“So the last people to see Dolly Parton and Nikko were at the club on Friday night—or rather early Saturday morning,” I said. “But neither one has been seen since.”
“That’s nothing new,” Neely Kate groaned. “I feel like we’ve beaten that dead horse to death.”
“But something’s bothering me.”
“What?”
“Billy Jack said that Nikko came and picked Dolly up from his house. Why would Nikko do that? It doesn’t sound like they were friends, and Alaina said her brother was running late. He wouldn’t have had time to run to Pickle Junction to pick her up before heading to Gems.”
“But why would Billy Jack have lied?” Neely Kate asked. “What happened at Gems doesn’t seem to have anything to do with them.”
“I don’t know, but I don’t believe him. It’s really suspicious.”
“Maybe that’s why he wanted to talk to me.” Neely Kate’s words were mumbled around a big bite of one of the donuts. “Maybe he lied and feels guilty.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. Between the thing with the TV and his claim that he saw Dolly Parton and Nikko after Friday, his story is suspect,” I said.
“Yeah, it’s not adding up. We really do need to track him down and talk to him.”
“Maybe we should tell Joe.”
She snorted. “You remember what he said. He’s not gonna listen to a thing we have to say until tomorrow. And then he’ll try to find someone to investigate her disappearance. And it’s not like Billy Jack is gonna volunteer any information to the sheriff’s department. We need to find him ourselves.”
Unfortunately, I suspected she was right.
“I’ve felt uneasy about this whole situation from the start. But I always thought I’d find her shacked up with someone. I haven’t given much thought to findin’ her in . . . in a bad state.”
“I don’t think she’s dead, Neely Kate, if that’s what you’re thinking. I bet she’s hiding with Nikko for some reason. Mud obviously thinks the same thing. Otherwise why would he have sent men to Nikko’s house?”
Tears filled Neely Kate’s eyes. “Maybe they were looking for something they thought Nikko had. He told his sister he was getting out of trouble, but what if he just said that to get her off his back? Maybe he stole something from them.”
I took her hands in mine. “Maybe. We definitely need to check out his trailer.”
“Don’t you think Mud’s guys would have found what they were looking for if it was in there?”
“Maybe not.” I shrugged. “Maybe Nikko hid it good enough that they couldn’t find it.” I gave her a hopeful smile. “His sister might know where it is. Or maybe she can help us figure out where Nikko and Dolly are hiding.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“Of course.” I gave her a hug. “We’re best friends. If you need my help, I’m there for you. No questions asked.”
We drove back to the salon, where Nancy was finishing up Alaina’s hair.
“You actually came back,” Alaina said, her tone not quite as friendly as before.
“We said we would,” Neely Kate said.
“How do I know you really have a cousin who’s missing? How do I know you’re not working for Mud?”
Neely Kate pointed to me. “Does she look like the kind of girl who’d work at Gems?”
Alaina scrutinized me for several seconds. “No, I guess not.”
Part of me wanted to protest, but then I reminded myself that that was a good thing.
“We’re trying to find my cousin. I swear it. If we can just look at Nikko’s house to look for any clues, it might help. Both of us.”
When Alaina didn’t look entirely convinced, Neely Kate dug out her phone and started scrolling on her screen. “Look.” She moved closer to her and showed her the screen. “This is Dolly Parton. She’s my cousin, and I’m scared to death something awful has happened to her.” Neely Kate’s voice broke. “So I’m beggin’ you, please help us.”
Alaina looked up at Neely Kate and nodded. “Okay, but if I find out you’re lyin’, I’m gonna snatch you bald.”
What was it with women wanting to rip out Neely Kate’s hair? But she took it in stride and lifted her chin. “Well, just in case you screw up my intentions, it’s a good thing I have a lot of hair. Now let’s go.”
Chapter Eighteen
Nikko owned a tiny mobile home on the side of a county road. There was an astounding assortment of them, spanning from nice trailers with potted plants to absolutely trashy ones.
Alaina pulled off the road in front of a faded white and loam-green trailer, and I pulled in next to her. As she unlocked the front door, Alaina looked over her shoulder at us. “Nikko gave me a key, but I haven’t been in here since last week.”
“Okay,” I said. That meant we had no idea what we’d find.
Alaina pushed the door open, and we followed her into the dark living room. All the curtains were drawn, so it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust, but the stench of something rotten hit me first.