I made sure we were out of the line of sight before making a U-turn.

“There has to be something in that house that will implicate someone besides my sister.”

Tony shook his head. “They’ll sure as shootin’ go through the place as part of their investigation into the murder, pard.”

“Way it’s been since I hit town,” I said, “Sheriff and Deputy Spiesz are the ones who’ll be investigating. They’ll both be tied up reviewing the autopsy evidence and booking Renée for at least an hour.”

“Doesn’t he have help?” Tony twisted one side of the mustache. 

“How many law officers reside in Lincoln County proper? They have to patrol at least three thousand acres. Officer Gerulis isn’t allowed more responsibility than writing tickets and chasing chickens. No, by the time de Lude realizes he needs help with this, we’ll be in and out like thieves.”

“Excellent choice of words, Connor.” His scowl took the fun out. “One thing, though, I’m no part of breaking into a man’s house, dead or not. If you do wander inside the place looking for a place to pee, I guess it’s my duty to come inside and make sure you’re alright. Since there’s a killer on the loose and all.”

I pointed the Tacoma up the driveway toward the house. “Alrighty, sir. I’ll just stop for a potty break.”

“I really don’t get the man,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense that he’d have no defensive wounds. Unless he believed the stabbing was deserved.” He wrinkled his brow.

“That’s one way,” I said. “Or he didn’t believe the sticker would actually do it.”

“Possible.” Tony shook his head with bewilderment.

“Or he believed he was impervious to the wound,” I added.

“He was that crazy?”

I nodded emphatically. “He was that crazy. Doc Gibbons thinks so. After talking to him and hearing his prattle, I’m inclined to think so as well.”

“Still, Connor, you’re going to get yourself into some shit that won’t help the girl, or your sister, anyway at all.” Tony toyed with his long mustache, and then tipped his head to the side with a shake. “And I sure as hell don’t need to be involved in a B & E.” 

“You won’t be. You sit in the truck while I wander off for a piss on the side of the road. You don’t know why I’m taking so long, so you come and find me… in the house.”

“I was kidding!”

“Just so, still a good plan. Sheriff de Lude has made it plumb clear that he won’t use any more resources on the Peale family. He’s found his killer and the rest of his deputies need to be free to work Libby and the west and south sides of the county,” I said. “How many Hugh Jenkins anti-gov nutcases they have out here hiding in the woods? How many hikers lost in the mountains just before snow flies? How many drug runners crossing the border need extra lawmen to shut them down? Sheriff de Lude wants this case wrapped up just to free the resources.” My breaths came hard at the end of it.

“Well, I guess you have thought this through.” Tony’s voice took on a dreamy quality. “I’ve heard guys talk up the adventures of working close to the border. Drugs and money. Not to mention guys like Jenkins. Justus Township and the Montana Freemen. Chief Frieze and my boss at the station in Miles loading for bear, just to transport one of those goofballs to Billings for trial. This is getting to be a disturbingly ugly artist retreat.”

We arrived at the house. I expected Tony to stay in the Tacoma, but he couldn’t help himself and followed me up the steps.

“If someone comes along, I’m arresting you for trespassing,” he assured me.

I grunted.

Wonder of wonders, the door was not locked.

“That’s about a bad idea, Connor, my friend.” Tony stood on the porch peering into the dark, one gloved hand on the doorjamb. “I’m keeping my badge.”

“I’ll just take a quick gander and pop back out,” I said from inside the door. My heart chattered with adrenal anticipation.

“You best hope he doesn’t have an alarm in that place.”

“Unlikely,” I said, my eyes adjusting to the shadowiness. “He had the pitchfork for defense.”

“Fat lot of good that did him.”

His point made sense. At least while I was still on the porch. Now that I’d crossed the lawful impediment, logic dictated I keep moving.

The lights all worked fine. When I flipped the living room light switch I was nearly blinded by a floor lamp with a hundred watt bulb parked next to the entrance. The place smelled like Christmas, with the tree already up and partly covered in bulbs of various Christmas colors. Furniture appeared unused, with the exception of a single old and battered barcalounger in the corner, pointed directly at a very small television perched on an old wooden TV tray against the wall. 

The kitchen, on the other hand, was clean and precise, dishes stacked neatly on the counter with the doors to empty cupboards wide open. Everything in here had been scrubbed down with disinfectant. This was probably a paranoid schizophrenic’s way of making sure no one hid in there, like Old Mother Hubbard. It made quick work of my search.

His bedroom smelled of cheap laundry detergent and old mattress. It was bare and sparse, a small dresser next to a twin-sized bed. Doors to the empty closet had been removed. Lots of space and very little of anything else. Easier to keep the demons from surprising him, I’d guess. Also made my job simpler.

Aidan actually had a den of sorts. It held a large desk. The top was covered in news articles cut from two or three local papers. They were all stories of a crazy mountain man who’d accosted some unsuspecting tourist.

One line caught my attention.

Is the law going to do something about this threat to Eureka’s tourism?

It was a good question and gave a number of business owners in the area motive to end the threat.

“Not specific enough to help get Renée off the hook,” I said to no one. The comment hung in the air, waiting for a response, raising the hair under my shirt collar. 

“There’s no one here,” I whispered to calm the nerves.

I rifled the papers on his desk and rummaged some drawers, not sure what I was looking to find. Evidence was like a dinner jacket at a salesman’s award banquet. They all looked the same, except the one that was different. 

Time ticked by with a lot more noise while I found nothing. Tony’s voice trotted down the hall from the front of the house, urging me to get what I came for and get out. 

Only, I didn’t exactly know what I came for.

The middle desk drawer wouldn’t open. Locked. That had to mean something. 

I didn’t waste a moment looking for the key. A letter opener lying next to the standard issue black telephone on the desk offered an alternative. A bit of pry bar force snapped the catch free. Inside, I found a ledger and that was it. As I flipped the pages, it became immediately clear that I’d discovered the answer to psychosis. Random numbers and bizarre scribbles on every page.

“Damn, damn, damn, and double damn,” I muttered.

Another holler from Tony at the front door. This one had the rushed momentum of a demanding plea. If he got into a jam because of this, I’d never be able to look in the mirror again.

This had been a stupid idea. I gave the empty drawer one more look before slapping it shut. 

Then a visual cue registered. Spacial anomaly. The depth of the drawer on the inside didn’t match the outside dimensions. I poked around with the letter opener until I found it. The latch popped and the secret compartment flew open. 

My treasure lay right in front of me.

Aidan had scribbled deed to property across the face of a large manila envelope.

I pulled it out and reviewed the deed to a piece of property under contract to Aidan by Hugh Jenkins—pending a transfer of ten thousand smackeroos to Jenkins’ account.

“Bingo,” I said with enough volume to chase away the phantom lurking over my shoulder.

Clearly, Aidan and Hugh were tied together in a business deal. Some ideas ran through my head but I decided to save them for later. Right now, I had to choose between taking the deed along and getting arrested for breaking and entering. Or I could leave it behind and let my word stand for truth, while someone had a chance to nab and dispose of it. Namely Hugh Jenkins.

I took the document with me.

Tony had moved off of the porch.

I tapped him with the envelope. “This is it.” I pulled the deed out and tipped it to catch the glow from the yard light.

“Maybe Aidan planned to sell the little girl so he could buy this precious piece of property.” My excitement level was high and I could hear it in my voice.

Tony’s expression held the consternation of a lawman caught planting evidence. “Well now that you have it in your hand, it ain’t worth a plugged nickel.”

“Come on, Tony! I’ll find a way to get it in front of the Sheriff. He’ll have to see it as motive for the kidnap and the killing.”

“Damn it, Connor.” He tucked his head into his palms for a brief moment. When he came up, he did it with a deep inhale and a hard shake of his befuddled brainpan. Resolve replaced disappointment. “A sane man would be hard pressed.”

“Aidan had some wild ideas about the world. He might have thought the whole thing was in his daughter’s best interest. He did tell me she was an angel and above human understanding. Maybe he believed she could transcend being trafficked like a bovine.”

Tony ran the tips of his fingers along the curve of his stash. “Crazy has a way of turning things sideways.”

“The two things have to be linked,” I said as we made our way to the truck.

The snap of a branch echoed through the forest, followed by raindrops of sharp rock fragments stinging my skin. Before I could determine their source, another loud crack rang out, this time accompanied by the unmistakable sound of bullets colliding with metal. My heart pounded as Tony yelled, “Rifle shots! Get down!” I dropped to the gravel and crawled towards the distant Tacoma, heart racing and limbs electrified with fear. 

Tony hustled to the other side of the truck and we scrambled inside. I kept my head low while I cranked the engine to life. With a quick peek over the dash, I stomped the gas and we peeled out of there like a greased pig. Only when we were hidden beneath the canopy of the trees did I finally take a shaky breath, adrenaline surging through my veins. 

“You sure you want to do this, bud?” Tony asked. “Someone don’t much like you round here.”