Chapter 3

The most senior uniform on the scene explained to Abby that most of the people stuck in the bar didn’t have any information. She asked them if they knew an Austin Connery, they said no, and they were free to go. Uniformed officers had their contact information. If Abby needed to get in touch with them later, she would.

A handful of other patrons, on the other hand, had identified one patron as having seemed a little nervous. When Abby showed them the driver’s license picture of Connery, which had already arrived on her phone by the time she got to talk to that group, all of them agreed it was him. None of them knew why he’d been nervous—he was friendly with all of the staff, but he’d come in alone that night.

Next, Abby spoke with the bar owner, Mike D’Agostino. D’Agostino staggered back in shock when Abby showed him the photo. “Geez. Austin’s a regular. It’s a shame, you know?” He bit his lip, and something in his eye reflected the dim lights of the bar. “Are you sure it’s him?”