TROY AND SUSIE BEAR STOPPED BY THE OFFICE on Main Street in Northshire on the way back out on patrol. Thrasher was there, with reports from the Major Crime Unit on the murder of Donald Jonas Walker. He was perfectly turned out as always, his uniform pressed and boots shined, despite the long days on the job this time of year. His boss hadn’t had any more sleep than he’d had, but where Troy knew he’d need a shower and a shave and a change of clothes to look presentable, Thrasher looked every inch the prepared and alert professional.
They stood in the back of the warden service office by the whiteboard, which bore a map of the area marked with the locations of the victims and sightings of Amy and the baby, as well as photos and facts pertaining to the case. They went over what they knew so far about the Walker murder and the Bones case, as they were calling it unofficially.
“Two dead men, three years apart, both found with representations of the Vermont coat of arms.”
“Adaptations of the coat of arms,” corrected Troy, who regretted the correction as soon as the words were out of his mouth.
“Adaptations of the coat of arms,” repeated Thrasher good-naturedly. He was petting the shaggy dog’s floppy ears, his blue-green eyes on Troy. “A belt buckle and some ink. Pretty thin.”
“Don’t forget the pendant.”
The captain raised an eyebrow. “Hidden by a cat.”
“A cat with a clue.”
Thrasher rolled his eyes. “They found twenty thousand dollars in cash hidden in the recliner where Walker was sitting when he died. Now that’s a motive.”
Troy whistled. “That’s a lot of money for a guy living in a crap house full of cats.”
“His wife claims he won it playing bingo.” The captain smiled as Susie Bear rolled over, exposing her belly for a sweet rub. He squatted down to humor her with a good tummy scratching. Her big black tail thumped away on the wide oak-planked floor as he dragged his fingers through the long black fur that graced her rumbling stomach. “I think she’s hungry. Let’s go get pizza.”
“Bingo?” Troy laughed. “Definitely time for pizza.”
Pizza was one of the Newfie mutt’s favorite words, along with lunch, supper, treat, play, walk, and search. She shuffled to her feet, and led the way out of the office and down the street to Pizza Bob’s Wood Fired Pie Company. Pizza Bob’s was the best place in town for pizza, and not only because it was the only one with outside seating that accommodated the dog. It wasn’t much to look at, outside or inside, but the massive one-of-a-kind pizza oven decoratively painted with graffiti art made up for it. Susie Bear’s favorite kind of pie was the Howl: hand-tossed with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, meatballs, and ham. With a large bowl of water on the side.
Troy and Thrasher shared an extra-large with the dog and passed on the water in favor of the fresh root beer on tap.
“So who wins twenty grand at bingo?”
“According to Karen Walker, her husband went to the American Legion in Middlebury every Wednesday,” said Thrasher. “Says they have a three-thousand-dollar pot at their bingo.”
“Seriously?”
“That part could be true. Big bucks in bingo.”
“Yeah, but, that doesn’t mean Walker came by the money that way.”
“Easy enough to check out,” said Thrasher. “The staties are on it. Bet you a Howl pie it won’t.”
“No, thanks.” Troy had a long history of losing pizza bets to the captain. Which was only fair, since his dog ate most of the pie anyway. But he wasn’t biting this time.
“The wife says it’s hers now, wherever it came from.”
Troy gave Susie Bear another slice of her favorite pie. She waited politely for him to do so, then devoured it in three rapid chomps. “She also says her daughter killed him.”
“No love lost there.”
Troy remembered how Mercy Carr had put it: She’s not to be believed.
“Maybe not. But she’s denied any abuse on his part. Or hers.” Thrasher reached for another slice with greasy fingers.
“She would.”
“Maybe. They’ve issued a warrant for Amy Walker’s arrest.”
“Based on the mother’s word?”
Thrasher drained his mug of root beer. “And the baby’s abandonment and subsequent disappearance.”
“Mercy Carr believes that Amy is the victim, not the perp.”
“And you?” The captain’s voice held an edge Troy had learned to respect.
“I don’t know.” He proceeded with caution. “But I do believe that the two deaths are connected to the explosives the dog alerted to.”
“Maybe.”
“Elvis is a military working dog. You know how well trained they are.” Susie Bear perked up at the sound of the Belgian shepherd’s name and took her eyes off the remainder of the pizza to regard Troy with interest. He shook his head and tossed her another piece to make up for her canine buddy’s absence.
“Could have just been fireworks.”
“Mercy says he had the best nose in Afghanistan.”
“Well, if Mercy says so…”
Troy could feel himself flush. He thought the captain was teasing him, but he was never quite sure. The man’s deadpan delivery always threw him off. “What I mean is, she’s not the kind of woman who exaggerates. Sir.”
Thrasher grinned. “Point taken.”
“And she’s done some solid police work. Given us some solid leads.”
“Yes, but she’s still a civilian. Let’s not forget that.”
“She was an MP.”
“Exactly. She was an MP.”
Troy wasn’t making a strong enough case. He tried another tack. “What about the Vermont Firsters?”
“Cranks. But harmless.”
“So say the staties.” Troy told the captain about the intruder who tossed Mercy’s house and shot at Elvis. And their visit to see the professor. Better he should tell him himself rather than risk his finding out some other way.
“I’m glad the dog is all right.” Thrasher lifted his hands and frowned, whether at his greasy fingers or his warden’s confession, Troy wasn’t sure. “Any idea what the guy was after?”
“No, sir.”
“Let’s hope it wasn’t the baby.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thrasher wiped his hands carefully with the substantial stack of paper napkins Pizza Bob knew the fastidious captain would require, and always made sure to provide. “What did you think of Dr. Winters?”
“She’s an interesting woman.”
“She’s a piece of work. Or so I’ve heard.”
Troy wonder how and what he’d heard, firsthand, secondhand, or up close and personal. The captain knew more about people, places, and things in Vermont than anyone he’d ever met. Including the state databases.
“Doesn’t mean she’s guilty,” continued Thrasher. “And she confirmed that Wolfe was in Canada.”
“That’s what she said,” he admitted.
“But you didn’t believe her.”
“Mercy Carr didn’t believe her.”
Thrasher’s blue-green eyes were smiling now. “And you did.”
“I don’t know.”
“You never did know much about women.”
It was Troy’s turn to frown. “That’s what she said.”
Thrasher laughed. And every woman at Pizza Bob’s turned to look at him. He rarely laughed out loud, but when he did, he did so with a strong laugh that raised the roof and the blood pressure of every female in the room. “Smart girl.”
Pizza Bob dropped by the table with the check, and the captain paid it over Troy’s protests.
“At least take what’s left.”
“And deprive this outstanding canine of a late-night snack?” Thrasher shook his head and handed him the box with the leftover pizza. “Look, I know you like the girl and her dog. But stay out of it.”
“Yes, sir.” He took the box, holding it high and away from Susie Bear as they walked back down to the office.
“I mean it,” said Thrasher. “A body in our wilderness is one thing. You found it on our beat, and that gave you some small justification for keeping your hand in even after we turned it over to Harrington. But you didn’t find Donald Walker dead in the woods. There’s no way you can interfere with that investigation, whether the two murders are connected or not. He won’t stand for it. You know what he’s like.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let the Major Crime Unit handle it,” said Thrasher. “You’ve got patrols.”
* * *
TROY AND SUSIE Bear spent half the night tracking down drunk boaters and issuing citations for speeding and writing tickets for expired fishing licenses. But at least he stayed mostly dry this time. By the time they got home to the fire tower it was after eleven, and they were both exhausted. He more than she, since the dog had an unfailing ability to nap practically anywhere—on the dock, on the boat, in the truck, wherever. Although she was always quick to rise in the event of suspicious activity, if he needed her. Or if there were kids or food around. She loved all kids and all food, not necessarily in that order.
He took a quick shower, pulled down the Murphy bed, and tumbled into it. Susie Bear ate the rest of the pizza and then joined him, taking up more than her fair share of the queen-size mattress.
By midnight the phone was ringing. He reached for his cell, and to his surprise it wasn’t Thrasher or Mercy Carr calling.
It was Patience O’Sullivan.