Chapter 117

Chapter 117
Chapter Title: The Bagman's Drop

Kathy

The Greasy Fork was practically empty when Reynolds and I arrived.

A few fishermen occupied the booths near the windows, eating plates of eggs and bacon while nursing steaming cups of coffee. The bell above the door chimed as we walked in.

Every head turned toward us. Reynolds lifted a hand and waved. The fishermen returned to their breakfasts.

We walked toward the counter, where Alice, Archer's veteran waitress, stood wiping the counter.

She looked up and smiled. "Hiya, Blake. So what'll it be?"

"Two coffees, please. Extra creamer for me."

"You got it."

Alice placed two ceramic cups on saucers in front of us, then filled them from the coffee pot. She followed them with a sugar bowl and a small pitcher of cream.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Blake." She leaned against the counter. "Ever since—"

"I arrested Ryder for assault," Reynolds finished.

Alice laughed. "I was going to say ever since you broke up with Connie."

"Well, I didn't want to run into her with the man she cheated with."

"Seems like you haven't moved on. It's been, what, a year or so?"

"I've moved on," Reynolds said. "And so has she."

"Yeah. I heard Connie found a job in Baltimore." Alice poured herself a cup of coffee. "I was hoping she'd come visit Crisfield this summer. Her mom said she's busy, though. Maybe Thanksgiving."

"She's busy with her new boyfriend. I heard she's happy."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "And aren't you happy for her?"

Reynolds sighed. "I am. I just didn't wish we'd had to break up on bad terms. If she wasn't happy with me, she could've been truthful about it and just broken up with me instead of gallivanting behind my back with Archer." He took a sip of coffee. "Speaking of Archer, is he in?"

Alice's expression changed slightly. "Why?"

"We have a few questions for him," Reynolds said. "Including a drop-off made by Benny's bagman."

"Benny's bagman?"

"Yes. A man named Gray."

Alice frowned. "Archer hasn't come by since Delish the other day. It's just been me, Donna, and Stu."

“What about Gray?” Reynolds asked.

“He did drop something off in Archer’s office in the back. But Archer hasn’t come by to pick it up.”

“What was inside the bag?” Reynolds asked. “Do you know?”

“Wait here,” Alice said. “I’ll get you the bag.”

She disappeared through the door leading to the back. A few moments later, she returned carrying a leather clutch.

“This is it,” Alice said, placing it in front of Reynolds. “I don’t want Archer getting wrapped up in Benny’s crew. Poor boy has already suffered enough.”

“Thanks, Alice,” Reynolds said. “I owe you one.”

I set my cup down. "Has Archer called?"

"Yesterday morning."

"What did he say?"

"He said he and Brianna were headed out of town."

"By car or boat?"

"I don't know."

I took another sip of coffee. "Did he say when he'd be back?"

Alice shook her head. "No. But that's Archer. He's here one second and gone the next. Maybe you should ask Ace. He'll probably know more than me."

The bell above the door chimed.

Alice glanced toward the entrance. "Speaking of the devil."

We turned.

Ace walked through the door, completely absorbed in the woman beside him. I recognized her immediately—a brunette model from the event at Delish.

She was tall and slim, wearing a tight-fitting summer dress that hugged every curve of her body.

Ace finally tore his gaze away from her and noticed Reynolds and me staring.

Reynolds started chuckling.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Yesterday he was playing jealous boyfriend. Apparently, his mourning period lasted about twelve hours." He glanced toward Ace. "One thing the Ryder brothers have in common is the number of notches on their bedposts."

I sighed. And I'm one of them.

The thought made my stomach twist.

But as they say, don't hate the player. Hate the game. And in this game, I was getting really frustrated.

Ace escorted his date toward an empty booth before sauntering over to us.

His shirt was slightly open, his hair tousled. And I could've sworn there was lipstick on his lips.

"Alice," Ace called. "Chicken sandwich and a salad for Chloe, and the usual for myself."

"We don't serve salad," Alice grunted.

"Just grab some lettuce from a burger and put it on her plate." He flashed her a smile before dropping into the seat between Reynolds and me. "You two on a date?"

"No," Reynolds said. "We're here for Archer. Do you know where he is?"

Ace's expression hardened slightly. "I'm not my brother's keeper. What is this about?"

"Benny," Reynolds said.

Ace's eyes narrowed.

"You heard, right?" Reynolds pressed.

"Of course I heard. There was a raid at T&A, and SWAT killed him."

"Your information is skewed, Ace," Reynolds scoffed. "We found Benny dead in his office. He was already dead before we got there."

A flicker of surprise crossed Ace's face. He recovered quickly.

"So what does this have to do with Archer? Just because Benny ends up dead, we're suspects?"
He straightened. "If we wanted Benny dead for killing our father, he would've died a long time ago."

"First of all, Ace," I said, "you have an alibi. Secondly, we aren't here because of Benny." I held his gaze. "We're here because of me."

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Benny's bagman told us he dropped off Archer's usual cut, plus extra money for his car."

"For his car?" Ace repeated.

"Don't you remember being shot at on our way to Ocean City?" I reminded him. "That was because Archer told Benny where to find us."

Ace laughed. "The only problem I see there, Special Agent, is that Archer wouldn't put me—or himself—in danger like that. Benny's bagman is lying."

"Then help us prove him wrong," Reynolds said.
"Tell us where we can find Archer. Alice said he went out of town with Brianna. Do you have any idea where they could've gone?"

Ace hesitated. It was brief. But I noticed.

"He called after the two of you left the Williamson mansion," he said. "Said he'd be back in a day or two."

"That's it?"

"Honestly, all I heard were waves in the background. You should check with the marina if his boat is there." He pulled out his phone. "Better yet, I'll check." He tapped a number.

The call was answered almost immediately.

"Hey, Bert. Sorry to bother you this late. Is my brother's boat there?"

"Yeah, it is," a man's voice answered. "It's been here for several days. Nobody's on board. I figured Archer was staying with you."

"Bert, Detective Blake Reynolds," Reynolds said. "How about the Senator's yacht?"

There was a brief pause.

"Not here. Including Hank's."

Reynolds exchanged a glance with me. "Any idea where they went?"

"Must've sailed toward Snow Hill."

"What's in Snow Hill?"

"Not really sure. But I did overhear Hank say something about his grandmother owning a house there."

"Thanks, Bert," Reynolds said. "I'll drop by if I need some clarification."

The call ended.

Ace looked at him. "Why are you asking about the Senator?"

"Benny seemed to be following him," Reynolds said smoothly. "Benny's bagman told us the Senator's boat was unaccounted for, and Bert just confirmed it." Reynolds turned toward Ace.
"I think he's also telling the truth about your brother."

Ace stared at him.

Reynolds stood and pulled some cash from his wallet. He placed it on the counter.

"Alice, Ace and his girlfriend's meal is on me."

Ace looked at him. "Appreciate it."

"Don't mention it." Reynolds grabbed the clutch and nodded toward the door. "Come on, Hastings."

I slid off the stool and followed him outside. The moment the door closed behind us, I looked at him.

"You don't believe Ace," I said.

"No."

"Neither do I."

We started walking toward his car.

“Archer's boat is sitting at the marina,” I said. “So if he really left town with Brianna, he didn't take it.”

“I doubt he left with Brianna, though,” Reynolds said. “She's baggage he doesn't need.”

Once we were inside the car, Reynolds placed the leather clutch in an evidence bag and pulled out his phone.

“I need an address for the manager of Delish. Brianna,” he said. “Nick, can you get that for me?”

A few moments later, his phone pinged.

“Got it.” He glanced at the address. “One last stop, then I'll drop you home. We both need a few hours of sleep.”

Surprisingly, Brianna lived near Kimberly.

There was a light on inside the house, and I noticed movement behind one of the windows as we approached.

A middle-aged man in coveralls stepped outside.

“Detective Blake Reynolds, CPD,” Reynolds said. “Sir, is this the residence of Brianna Travis?”

“My daughter,” the man replied. “She's still asleep. Come by later if you need to speak to her.”

“Thank you, sir. Will do.”

We returned to the car.

“I told you,” Reynolds said as he started the engine. “Archer is somewhere else. I'm going to see if I can ping his location through his registered number.”

“Then I'm coming with you.”

“No. You need to get some sleep.” He stopped the car in front of Kimberly's house. “I'll see you later at the precinct.”