Agent Ren Bryce Thriller Series Books 1-3: Blood Runs Cold, Time of Death, Blood Loss

‘Please call me Ren.’

‘OK. And call me Patrick. I just want you to know I’m not someone who would normally just show up like this, so I’m sorry, but I guess I’m feeling at arm’s length. I know you don’t need family members bearing down on you when you’re trying to do your job. But … I’ve left messages and … I felt you would be the type of agent who would return them. That’s the impression I got from you when I met you.’

I am like that. I – normally – am. ‘Thank you, yes. But it’s been extremely busy here,’ said Ren. ‘We have so many agents working on it, the detectives from the Sheriff’s Office … and every phone call, witness statement and lead is being followed up on. As you can imagine, this is generating even more leads, and on it goes. To be honest, I wanted to make a phone call to you that was – “OK, Mr Transom, we have these solid leads and they are XYZ …” As it stands – and I hope this doesn’t sound negative – I have not got enough to raise your hopes or mine.’ That, and the fact that I was too busy fucking a C.I. last night.

Patrick looked crushed. ‘Even if I knew that,’ he said. ‘That would help. I might be able to manage my expectations. I mean, should I give up on you ever finding the body?’

Yes. ‘It’s not my place to tell people what they should or should not give up on. It’s your call. But I will say that I think it’s important we all stay positive. Things are moving along. But it’s a waiting game.’ I can’t believe I used that expression.

‘It’s hard to wait,’ said Patrick. ‘I didn’t want any of this. The last person I thought I’d be was someone who had to show up at a Sheriff’s Office to ask about the investigation into their sister’s murder.’

‘Well, I’m sorry you had to show up here at all,’ said Ren. ‘It shouldn’t have come to that.

I … don’t think I got those messages about you calling.’ Shut up.

His face changed. ‘Well, I did leave them,’ he said. His voice was tight.

‘Because we’re in temporary offices at the moment, we can all be quite hard to pin down. There’s a lot of coming and going,’ said Ren.

Patrick stood up. ‘Well, I’m going to leave you to it, Ren,’ he said. ‘Thank you for taking the time. And … I have a good feeling about you. That you’re going to find … the person who did this.’

Jesus Christ. I deserve this today. ‘Thank you,’ said Ren. ‘I promise I will do everything I can.’

As soon as he left, she ran to the ladies’ room and threw up. I am a loser. I am a terrible human being. I’m not human, in fact. She washed her face at the sink. As she was drying it with paper towels, the phone beeped.

Hey. Hw r u? Billy.

Ren’s heart started pounding. She deleted the text. She brushed her teeth, fixed her face and tried to do as much of it as she could without looking herself in the eye. She ran into Mike in the hallway outside.

‘Hey, Ren.’

‘Hey, Mike.’

‘I was looking into the RUTH folder for you,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t track down who “Ruth” was. There was no corresponding file in Jean’s office or on her computer, so it was a dead end. I did talk to the parents of the other children in that file, or the children themselves – some of whom are adults now. Jean hadn’t been in contact with any of them any time recently.’

‘It’s weird that the folder is called RUTH and Ruth is the one girl whose file isn’t in the folder.’

Mike shrugged. ‘I know.’

That night, Ren sat by the payphone at the inn with a ten-dollar phone card she’d bought at City Market. She barely knew how to use one. She scratched off the number with her nail, dialed a central number, punched in a code, dialed another number. There was a long wait before she was connected.

Billy picked up. ‘Hello?’

‘Hi, Billy. It’s Ren Bryce.’

‘Hey. Did you get home OK?’ said Billy.

‘Yes … I got your text.’

‘When I didn’t hear back … I was just wondering if you were OK.’

‘I’m fine, but …’ She ran through the ways to say it, ‘you can’t text me on my cell … unless it’s work, unless you have information, need me to come in …’

‘Oh.’

‘I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound –’

‘Look, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.’

Ren breathed out slowly. ‘I’m not going to say “Can we pretend this didn’t happen?” because that wouldn’t be very nice. But –’

‘– can we pretend this didn’t happen?’

‘Well, I feel bad. I don’t know what to say. I did … have a great time.’

‘Me too.’

‘But …’

‘So does that mean you don’t require my services any more?’

Silence.

‘Ren?’ He waited. ‘Jesus, I meant my services – my work for you guys.’

‘Oh God,’ said Ren. ‘I’m so sorry. I thought you were being an asshole.’

‘No.’ His voice was firm.

‘Sorry.’

‘So does this mean you won’t be stopping by again?’ said Billy.

‘No. I have to stop by again. I can’t not stop by. What I’m saying is, it needs to be … I need to be professional.’

‘OK …’

‘The kids here are going to think I’m nuts,’ said Ren. ‘I’m clearly not on vacation. In my business suit. Using the payphone…’

‘They probably think you’re tight. That you’re going to fill the communal refrigerator with food that is covered in stickers with your name on.’

‘I can’t find my permanent-ink Sharpie anywhere.’

‘I borrowed it to write your name on the label of the underwear you left behind … O-renda. So I can keep track.’

Ren laughed. ‘Ugh.’

‘I can only joke about it because it’s not true,’ said Billy.