The City PI and the Country Cop (6 page)

“You made it in record time,” Teague said by
way of greeting.

“Yep. I parked the car in the lot of a motel
at the other end of town.”

“That works. Unpack if you want while I call
Detective Newman to let him know you’re here.”

“Naw. I’ll change when we get back and then
hit the street.” At the moment Keir was dressed in a pair of decent
jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt topped by a jean jacket. Not what
he’d be wearing once he was undercover.

Teague nodded, calling Hoyt to ask where they
should meet since bringing Keir to the police department wasn’t a
good idea.

Hoyt went silent momentarily then said, “My
place. It’s fairly isolated. Come around to the back door.” He gave
Teague the address. “Walking or driving? If you drive, you can park
at the Shop and Gas a quarter mile from me.”

“We’ll do that,” Teague replied.

After hanging up, Teague told Keir what they
were doing. “I’ll leave by the front door.” Teague smiled slightly.
“You, I presume, with get out of here the way you came in. My Trek
is in the back lot.”

“Yep. Gotta love service entrances. I’ll meet
you there.”

Fifteen minutes later Teague and Keir got out
of Teague’s car at the convenience store and cautiously made it
from there, via the trees that lined the rear of the properties, to
Hoyt’s house.

The detective let them in through the back
door and suggested they go into the living room after asking if
they wanted coffee. Keir declined, Teague didn’t.

“He’s not bad looking, for an older guy,”
Keir whispered once he and Teague were seated on the sofa.

“He’s close to my age,” Teague muttered.

Keir grinned. “Like I said, an older
guy.”

Teague just rolled his eyes.

As soon as Hoyt came into the room, handing
Teague his coffee, the detective examine Keir from head to toe. If
the look on Hoyt’s face had anything to do with his feelings, he
wasn’t impressed—in Teague’s considered opinion.

Hoyt settled in an overstuffed armchair
opposite the sofa, leaned back and shook his head. “He’ll never—”
he focused his attention on Keir, “You’ll never pass as a homeless
teen.”

Keir smirked. “Try me.”

“What experience do you have?”

“I’ve been there, done that. Want to see my
resume?”

“Keir,” Teague cautioned.

Hoyt shot Teague an irate glance. “You didn’t
tell me he was a smartass.”

Keir replied before Teague could, “I’m not,
actually. I meant it when I said I know what it takes when it comes
to being on the street. I spent a year living hand-to-mouth before
I realized that wasn’t getting me anywhere. So I got it together
and reformed. I have a Certificate in Private Investigation from
Cal State, Fullerton, as well as an associate degree in acting.
Don’t laugh. It comes in handy.”

“Wasn’t planning on laughing,” Hoyt said
seriously. “That’s quite a mix there. And you’re what? Maybe twenty
and that’s pushing it.”

Teague chuckled. “Told you he looked younger
than he is. He’s twenty-four.”

“It’s my damned boyish good looks that fool
people,” Keir grumbled. “Emphasis on ‘boy’.” Then he grinned. “But
it’ll work in this case, if I get lucky and the SOB comes after
me.”

“That is what we’re hoping will happen,” Hoyt
replied. “Where we set it up will make all the difference.”

“What are the options?” Keir asked, all
business now.

“There’s a bar called The Red Calf. Lee
Grimes was seen outside there, or I should say possibly seen. If it
was him, the inference is he was hustling. Then there’s Smith Park.
Grimes body was found at the outskirts.”

Keir nodded. “Is the park used as a cruising
site?”

“Parts of it are.”

“Detective,” Keir said pointedly, “there’s
not such thing as parts of. If guys are there looking for fast sex,
or to hook up and go home with someone, they use the whole area.
Take it from one who knows.”

Hoyt put up his hands in acceptance. “I stand
corrected and you’re right. After midnight it’s primarily men
cruising. Not that it happens a lot since this is a small city, but
when it does, it’s there, not in town. Not even by The Red Calf.”
Hoyt chuckled mirthlessly. “Inside is a different story of
course.”

“Is the park patrolled?”

“A deputy will do a drive-by on his rounds,
but unless he sees something that catches his attention, that’s it.
When Teague takes you to look at it you’ll see why.”

Teague started to say “Me?” Then he got it.
And that brought up a point that unfortunately neither he nor Hoyt
had thought of until now. “I’ve undoubtedly been seen with you,
Hoyt. That could make it difficult for me to be Keir’s backup.”

Hoyt lifted an eyebrow. “You’ve never gone
undercover?”

Momentarily flustered by the question,
because he knew his comment had made him look somewhat
unprofessional, Teague took a drink of his coffee then replied that
he had.

“He’s damned good at it, too,” Keir added.
“Almost as good as me.”

“Where are you staying, Keir?” Hoyt asked,
returning his attention to the young man.

“With Teague. I’ll catch a couple hours of
sleep there mid-day and spend the rest of my time out and about.
Mostly at the park I think. I’ll find a spot there where I can bed
down at night.”

“Sleeping rough?” Hoyt asked in surprise.

“I have to look like a homeless teen out for
the main chance, so yeah, I will be,” Keir replied. “It’s for
damned sure the guy we’re after will make certain I’m the real
thing before he decides to grab me.”

“Okay,” Teague said after a moment’s thought.
“If we’re going to make this work I should dump the motel room I’m
using, leave town and then return as a new—” he made finger quotes,
“—man. I’ll find a different motel and let you know where,
Keir.”

Keir nodded. “Pick one I can get into
unobserved.”

“Try the Cut-Rate Inn. It’s got exterior
entrances to the rooms, front and back,” Hoyt suggested. “Get a
room in the rear and Keir should be able to get in and out with no
one seeing him if he’s careful.”

Keir smirked. “I’m always careful.”

“Thinking like that can get you dead,” Hoyt
replied acerbically.

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“You have a phone?” Hoyt asked Keir.

“Yep. Two. I’ll give you the number to the
throwaway. And I need your number.”

Hoyt gave it to him and vice versa. Then he
suggested they call an end to their meeting as there was nothing
more to discuss until everything was set up, and he needed to get
back to work. “But keep in touch. Both of you. Teague, let me know
where you end up.”

“I will. Hopefully at the Cut-Rate.”

“Shouldn’t be much of a problem with that,”
Hoyt told him with a grin. “They get one and two-star ratings on
the travel sites and it’s not ski season yet. They’ll probably
greet you with open arms.”

“As long as it’s clean, I’m good.”

“Clean is a relative term, but it’s not a
roach motel.” Hoyt stood, saying, “Okay, I’ll see both of you
later,” as he headed toward the kitchen, cup in hand.

Teague put his half-empty cup down on the
counter when he got to the kitchen.

“Slow drinker,” Hoyt commented, winking at
him.

“It’s not like we were here all that long,”
Teague protested.

“True. The last time we drank coffee together
things were, well, maybe not more relaxed but…Yeah, they were
relaxed. At least until we started talking about the case again. As
I remember, you managed to down two cups of coffee that night.”

“Guess I did at that.”

“You two going to stand there all day
reminiscing?” Keir asked, chuckling.

“Kids,” Hoyt grumbled, opening the back door
so they could leave. For a second his gaze met Teague’s and Teague
thought he saw a flash of desire in Hoyt’s expression. One he felt
as well and quickly tamped down.

I’m sure I was imagining it. I’m tired and
stressed and it’s telling on me in ways it shouldn’t. With luck
we’ll catch the bastard we’re after and then I’ll be gone. Back
home and back to work. Still…

Teague quickly joined Keir, who was already
waiting at the rear of Hoyt’s property. Teague turned back for a
moment and saw Hoyt still standing in the doorway. They nodded to
each other and then Hoyt went inside, closing the door behind
him.

Keir looked knowingly at Teague as they began
to walk back to the car. “You’re interested in him.”

“Not really.”

“Yeah, really. There’s nothing
wrong
with that.”

“There is. I’m only going to be here long
enough to catch the man who killed Lee Grimes, and, hopefully, get
a lead on who killed the other boys twenty plus years ago in the
Collingswood area.”

“A man who’s probably dead by now,” Keir
replied.

“That’s what I have to find out,” Teague said
tightly.

“I know. But damn it, Teague, just because
you’re here to do all that doesn’t mean you can’t have a personal
life, too. If you and the detective want some down-and-dirty, go
for it. Who knows, maybe you’ve finally met a guy who would be good
for you.”

“Halfway across the country,” Teague replied
sourly.

Keir grinned. “So you are interested?”

Teague shrugged. “Maybe.”

“That’s better than ‘Not really’.”

Teague shot him a disgusted look, then
grinned. “Where’s your bow and quiver of arrows?”

“In my backpack,” Keir replied without
batting an eye.

“Smartass kid.”

Keir just laughed as he got into the car,
since they were at it by then. Fifteen minutes later they got out
in a darkened corner of the motel lot. Keir scurried to the motel’s
service entrance while Teague walked around to the front, went in
and up to his room. He wasn’t terribly surprised to find Keir was
already inside.

“Snagged my other keycard when I wasn’t
looking?” Teague asked.

“Well duh. You left it sitting on the
dresser.”

Teague shrugged. “It was for you anyway. Go
get changed, and then I’ll drop you off at the park.”

Keir did. When he came out of the bathroom he
was a whole new person—visually. His medium-length brown hair
looked as if it could use a good combing, his jeans had definitely
seen better days, and the dark gray hoodie he was wearing was faded
in spots, with holes at the elbows. Even his tennis shoes were far
from pristine. “Ta da,” he said, spinning around.

“Looks good to me.”

Keir grinned, asking, “So how are you going
to change your appearance?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Since I’ve been here,
I’ve been wearing slacks and button-down shirts. Sort of the
businessman passing through town look.”

“Then go casual, if you brought other
clothes. And shave. The beard and mustache thing you seem to have
going makes you stand out. That’s what people who’ve seen you will
remember. That and the hair. Get it cut. How far is the next
town?”

Teague chuckled. “About twenty miles from
here, bossman.”

“Good. As soon as you check out in the
morning, go there and…”

“Damn, Keir, I really do know how to go
undercover and what it takes.”

“I know, sorry.”

Teague patted his shoulder. “No problem. Like
you told Hoyt, you are better at it than I am. Now if you’re ready,
let’s get moving. And be careful. What do you have in the way of
protection?”

“Presuming you don’t mean rubbers, I’ve got
my knife—” Keir put his hand at the back of his waistband, “—and
pepper spray.”

“Good.” Teague unlocked the door, watching
while Keir moved quickly down the hallway to the fire stairs. Then
Teague left the motel via the front entrance. When he got to the
car, Keir was waiting. A few minutes later Teague dropped the young
man off by the park, but well away from its dimly lit parking lot.
“Be—”

“Careful. Yeah I know. You wouldn’t have
hired me if you didn’t know that I know what I’m doing.”

“True. Still…” Teague chuckled when Keir
lifted his middle finger before disappearing into the trees that
filled the park.

* * * *

Early the next morning, Teague packed and
checked out of the motel. Once he was on the road his first stop
was the county airport. As much as he hated giving up his Trek for
the duration of his time in the area, he knew it was too
recognizable. So he parked it in the long-term lot and rented a
car. With that done, he continued on to the small town he’d passed
through on the way to Faircrest. He found the one and only
barbershop and, as per Keir’s suggestion, had his hair cut much
shorter than he normally kept it. He got a shave as well—something
he would have done before leaving Faircrest, but he didn’t want to
change his appearance at that point.

With that taken care of, he stopped at a gas
station/convenience store on the way out of town to change from his
more formal clothes into jeans, a plaid flannel shirt, and
sneakers. Then he took out his contacts, replacing them with the
dark-rimmed glasses he carried in case of emergencies. After
checking the results in the washroom mirror, he decided he’d done
the best he could on short notice.

When he got back to Faircrest, he located the
Cut-Rate Inn, which was at the tag end of town, well away from Main
Street and the road leading to the ski resort which he knew was ten
miles north of the town. He chuckled to himself when he was greeted
enthusiastically by the desk clerk, remembering Hoyt’s comment that
it would probably happen. After asking for and getting a room on
the ground floor at the backside of the motel, he drove around, got
his bag from the car, and went inside.

Not as bad as I
expected, or a good as I’d like,
he decided, looking at the
cigarette burns on the edge of the nightstand and a stain of
undetermined origin on the carpet. Despite those quibbles, the
sheets and bedspread were clean, if obviously old, and the bathroom
was in decent shape except for a rust stain around the shower
drain.