Page 40

Thirty-Eight

Raven found Rio a little standoffish. He couldn’t determine whether the guy had a problem with him for some reason or another.

He had gotten along with everyone in the office.

They had accepted him and understood he had a few quirks from living alone in the forest for a number of years.

Rio however was different. When they were together, he was over-the-top professional and didn’t engage in the normal conversations most people working together enjoyed.

He wondered if it was because of Rio’s retentive memory.

Maybe the man had so much in his head he’d rather not take on any more information.

He glanced at him as they headed along the highway out of town toward the industrial area.

“Do you know where the meat processing plant is, or do you want me to enter the coordinates into the GPS?”

“I know where it is.” Rio gripped the steering wheel noticeably tighter. “The last owner kidnapped people for body parts and converted their remains into fertilizer. It closed down for a year before it was sold again. This owner is legit. Kalo checked him out.”

Scratching his cheek, Raven allowed his mind to drift back to the media reports about the meat processing plant and nodded. “Yeah, now you mention it, I do recall something about that.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?” Rio shot him a glance and a nerve twitched in his cheek.

Wondering what was on his mind, Raven shook his head. “Nope. I’m an open book.”

“When did you first meet Emily Wolfe?” Rio’s eyes stayed fixed on the road.

Smiling at the memory, Raven raised one eyebrow. “Last winter. Around the time her sister was in the plane wreck. Why?”

“No reason really.” Rio headed along an exit ramp and onto a winding road past factories.

“We had a thing going and then she suddenly changed her mind. I figured it might have been because she’d met you.

Are you seeing her? I mean you were stuck in the mountains with her overnight.

You must have gotten close. Near-death experiences do that, right? ”

Blindsided for a second, Raven stared at him.

So this was it. His interest in Emily was causing a problem.

“No, I’m not seeing her. I’d like to, but in the mountains, she found me overprotective, and as you know she is a very independent woman.

” He smiled. “If it’s on your mind that I tried to steal your girl then you’re way off base.

I don’t move in on women who are seeing other people.

It’s not my style. I prefer to avoid complications.

I’m old-school… maybe too old-school for Emily. ”

“Nah, she likes you.” Rio turned into a parking lot and the odor of blood and meat drifted into the truck.

“Rowley told me and he heard it from his wife. But you’re right, she’s independent.

Her priority is becoming an ME and working with Wolfe.

I took second fiddle to that for a couple of years.

The moment I told her I might try and get a sheriff’s position in the future, she dropped me like a hot stone. ”

Not believing his explanation, Raven grunted.

He’d come to see both sides of Emily during their time together.

She might be independent, but Dave Kane was a hero figure to her.

She admired him and how he cared for Jenna.

He figured if he wanted to attract Emily, he’d need to be her best friend, someone she could depend on—and trust. He’d made great headway so far in their friendship, but he wasn’t planning on rushing in and spoiling things.

Some things were worth waiting for and he’d wait a lifetime for someone like her.

He could feel Rio staring at him and cleared his throat.

“That’s too bad but it’s better you found out now than live a lie until a messy divorce.

” He shrugged. “I’m working two jobs right now, so romance is the last thing on my list. I figure, love comes along when you least expect it and sweeps you off your feet.

I’m looking for forever. The rest is just a waste of time. ”

“That’s a good attitude to have. I might try that myself.” Rio pushed on his hat. “Now let’s go see what Ben Holloway has to say for himself.”

Raven glanced at the entrance and all the prohibited notices. “I’ll leave Ben in the truck. Can you buzz down the windows?”

“Sure.” Rio glanced at Ben. “He’s the quietest dog I’ve ever met.”

Laughing, Raven reached for the door handle. “Yeah, he is until you make him angry.”

They strolled into the meat processing plant and came to a front counter.

Notices all around prohibited visitors from entering the premises.

Raven stood to one side as Rio made inquiries at the desk.

From time to time, men walked past wearing white coveralls and rubber boots, pushing large containers from one area to another.

The men were streaked with blood. A bad smell hung in the air like a miasma of various stinks, including blood, offal, cow manure, fear, and antiseptic.

The woman at the desk made a few phone calls and then sent them to a lunchroom along one of the passageways.

“We apparently wait here and someone will go and get him from the kill floor.” Rio wandered around the room staring at the posters giving information about various diseases in livestock and how washing your hands before eating is imperative.

“I hadn’t realized there were so many diseases in livestock in this state. ”

Shrugging, Raven removed his hat, smoothed his hair, and replaced it. “It’s all over unfortunately.”

They’d waited for at least fifteen minutes before squelching footsteps came down the passageway.

Raven had seen an image of Holloway, but this man looked completely different.

His face was rugged, with a large nose, and he wore a hairnet obscuring the color of his hair.

He figured he must be at least six-two and his calloused hands showed recent hard labor.

He wouldn’t be doing that on the kill floor at a meat processing plant.

The work there was gruesome and it took someone with a strong stomach to manage the death, blood, and smells without puking.

“Mr. Holloway.” Rio took out his notebook and pen and stared at the man. “We’ve dropped by to ask you why you haven’t reported to the sheriff’s office in Black Rock Falls to inform us that you are working in our county and on the sex offender registry. It’s required by law.”

“I’m not living in Black Rock Falls.” Holloway’s brow creased into a deep frown. “I’m registered in Blackwater, which if you had taken the time to call them, you would have known instead of wasting your time coming here to interrupt me at work.”

Anger rolled off the man and Raven moved closer to the door to prevent him from running away.

He wasn’t sure if Rio’s approach to this man was warranted under the circumstances.

Boots and all sometimes had the opposite effect on people you needed to cooperate.

He flicked a glance at Rio who gave him a slight nod.

“I’m sorry that you’ve been misinformed.

Anyplace you work you’ll need to report in.

Being a sex offender is something the people of Montana have a right to know.

Women working here need to be aware that you’re here as well so that they can protect themselves if necessary. ”

“Protect themselves from me?” Holloway’s smile was more of a grimace. “I spent four years in jail for something I didn’t do. Why is it they raise us to respect women, when they’re the first people to put in the boot when you’re down?”

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, Raven tried to get a take on this guy. One thing was for sure—he hated women. “I don’t believe that’s true, but we’re not here to discuss your case with you. Just for the record, could you tell us when you started working here?”

“Yeah, three weeks ago.” Holloway crossed his arms across his chest, displaying strong forearms. “It was the only work I could get. I wanted a forestry job. I’m qualified.

I used my time in jail to make myself a better man.

Seems that killing cows isn’t everyone’s choice of a career, but I hunt, so blood and guts don’t worry me. ”

“Thanks, can you give me a rundown of where you were between Friday last and today?” Rio stood feet apart and back straight. “We need a timeline of your activity for our log.”

“You must be joking?” Holloway looked from one to the other and snorted in derision.

“I don’t have to tell you jack shit. You’ve informed me of my negligence, and I’ll remedy it right now.

My name is Ben Holloway and I’m a sex offender.

Please make sure I’m on your sex offender registry.

” He glared at Rio. “Got that?” He indicated to Raven.

“He is my witness. Need me to sign anything?”

“Nope.” Rio folded his notebook and put it slowly back inside his pocket.

“FYI, Black Rock Falls has CCTV cameras all over. If we run a facial recognition program and we discover you’ve been involved in any criminal activity, we’ll be back.

” He poked a finger into the lunch table.

“This is my jurisdiction. Just remember that.” He pushed past Holloway and headed for the front door.

Raven stared after him and then looked at Holloway.

He didn’t like the guy and his aggression was a problem.

He obviously had no fear of law enforcement and most people were a little intimidated during questioning.

This guy was very confident. “Thank you for your time. Don’t worry about any repercussions from your boss.

We told the woman at the counter we had recovered stolen property belonging to you.

Have a nice day.” He left Holloway staring after him.

Outside in the parking lot, he found Rio leaning against the hood of his truck. “Was that good cop, bad cop? I’ve never done that before. Maybe a heads-up next time?”

“Nope. He’s hiding something.” Rio waved a hand toward town. “We’re going back to report nothing. It makes us look incompetent.”

Frowning, Raven turned to him. “I don’t agree. That guy is volatile, hates being locked up at work. He’s on the edge of needing to get away and could easily be the killer. He has no respect for cops and he’s a smart-ass. Give that information to Jenna. She’ll find good use for it.”

“Well.” Rio stared at him. “Kane said you were good. Maybe I’ve underestimated you.”

Raven chuckled and pulled open the door to the truck. “It’s called life experience. If you’d served in the military, you’d understand.”

“One thing is for darn sure, that’s never gonna happen.

” Rio started the engine. “Let’s get out of this place.

It gives me the creeps.” He pointed to a bone-crushing machine.

“See that thing there. They use it to crush all the leftover bones and other stuff to make into fertilizer or dog food. Some crazy psychopath tried to stuff Rowley into it.” He shuddered.

“That week I gave up tending my garden.”

Raven tried not to laugh. “That’s nasty but it’s a shame about your garden. Not that I have one. Mine is the forest, wild and untamed.”

“Oh, now don’t start me on the forest.” Rio gave him a sideways glance.

“I’m a towny, born and bred. I like places where you can see what’s coming for you and there’s not something big enough to eat you around every tree.

” He turned out onto the highway. “Let’s change the subject. Do you like football…?”