The Gardens of Digby Green: Circle K
Despite meetings about other cases, and a court appearance, the B.O.L. about Digby Green stuck in Detective Marquez’s mind like a ticking timer. He checked the messaging app, but none of his guys, local or state, had responded with a sighting. Marquez groaned, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Detective Marquez?”
Marquez swiveled his chair. The taller man in the doorway brought out his wallet and showed an FBI card. Sighing, Marquez beckoned him in. The agent stepped through and shut the door.
“Agent Sikes,” he said, as he took the chair opposite Marquez.
“Sikes,” Marques acknowledged as he clicked the tab to check the messaging app one more time. Come on, guys, tell me you’ve cornered this Green dude somewhere, before I have to hand over control of this case. Nothing.
“We’ve been running checks in multiple states for other unsolved crimes with this weird pairing of plants for victim names and places,” the agent said.
“And?” Marquez held his breath. Of course there’ve been more. What else should a cop expect in this world? His stomach soured.
“We’ve found ten, so far. All east of the Rockies.”
#
Ray rolled off the exit ramp and joined a lane full of classic cars. The Chrysler fit right in. A couple of people honked, smiled and waved at him. They were on a business thoroughfare, and the other classic owners turned off into a large mall parking lot where sandwich board signs advertised a car show. “Are they part of a club?”
Ahead of him, brake lights glowed red. Ray hit his brakes. Where was Digby Green? He couldn’t let his attention drift. There he was, stuck two vehicles away, behind a furniture delivery van. When the traffic light changed, Ray made it through the intersection, and saw Green turn into a Circle K gas station. He followed.
Inside the convenience store, a woman stood at the cashier’s counter, fishing in the depths of her shoulder bag. Two giggling little girls ducked around the display racks until the taller one stopped in her tracks. She let loose a scream that nearly made the plate glass window vibrate. Ray flinched and covered his ears.
The Gardens of Digby Green: Circle K is. part of a serialized story that posts on Fridays.
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Ruth DeMaat
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