Dan stammered a moment. “You like doing what you do?”

“What?” she said looking up at him.

“Working on dead people.”

“It beats working on the living.”

“That’s an odd way of looking at it.”

“Dead people don’t talk back for one,” Nancy said with a smirk.

“Yeah, you got a point there.”

Nancy shook her head. “This week has really been strange.”

Dan nervously fidgeted with his gun. “If I can help in any way,” he said.

“I’ll call you, if I need more information.” Nancy said dismissing him.

Dan raised his hand as if in kindergarten and trying to get a teacher’s attention. “Do you think I could get a preliminary report today yet?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said, glancing at her watch.

Dan cleared his throat and then quickly leaned over and whispered. “Would you like to have dinner with me?”

Nancy looked up at Dan and chuckled. “That depends.”

“On what?” Dan asked.

Dan nervously fidgeted with his gun belt and then glanced around to make sure Billy Bob was not within hearing distance.

“You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” Dan quickly added.

“No. I like to see you with your foot in your mouth.” Nancy said and then walked past him.

“How about tonight?” Dan asked, quickly following Nancy closely.

Nancy stopped and turned to Dan, almost bumping into him. “I guess I’m free this evening.”

“I do not like to be kept waiting,” he said.

“Did I say you’d wait?”

Dan frowned at what he had just said. He took a deep breath and then walked back to the squad.

He sat in the squad with the radio receiver in his hand while watching Nancy in the distance.

“There’s been an accident on the bridge over the Arkansas River on Route 79,” Mac relayed.

“Anyone hurt?”

“Don’t know. They just said there’s a car in the ditch.”

“Did anybody bother getting the license plate numbers?” Dan asked.

“Yeah, vehicle belongs to Alan Maxwell. A red Seville.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s it.”

Dan glanced at his watch and then talked into the radio.

“I’ll go check it out before I come in.”

Dan set the radio receiver back in the cradle. He stared at Nancy digging in the mud retrieving more bones.

* * *

Dan sped down the road with lights flashing and the siren blaring. He turned onto Route 79 and as the bridge over the Arkansas River came into view, Dan could see the red Seville almost on its side in the ditch.

The squad car pulled up and parked in front of the Seville. Dan got out and walked around the car. He looked in the ditch to see if anyone may have gotten out and collapsed. But there was no indication of that and then he walked around the car. The keys were still in the ignition. Dan took them out and then walked in back and opened the trunk. There were a couple of packages of rope similar to what was used on the Ames boy. One of the packages had been opened.

Dan sat in the squad car with the door open and the radio receiver in hand.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Dan said finally.

“He ain’t going to like it, shouldn’t we call first and check.”

“It was his job to call and report this.”

“Whatever you say,” Mac replied.

“I can’t help it. Have the tow bill sent to Alan.”

“Are you sure?”

“Just do as I say. And while you’re at it, I want tire impressions made before the car is moved.”

“I’ll set that up. You going to drop off the rope?”

“Yeah, I can do that on my way in town.”

“Won’t be able to use it in court?”

“Who said anything about court,” Dan said, frustration was clearly in his voice. “Mac, either you set it up or tell Ms. Davie to send someone for the impression. I’ll worry about the rest.”

Dan slammed the receiver down and then got out of the squad car and stared at the Seville in the ditch while he shook his head.

Dan looked up suddenly. A pickup truck roared up the road toward Dan. An older Buzz Sheffield stopped and rolled down the window. Buzz hung his head out the window.

“A lot of activity lately.”

“Yeah. Know anything about this?” Dan asked.

“No. It’s been there all day though. That much I know.”

“Doesn’t seem smart of Alan to leave the keys in the ignition,” Dan said.

“He probably had his reasons. It ain’t going anywhere on its own.”

“You’re right there.”

Another squad pulled up just then. Buzz waved goodbye as the squad parked in front of the Seville.

CHAPTER 11

Dan stood on the porch. He looked up at the tall pillars and wondered if they supported anything or if they are just for show. He pressed the doorbell and waited. Mabel Maxwell, Alan’s wife, opened the door. She was in her early fifties, a good fifteen years Alan’s senior. She was a heavy-set woman in dire need of a dye job. The gray roots were clearly visible. Her housedress was badly worn but Dan figured the dustpan in one hand and broom in the other was an indication she was house cleaning, so why would she wear her Sunday best housedress? She definitely was not in the same class as Alan’s stepmother.

“Why, Sheriff Harter, what brings you out this way?”

“Is Alan home?” Dan asked.

Mabel looked puzzled and then responded. “Yes, he’s in the study. Is there something I can help you with?”

“No. I just want a few words with him.”

Mabel set the dustpan and broom down and then turned and motioned for Dan to follow her. They walked through a house that was more like a mansion. And Mabel looked more like the housekeeper than the lady of the manor.

Mable tapped lightly on the door before opening it. Alan sat at the desk looking at his stamp collection.

“I told you I didn’t want to,” Alan snapped but then did not continue when he saw Dan.

Dan was somewhat surprised at the curt response Alan gave his wife. He never would have treated Kay like that. And it bothered him that even in marriage Alan had a way of appearing superior to his wife. He clearly should be thankful she provided him a continuance of his affluent lifestyle.

“Sheriff Harter is here to see you, dear. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Alan waved his hand, dismissing Mabel as if she were his servant. Dan looked uncomfortable as Mabel turned and walked out of the room. He wondered if the woman was that desperate to have a man in her life that she would put up with such abuse. Alan walked around the desk and took Dan’s hand.

“Long time,” Alan said shaking Dan’s hand profusely.

“Yeah.”

“I was meaning to stop after the funeral.”

Dan was uneasy at the mention of Kay’s name, especially coming from Alan.

Alan would not let go of his hand or his apology and continued. “It was too bad. Did you ever find out what caused the accident?” he asked.

“Faulty brakes,” was all Dan said. The accident happened up in Little Rock and he had to trust that they did their job, but he had his doubts. Always did. He was meticulous in maintaining his vehicles and it bothered him to this day that Kay’s death was the result of faulty equipment.

“What are the odds,” Alan said as he walked back to his desk and then turned back to Dan. “What brings you out?”

“Your car,” Dan said.

Alan rolled his eyes a moment and then with the look of innocence said. “Oh that. I was meaning to call that in.” But the he hesitated for a moment. “Fact of the matter I thought Finnegan would have had it out of the ditch by now.”

“He didn’t get around to it. Too busy at the ranch, I guess.” Dan said as he looked around. “It’s against the law to leave the scene of an accident.”

“What accident? A deer crossed in front of me. I swerved to miss him and landed in the ditch. I didn’t hit anything”

Dan studied Alan for a moment. “Were you alone?” he asked.