Chapter Five #2
“You said someone was going to let you know about when and where they used their credit cards.” Maybe he would hear from that source soon. It was possible that alone would narrow down the time frame considerably. Might even help find them…maybe.
He checked his cell phone. “I should have that anytime now.”
Winston exited the office and joined them at the counter. “You’re in luck,” he announced, then looked straight at Charly. “Vince said I should give you whatever you need.” He winked. “He also said you should let him know if he can help in any way whatsoever.”
Charly managed a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
Winston jerked his head toward the office. “The storage room is behind the office. We have the security station set up there.”
Billie and Charly followed him beyond the office and into a large storage room.
An even larger area stored some of the equipment.
Lots of smaller equipment pieces, like compressors and generators and all manner of tools.
Behind the building was where the big earthmoving and lift equipment waited—inside yet another fence.
Winston explained the steps required to select a date to view the footage and then to move on to the next date. “You just tap this button. And the footage will move along pretty quickly until there’s movement then it slows to a crawl. That way you don’t have to sit through all those hours.”
“Thanks.” Billie waited for Charly to take a seat before taking the one directly in front of the screen. “It pays to know people,” he said.
“Guess so.” She didn’t mention that Vince had asked her to dinner on several occasions in the past year, but she just hadn’t been able to take him up on the offer. He was a very nice man. Nice-looking, too. But he had been friends with Alex and it just didn’t feel right.
Rather than start with Saturday night, Billie selected Friday so he could watch Briana and Martin arrive.
Winston was right. As soon as there was movement picked up in the camera’s field of vision, the fast-forward-style speed slowed to almost slow motion.
Their faces weren’t really clear since they had come from the Huntsville direction and the angle of the camera wasn’t optimal, but it was obvious they were both in the vehicle.
They drove on past. The turn onto Deep Woods Trail was out of the camera’s reach.
“Is there a story there?”
His voice startled her. She was so intent on the screen and thinking about the missing couple that she kind of jumped when he spoke. “I’m sorry. What?”
“With you and the guy who owns the place—Vince? Is there a story there?”
Charly sighed. “He and my husband were very good friends. Whenever Alex needed something bigger than a shovel or an extension ladder, Vince was always helping out. When Vince needed an electrician or plumber, Alex was always available. They were good friends.” She hesitated. “We all were.”
“That makes any other kind of relationship awkward,” he suggested.
“Yeah. I mean Vince’s a really nice guy.” She shrugged. “Still offers to help with anything I need. I guess I just can’t go there.”
“I get it.” Billie nodded, his attention on the screen. “I read up on you,” he admitted, “on the way here.”
“Really?” She should have known this. He was a PI. Finding information on people was his business.
“You built the retreat right out of high school—after your parents’ deaths. Not long after that you married a local guy who helped you pursue your dream.”
“My parents’ dream,” she countered. “They had dreamed of building the retreat for as long as I can remember.”
“And you—” he glanced at her “—made sure it happened.” He watched the footage going by on the screen. “Your husband died three years ago and even then you kept the dream going.”
Wow. He’d gotten all that during a single flight.
“Since I know basically nothing about you, how about you tell me some things. Like, are you married?” She hadn’t even considered whether he was or not until now. A discreet glance at his left hand showed no ring but that wasn’t always an indicator.
Something about the way he’d dropped everything and rushed here made her assume he was single.
Life was more complicated when you were married, particularly if you had kids.
You couldn’t just rush off without making arrangements.
But this was his sister. Any significant other would surely understand the need and take care of things back home.
“I am not.” He sent her a look that said he was perfectly satisfied with that answer and intended to offer no other details.
She bit her tongue to prevent asking why. He seemed to be around her age. Surely, there was a particular someone. She wasn’t asking that, either, given he seemed not to want to indulge more.
“I had a serious relationship about seven years ago,” he said to her surprise and as if her other question had reached him by osmosis. “But it didn’t work out and there’s been no one serious since.”
“No reason to rush.” It was the only response she could think to give. Not exactly original but it was better than saying nothing.
“You haven’t dated anyone since your husband died?”
He looked at her…his very blue eyes quite serious. Nice eyes to go with that nice smile. “I have not. I’ve been super-busy and I guess I just haven’t met anyone.”
This was true. She never went anywhere to meet anyone.
She only went to places like the market or the hardware store.
The people she encountered were all friends she and Alex shared during their twelve-year marriage.
Somehow, she just couldn’t see a relationship with anyone like that.
Or maybe she just hadn’t been ready. She probably still wasn’t.
“No one who grabbed your attention, huh?” he said without looking at her this time.
“Nope,” she insisted in her firmest voice.