“You ready to give up?” he asked.
“I’m not sure what to do.” She stood amid the flashing lights and clattering slot machines of Thunder Valley, gazing down at the photograph. “Maybe Sebastian’s Wesley Boss isn’t my Wesley Boss. Maybe I’m using the wrong man’s photograph.”
“Or maybe we’re asking the wrong dealers.”
“You think we should wait until later?”
“We don’t know when he gambles. If it’s at night, it makes sense to ask the dealers who work that shift.”
She’d already thought of that, but waiting meant they’d lose even more time. Marcie had been alive when she called. Was she still alive? What about Latisha? “If I need to come back, Kate will have to stay at my in-laws’ again,” she mused.
“I’d offer to make the rounds for you but I promised Zoë I wouldn’t work tonight,” he said. “My hours have been crazy lately.”
“I can do it,” she told him. “Kate loves it at the Burkes’.”
A security guard gave them a funny look, as if he suspected them of trying to do something wrong. What, exactly, that might be, Jane couldn’t figure out. They weren’t even gambling. Maybe he’d seen her flashing that picture around and didn’t like it. She always felt so watched in a casino. It made her uncomfortable. But the fact that they’d caught this guy’s interest gave her an idea.
Stepping around Jonathan, she approached him. “Sir, could you help me?”
Bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows like those of an old-time sea captain jerked together above murky gray eyes. “With what?”
After introducing herself and Jonathan, she explained their purpose. “Have you seen this man?” she asked once he understood.
He studied the photograph, but ultimately shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not.”
“Is there any way we could view the security tapes to see if he’s been in?”
“I’m not the one who can give permission for that. I’m guessing you’d need to contact the police and have them get in touch with management.”
“There’s already a detective on the case. I could talk to him, see what he can do,” she said. But this was such a long shot. Would there be probable cause to get a court order, if one was necessary? And was it the best place to spend their time, anyway?
“Although…” Security considered the picture again. “I suppose I could check the tapes myself.”
Jane exchanged a glance with Jonathan. “Would you mind?”
“How far back do you want me to go?”
“Would six weeks be too long?” Jonathan asked.
“Nah.” He clicked his tongue. “But I’d have to do this on my own time, so it could take a while.”
More discouraging news. Maybe David could shorten that time frame by gaining access to the tapes, but he’d have to work it out with the tribal council. Jane assumed they had jurisdiction. “We’d appreciate whatever you can do.” At least it was a start.
“No problem.”
She handed him the picture, along with her business card. “You can reach me here if you find anything.”
“Will do.”
Jane’s cell phone rang as they walked out of the casino. “It’s Skye,” she told Jonathan in disbelief.
He seemed just as surprised as she was. “Calling from South America?”
“Must be.”
When she hesitated instead of answering, he stopped. “Aren’t you going to take it?”
Jane wasn’t sure she wanted to. So much had changed since her friend and boss had left. She was searching for two kidnap victims, had made love with someone she’d just met-and she might be pregnant. She didn’t want Skye to know about these things, did she? How much could she tell her?
“Jane?” Jonathan prompted.
“Of course.” She punched the talk button before the call could transfer to voice mail. “Hello?”
“How’s it going?” Skye asked.
Jane tried to put a smile in her voice. “Fine. What about you?”
“Could be better. We still haven’t found the child we’ve been looking for. It’s so difficult when you don’t speak much of the language.”
To escape the noise, Jane stepped away from the automatic doors but remained under the overhang to avoid the rain. The worst of the storm had passed, but it continued to drizzle. “How much longer do you think it will take?”
“Who knows. We’ve got some good leads, some extended family members who are sympathetic and asking around on our behalf, but there’s no way to tell for sure. I’m hoping it won’t be more than a week. I really miss David and the kids.”
“They miss you, too.”
“I hope I never have to take another job like this.”
“You didn’t have to take this one,” Jane reminded her.
“Yes, I did. We need the money. Besides, someone’s got to help out in situations like this. It’s more of a problem than people realize.”
Someone spoke in the background.
“Was that Ava?” Jane asked.
“Yes, she said these are tough cases.”
There were plenty of tough cases at home. Jane was working on one-not that Ava would be happy to hear it. “No kidding.”
“What’s been happening at the office?”
Biting her lip, she turned away from Jonathan. She didn’t want to see his reaction when she lied. “Nothing much, why?”
“Just wanted to make sure you were managing okay without us. It must be weird being the only one there.”
“Jonathan’s been in and out. And there are the volunteers to keep me company.”
“So you’re okay.”
The smell of someone’s cigarette wafted toward Jane, making her crave a smoke. “Of course. I’m fine.”
“Good. Thanks for looking after TLS while we’re gone.”
She glanced around to find the person who was smoking, spotted the security guard and smiled enviously. She knew she’d never light up again, but that didn’t always stem the desire. “Anytime. Be safe, and I hope to see you soon,” she told Skye.
Jonathan frowned when she hung up. “Don’t you think you should’ve told her?”
“Why? It’s over already. I’m not going to sleep with him again.”
A crooked smile curved his lips. “I was talking about the case.”