Page 89 of Vanish From Sight

Noah looked at Callie before he sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Don’t play dumb. Okay? I’m giving you a chance here. So, tell us about the farm.”

His voice was barely above a whisper, and it trembled with fear. “What farm?”

“We know you’re involved in the selling of dogs or at leastassociated with those who do it. Does the name Teresa Barkley ring a bell?”

Thomas’ demeanor didn’t change. He shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Noah could feel his frustration building.

In a split second, he shoved the table out of the way, grabbed Thomas by the collar and pushed him back against the wall. “Don’t fucking lie to me. People are dead! We have evidence that you know Teresa.” He took the photo and shook it in front of his face. “Does this bring back any memories?”

“Noah,” Callie said, trying to pull him back, but he shook her off, his eyes fixed on Thomas.

Thomas’ gaze flickered down to the photo in Noah’s hand, and he hesitated for a moment before finally admitting it. “I don’t know her well,” he said. “I was introduced to her that day by my cousin Jethro. They said they had a surefire way to make money. There was zero risk involved and it was all aboveboard.”

“And?” Noah asked.

Thomas hesitated for a second before speaking again, stuttering as he did. “I M-met them a few years ago,” he said. “My cousin took me out fishing, and we G-got talking. They seemed like grounded people, so we H-hung out a few times after that. You know, had a couple of beers. But I didn’t really know them.”

“Did you know they were going to harm people?”

“What? No, I swear I didn’t,” Thomas said. “Did they?”

“Don’t fucking bullshit, man.” His anger spilled over.

“I’m not. My job was simple. To go around and C-collect strays. Dogs that were off leash. I was to bring them back. The ones they wanted to keep they did, the others I C-could take to the shelter. They paid me. That was it.”

“What about the golden retriever?”

“I was supposed to see them the next day to show them thatone. I couldn’t bring M-myself to part with the dog so I was going to keep him.”

There was a moment of silence.

“So, you have visited the farm?”

“Yeah. I was only ever allowed in the house. They didn’t want me in the outbuildings. I was told everything was aboveboard. That they were D-doing a good thing, breeding and raising dogs and selling them to folks in town. I saw the flyers. I just...”

“Forgot that part? Right. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“You never asked.”

“Damn you, Thomas!” he shouted in his face. Callie tugged at Noah’s arm. He stepped back, gripping the photo. “A woman is dead because of you. If I find out that you or they were connected to the other two, I swear, I fucking swear, I will…!” he said through gritted teeth, coming at him, but Callie got between them. Noah shook a finger at him, his anger boiling over.

Thomas stood there, his shoulders hunched and his eyes darting nervously between them. What little confidence he had was replaced by a tense and scared demeanor. His hands were clenched tightly in front of him, and his fingers fidgeted as he waited for what might come next.

“Look, I understand,” Thomas said.

“You understand?” Noah threw the words back at him.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about my connection to the others. I didn’t think it was relevant.”

“Relevant? Relevant? We asked you straight up if you were stealing dogs and you said you were collecting strays.”

“I was.”

“Yeah, you just left out the part about selling them. So, tell me, you never took any dogs out of someone’s backyard?”

“Never.”