Page 91 of In Cold Blood

“I’m sorry,” he said, sounding confused and looking at theother deputies. “I’m not familiar with you. I know you are a Sutherland but I wasn’t aware you were working for the Sheriff’s Office?”

“I don’t. They’re working with us.” He took out his BCI badge and flashed it.

“Ah, State Police. My condolences. I heard one of your own ran into a little trouble. I hope he’s on the mend. Dangerous business, law enforcement. You never quite know who you will run into.”

Noah ignored the jab. It was underhanded. He now had to wonder if Harry was behind the attack.

“How long has Cyrus Keller been working for you?”

He shrugged. “Three, maybe four years.”

“And mostly bar work?”

“That and he runs errands. Hence the vehicle.”

“Like?”

“Anything and everything.”

Noah nodded; he could tell Harry was being difficult.

“Is he in the habit of lashing out? You know, since I heard you didn’t fire him when he struck a patron?”

“We’re all entitled to make a few mistakes, are we not, officer?” He let his words linger as if he knew Noah’s past. “Besides, it was nothing more than a misunderstanding born out of too much drink. It was resolved.”

“So there were no consequences for his actions?”

“I sent him home.”

“And he hasn’t worked since?”

“No. I thought it best he took some time off.”

“And yet here he was tonight.”

“To pick up his paycheck.”

“Right. No direct deposit?”

“He prefers cash.”

“Of course he does,” Noah said, wondering how many otheremployees Harry was paying under the table. Now it was clear in more ways than one why he was comfortable. It certainly made it easier. Of course, if requested he no doubt would have been able to show paperwork. “I gather your payroll taxes are in order?”

“I’m a law-abiding man. Uncle Sam has no complaints. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“For now.” He held his gaze.

Callie chimed in, seeing the tension building. “We’re going to need an address for Keller. I assume you have one?”

“I do. Though I imagine if he’s now on the run, he won’t be there. But what do I know about police work? You’re the experts,” he said mockingly.

“Shall we?” Noah was eager to get started. He’d brought Axel with him. There was no way he was going to miss an opportunity to put the dog’s nose to use. Over the next hour, an army of police officers descended upon every room and staff locker inside, opening closets, drawers, and packing boxes, looking under, over, in, and around the back of stainless-steel brewery equipment. They moved on to delivery trucks, then the dumpsters, a task that wasn’t appreciated. While Noah hadn’t been trained to work with Axel, Callie was familiar with commands she’d heard Luke give the dog while she rode shotgun. Some dogs were trained to sit or lie down when they got a hit; Axel would begin aggressively scratching at a scent.

“Anything?” Ray asked from across the room. All of them were keen to see if Axel would pick up a scent. Yet he was getting nothing. He ambled through the facility with a sense of purpose as if he knew what he was there to do but at no point did he show any sign.

“Nothing. Cyrus isn’t here. No drugs.”

Noah balled a fist. He could have sworn this would be a sure thing. But maybe he was wrong about Harry, maybe Luke wasway off the mark, and maybe Ed Baxter was just an old man trying to relive the excitement of his former days by making up stories. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d come across retirees full of stories. But that’s all they were, stories, the concoction of a wild mind.