Page 10 of Hudson
“Anything new onRawley’s case?”
“Still trying to track down Harold White, Sr.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m going to Kalispell this week to talk to the ex-wife.”
“Good.” Dave nodded and stopped beside his desk. “How does a man just disappear like that?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Everything vanished. His dealership, the trucks, him. The whole operation was wiped clean. I had an agent check out the empty warehouse next to the tire shop in Autumn Falls and it was like nothing had ever been there.”
“What about the tire shop itself?”
Hud smirked. “Gone.”
“They were all connected somehow.”
“I agree.”
Dave was quiet a moment. “You need more help. Let me see what I can do.” He straightened. “In the meantime, make a trip to Deer Lodge before Kalispell. Have a talk with Roby.”
“Alright.”
“I’ll get you a motel room and let you know when you can head out.”
“You’re the boss.” Hud grinned.
“Yes, I am. I’ll find someone to send with you. Just have to see who’s available.”
Hud nodded and got back to work.
He leaned back and looked at the board on the wall where he’d pinned the names and photographs.
Five men involved in the theft of Preston Mitchell’s cattle. Only two still breathing. Jared Hill and Axel Roby. The other three, Hal White Jr. and the Jessup brothers, Colby and Carson, had been shot and killed. Hill had talked, given Rawley the names, and played the deal card. Then set him up for three rounds to the vest.
Hud tapped his pen against the desk.
Hal White Sr. was out there somewhere, tied to the whole operation along with his insurance adjuster, and neither had surfaced. White had used his own semi-trucks, destroyed them after the theft, and filed the insurance claim. His adjuster cut the check and skimmed a percentage off the top for himself. One hell of a racket.
Three semis still unaccounted for.
He stared at the board.
Roby was sitting in Deer Lodge with a closed mouth and nothing to lose. Maybe that was about to change.
An hour into the files, Hud leaned back, rubbed his eyes, and sighed. A shadow fell across his desk. He looked up to find fellow agent Creed McBride standing there.
“Dave asked me to help out on this case,” Creed said.
“Good. I can use it.”
“Hand me some of those files. Fresh eyes might help.”
Hud passed him a stack of folders. Creed crossed the room, dropped into his chair and opened the first one without saying another word.
Hud got back to work.
****
Start here
Blair sighed. Typical Monday. Did everyone get sick on weekends?
