Bitter Sweets

friends or relatives that he may have turned to for help?” Savannah asked.

    “Earl is a loner. He doesn’t like people, doesn’t trust them. And not many people like him. He has a girlfriend named Vanessa, but I’ve talked to her already, and I don’t think she knows anything. In fact, I think she’s put out because she thinks he’s run away and left her.”

    “And what do you think?”

    “I think he’s hiding out somewhere, waiting for things to calm down before he tries to leave the state. With his picture and Christy’s all over the evening news and the front page of the papers, he’d have a hard time traveling with her now.”

    “That’s what I figure, too.” Dirk helped himself to Savannah’s untouched mug of coffee. “But we’ve checked all the motels, hotels, flophouses, and fleabags. Can’t find hide nor hair of them.”

    Ryan had stood and was walking slowly around the room, examining the clocks, the Congressional Medal, and miscellaneous memorabilia. He seemed particularly interested in a collection of framed photos on top of the baby grand piano in the corner.

    “Excuse me, sir,” he said, “do you play?”

    “Yes, a little.”

    “Classical?”

    “Jazz, but not as much as I used to... with the arthritis and all.”

    Ryan picked up one of the pictures and brought it to Neilson. “Can you tell me where this was taken?”

    The colonel glanced at the photo, then handed it back. “I’m not sure. It was a long time ago.”

    Savannah craned her neck to get a glimpse. It appeared to be a shot of two men, standing in a wooded area.

    “The reason I was asking,” Ryan continued, “is because it looks like a place where a friend of mine camped a few years ago, up in the hills beyond Turner Canyon. About an hour’s drive from here. I think it was called Montega Ranch, Montoya...something like that.”

    “I don’t think that’s where it was taken, but I don’t remember for sure. It might have been. Earl and I used to go out for a week at a time, and he’d choose the locations. He was really into that survivalist routine, getting back to nature and all that. I got too old, too many aches and pains in the joints; we hadn’t been for years.”

    “Do you think he might have taken Christy out into the wilderness?” Savannah asked. “That might explain why they haven’t been seen in the city.”

    “I don’t know.” The colonel was becoming agitated. “If I knew where my granddaughter was, don’t you think I would tell you.

    “Of course you would, sir. I’m sorry. It’s just that we’re-”

    “We’re obviously imposing on you at a difficult time,” Ryan said, returning the photo to its original place. “We should get going.”

    “If you think of anything, you let us know right away,” Dirk said, finishing off Savannah’s coffee.

    As the three of them left the house and walked down the sidewalk, Savannah said, “Well, that was a waste of time.”

    “Yeah, we don’t know any more than we did,” Dirk agreed.

    “Speak for yourselves.” Ryan looked excited, pleased, eager.

    “You got something?” Savannah said hopefully.

    “Let’s drop into Mort’s Bait and Tackle shop, and I’ll be able to tell you for sure.”

    Fifteen minutes later, Savannah and Dirk were sitting in Dirk’s Buick in front of Mort’s store, waiting for Ryan.

    “I don’t know what you see in that guy,” Dirk said with a self-righteous sniff. “It’s obvious you’ve got the hots for him, and he’s not the least bit interested in you.”

    “Jealousy does not become you, my friend.”

    “Jealous? Of him? Why, I-”

    “I think we’d better change the subject fast,” she said, giving him the evil eye, “before I have the overpowering urge to snatch you bald.” She turned her face toward the passenger window and added under her breath, “Both hairs, that is.”

    “What did you say?”

    “Nothing. Shut up; here he comes now.”

    Ryan opened the back door, shoved some fast-food garbage off the seat, and slid in behind Savannah. “We’re in luck,” he said, an eager smile on his handsome face.

    “Oh, goody ...” Dirk muttered.

    Savannah pinched his ribs hard, twisting the ample flesh between her finger and thumb. He jumped, but didn’t yell.

    If Ryan saw or heard the exchange, he ignored it. “Earl was in here about a week ago,” he said.

    “Are you sure?” Dirk perked up visibly.

    “The owner is a friend of mine, and he identified the