“Once Officer Maddox is in position, I want you to turn on all the lights. I want you to open the drapes or blinds. Make yourself visible from outside. If there’s a TV in your living room, I want it on and I want you on the sofa, visible through the front window.”

He nods.

“What’s behind the house?” I ask Blue.

“Woods.”

“Lots of places to hide back there,” Glock puts in.

“Do you have a back patio?” I ask Blue.

He nods.

“We believe Jerrold McCullough was accosted on his back patio. We found pieces of a broken mug that had been swept over the side. If you want to move around, you can go out onto the patio, as if you’re enjoying the fresh air.”

At his nod, I address Glock, “I’ll be parked next door at Brewer’s Salvage Yard. I’ll have my cell and the radio. And a pretty good view of Blue’s house and front yard, but I can’t see the back from there.”

Blue speaks up. “You can see the backyard from the master bedroom.” He looks at Glock. “I can show you if you want.”

Glock frowns at him. “I’ll figure it out. You just do as you’re told.”

“Give me a few minutes to get into position at the salvage yard,” I tell Glock. “There are a couple of places I can park and not be seen from the street or Blue’s place.”

“You got it, Chief.” He gives me a let’s-do-this nod. “Watch your back.”

“You, too.”

*   *   *

Twenty minutes later, I’m in the Explorer with the vehicle wedged between a corrugated fence and the forklift used to move scrap metal. A foot-wide section of fence is missing, which gives me a decent view of Branson’s house and front yard. I’ve been there only a few minutes when I see the flash of headlights and then Blue’s Mustang barrels down the lane. The twin headlight beams play over the facade of the house. The security light blinks on and the garage door rolls up. I try, but even with the vehicle illuminated by the garage light, I can’t see Glock. So far, so good.

A moment later, the garage door rolls down. Another minute, and a light appears in the front window. My cell vibrates against my hip, and Glock’s name pops up on the display. “The eagle has landed,” he says.

“Roger that. I’m in place. How’s the view?”

“I’m in the rear bedroom. I can see the backyard to the fence from here.”

“Good.” I pause. “Blue behaving himself?”

“Like an angel.”

“Make sure he stays visible,” I say. “Going to be a long night. Let’s do everything we can to draw this woman out.”

“Got it.”

I end the call and settle in for the wait.

*   *   *