My brief forays into criminal psychology, and my years on the street, taught me about sociopaths and narcissists-incredibly egotistical and arrogant people who thought they could get away with murder by bullshitting.

It was quite possible that Bain Madox had something to hide, and he thought he could hide it under my nose. That wasn’t going to happen.

He repeated, “How can I help?”

I replied, “We’d like your permission to conduct a search on your property.”

He seemed prepared for that and said, “I can conduct my own search, now that I know there may be someone lost on the property. I have about fifteen staff available, plus all-terrain vehicles and six Jeeps.”

I pointed out, “It would take you a month to cover this property. I’m talking about state and local police, Federal agents, and maybe troops from Fort Drum.”

He didn’t seem to like that idea, but he was boxed in, so he asked me, “Tell me again why you think this man is on my property, and not out in the surrounding wilderness?”

That was a really good question, and I had a standard law enforcement answer. “We are acting on information and belief, and that’s all I can say.” I pointed out, “With the information we have, we could get a search warrant, but that takes time. We’d rather have your voluntary cooperation. Is there a problem with that?”

“No, no problem, but I suggest you begin with an aerial search, which can do the same job more quickly and just as effectively.”

Kate said, “Thank you, we know that. We have begun the air search. We’re here to get your permission to enter this property with search teams.”

“I certainly won’t stand in the way of a search for a missing person.” He paused. “But I’ll need a liability waiver.”

Kate was becoming annoyed and said, “We’ll have one faxed to you ASAP.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to sound like a bad citizen, but unfortunately, we live in litigious times.”

I couldn’t argue with that, and I said to him, “The country is going to hell. Too many lawyers.”

He nodded and offered his opinion, saying, “Lawyers are ruining the country. Ruining trust, frightening people who want to be good Samaritans, promoting a culture of victimization, and engaging in legalized extortion.”

I liked this guy and agreed, “In fact, they suck.”

He smiled. “They suck.”

I thought I should inform him, “Ms. Mayfield is a lawyer.”

“Oh… well, I apologize if I-”

She said, “I don’t practice law.”

“Good,” he said, then joked, “You look too nice to be a lawyer.”

Ms. Mayfield stared at Mr. Madox.

Mr. Madox said, “I assume you’ll begin the search in the morning.” He pointed out, “It’s getting too dark now to send people into those woods.”

Clearly Mr. Madox was stalling for time with all the bullshit about liability waivers and so forth. I said, “I think we have about three hours of daylight left.”

“I’ll have my staff begin a search immediately. They know the terrain.”

We looked at each other, and those freaky gray eyes never blinked.

Without taking his eyes off me, he said, “Mr. Corey, please tell me why a Federal agent was on my property.”

I already had the answer to that. “The fact that Mr. Muller is a Federal agent is actually irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant?”

“Yes. He was on a camping trip. Not on-duty. Was I not clear about that?”

“Perhaps I misunderstood.”

“Perhaps.” I added, “And since he is a Federal agent, the Federal government is assisting in the search.”

“I see. So, I shouldn’t make too much of you and Ms. Mayfield being with the Anti-Terrorist Task Force?”

“No, in fact, you shouldn’t make anything of it.” I added, “I should have also mentioned that Mr. Muller is a colleague, so we’re here out of personal concern as well as for professional reasons.”

He thought a moment, then said, “I haven’t experienced that kind of camaraderie since I left the Army. If I were missing, I couldn’t think of a single person who would do much more than make a few phone calls to find me.”

“Not even your mom?”

He smiled. “Well, maybe her. And maybe my children in good time. Certainly the Internal Revenue would come looking for me after I missed a quarterly payment.”

Neither Kate nor I commented on that.

Madox lit another cigarette and blew more smoke rings, saying, “That’s a lost art.” He asked us, “May I offer you a cigarette?”

We refused his offer.

I glanced around the room and noticed something in a dark corner staring at me with glassy eyes. It was, actually, a huge black bear, standing on its hind legs with its front legs and paws raised in a threatening gesture. I mean, I knew it was dead and stuffed, but it gave me a little jolt. I said to Madox, “Did you shoot that?”

“I did.”

“Where?”

“Here, on my property. Sometimes they get through the fence.”

“And you shoot them?”

“Well, if it’s off-season, we just tranquilize them and relocate them. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t like bears.”

“Have you had a bad experience?”

“No, I’m trying to avoid a bad experience. Hey, do you think a 9mm Glock will stop a bear?”

“I don’t think so, and I hope you don’t have to find out.”

“Me, too. Do you have bear traps on the property?”

“Definitely not. I have guests on the property, and I don’t want them caught in a bear trap.” He added, “Also, trespassers. I could get sued.” He glanced at his watch and said, “So, if-”

“Just a few more questions while we wait for the latte.”

He didn’t reply, and I asked him, “So, you’re a hunter?”

“I hunt.”

“These are all your trophies?”

“Yes. I don’t buy them as some people do.”

“So, you’re a pretty good shot?”

“I was an expert rifleman in the Army, and I can still drop a deer at two hundred yards.”

“That’s pretty good. How close was that bear?”

“Close. I let the predators get close.” He looked at me, and I had the feeling he was being subtly unsubtle regarding yours truly. He said, “That’s what makes it exciting.” He asked me, “What does this have to do with Mr. Muller’s disappearance?”

“Not a thing.”

We stared at each other while he waited for me to explain my line of questioning. I said to him, “Just making conversation.” I then asked him, “So, this is a private club?”

“It is.”

“Could I join? I’m white. Irish and English. Catholic, like Christopher Columbus, but I could switch. I got married in a Methodist church.”

Mr. Madox informed me, “There are no such requirements or exclusions, but our membership is filled at the moment.”

Kate asked, “Do you accept women?”

He smiled. “Personally, I do. But club membership is restricted to men.”

“Why is that?”

“Because that’s the way I want it.”

Carl appeared carrying a tray, which he set down on the coffee table. He said to me, “Is a café au lait all right?”

“Terrific.”

He indicated a small silver coffeepot for Ms. Mayfield, then asked us, “Will that be all?”

We nodded, and Carl disappeared.

Mr. Madox went to the sideboard to refresh his scotch, and I said, “I’ll have a small one.”

He replied over his shoulder, “You’ll have to take it neat.” He poured two glasses, turned around, and remarked, “I seem to be having trouble with my ice maker.” He smiled.

Rudy, you old shit, I’m going to shove those rabbit ears up your ass.

More important, Madox knew someone was on the way to see him, yet he’d made no attempt to avoid his unknown visitors, even after the gatehouse goons told him we were Federal agents. Obviously, he’d made the decision to check us out while we checked him out.

Madox handed me a crystal glass and said, “Happy Columbus Day.” We touched glasses, then he sat, crossed his legs, sipped, and stared at the fire.

Kaiser Wilhelm woke up and snuggled next to his master’s chair to get his ears scratched. The stupid dog stared at me, and I stared back. He looked away first, so I won.