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Danny shakes his head. What else should he have expected?

Jalbert says, “Go out and tell them his pickup’s around back. Video them putting the truck on the flatbed so our custodian can’t claim later that we planted anything.”

She takes her phone and stands up but looks doubtful. Jalbert gives her a smile, showing those tiny pegs that serve him as teeth, and flaps a hand at the door. “We’ll be fine, won’t we, Danny?”

“If you say so.”

“Keys?” she asks.

“Under the seat.” He flicks the keyring hanging on his belt loop. “I’ve got enough keys for this place, I don’t need to add more. Truck’s not locked.” And for once he has his phone with him.

She nods and goes out. When the door closes, Jalbert says, “That flatbed is going to take your pickup to Great Bend, where it will be gone over from bumper to tailpipe. Will we find anything belonging to Miss Yvonne?”

“Not unless you plant it.”

“One of her hairs? One single blond hair?”

“Not unless—”

“Not unless we plant it, yes. Danny, we’ll be taking a ride after all, but not to the Manitou PD. To your place. Just out of curiosity, are there any oaks in Oak Grove Trailer Park? Four or five? Maybe only three?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think so. There will be some cops and a forensic unit there. Is your housekey on the ring with the keys to your truck?”

“Yes, but the door is unlocked.”

Jalbert raises eyebrows that are the same red mixed with gray as his jumbo widow’s peak. “Aren’t you the trusting soul?”

“I lock up at night. In the daytime…” Danny shrugs. “I’ve got nothing worth stealing.”

“Travel light, do you? Not just psychic but an acolyte of Thoreau!”

Danny doesn’t know who that is any more than he knows what Tinder is. He guesses Jalbert knows that. His eyes crawl and crawl. Danny realizes why he felt the man’s gaze was dusty. His eyes have no shine, no sparkle, just a certain avidity. He’s like room tone, he thinks. Odd idea, but it’s right somehow. He wonders if Jalbert dreams.

“I’ve got a question for you, Danny, one I’ve already asked and you’ve answered, but this time I’ll give you your rights first. You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to me—you don’t have to, but if you do—anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to have an attorney present. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.” He pauses. The small white pegs make an appearance. “I’m sure that has a familiar ring.”

“It does.” What Danny’s thinking is that when he and Jalbert arrive at his trailer, there will be cops there already. Those residents not at work will see and pass it on—police were searching Danny Coughlin’s trailer. By dark the news will be all over Oak Grove.

“You understand your rights?”

“I do. But you’re not recording. She took her phone.”

“Doesn’t matter. This is just between us.” Jalbert stands and leans forward, his fingers tented on the library table, his eyes searching Danny’s face. “So, one more time. Did you kill Yvonne Wicker?”

“No.”

For the first time Jalbert’s smile looks real. In a low, almost caressing voice, he says, “I think you did. I know you did. Sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

Danny looks at his watch. “What I want is to clock out those two kids. And myself.”

13

It’s what Danny expected at Oak Grove. Two police cars and a white forensics van are parked in front of his trailer. Half a dozen of his neighbors are standing around watching. Ella Davis is there, along with four uniformed cops and two forensics guys who are wearing white pullover suits, gloves, and booties. Danny assumes she caught a ride to the trailer park with the flatbed hauling his truck, so the neighbors will have seen that, too. Nice. At least Becky’s not here, which is a relief. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays she has a part-time job at Freddy’s Washateria. Darla Jean colors or reads a book while Becky empties washers and driers and makes change and folds clothes.

But she’ll find out, Danny thinks. Someone will be eager to tell her. Probably that motormouth Cynthia Babson.

Although his trailer is unlocked, they’ve waited for Jalbert. Davis walks over to the car. When Danny gets out of the front seat instead of the back, she frowns at Jalbert, who only shrugs.