The Enemy's Son

  ***

  Adam spent the day pacing in Herald’s office and making calls to the police and the surrounding hospitals. He even tried to get a hold of Keith and his own father, who denied hearing anything about Cora and Nick.

  “Listen,” Adam’s father told him. “Nick’s gone off the deep end. I want you to come home and help us find him.”

  Adam lied and promised to call if he heard from Nick, but he knew he couldn’t look at his parents now.

  “Adam.” Herald tried for his attention. “Cora’s a missing person, and the police are looking everywhere for her. I asked them to fax pictures to the state police.”

  Herald poured another cup of coffee. Adam wondered if the man lived on the stuff, because he drank it all day long.

  “Herald!” The secretary called across the room. “The FBI is on line three. I think it’s about your missing friends.”

  Herald snatched up his phone, glanced at Adam, and hit the speaker button. “Baker here.”

  “This is Brandon Phillips with the FBI. I’m calling in regards to your associate Nick Holloway and missing person Cora Evans.”

  Herald watched him, and he shrugged in a go-ahead manner. Even if it wasn’t the FBI, they didn’t know anything that would help Keith or Alexander.

  “They were with me until yesterday, when they drove off and disappeared,” Herald told Phillips. “I believe Keith Holloway has something to do with it.”

  Herald jotted down the man’s name and handed it to his secretary along with a note to check into it.

  “Sounds like I need to meet with you. Maybe you have the evidence I need to obtain a search warrant. I think we might have two sides to the same puzzle.”

  “How’s that?”

  “We’re both interested in the same man, and I think we can help each other. Can I drop by your office?”