“Maybe you can get her to talk,” Nancy said.

“Judging by the bruise on her face, and her not wanting to press charges, I think she knows enough to keep her mouth shut. At least for now.”

Dan flipped through the pages. “Anything else?”

“All I can do is tell you what I know,” she said.

Nancy shrugged her shoulders. She took the clipboard from Dan and set it back on the desk.

“Who do you think would do such a thing?”

“I’m narrowing the field down.”

Dan walked away, but then turned and looked at Nancy for the longest time before speaking.

“You were going to tell me something the other day,” he said.

“I was?” She asked with a puzzled look.

“About Alan Maxwell.”

Nancy turned away before answering. “It was a long time ago, seven, maybe eight years ago. I said it was nothing.”

“It had to do with the disappearance of that boy up in Little Rock.”

“How did you find out?”

“I got an old Army buddy working for the FBI up in Little Rock. I had him do a little checking for me.”

“I’m impressed,” she said.

“Do you want to tell me about it now?”

“What’s to tell? The cops had Alan Maxwell as a person of interest. The Senator pulled strings. Before I knew it, the Senator whisked his little golden boy out of town,” Nancy remarked and then laughed. “The next thing I heard, Alan married this rich widow and became respectable.”

“How certain were you that Alan was involved?” Dan asked.

“It didn’t matter. Although…”

“Although what?”

Nancy shook her head in frustration. “I don’t know. There was more at stake,” she said while raising her hands. “Politics. What can I say?”

“I remember in high school, Alan always came to school with bruises. He claimed it was from breaking mustangs or a fight with someone. But no one ever was able to substantiate any of it. And I think he had a fear of horses.”

“And no one did anything?”

“It was a different time.”

“Abuse breeds abuse.”

Dan frowned. “He was a kid just like me, I can’t believe he killed Jason. Christ, they were friends.”

“Maybe you can get him to talk to you.”

“Yeah, before more people turn up dead.”

“Did your friend have anything else to say?” Nancy asked.

“No, but I’m having him check a few things out for me.” Dan glanced around and then turned to Nancy. “You about ready to leave?”

“I guess.”

Dan took Nancy by the arm. “I’ll walk you out,” he said.

Nancy looked up at Dan. There was concern in his voice and on his face so she did not argue. She too had been a little more concerned about her safety in recent days. Hence the locked lab door after everyone else left for the day.

As they left the building Dan walked Nancy over to her Outback. She took out her keyless entry unit and pressed the button to unlock the doors.

“I enjoyed dinner last night,” he said looking down at Nancy.

“So did I.”

“Would you like to come over Sunday for a cookout? You can meet my daughter.”

“Only if you promise to stop drumming up business for me.”

Dan smiled. “I promise.”

Dan opened Nancy’s car door but before she could climb in Dan pulled her into his arms. He cupped the bottom of her chin with his free hand and kissed her gently. He stopped suddenly.

“I’m sorry.”

Nancy kissed him back and whispered softly, “Don’t be.”

Dan pulled her closer and kissed her long and hard. He so missed the warmth of a woman’s body. This felt good and natural.

CHAPTER 16

Dan slept restlessly as he tossed and turned the whole night through.

In his dream, Dan was walking down the dark country road, the full moon shone brightly in the distance. There was movement in the underbrush. Dan ran until he was out of breath. Suddenly there was a flash of light coming at him.

Dan suddenly sat up in bed. Lightning illuminated the room followed by the clamor of thunder, picture frames rattled on the walls. Dan had trouble catching his breath and wondered why that dream always haunted him when things did not go right.

* * *

Dan entered the Sheriff’s office. Mac was sitting at the radio. He turned to Dan and pointed to the cellblock door. Dan looked over in the direction Mac was pointing to. There, standing near the cellblock door with mop and pail in hand, was Ester Cratchet. She turned to Dan.

“Morning, Sheriff,” she greeted Dan with a big grin.

Dan turned to Mac and then glanced back at Ester, who disappeared through the cellblock door and shut it behind her.

“What’s going on?” Dan asked.

“Says you hired her.”

“When?” Dan asked.

Mac raised his hands. “Maybe the other day.”

“But there’s no money in the budget to clean this place.”

“You tell her,” Mac argued.

Dan raised his arms in frustration, and then quickly turned to Mac before Ester came back.

“How much is in petty cash?”

Mac opened the left hand drawer. He took out the old metal box and then opened it. Mac quickly counted the money.

“Fifty-five bucks,” Mac said, looking up at Dan.

Dan quickly reached into his pocket, pulled out a twenty, and tossed it into the open box.

“At noon send her home,” he pointed to the money before continuing. “This is all I can afford to pay her,” he added and then walked to the door.

“Where are you going?” Mac asked.

Dan turned back to Mac. “Remember, I got a murder to solve.”

He stared at Mac a moment and then pointed to the cellblock door, indicating for Mac to take care of the situation.

* * *

Dan parked the squad next to Alan’s car and got out. He walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

Mabel guided Dan to the study. She tapped lightly on the door and then opened it. Unlike before, she did not announce Dan. Dan just walked in and stared at Alan, who had a magnifying glass in one hand while holding a tweezers with a stamp in the other.

“I’ll shut the door,” Dan said, turning back to the door.

Alan set both stamp and magnifying glass down. “This isn’t social, then?” Alan asked.

Dan shook his head. “Hardly. We have to talk,” he said.

Alan folded his hands and then looked up at Dan. “Should I have an attorney present?”

“Depends if you’re innocent or not.”

“What if I just want one?”

Dan motioned to the phone. “Be my guest,” he said, studying Alan for the longest time. “Is this what you do all day?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Stamps, nothing. You wanted to become a doctor, to help people.”

“People can’t be helped,” Alan said irritably as he stood and walked over to the fireplace. “Oh sure! You can correct what ails them,” he continued. “But you can’t do anything for what’s wrong up here,” Alan pointed to his head.

“So become a shrink.”

Alan rolled his eyes, realizing Dan did not have a clue. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“What happened that night twenty years ago?”

Alan waved his hand as if dismissing Dan. “Is that why you’re here?”

“Buzz is dead.”

Alan tried to hide his surprise. “So!”

“Something was bothering him.”

“And you think I have the answers?”

Dan looked hard at Alan. “What happened that night?” Dan asked pointing a finger. “I’ll find out and when I do you’ll be sorry.”

“Can’t be any worse than the hell I’m already in.”

Dan stared at Alan for the longest time and then turned and walked out in disgust. Alan was so unlike the cocky kid he knew in high school. He seemed a broken man now, and Dan wondered how someone who had everything going for him could waste it all away and have nothing to show for his time on Earth.