Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7), Kaylie Hunter [guided reading books TXT] 📗

I took notes as I asked questions. “What about regular visitors of any of your neighbors? Can you think of anyone who was around enough that Allie would’ve felt comfortable talking to?”

“Well, we knew all the neighbors, but I can’t say we knew their extended families. Except for Mrs. Carpenter’s nephew, Blake. We’d talk to him when he was out mowing his aunt’s yard. He was a few years older than us, but we both had schoolgirl crushes on him. He seemed interested in Allie too, but they never did anything more than talk. If you track him down, let me know if he still looks dreamy.”

“You didn’t stay in touch?”

“No. My family moved away a year after Allie disappeared. It was just too hard. I was flunking out of school, and my parents wanted me to stop dwelling on it.”

“I’m sure that was difficult, but I think their decision was a good one.”

“I still dwell on it. Hell, I volunteer at a runaway shelter and am going to school to become a social worker.”

“But you’re working with the living and not following a ghost.”

“Maybe. Look, I have to get back to work. Did you need anything else?”

“Do you know Blake’s last name?”

“Blake Foster.”

“And what about your uncle? What’s his name?”

“Milo Sprigston, but as I said, he left the night before.”

“I might still reach out to him, just to see if he remembers anything. He might’ve noticed someone in the neighborhood during his visit. If you think of anyone else, call me. Day or night.”

“I will. And sorry about getting so nasty with you when I answered. I really do want someone to figure out what happened.”

“I know you do, and I’ll do my best, but no promises.”

We ended the call and I tossed a post-it note pad at Tech. “I need backgrounds on those two. One’s Kristyn’s uncle and the other was an older teenager who worked at one of the neighbor’s houses.”

Tech looked at the names and raised an eyebrow. He pressed the speaker button on the conference room phone and called Wayne.

“Yeah,” Wayne answered.

“Doesn’t a Blake Foster work for Aces?” Tech asked.

“Yeah. Matter of fact, he’s standing next to me. He came in a few days early for the tournament this weekend.”

“Is he from Indiana?” Tech asked.

“Yeah,” Wayne answered.

“Is he in his early to mid-twenties?” I asked.

“How old are you, Blake?” Wayne asked. “Says he’s twenty-three.”

“I’ll be down to talk to him,” I said, nodding at the phone for Tech to hang up. When the light turned red, I gathered my phone and the file I’d started. “What do we know about Blake?”

“Not much. I’d just heard the name bounced around. Bones worked a couple of jobs with him. If memory serves, he was a cop in Indianapolis before taking a bullet to his knee.” Tech walked over and opened the door.

“You don’t have to go with me.”

“If things turn ugly, I’ll be there to yell at one of the other guys to help,” Tech said, grinning ear to ear.

“We need to teach you to fight.”

“These hands were made for computers, not fighting. If I break a finger, I can’t run a keyboard.”

“Good point.”

Chapter Five

I turned toward the stairs and started down. I spotted Wayne next to a dark-haired hunk at the bottom of the stairs. “Conference room.”

Wayne raised an eyebrow but moved into the main conference room on the first floor. Blake held the door open as Tech and I followed Wayne inside.

“What’s going on, Kel?” Wayne asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against a wall.

“I’m working a case and Blake’s name came up.”

“Is this about Allie?” Blake asked, taking a step forward. His demeanor instantly changed from cautious to hopeful. “Please tell me you’re working Allie’s case.”

I glanced over at Tech who shrugged while sitting in a chair and leaning back to stretch his legs.

“Why would you assume that? I could be referring to a case from when you were a police officer.”

Blake shook his head. “I didn’t have your same experience when I was a cop. I wrote traffic tickets for ten-hour shifts.”

“How’d you acquire a bullet in the leg then?” Tech asked.

“Dumb luck. I pulled a guy over for speeding. Didn’t know he was the same guy who robbed a liquor store six miles away until I was in the hospital’s recovery room.”

“What can you tell us about Allie Jacobs?” I asked.

“I’ll give you everything I have. It’s in my car.” He started for the door.

“Wait,” I said, raising my hand. “I summoned you into our conference room to question you about a case, and now you want to go to your car?”

“You can trust him, Kel,” Wayne growled.

“Why? Because Donovan or Grady hired him?”

“I’ve worked with him. He’s a straight shooter.”

“Ted Bundy was everybody’s friend. So what?”

“Wayne,” Blake said, handing his keys over, “can you grab the file box from my SUV?”

Wayne glared at me, but took the keys and left. Blake pulled out a chair, sitting directly across the table from me.

“What was your relationship with Allie?”

“Friendly. Flirty,” Blake said. “I liked her, but I was a few months shy of my eighteenth birthday. She was only fifteen. It still didn’t stop me from mowing my aunt’s front yard three times a week, though.”

“What can you tell me about her?”

Blake smiled at the table as he thought about her. “She likes hip-hop music, hot fudge ice cream sundaes, and fixing cars with her dad. Her best friend’s name is Kristyn. Her birthday is in November, and she’s a night owl by nature.”

“You talk as if she’s alive,” Tech said.

“It’s weird, but I can’t accept she’s anything but alive.