I drove back to my motel through a city that was wide awake but quiet. The sun wouldn't be up for another hour or so, but the sky had already lightened to a pearly gray. I parked, took the stairs to the second floor, and unlocked my door. The room was drab but clean enough, as long as you didn't use a black light or get down on your hands and knees with a magnifying glass. I peeled off my clothes and took a good hot shower, then did what I could to secure the drapes across the window. The fabric was a heavyweight plastic, dark red, and very tastefully flocked. Add to that, vinyl wallpaper with its lightning bolts of silver and black, and you had a most amazing decor. I pulled back the pink chenille spread and settled between the sheets, turned off the lights, and slept like the dead.

At some point, my subconscious gave me a nudge. I remembered Reba telling me what a whiz Misty was at reproducing fake passports and other phony documents. Was that why Misty was meeting the fellow at the Silverado? Even in my sleep, I felt a whisper of fear. Maybe Reba was planning to make a run for it.

At 10:00 the next morning the phone rang. I lifted the handset and laid it against my ear without moving my head. "What."

"Kinsey, this is Reba. Did I wake you?"

I rolled over on my back. "Don't worry about it. I appreciate the call. How're you doing?"

"Pretty much okay until I heard you were here. How'd you find me?"

"I didn't find you, I found Misty," I said.

"So how'd you do that? I'm just curious."

"Detective work, dear. That's what I do for a living."

"Huh. That surprises me."

"What does?"

"I figured Pop was able to hire you because you weren't any good. Clearly you weren't busy, or why would you agree to such a dumb-ass job? Drive his daughter back from prison? You can't be serious."

"Thanks, Reeb. That's nice."

"I'm saying I was wrong. Truth is, it shocked the hell out of me when Misty said you showed. I still don't get how you did it."

"I have my little ways. I hope you called for something more important than congratulating me for being less incompetent than you thought."

"We need to talk."

"Tell me when and where and I'll be there with bells on."

"We'll be at Misty's until noon."

"Great. Give me the address and I'll be over in a bit."

"I thought you'd already have the address."

"Guess I'm not perfect," I said, though as a matter of fact I was. She recited the address and I pretended to make a note.