Page 85 of Head Room

“No.”

That sounded like the truth, yet it was abrupt.The abruptnesscouldbe explained as a mask to emotions he didn’t want to reveal.Or it could be something else.

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Came here the day before his cabin burned.”That matched what Poppinger said.

“Part of his regular schedule?”

“Didn’t have a strict schedule.”

That was a hedge, in addition to not matching what Yvette reminded Poppinger he’d said.

“How does that work, then?”

“Comes around, finds out what’s needed, gets it, brings it back.Sometimes the same day.”

Hissometimesleft open thatmost timesit didn’t happen the same day.

“Is that what happened the day before the cabin fire?He came back the same day?”

“Uh-huh.”

Okay, so Frank Jardos came up here on a different day than usual and made deliveries the same day.What did that add up to?

I stashed that internal question in favor of one for these guys.I had the feeling this wasn’t destined to be a protracted interview.“Does he check in with each of you about what’s needed in town?”

“No.”

“Then how does he find out what to get or do?”

“Mostly I tell him.A couple will talk to him direct for something complicated or they want to keep to themselves.But mostly they tell me and I keep a running list I give him.”

“Did he say anything to you about why he came that particular day?”

“No.”

“Do you know why he came that particular day?”

He nodded.“That’s right.Not the same thing, is it?But the answer’s still no.”

“Did you get any sense that he was worried about anything?”

“No.”

But the younger guy became even stiller.

“Distracted or concerned or have anything on his mind?”

“No.”

I wouldn’t call that an outright lie, but it wasn’t all true, either.Not even for the older guy.

“If he wanted to...disappear for a while, would he come here?”

“Can’t say.Cansay he didn’t.”

“How can you know for sure?Pretty big area.”