Leo snickered. “They gave us permission before.”

“I want to do this on my own this time, Leo. I’ve been wanting to talk to Mrs. Ferguson anyway. I’ll ask Mike and Tommy before I do anything, but I really did wish I could sit down and have a woman-to-woman talk with Mrs. Ferguson. You know, one widow to another, one mother to another. This would be a good opportunity for that.”

I smiled and raised my eyebrows. Chris and Leo just shook their heads and smiled back. About that time, lunch was brought to the table and we dug in.

After lunch was over, I decided I needed another drive to Viola. I had a couple of questions for my new friend Doris. I wanted more information on any possible connection between Addie and Brian before I went to Houston to talk to Mrs. Ferguson.

The drive took about an hour. I hadn’t had dessert after my lunch with Chris and Leo, and all I could think of was Doris’s awesome apple pie. I hoped there was some left after her lunch crowd.

I pulled off the interstate and headed up the county road that led to Viola. I turned off on the main road that was downtown Viola. I pulled up in front of the café, easily finding a parking spot. The lunch crowd had dissipated, so I knew that Doris would have some time to spend with me. I hopped out of the Mustang and strode to the front door, and was greeted heartily by Doris. I assumed my usual spot at the lunch counter. Doris was already dishing up my pie.

Doris slid my slab of apple pie across the counter and winked. “There you go, hon.”

“Ah, the famous pie.” I smacked my lips as I picked up my fork.

“Well, I haven’t ever had someone drive over sixty miles for my pie.”

“Well, you have now.”

“Darlin’, I know my pie is good, but it ain’t that good. You’ve got more questions for old Doris, don’t you?”

I chuckled. She was a sweet, country-café proprietor who smelled like everyone’s grandma-and she had a mind sharp as a razor blade.

“Well, Doris, I do have a question or two, but I salivated over this pie all the way here. I could have just called you with my questions, you know.” I smiled as I shoveled in another mouthwatering piece.

“True.” Doris smiled back as she made a loud pop on her chewing gum. “Well, then, I guess questions or no, my pie does have some drawing power after all.”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, hon, what is it you wanted to know?”

“I guess you heard on the news about the second body found.”

“Oh yes. I heard. Some young man from Houston?”

“That’s right. We think he was killed by accident, but I just want to make sure that he wasn’t someone Addie knew, or someone who had ever been seen around here.”

“What was the boy’s name again?”

“Brian Ferguson.”

Doris pursed her lips and then shook her head, “No, hon, that just don’t sound familiar at all. Do you have a picture of him? I saw it on TV the other night, but I wasn’t looking that close and I’ve slept a few times since then.” She smacked and then popped her gum.

I did have Brian’s picture with me. It was a copy of the Texas driver’s-license photo that Chris had given me. I pulled the picture out of my wallet and handed it over to Doris.

Doris scrutinized it carefully and then pronounced, “Nope. I’ve absolutely never seen this young man.”

“You’re sure.”

“I see everyone who ever comes to this town-distant relatives from out of town, old school chums, new love interests, you name it, hon, old Doris hears and sees it all.”

At least Doris had never seen him, and didn’t know of a connection between him and Addie, but I wasn’t about to give up. I would talk to his mother, and his friends in Hempstead. Maybe someone would have a clue.

“Well, Doris, as usual you’ve been a great help. The pie was as awesome as ever.”

“I’m just glad that you love my pie that much.” She smiled and popped her gum one more time.

I paid for my pie and got back into my car. I had found out part of what I wanted to know and had gotten a really good dessert out of the trip.

On the way back to Austin, my cell phone rang. It was Drew.

“Toni, I want your update on this bone case of yours, and the young man from Hempstead, plus I have something special for you. Can you come by?”

“Absolutely. I’m on my way back into town, and I can probably be at your office in about forty-five minutes.”

“Sounds great. I’ll brew us some Earl Grey.”

I chuckled at the thought of all those hard-core Texas Rangers sucking down rot-gut coffee out at Ranger headquarters, and Drew in his office with his cup of Earl Grey. He was one in a million. I was glad he had called. I wanted to tell Drew more about the Red Bud case. I didn’t just want his opinion. I thought we might need his help outside of the Austin jurisdiction. If I was right about finding the original burial site, then Drew could be of help with local law enforcement.

I wheeled into the parking lot at Ranger headquarters and went up to Drew’s office. When I got there, he was on the phone and motioned for me to come in and sit down, so I seated myself in a chair in front of his desk.

Drew finished his call, and said, “Toni, I’m glad you could make it by.”

“So am I.”

He served me my tea and then smiled and gave me a sly look out of the corner of his eye as he went back around the desk, and pulled out a small package of Walker shortbread.

I shook my head. “Drew Smith, you sly dog…” I couldn’t bear to tell him I just ate pie an hour ago. Drew knew that I loved Walker shortbread.

He laughed. “Now, Toni, I’m a gentleman. You don’t think I’d invite a lady to my office and not offer her proper refreshments.”

“You’re the limit, Drew.”

“Well, not exactly. That tea was prepared in the microwave down the hall.” He smiled again.

I was already sipping my tea. “It’s wonderful-microwave or not.”

“Well, good,” he said, satisfied with his efforts. “So, tell me, Dr. Antoinette, how are you today?”

I winced at the use of my full name.

“You know, I’d appreciate it if you stuck with my nick-names-particularly in public.”

He chuckled mischievously. “I just love to push your buttons, Toni.”

I shook my head again.

“So, what’s happening with your Red Bud bones case?”

“I’m sure you saw in the papers where another set of bones had been discovered.”

“Yes, and linked to some guy from Houston? I’ve also heard rumblings about Hempstead and a burial site out of town-which means the murder probably did not occur in Austin.”

“Probably didn’t. Chris says the A &M has matched the soil samples to the same kind of soil in and around Hempstead, which is where the latest victim was living.”

“Brian Ferguson?”

“Right. That same soil was found in the bones of Addie Waldrep. So they were previously buried in that area.”

“Which means they were probably murdered in that area.”

“Which means you’re thinking about jurisdiction.”

“Mmm, hmm. Tell me what you know so far.”

I told him all about what we knew about Addie Waldrep, Jimmy Hughes, Dody Waldrep and Lori Webster. I told him that Doug Hughes was still missing. I told him I was going to go and visit Mrs. Ferguson and see what I could find out.

“I just came back from the Viola area, where the first victim lived. I questioned someone up there about any connection between Addie Waldrep and Brian Ferguson, but I struck out.”

“Why is it I think you’re not giving up on that angle?” He smiled.

“Because you know me too well.”

“I think you’re on the right path talking to the young man’s mother. I’d like you to pursue that. If you can isolate some places he normally went bird-watching, maybe we can get some warrants and do some searching. But we can’t search the whole county down there.”

“I know. Maybe I can eliminate some places you won’t have to search. So, are you going to get officially involved?”