Blood Vines

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Wednesday, March 17

4:55 P.M.

Reed found Tanner and Saacks in the break room. He dreaded what he had to tell them. He felt responsible.

Alex had bolted. He had done an hourly drive-by of her rental: no Alex and no Prius. He had left several voice mails for her without a callback and had checked in with Rachel twice, exacting a promise that she would call if she heard from Alex.

Tanner saw him first. Her greeting died on her lips. “What’s wrong?”

“I think Clarkson’s gone.”

Saacks swore and jumped to his feet. “I thought you said she wouldn’t run.”

“Apparently, I was wrong.”

“Are you certain?” Tanner asked.

He crossed to them and handed Tanner the note his father had received. She read it and passed it to Saacks. “What’s that all about?”

Reed told them. When he’d finished, he pulled out a chair and straddled it. He looked from Tanner to Saacks and back. It seemed he had temporarily shocked them silent.

“Wow,” Tanner finally said. “A wine orgy. Kinky.”

Saacks cleared his throat. “When did you learn this?”

“Couple hours ago. Been trying to find Clarkson ever since.”

“Without luck, apparently.”

“She stayed with Rachel Sommer last night. When I couldn’t reach Alex on her cell, I tried Rachel. She said Alex had called her and said she was going by her rental. She suggested I try there. Which I have, repeatedly. No sign of her or her vehicle.”

Saacks looked at him. “Do you think she’s dangerous?”

Reed laughed without humor. “You’re asking me? I said she wouldn’t bolt.”

They all stood. “Let’s get out an All Vehicle Alert for her plate,” Saacks said. “If she’s anywhere in the valley, we’ll find her. And Reed, I suggest you tell your old man to watch his back.”