Not until Wes said that did the man extend his hand.
“What can I do for you Mr. Tobin?” The man asked eyeing Wes up and down and looking over his shoulder to Andy and Jace.
“My girlfriend’s missing. She told me she had been coming here.”
“Your girlfriend was coming here? I don’t think so son.” The man chuckled.
Wes saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and a young girl carrying a baby approached them.
“Annie go back inside.” He said gruffly.
“Is it about Jo?” She asked the big man.
“Jo, yes, my girlfriend. Have you seen her?” Wes was animated and it frightened the girl. She took a few steps back and the older man blocked Wes from getting closer to her.
“Please, I’m sorry I scared you. She’s missing I have to find her.” Wes pulled out his phone and showed Annie pictures of Jo, some with him, some without.
Annie took the phone leafing through more pictures. She handed the phone back to Wes.
She seemed to be contemplating what to do.
“Please.” Wes said quietly. “I’m worried about her.”
“She’s not here. I haven’t seen her since last Thursday." The young girl was quiet for a second and then blurted out. "She cried you know?”
“Excuse me?”
“The last time I saw her she had been crying. Was she crying about you?”
Wes heaved a huge sigh and ran his hand through his hair.
“Yeah, she was probably crying because of me.”
“Annie?” The big man looked down at the young girl.
“She wasn’t homeless Bill. I could tell. She bought diapers for little Trip and she had dog treats for Charlie. I don’t know why she wanted to stay here, but I liked her so I didn’t out her.”
“Do you know where she went, what she was doing?” Wes asked desperate for information.
“I don't have any idea where she went. She wasn't doing anything as far as I could tell. She’d been coming by and hanging out. She told everyone that some guy had been hurting her.” Annie eyed Wes. “But that’s not you is it.”
Wes shook his head. “No.”
“Anyway she said she wanted to sleep here so Trip, my man, rigged up a tarp for her to sleep under.”
“She’s been sleeping here?”
“She had been but I haven’t seen her since Thursday night, the night I found her crying.”
Andy and Jace approached slowly. They could tell by Wes’ body language he was upset.
“She was here.” He told them.
Andy looked around and then spoke to Annie. “Did she leave anything here?”
Annie looked at Bill and then she shrugged her shoulders. “Here’s her tarp.” She said leading them to the little makeshift area.
Wes was trying to stay focused. This was too personal for him to remain detached. If he were going to help Jo he needed his mind to be able to filter through the facts. This was what he excelled at; except he was picturing his beautiful Jo lying under the tarp crying and his heart broke.