Killing Ways

61

Ren moved toward the door, looked from Shaun to Joe.

‘OK,’ she said, her face impassive. She checked her watch. ‘The graduation is in what — forty minutes? I’m going to leave you gentlemen to it. You can make up... hopefully? And go in peace?’ She smiled. ‘And Joe, I’ll see you when you get back from Breckenridge. Congratulations, Shaun.’ She handed him her card. ‘If your source comes through on the names of Rawlins’ abusers, could you please forward them to me?’

‘Yes,’ said Shaun. ‘I’ll do that. Thank you. I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused.’

‘You didn’t cause me any trouble,’ said Ren. ‘And — to reassure you,’ she said to Joe, ‘I’m going to have Everett King and Robbie Truax stationed at the auditorium for the ceremony.’

Joe’s eyes widened.

Ren shrugged. ‘Peace is good.’

Joe smiled. ‘Thank you.’

Ren got in the Jeep and called Everett.

‘Everett, have you got your magic fingers to hand? Fingers, hand — see what I did there?’

‘I do,’ said Everett. ‘What do you need?’

‘There’s an old toy factory called the Ostler Building, off Brighton Boulevard. It’s in some way connected with Kurt Vine; he’s posted photos of it on his site. Can you find out who owns it? Vine obviously doesn’t or you would have found out, but he has definitely been inside it, so he had to have keys or know someone who did... unless it’s not locked up, of course. Didn’t think of that.’

‘OK — I’ll check that out and call you back. Did you talk to Gary?’

‘Gary — no, why?’

‘Apparently you, Robbie and Janine are staying after work for a meeting. Everyone else, including me, is to go home at five on the button. He said that was a strict order.’

‘Really?’ said Ren. ‘What the heck is that about?’ She glanced at her phone. ‘Oh there’s a text here from him: My office, 5.30 p.m. Urgent. Woo.’

‘I have no idea,’ said Everett. ‘I’m clearly not one of The Chosen. I presume you added that “woo” yourself.’

‘Also,’ said Ren, ‘before you flee at five on the button, I need you and Robbie to go right away to the auditorium in Denver University — it turns out that Shaun Lucchesi has been doing some very good amateur detective work... that could have put him unwittingly in Duke Rawlins’ sights. Joe went ballistic.’

‘Shit,’ said Everett.

‘Well, we don’t know anything yet — it’s precautionary,’ said Ren. ‘I really don’t believe he’s in danger.’

On the drive, Ren thought about Duke Rawlins watching her, knowing she was on the investigation, following her to her car, finding her and sitting next to her in bipolar support.

A shiver ran up her spine. She was lucky. He had her right there. He could have done anything. She was lucky.

For now...

Ren pulled into RiNo and parked outside the man-gym. She crossed the street and walked the two blocks to the Ostler Building. The building was constructed on different levels, all painted in the same palette of cream with bottle-green trim. All the original signage had been removed from the exterior. The only signs left were Keep Out and Private Property. To the east side was the tallest part of the building — what Ren always thought was a chimney when she caught sight of it from the office. Up close, it looked like a small tower, albeit an adjoined one, twenty feet higher than the rest of the building. In the Sixties, it had the timber doll’s head mounted on the front. Without the head it was clear that the line of small dark windows at the top had played the role of the teeth in the doll’s smile.

Not one bit creepy.

There must be some kind of room up there.

Ren walked around to the north side of the building, where there were eight shuttered loading bays.

Give me a way in, here, people.

She Googled the building. It wasn’t up for sale or for lease, so there was no information or floor plans to be found.

Shit.

Her cell phone rang and she jumped.

‘Everett!’ she said, answering. ‘My heart.’

‘You need to set that thing to vibrate,’ said Everett.

‘I hate vibration,’ said Ren.

Pause.

‘And yes,’ said Ren. ‘All vibrations.’

‘OK, I’m on my way to the university — don’t worry,’ he said. ‘You were right about the building. I won’t bore you with the details, but, basically, when Kurt Vine inherited the land from his grandfather, his cousin inherited that factory/warehouse. So it’s not a big leap to say that Vine borrowed the keys to take the photos.’

‘That would explain how there were vintage photos on Vine’s site too — they were family photos. Where’s the cousin?’

‘Germany,’ said Everett.

‘Which means, unless Kurt Vine mailed the keys back, they’re in his house in Sedalia.’

‘What’s the significance of this building?’ said Everett.

‘I’ll fill you in when you get back,’ said Ren.

‘Okaaay,’ said Everett. ‘Are you up to badness?’

‘Nevah,’ said Ren. ‘I’m going to call Douglas County, see if someone can go look for those keys at Vine’s house.’

But realistically, we both know that is a giant lie and I’m going to break in myself...