Free Stranded by Alex Kava Page B

be taking these antibiotics, but I keep forgetting.”
    Maggie stopped a smile. It was so like Tully to empty the whole container into his pants pocket and carry them around with him as a reminder. But he did look a little miserable, his eyes watery, his face flushed and damp with sweat. Suddenly she understood that was probably why he had been acting so odd earlier.
    “We should get you out of your wet, muddy clothes and into a bed,” she told him.
    Immediately she realized she had spoken too loudly when she saw Howard Elliott and the young deputy across the table look over at her. Even one of the truck drivers standing at the corner of the table smiled at her.
    Instead of being embarrassed, Maggie leaned in closer to Tully and he reciprocated by leaning down into her.
    “This would be a good time to leave,” she said. “They all think I just made a pass at you.”
    Tully’s eyes flashed up and around and he grinned.
    “I reserved us a couple of rooms at the Super 8 just up the road,” he told her.
    “Sounds romantic. Can I have the rest of your fries? Then we can go.”
    He grinned again and nodded. Then he watched her squeeze apool of ketchup onto his plate and begin her ritual of dipping and munching. He even joined her.
    “I’ll give you the details later,” he said in a low tone, almost a whisper, as if keeping up their charade. “Triple A made a hit on the hosiery.”
    The orange socks. She refrained from saying it out loud and reminding any of the men. But she asked, “Triple A?”
    “Oh sorry, that’s what I’ve started calling Agent Alonzo. His first name’s Antonio.”
    “Was the hit a recent case?”
    “Within the last month. You were right. Woman victim. Wooded area not far from a rest area.”
    “Did he find any other cases?”
    “Just the one so far.”
    Tully yawned and it reminded her how exhausted she was. It had been a long day for both of them.
    “How about we excuse ourselves?” she asked, and he agreed.
    Maggie nodded at Sheriff Uniss. They had already decided on a strategy for the next day. Tully promised to call first thing in the morning. Then they said their good nights and started to leave. Maggie went to grab her cap from the corner of the table. It wasn’t there. She glanced around, checking the floor and under the table. The cap was gone. Someone had probably picked it up by mistake. It didn’t really matter. She shrugged and followed Tully out.
    They were getting into their rental car when Maggie saw Lily across the plaza. She wandered the lot where the trucks were parked for the night. She had left the farm dressed in tight jeans and a clinging knit blouse that highlighted her ribs and bony shoulders more than anything else. She had the big, awkward handbag around her neck and under her arm and she was knocking on thedoor of one of the cabs. The trucker inside shook his head, hanging out the window and telling her something. Lily didn’t wait to hear what he was saying and instead headed for the next truck.
    Tully noticed, too, and as they settled into the car, he said, “I offered to take her to a women’s shelter.”
    “This place is her shelter. Didn’t you notice how relieved she was to get back here?”
    “Do you think she saw anything out at the farm?”
    “I don’t know,” Maggie said. “But the meth’s probably fried it out of her brain.”

CHAPTER 17

    Creed snapped a fresh cylinder of UDAP pepper spray onto his belt. He left his revolver in its case under his seat.
    “Come on, Grace,” he said to the dog as he grabbed her leash and stepped out of the Jeep.
    In seconds they were hurrying up a path, a shortcut that took them around the rest area’s bathrooms and welcome center and gave them a straight shot to the other parking lot, where semi-trailers filled the slots.
    Grace understood they were on a mission. She kept a steady pace beside him, sniffing the air and looking up at him for instruction.
    The man and the little girl had been walking