But he tried not to think about all that, even on good days. And this was definitely not a good day. “Do you know anything about what happened to the van the night it was stolen?”

“Only what Dax told me, but I can’t say whether or not it’s true.” Elroy used his fingers to comb his hair over the bald spot on top of his head. “He’s not the most trustworthy guy in the world, and since I’m the one who gave it to him in the first place, it’s not likely he’d tell me if he lost it in a poker game, crashed it or handed the keys over to some stripper in exchange for a blow job. You hear what I’m saying?”

Amarok’s eyes were so tired they kept going blurry. He blinked to clear his vision. “What was his version of events?”

“He said he went into a strip club and when he came out it was gone.”

“Which strip club?”

“Didn’t ask. I’m a good Christian.” He lifted his chin to show his pride and commitment. “I don’t go to those kinds of places.”

Amarok was getting a headache. He hadn’t eaten or slept. He squeezed the muscle between his own neck and shoulder, trying to ease the tension. “Did he say if there was anyone around that night who looked suspicious when he went in? Anyone he thought might spell trouble?”

“No.”

“When I went to the address on his DMV records, I met a woman who told me he moved out three months ago. She said she has no idea where he is now and she doesn’t care. But she gave me this address as a possibility.”

Elroy made a clicking sound with his mouth. “Yeah. That must’ve been Serena. His relationship with her tanked in a hurry. My brother wasn’t the best husband in the world. Hardly ever worked, came and went at all hours. She claims he has a porn addiction, and I believe it. If he doesn’t settle down and get his life sorted out, I’m afraid he’ll be homeless one day.”

“Is he homeless now?”

“No. I helped him get a room with some other guys. At least, that’s what he told me the money was for. Even if it’s true, who knows how long it will last? I tried to give him some work, thought he could help me with my business, but he’s not reliable. I don’t make enough to support both of us, anyway.”

“Hard times,” Amarok said, playing the sympathy card. “Can you give me his new address?”

Elroy glanced back over his shoulder as if he wasn’t sure where to find it. “I wrote it down, but— Never mind. He has a new phone. Let me see if I can reach him.”

While he waited, Amarok stared out at the other houses. Was Evelyn being held in a house like one of these on some normal, quiet street, a barn out in the middle of nowhere, some shabby outbuilding like what Jasper used for his crimes or something else? Did she even have a place to sleep? Food to eat? Or was she being tortured all over again—