Читать книгу Agent Ren Bryce Thriller Series Books 1-3: Blood Runs Cold, Time of Death, Blood Loss - Alex Barclay - Страница 35

Chapter 26

Billy Waites was staring at the wall, his brow furrowed, his lips almost pouting. Ren studied his arms. They were tanned, well worked out. She looked at his hands – strangely long-fingered with clean, buffed nails. On his right wrist was a tattoo – two words and what looked like a date. He turned back to her. Her breath caught.

‘I’d like to know if there’s anything you could tell me that might help the investigation,’ she said.

He shot her a bemused look. ‘What would I know?’

‘When was the last time she came in to you?’

‘January fifteenth,’ said Billy. ‘It was a Monday night.’

‘What time?’

He thought about it. ‘Six thirty.’

‘She came in here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, that makes you – for now – the last person to see her alive,’ said Ren.

Billy let out an angry breath, shook his head, rolled his eyes. ‘Fuck that.’

‘What’s your problem?’

‘You know what? I was cool doing whatever for her, OK? A quiet little visit every couple weeks, no harm done, no big interference in my life, my chance to pay back whatever debt you guys will hold me to for life, probably. I’m a lot less cool about being here with you and knowing that Breckenridge is crawling with law enforcement. I know how you guys work. I know how desperately you will want to take a cop killer off the streets, or how desperately you want to take at least someone who can look like one in a mug shot … How do you like this?’ He opened his eyes wide and bared his teeth.

‘Look, this is not about you, OK?’ said Ren. ‘This is about the murder of one of my colleagues. I couldn’t give a fucking shit about Billy fucking Waites, OK?’

‘Nice.’

‘I just want all the information that’s out there on all the cases Jean was working on and all the people she came in contact with in the last few whatever – months, years, whatever it takes. You may be able to help me with that. What was she coming to you for?’

He shrugged. ‘Hard to tell. She comes in, asks me questions, I answer them or tell her what shit I’ve heard. I have no idea what she’s doing with that information after.’

‘And what had you heard recently?

‘Not a lot.

‘Look, this is fairly easy, OK? What. Did. She. Want. You. To …’

‘Right there,’ said Billy, ‘right there is how you’re going to charm me.’

‘Listen to me, you fu—’

‘We’re done,’ said Billy.

‘No,’ said Ren. ‘No, we’re not. You owe Jean.’

Billy tilted his head. ‘Were you two close?’

Ren paused. ‘She was a brilliant, talented agent –’

‘Oh, say can that star-spangled banner …’ He spoke the words.

Ren stared through him.

‘I’m not surprised you weren’t close,’ said Billy.

‘What makes you say that?’ said Ren.

‘Why are you all defensive?’ said Billy.

‘I’m just wondering,’ said Ren.

‘You care now what Billy fucking Waites says?’

Ren sighed and got up. ‘This is bullshit.’

‘Damn right it is.’

‘Billy,’ shouted one of the old guys at the bar, waving a drunken arm around, ‘keep your mind on the job. People need beers.’

Billy smiled tightly and pushed himself upright. ‘People need beers,’ he said.

‘They always do,’ said Ren. She followed him back to the bar. He looked at her like she was nuts.

‘OK,’ said Billy. ‘Was I the last person to see her alive? Maybe the last you know of. Maybe the ninth last you know of. You know the killer is the last. And I, at least, know that’s not me. You’ll get there, though.’

‘You think so?’ said Ren.

‘You look smart enough,’ he said. ‘Sheriff Gage’s a good guy. Between you – who knows?’

‘You have got to give me more,’ said Ren.

‘I can give you my view of Jean Transom. Brisk –’

‘Do you mean brusque?’ said Ren.

Billy stared at her. ‘If you see a major difference between the two words …’

She looked at him. ‘You have a point, there.’

‘Thank you. OK, Jean, from my point of view, was business-like: no small talk, ordered a Diet Coke, asked me what she needed to ask me, sometimes came in with that blond dork, but I think trusted me enough not to have him there all the time. Leave him home to go brush his big teeth.’

Ren tried not to smile.

‘When she was alone, did she ever talk to anyone else while she was here?’

He shook his head. ‘No.’

‘Did you always just meet here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘Because no one bothers me here.’

Ren glanced out toward the customers. The lights above her head were tilted backward, the customers were shielded by darkness, like she was on the stage and they were the audience.

‘I’m it,’ said Billy. ‘I’m not the boss, but I’m like the boss. And I couldn’t give a shit what any of those losers out there think. Same as they couldn’t give a shit about me. I’m the man who gives them beer.’

‘Oh – do you ever get a guy in here called Salem Swade?’

‘Yes.’

‘What’s he like?’

‘Gets a little out of hand if he drinks too much, but he’s a good guy. He’s always welcome here. Makes me laugh.’

‘Is he in here a lot?’

‘It’s the closest bar to his cabin, so he comes in quite a bit.’ He shrugged. He was eager to turn away.

Ren smiled extra-wide. ‘Thanks for your time.’

‘Sure. Whatever.’ His sneer unsettled her. But he held her gaze. And he didn’t give her the eye-fuck … which most guys in a power play do. Even if they have no weapons, they’ll always have the eye-fuck.

But then, maybe Billy Waites has an arsenal.