I told him. Ruben’s mug shot. Nellie. The Gold Range. The house on Ragged Ass. Chalker.

“The guy took you down with a bola?” The hint of a smile softened his expression.

“It’s a formidable weapon. In prehistory it was used to hunt mammoth.” I wasn’t sure about that, but it sounded good.

“And dragged you through a koi pond?”

My look told him I was in no mood to be the butt of stand-up. “And where were you when I called, what, three times?”

Ignoring my question, or in answer to it, Ryan pulled out his spiral and flipped a few pages. “The house on Ragged Ass is deeded to Josiah Stanley Snook.”

“Nellie Snook. That’s the name of the waitress I followed.”

“Funny that the woman would go home after clocking out of work.”

“I’m telling you, she tore out of here because I asked about Ruben. She was supposed to finish setting up the buffet.”

“Uh-huh. You say Snook first stopped at the Gold Range. Ruben’s probably gone to ground there. The place is hooker central and would be in her comfort zone.”

“With a dog?”

“What’s with you and the dog?”

“Ralph Trees said Ruben had a dog.”

“Based on the woman’s history, my guess is the pooch hit the curb long ago.”

Ryan picked up and dialed his phone. Again I heard only one half of the conversation.

“Better. Except for the chin.”

Great.

“Any luck at the Gold Range?”

I checked my own mobile. Still dead.

“Hasty still talking to Unka and Castain?”

Pause.

“Big surprise.”

Pause.

“Is she credible?”

Pause.

“OK. Keep me in the loop.” Ryan clicked off and signaled for the bill.

“Ollie has people checking the hotel?”

“Rainwater. Ollie’s working Unka and Castain.”

“What’s he learned?”

“The homeboys are not real chatty.”

“You asked about credibility. Whose?”

“A prossie claims she saw a guy fitting Scar’s description at Bad Sam’s around three this morning.”

“Bad Sam’s?”

“The tavern at the Gold Range. The locals call it the Strange Range.”

“Those rascals. Is she believable?”

“When sober.”

“Crap. Should we go over there?”

“Rainwater’s on it. He’ll call if Ruben’s there.”

“Now what?”

“Now we wait.”

“But—”

“Brennan. I am visiting law enforcement. Do you know what that means? It means I have no jurisdiction here. As a visitor, I do as requested by my hosts.”

“I heard a dog barking inside the Snook house.”

“Jesus, there you go with the dog again.”

“Suppose Ruben’s not at the Gold Range? Suppose she’s at Snook’s house? If Scar really is in Yellowknife, how long do you think it will take him to find her?”

Ryan said nothing.

“We should do something.”