The Alibi Man

Chapter 62

Landry parked on the road fifty yards from the driveway of Sean Avadon’s farm.

The main house was dark.

There was one light visible in Elena’s cottage. Her car was parked out front. The front door was ajar.

Drawing his weapon, he went around the side of the house.

The French doors stood open.

Landry slipped inside. The only light was in the living room. Nothing was on-no television, no ever-playing jazz on the sound system.

He worked his way through the cottage, his anxiety growing. The guest suite was empty. Elena’s suite was empty.

His cell phone rang.

“Landry.”

“Detective?”

The accent was Russian. The voice was heavy and male.

“I call from Magda’s.”

“Yeah?”

The bartender, Landry thought. The big bald guy with the blue skull tats.

“You want Kulak?”

He almost said no. He almost said he didn’t care anymore about Kulak, but then he didn’t.

“That guy on the news,” the bartender said. “The one they say maybe killed Irina.”

“Bennett Walker?”

“Kulak has him. At the salvage yard.”

“Why tell me?” Landry asked.

“I tell you for Svetlana,” he said. “Kulak has that man, and a woman.”

“A woman?” Landry said, a chill washing over him. Alexi Kulak had Elena.

“You come and get Kulak,” the bartender said. “You tell him Svetlana sent you.”