Page 88 of Head Room

“Tell me about Nance coming and going.”

Neither made eye contact with each other or with me.

I could hear the door that led to more words creaking closed.

Then, to my surprise, the younger one spoke.“Rest of us found a place here.Nance had trouble settling.”

That felt like a dead end.But you know what they say, if you hit a dead end, look for other angles.Well, if they don’t say it, they should.

“Did you give the sergeant money?Any of you?Or authority over your money?”

“Nah.We’ve read up on scammers trying to fleece vets.Even if Sarge asked, we’d’ve said no.He never did.Nance, neither.”

“Is Nance around now?”

This time the elder man shifted his feet.“Nah.Like I said, he comes and goes.”

Darn.That door was swinging toward closed.

Another choice — force it or try another entry point?“Did you know Irene, the sergeant’s wife?”

“Nice lady,” the younger man said.

“She’d say hello, bring cookies and such, but stayed in the truck mostly,” the older man said.

“How did Frank Jardos cope after her death?”

“Privately.”That door slam left an echo.“Gotta go.”

“Of course.I appreciate your time.One more question for now.What are your names?”

“Two questions.”Again, the younger guy almost smiled.

“So it is,” the older guy said.“I’m Victor and this is Zeke.”

“And Nance’s name?”

“Three questions,” Zeke said.

“Right again.Because three names,” Victor said.“Ron Sam Preet.Always uses all three.That’s why we call him Nance.”

They looked at me, waiting for me to ask more, prepared to not answer.

I skipped that step, smiled, then thanked them.

We nodded at each other — no offer of handshakes.

I turned, aware that Shadow didn’t turn with me right away.He had my back.

After I’d gone three feet, he joined up, but he kept looking over his shoulder, checking, until we reached Tom and the truck.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Other than “Okay?”and a searching look, Tom didn’t ask how the conversation went.

I don’t know how I would have answered if he had.

On my second try I got enough connection to look up FMT.