“The computer from your office, right?”
“I only had one computer, a laptop, that I kept at work.”
“Don’t you think it would have been tossed by now?”
“Not necessarily. Colin said that the company that bought Viro Pro kept all the computers. Many times companies keep back-up computers in case a file is corrupt. And most companies don’t make wiping a hard drive clean a priority. It’s time-consuming and costly.” Jason rubbed the tension out of the back of his neck. “It took a few years for Colin to sell the business, so maybe D.M.S. still uses it or never got around to getting rid of it.”
Angela finished typing when she found the info she was looking for. “Viro Pro was sold in early 2011. So now what?”
“I need to find out if D.M.S. Protection, the company that bought us out, is still around.”
It only took her a moment to find what they were looking for. “D.M.S. Protection is still in business. They’re doing well, in fact. Dale Burnside is in charge of finance.”
He headed for the phone in the kitchen, ignoring the pain as he went. “Do you see a number?”
“Got it.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ever since leaving Jason alone at the house that morning, Angela had been uneasy. What if Dirk had been involved with the mob? If so, those same people could be responsible for yesterday’s attack. At this point, she would rather see federal agents find him than heavies with guns. If she weren’t five minutes away from Karen Hickman’s house, she would have turned around and headed back. But she was too close now.
She’d already crossed the first woman off their list. Pam Cooper had just been leaving for work when Angela pulled up to her house. The woman didn’t seem surprised at all that a reporter would show up asking questions about Jason Caldwell. Although Pam only had a few minutes to talk, she admitted to being angry at Dirk when she found out he was seeing other women. He drank too much and he once put a fist through her wall, she told Angela. But even then it took her six months to realize he wasn’t worth the trouble, and so she’d cut all ties.
As Karen Hickman’s residence came into view, Angela found herself thinking about Jason’s confession…the feelings he had for her. Something stirred within. He was a good man, and she had feelings for him, too. But she had a tendency to fall for men too fast. She might be book smart and good with computers, but when it came to relationships, she wasn’t always the best judge of character. She only wished things could have been different, that they could have met at another time and place.
After parking across the street from Karen Hickman’s house, she made her way to the door. The home appeared neglected. A rotted tree surrounded by fallen branches took up most of the front lawn. The front window was cracked and the front door looked as if it had been pieced together after being kicked down. Anchoring her newly dyed hair behind her ear, she rapped her knuckles against the door. As she waited, she readied her notebook and pen, trying to look the part.
The door creaked partially open, sending a prickling unease down her spine.
The woman’s face was pale and framed by tangled red hair. Peering out, she exhaled cigarette smoke through her nose. “What is it?”
“My name is Lisa Smith. I’m with News Media Magazine. I was hoping to talk to Karen Hickman about Jason Caldwell and Dirk Taylor?”
“Who is it?” a male voice bellowed from inside.
“It’s a reporter,” the woman shouted back, causing spittle to spray.
A beefy, shirtless man came to the door and opened it wide.
Angela took a step backward.
He was short and stocky with a head as round as a bowling ball. His jeans were filthy and his shirtless torso was covered in dark hair sprinkled with gray.
Angela didn’t like the way he was looking at her—not sexually, but as if he were contemplating all the different ways he might make her suffer if he could get a few minutes alone with her.
“What do you want with Karen?” he asked.
“I just have a few questions to ask her about Dirk Taylor.”
He looked at Karen. “Anyone you know?”
“Leave us alone, George.”
He didn’t budge. “So, who is he?”
Karen took a hit off her cigarette. “I was seeing him before I met you.” She looked back at Angela. “I guess this has something to do with Jason Caldwell’s escape?”
Angela nodded.
A deep crease settled across George’s forehead. “That name sounds familiar.”
“He’s that killer who’s been all over the news. You know…the fugitive who escaped prison and then kidnapped that girl who worked at the morgue.” She tossed the butt of her cigarette on the ground and didn’t bother stamping it out. It rolled toward Angela. Using the heel of her shoe, she crushed it.