I was in a cold sweat as I drove toward town knowing John Luke Grasso was in the area! Why was he faking having a mother and child with him? Unless he was planning on getting them! If I hadn't been summoned to Detective Jackson's office, I would have gone there anyway. I broke the speed limit wasting no time getting there. If I was stopped by the police I could have used the escort. I pulled up in front and was inside the building as fast as I could move. Jackson must have seen me drive up because he was waiting by the door.
"Look," I said before he could open his mouth, "there's a Pace Arrow motor home that just left town. The guy driving is wanted nationwide for a number of murders!" I rattled off the plate number from memory.
"Whoa," he said, taking my arm. "Come on back to the office and we'll talk about it."
"Don't waste time, damn it!" I yelled, pulling my arm away. Two uniformed officers nearby turned their heads.
"Take it easy," Jackson said as he turned away and continued down the hall forcing me to follow.
"This is vital," I said. He sat behind his desk and motioned me to a side chair.
"You've got friends in high places," he said calmly. "I was basically told to keep off your back but no one mentioned I should run errands for you. As a kid I was afraid of the dark and now that I'm all grown up, I don't much like being kept in the dark either. Your friends in Washington didn't feel the need to do any explaining. I thought you might be a bit more accommodating."
"Look," I said, still standing. "There's a killer . . ." He held up his hand in a stopping gesture. I could see I wasn't getting anywhere. I took a seat.
"Tell me you're not this psychic guy that's got everyone chasing after ghosts 'cause I have to tell you I'm from Missouri and you've got to show me."
"I'm not the psychic guy," I said.
"Who the hell are you? The more I look into your Econ shit, the more it looks like a front. I stopped by you other worker's home, the LeBlancs. They're not home. They didn't go to the funeral too, did they?"
"No they . . . left town." I added, "They were frightened after what happened to me at Howie Abbott's house." He must have thought it fruitless to pursue that angle so he moved on.
"Now some really big names tell me to back off but it's my hen house where all you fox are playing. Then someone tries to kill one of you bushy tail bastards and I save your ass and get zero credit for doing so."