“Good job Felix.” Captain Hale hung up the phone and smiled. Agent Garrett and Agent Lewis looked up from their laptops. “We have a match. It looks like there is someone in Dell Rapids that could be harboring them. Fulton has a friend who lives there named Eli Elson. We even have some recent cell calls between them.”
“What’s the strength of the Dell Rapids police?” Garrett closed his laptop.
“They don’t have a police force. The county Sheriff handles the policing.”
Lewis also closed her laptop. “We’ll meet with the Sheriff to observe. Thanks for all your help Captain Hale.”
“Let me guess. If you don’t find Bob you’ll be back, or at least let us know. We’d still like to ask them about our guy.”
Garrett flipped open his sunglasses. “We’ll let you know. You should get some sleep.”
As the door closed, Hale put his head on his desk. He was out instantly.
***
Will Hetfield sat in his car. Slowly, Clayton pulled in next to him. Clayton got out of his car, then straightened his suit up. He reached inside, and pulled out a lint brush. He proceeded to de-lint his suit. Will rolled down his passenger window. “What are you doing?”
“It never hurts to make a good first impression. I try to look my best when I talk to the local law types.”
“I never get that linty at my place.”
“Really? I think you just stopped noticing.”
Will looked down. He started getting out of the car. “Can I borrow that?’
“Looking good for the Captain or someone else?” Clayton asked as he handed the lint roller to Will.
“Anyone at this point.” Will started rolling as Clayton checked his phone.
***
“Let me handle this” Bob said out of the corner of his mouth to Phil. The Aberdeen police car rolled to a stop, and Bob walked across the street towards it. Phil slowly followed.
“Yes officer?”
“Have you two been walking for very long?”
“Not really. Just from a rented house a few blocks back.”
“Have you seen a girl, about ten years old, or a pink bicycle?”
“No sir.”
“There’s a young girl missing, or at least her mom won’t stop calling us. Say, if you don’t mind me saying, you two don’t look familiar.”
“We used to go to Northern. We’re visiting for a few days.”
“So, why the walk from the rental house?”
“Sir, I think you’re familiar with the walk of shame?”
“Ahh. Both of you?”
“I know right? We each meet these girls at the zoo, and we agree to call each other for a ride at the end of the night. Imagine our surprise when we wake up at the same house in different rooms. Now we’re walking back the Super 8 and hoping our other friend has the car.”
“Well, good luck with the car. If either of you see anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“We will. Have a good day officer.”
The police car pulled away. Phil took a deep breath. “Rented house, walk of shame, The Zoo? How do you think of this stuff?”
“Carefully and confidently.”
The policeman looked in his rear view mirror, then looked around for a pink bicycle. He didn’t notice the fax from Sioux Falls in his stack of paperwork.
