him and remained quiet while Kyle talked out loud.
“Someone knew the driver’s route. That would come under Niles and Porter. Someone also knew how to get an employee address. HR is run by Sydney Kilton. The van theft and truck used can be traced back to a politician who is getting money to be supportive of pharmaceutical companies. Finance is run by Thomas Kilton. So, are we looking at more than one? Are we looking at people stealing drugs and a separate group of the Kiltons who want to protect the company’s name?”
“We’ve got to get Roger Solten. I think if we can get him, we can find out who in Kilton Pharmaceuticals is next in line.”
Scrubbing his hand over his face, now wishing he had eaten breakfast before having three cups of coffee, he nodded. As much as he wanted to go home and just sit with Kimberly, staring at her to make sure she was fine, he knew Alex was right. “Okay, let’s go. But I gotta hit a drive-thru breakfast on our way to Hope City Linen.”
Three hours later, his stomach was no longer churning but they were no closer to finding Roger. He had not reported to work again. Was not at his apartment. Not at the gym. And not at the local watering hole that one of his co-workers said he liked to frequent. He swung through another drive-thru, this time for burgers and fries for them and the others in the precinct before heading back to the station.
Crossing over one of the highway bridges in town, he flipped on his blinker, changed lanes, and curved onto the exit ramp. Alex didn’t bother to ask where he was going, but Kyle said, “We’re close, so I figure I might as well go check in with Manny.”
The Cardboard Cottages loomed ahead as the two climbed from his truck. The early morning cool had already burned off, and the temperature was supposed to be mild. Casting his gaze around, he thought of the residents who would be sweltering in another month. Sighing heavily, he scrubbed his hand over his face at the desolation facing those who called the Cottages their home.
“You okay?” Alex asked as their feet crunched over the hard-packed ground.
“Just bogged down by the weight of it all. I sometimes feel like we’re fighting a losing battle, but then I get to go to a real home at night.” Alex nodded but remained silent, which Kyle appreciated.
The burn barrel was lit, not for warmth but as a place for some of the residents to burn their trash. It was not lost on Kyle that even in desolation, there could be the desire to make their situation better. Unfortunately, the stench of unwashed bodies and refuse still hung in the air.
Approaching, they nodded toward Manny, who aimed his wide smile toward them.
“Afternoon, Dee-tectives McBride and Freeman. You come to check on your old friend?”
“Manny,” he greeted, noting a few others moving around in the distance. “Yeah, checking on an old friend and seeing if there was anything you might want to let us know about.”
Manny cast his gaze around before lowering his voice. “Sometimes I think it’s real boring around here in the Cottages. Same old thing every day.”
“So, nothing new?” Alex asked.
“Well, dee-tectives, that’s what’s interesting about this place. You just never know what’s going to pop up.”