wanted. Unwise to play into that.
Greg had contacted his bank. He was not a risky investor, and so most of his assets were liquid. If ransom money was needed, he'd be ready. The various feds, all male except for Kimberly Green, put traces on all the possible phones, including Myron's. She and her men were doing a lot of sotto voce. Myron hadn't pressed them yet. But that wasn't going to last.
Kimberly caught his eyes and waved him over. He stood and excused himself. Greg and Emily paid no attention, still lost in the vortex of that scream.
'We need to talk,' she said.
'Okay,' Myron said. 'Start by telling me what happened when you checked out Dennis Lex.'
'You're not family,' she said. 'I could throw you out.'
'This isn't your house,' he said. 'What happened with Dennis Lex?'
She put her hands on her hips. 'It's a dead end.'
'How so?'
'We traced it down. He's not involved in any of this.'
'How do you know that?'
'Myron, come on. We're not stupid.'
'So where is Dennis Lex?'
'It's not relevant,' she said.
'The hell it's not. Even if he's not the kidnapper, we still have him as the bone marrow donor.'
'No,' she said. 'Your donor is Davis Taylor.'
'Who changed his name from Dennis Lex.'
'We don't know that.'
Myron made a face. 'What are you talking about?'
'Davis Taylor was an employee in the Lex conglomerate.'
'What?'
'You heard me.'
'So why did he donate blood for a bone marrow drive?'
'It was a work thing,' she said. 'The plant boss had a sick nephew. Everyone at the plant gave.'
Myron nodded. Something finally made sense. 'So if he didn't give a blood sample,' he said, 'it would have been conspicuous.'
'Right.'
'You got a description on him?'
'He worked on his own, kept to himself. All anyone remembers is a man with a full beard, glasses, and long blond hair.'
'A disguise,' Myron said. 'And we know Davis Taylor's original name was Dennis Lex. What else?'
Kimberly Green raised her hand. 'Enough.' She sort of hitched herself up, trying to alter momentum. 'Stan Gibbs is still our top suspect here. What did you talk about last night?'
'Dennis Lex,' Myron said. 'Don't you get it?'
'Get what?'
'Dennis Lex is connected into all this. He's either the kidnapper, or maybe he was the first victim.'
'Neither,' she said.
'Then where is he?'
She shook it off. 'What else did you two talk about?'
'Stan's father.'
'Edwin Gibbs?' That got her attention. 'What about him?'
'That he vanished eight years ago. But you already know about that, don't you?'
She nodded a little too firmly. 'We do,' she said.
'So what do you think happened to him?' Myron asked.
She hesitated. 'You believe that Dennis Lex may be Sow the Seeds' first victim, correct?'
'I think it's something to look into, yes.'
'Our theory,' she went on, 'is that the first victim may have been Edwin Gibbs.'
Myron made a face. 'You think Stan kidnapped his own father?'
'Killed him. And the others. We don't believe any of them are still alive.'
Myron tried not to let that sink in. 'You have any evidence or motive?'
'Sometimes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.'
'Oh, that'll go over big with a jury. Ladies and gentlemen, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And you should never put the cart before the horse. Plus every dog has his day.' He shook his head. 'Are you listening to yourself?'
'On its own, I admit it doesn't make sense. But put it all together. Eight years ago, Stan was starting out on his own. He was twenty-four, his father forty-six. By all accounts, the two men did not get along. Suddenly Edwin Gibbs vanishes. Stan never reports it.'
'This is silly.'
'Maybe. But then add back everything else we already know. The only columnist to get this scoop. The plagiarism. Melina Garston. Everything that Eric Ford discussed with you yesterday.'
'It still doesn't add up.'
'Then tell me where Stan Gibbs is.'
Myron looked at her. 'Isn't he at the condo?'
'Last night, after you two talked, Stan Gibbs slipped surveillance. He's done that before. We usually pick him up a few hours later. But that hasn't happened this time. He's suddenly out of sight — and by coincidence, Jeremy Downing has been snatched by the Sow the Seeds kidnapper. You want to explain that one to me?'
Myron's mouth felt dry. 'You're searching for him?'
'We got an APB. But we know he's good at hiding. You got any clue where he went?'
'None.'
'He said nothing to you about it?'
'He mentioned that he might go away for a few days. But that I should trust him.'
'Bad advice,' she said. 'Anything else?'
Myron shook his head. 'Where is Dennis Lex?' he tried again. 'Did you see him?'
'I didn't have to,' she said. But her voice had a funny monotone to it. 'He's not involved in this.'
'You keep saying that,' Myron said. 'But how do you know?'
She slowed down. 'The family.'
'You mean Susan and Bronwyn Lex?'
'Yes.'
'What about them?'
'They gave us reassurances.'
Myron almost stepped back. 'You just took their word for it?'
'I didn't say that.' She glanced around, let loose a sigh. 'And it's not my call.'
'What?'
She looked straight through him. 'Eric Ford handled it personally.'
Myron could not believe what he was hearing.
'He told me to stay away,' she said, 'that he had it covered.'
'Or covered up,' Myron said.
'Nothing I can do about it.' She looked at him. She had stressed the word
'Articulate,' Win said.
'We're going to need help,' Myron said. 'Is Zorra still working freelance?'
'I'll call her.'
'Maybe Big Cyndi too.'
'Do you have a plan?'
'No time for a plan,' Myron said.
