Cassie glanced at her. Harper sensed moisture collecting in Cassie’s eyes. Not true tears, but a slight glistening in the glow of the dash lights.
“The hardest part wasn’t seeing the drugs take her. It was the fact that she sold herself.” Cassie sighed. “For some reason that bothered me more. She sold her body on the streets for drugs.”
“That happens all too often.”
“I know. But when it’s someone with so much going for them, an unlimited future, it seems especially sad.” She shrugged. “With Marla, I took it personally, like I had failed her.”
Harper touched Cassie’s arm. “I doubt that.”
“Well, she’s dug herself into another hole. The irony is that this time, it’s not really her fault.”
That was true. Marla had simply been a witness to a crime. An accident of time and place and now her life could be in danger.
But did Dalton know that the witness was Marla? Or know how to find her? If Jessie could be believed, and that was a stretch, he just might not have her name. One thing was certain: based on everything they knew, what Buck had said, the fact the Dalton had called in help, there was no doubt Dalton had an agenda. A deadly one. For sure it included Buck Buckner. Maybe Jason Epps. But, Marla? Maybe, maybe not. Best to assume so.
And if he did know her name, did he learn it from Jason? Had Dalton already hooked up with Jason? Moved him into Tommy’s place? Made a deal that included Marla? Harper didn’t like any of those scenarios.
“Here we are.” Cassie pulled to the curb in front of Reverend John’s two-story, white house. He pushed open the front door and stepped onto the covered porch.
Cassie had called John before they left the PD to make sure Marla was there. She had put her phone on speaker so Harper could hear. Yes, Marla was there. Upstairs. Yes, he was sure. Did she want him to wake her? No, Cassie said she’d rather Marla not know they were coming, in case she decided to slip away. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Reverend John welcomed them inside.
“Sorry to barge in at this late hour,” Cassie said.
“I was still up reading.”
He wore jeans, a white shirt, and a gray cardigan. Half glasses rode high on his forehead.
“What’s this about?” John asked.
Cassie laid it out: Dr. Buckner had been found and was in good shape, her concern that Dalton had brought in a crew to find him, and maybe Jason and Marla.
A frown, a slight nod. “You’re worried they might come here?”
“Maybe,” Cassie said. “Or lie in wait for her on the streets or at the park.”
John nodded. “I got me a shotgun in the closet and a handgun beside my bed.” He glanced at Cassie. “And thanks to Uncle Sam, I know how to use them.”
“I know you do but it’s probably better if it doesn’t come to that.”
“What’s the plan?” he asked.
“See if we can convince her to stay down at the station until we find them.”
John actually laughed. “Good luck with that. She’s a tad stubborn, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Have I ever.”
They found Marla in her room, wound up in a sheet, asleep. Cassie flicked on the bedside lamp. Marla stirred. Opened her eyes, a hand rising to block the light. She squinted.
“Cassie? What’s going on?”
“We need to talk,” Cassie said.
“What time is it?”
“A little past midnight.”
“Well, whatever it is, I didn’t do it. I’ve been here for hours.”
Cassie smiled. “You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, you did something very good.”
Marla twisted from the sheet and swung to a sitting position, bare feet on the floor. Harper noticed a few bruises on each ankle. Injection sites. Marla wore cotton, drawstring pants and a yellow tee shirt. She blinked at Cassie, then Harper.
“We found Dr. Buckner. He’s okay.”
“Thank God. He was so nice to me.”
“But it seems the guys who took him might not be done yet,” Harper said.
“What?”
“Seems they brought in reinforcements and might try to find him and kill him.”
“Maybe you and Jason, too,” Cassie added.
“What? Why?” Marla rubbed her eyes with the heels of each hand.
“Cleaning house,” Harper said. “Taking care of witnesses. You and Buck saw them. Jason does business with them. Makes sense they’d want to cover all the bases.”
Marla massaged her temples. “I don’t freaking believe this.”
“I want you to come down to the station with us. Stay there until this is settled.”
“In jail?”
Cassie smiled. “Not exactly. Just in the department where we can protect you. Dr. Buckner is there.”
“He is?”
There was the hook, Harper thought. She saw it in Marla’s eyes, the way her shoulders straightened and her head came up. She had a thing for Buck. Who wouldn’t? He was handsome, smart, and seemed nice. That attraction just might be the key to gaining Marla’s cooperation.
“Yes,” Harper said. “Look, Marla, we need to focus on finding these guys before anyone else gets hurt. If you’re over at the PD, Chief Crowe won’t have to put someone here to watch over you.”
Marla looked around the room, considering that for a minute. “Can I change clothes? Get a few things?”
“Sure,” Cassie said.
CHAPTER 61
The first order of business was retrieving Hack’s and Fowler’s cars from the side of Highway 43, where they had left them earlier. A quick trip up the hill from The Crossroads. Dalton’s SUV had been towed and the coroner had hauled away the corpse of the late Bud Myrick. The area seemed so peaceful now. No evidence that a life and death shootout had occurred.
Cain imagined how it had gone down. Really a cop’s worst nightmare. Pulling over a suspect vehicle and having the driver roll out with a gun and start shooting. Took nerves, balls, and training to survive in such situations. Cassie had done just that. Took out the bad guy and avoided being a victim herself. She was a tough cop.
After they dumped Hack’s 442 back at the station, Cain piloted The
