“Who got to work next?” Rena asked.

“Shit, I don’t know. Davy or Pete. One of them. I was busy, you know, and it ain’t my job to babysit them.”

“You’re sure they were both at work that day?”

Prider leaned back and looked at the ceiling as if the answer was written there. “Now that I think about it, Davy wasn’t at work that day. So it was Pete. But don’t ask me what time he got there. I don’t fucking know.”

“Do you recall what time Troy came to work that morning?” A.L. asked, his voice hard.

Cory scrunched up his forehead. “I think he was there by 9:00.”

“Is that earlier or later than usual?” Rena asked.

“Later,” Cory said. “Lots of mornings, he’s there when I arrive. Already has the coffee made.”

“Did the two of you happen to talk about why he was later than usual?” A.L. asked.

“No,” Cory said. “He’s the boss. He can come in whenever he wants. None of my business.”

“Have you talked to Troy in the last couple of days? Since Wednesday?” A.L. asked.

“No. I sent him a text when I heard the news about his daughter. Just told him we were all pulling for him.”

“Did he respond?” Rena asked.

“I think so. He said thanks or something like that.”

“When you’re absent, do you call in before your shift?” Rena asked.

“Sometimes. But I didn’t want to bug him today. We do time sheets. That’s how he knows what days to pay us for.”

“Do you know Leah Whitman?” Rena asked.

“Of course. She comes by sometimes. Calls the business phone when Troy isn’t answering his cell.”

“Does he not answer his cell often?” A.L. asked.

“Only when he doesn’t want to talk to his wife,” Cory said, once again doing the weird smile with no teeth.

They needed to end this. Before she got sick. It was way worse than Davy saying he liked redheads. Rena stood up. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Prider. If you should think of anything that might help us find Emma Whitman, we’d appreciate a call.” Both she and A.L. passed over cards.

“Sure,” he said.

Rena escorted the man out of the building, using a door that didn’t require her to pass by Pete Seoul, who was still waiting. While Cory Prider had given them nothing that was especially helpful, she still didn’t want the two of them comparing stories.

Once she deposited Prider on the sidewalk, she returned to the conference room where A.L. sat. He was reviewing his notes.

“If he’s a regular at Pancake Magic, Traci probably knows him,” Rena said.