Noonecanresistabook

byDianaPalmer!

"Nobodydoesitbetter."--NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorLindaHoward

"Palmerknowshowtomakethesparksfly....

Heartwarming."

--PublishersWeeklyonRenegade

"Acompellingtale...

[thatpacks]anemotionalwallop."

--BooklistonRenegade

"Sensualandsuspenseful."

--BooklistonLawless

"DianaPalmerisamesmerizingstorytellerwho

capturestheessenceofwhataromanceshouldbe."

--AffairedeCoeur

"NobodytopsDianaPalmer

whenitcomestodeliveringpure,

undilutedromance.Iloveherstories."

--NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthor

JayneAnnKrentz

"Thedialogueischarming,

thecharacterslikableandthesexsizzling."

--PublishersWeeklyonOnceinParis

DearReader,OfallthecharactersIhavecreatedoverthepastthirtyyears,HarleyFowlerhasbeen
themostcomplex.HestartedlifeinMercenary'sWomanasacowboywhoworkedformercenaryEb
Scott'sfriend,theenigmaticCyParks.Hewasabraggart,ablowhardandapainintheneck,butwe
gotglimpsesofthemanhemightbecome.InTheWinterSoldier,hegrewup.Whenconfrontedby
violentdrugdealers,hediscoveredthatwhilehewaspretendingtobeaprofessionalsoldier,Cy
Parks,hisreclusiveboss,wastherealarticle.Harleyswallowedhisprideandwalkedbravelyinto
gunfirebesideCyParks,MicahSteeleandEbScotttotakedownadangerousdrugdistributioncenter.
IhavehadmanyreadersaskforHarley'sownbook,butuntilnowIhadn'tfoundjusttherightvenue
forhim.Sometimesifyourushastoryintopublication,youdodamagetothecharacteritisintended
tospotlight.IwaiteduntilIwascertainIhadtherightstoryforHarley.Now,Iam.Ihopeallofyou
whowantedtoknowmoreaboutCyParks'smysteriousforemanwillbepleasedattherevelations.As
youmightnotice,thisbookisthebeginningofamurdermysterythatwillunravelinsubsequent
books,mostnotablyinthehardcoverstoryofKilravenandWinnieSinclairnextsummerandinthe

followingyear'shardcoveraboutKilraven'shalfbrother,JonBlackhawk.Don'tbeimpatient.It's
goingtobeagoodride.Ipromise.Lovetoallofyoufromyourbiggestfan,DianaPalmer

themaverick

�TM

Long,TallTexansBooksbyDianaPalmerSilhouetteDesireSilhouetteBooksThatBurkeMan#913
ALong,TallTexanSummerBeloved#1189LoneStarChristmasAManofMeans#1429"Christmas
Cowboy"ManinControl#1537LovewithaLong,TallTexanBossMan#1688IronCowboy#1856
TheMaverick#1982SilhouetteSpecialEditionMattCaldwell:TexasTycoon#1297Carrera'sBride
#1645HeartofStone#1921SilhouetteRomanceCalhoun#580Donavan#843Justin#592Emmett
#910Tyler#604Regan'sPride#1000Sutton'sWay#670Coltrain'sProposal#1103Ethan#694The
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#819Cattleman'sPride#1718

DIANAPALMERhasagiftfortellingthemostsensualtaleswithcharmandhumor.Withmorethan
fortymillioncopiesofherbooksinprint,DianaPalmerisoneofNorthAmerica'smostbeloved
authorsandconsideredoneofthetoptenromanceauthorsintheUnitedStates.Diana'shobbies
includegardening,archaeology,anthropology,art,astronomyandmusic.Shehasbeenmarriedto
JamesKyleforoverthirty-fiveyears.Theyhaveoneson,Blayne,whoismarriedtotheformer
ChristinaClayton,andagranddaughter,SelenaMarie.

ToJulieBenefiel,whodesignedmycowboyquilt

(handpiecedbyNancyCaudill),

ToNancyMason,whoquiltedit,

AndtoJanetBorchert,whoputtogethera2007hardcoverbookofallmycovers,includingforeign
ones,

alongwithJade,Tracy,Nancy,Carey,Amy,Renata,

Maria,LeeAnn,Efy,Kay,Peggy,Hang,Ronnie,Mona

andDebbieoftheDianaPalmerBulletinBoard.

Alsotoeveryonewhoparticipatedinthecompendium

summariesofallmybooks,andtoNancyforthe

quiltedcoversfortheloose-leafnotebooks.

Withmanythanksandmuchlove.

One

HarleyFowlerwasstaringsohardathislistofchoresthathewalkedrightintoayoungbrunetteas
heheadedintothehardwarestoreinJacobsville,Texas.Helookedup,shocked,whenshefellback
againsttheopendoor,glaringathim.

"I'veheardofmengettingburiedintheirwork,butthisistoomuch,"shetoldhimwithaspeaking
look.Shesmoothedoverhershortblackhair,feelingforabumpwhereshe'dcollidedwiththedoor.
Deepblueeyesglaredupintohispaleblueones.Shenoticedthathehadlightbrownhairandwas
wearingabaseballcapthatseemedtosuithim.Hewassexy-looking.

"I'mnotburiedinmywork,"hesaidcurtly."I'mtryingtogetbacktowork,andshoppingchoresare
keepingmefromit."8THEMAVERICK

"Whichdoesn'texplainwhyyou'reassaultingwomenwithdoors.Doesit?"shemused.

Hiseyesflared."Ididn'tassaultyouwithadoor.Youwalkedintome."

"Ididnot.Youwerestaringatthatpieceofpapersohardthatyouwouldn'thaveseenafreighttrain
com-ing."Shepeeredoverhisarmatthelist."Pruningshears?Twonewrakes?"Shepursedherlips,
butsmilingblueeyesstaredathim."You'reobviouslysomebody'sgardener,"shesaid,notinghis
muddyshoesandbaseballcap.

Hiseyebrowsmet."Iamnotagardener,"hesaidin-dignantly."I'macowboy."

"Youarenot!"

"Excuseme?"

"Youdon'thaveahorse,you'renotwearingacowboyhat,andyoudon'thaveonanychaps."She
glancedathisfeet."Youaren'tevenwearingcowboyboots!"

Hegapedather."Didyoujustescapefromintensetherapy?"

"Ihavenotbeeninanytherapy,"shesaidhaughtily."Myidiosyncrasiesaresouniquethatthey
couldn'tclassifymeevenwiththelatesteditionoftheDSM-IV,muchlessattempttopyschoanalize
me!"

Shewasreferringtoaclassicvolumeofpsy-chologythatwasusedtodiagnosethosewithmental
challenges.Heobviouslyhadnoideawhatshewastalkingabout.

"So,canyousing,then?"

Helookedhunted."WhywouldIwanttosing?"

"Cowboyssing.Ireaditinabook."

"Youcanread?"heaskedinmocksurprise.

"WhywouldyouthinkIcouldn't?"sheasked.DIANAPALMER9

Henoddedtowardthesignonthehardwarestore'sdoorthatclearlysaid,inlargeletters,PULL.She
wastryingtopushit.

Sheletgoofthedoorandshiftedherfeet."Isawthat,"shesaiddefensively."Ijustwantedtoknowif
youwerepayingattention."Shecockedherheadathim."Doyouhavearope?"

"Why?"heasked."Youplanningtohangyourself?"

Shesighedwithexaggeratedpatience."Cowboyscarryropes."

"Whatfor?"

"Sotheycanropecattle!"

"Don'tfindmanyheadofcattlewanderingaroundinhardwarestores,"hemurmured,lookingmore
con-fidentnow.

"Whatifyoudid?"shepersisted."Howwouldyougetacowoutofthestore?"

"Bull.WerunpurebredSantaGertrudisbullsonMr.Parks'sranch,"hecorrected.

"Andyoudon'thaveanycows?"Shemadeaface."Youdon'traisecalves,then."Shenodded.

Hisfaceflamed."Wedosoraisecalves.Wedohavecows.Wejustdon'tcarrythemintohardware
storesandturnthemloose!"

"Well,excuseme!"shesaidinmockapology."Ineversaidyoudid."

"Cowboyhatsandropesandcows,"hemuttered.Heopenedthedoor."Yougoinginorstandingout
here?Ihaveworktodo."

"Doingwhat?Knockingunsuspectingwomenintheheadwithdoors?"sheaskedpleasantly.

Hisimpatienteyeswentoverherneatslacksandwooljacket,tothebagshewasholding."Isaid,are
you10THEMAVERICK

goingintothestore?"heaskedwithforcedpatience,holdingthedooropen.

"Yes,asamatteroffact,Iam,"shereplied,movingcloser."IneedsometapemeasuresandSuper
Glueandmatchesandchalkandpushpinsandcoloredstringandstickytape."

"Don'ttellme,"hedrawled."You'reacontractor."

"Oh,she'ssomethingalittlelessconventionalthanthat,Harley,"PoliceChiefCashGriersaidashe
cameupthestepstothestore."How'sitgoing,Jones?"heasked.

"I'moverflowinginDBs,Grier,"sherepliedwithagrin."Wantsome?"

Hehelduphishands."Wedon'tdoabigbusinessinhomicideshere.I'dliketokeepitthatway."He
scowled."You'reoutofyourterritoryabit,aren'tyou?"

"Iam.Iwasaskeddownherebyyoursheriff,HayesCarson.HeactuallydoeshaveaDB.I'mworking
thecrimesceneforhimperhisrequestthroughtheBexarCountymedicalexaminer'soffice,butI
didn'tbringenoughsupplies.Ihopethehardwarestorecanaccom-modateme.It'salongdriveback
toSanAntoniowhenyou'reonacase."

"Onacase?"Harleyasked,confused.

"Yes,onacase,"shesaid."Unlikeyou,someofusareprofessionalswhohaverealjobs."

"Doyouknowhim?"Cashaskedher.

ShegaveHarleyastudiedappraisal."Notreally.Hecamebarrelingupthestepsandhitmewitha
door.Hesayshe'sacowboy,"sheaddedinaconfidentialtone."Butjustbetweenus,I'msurehe's

lying.Hedoesn'thaveahorseorarope,heisn'twearingacowboyhatorboots,hesayshecan'tsing,
andhethinksbullsroamaroundlooseinhardwarestores."DIANAPALMER11

Harleystaredatherwithmoremixedemotionsthanhe'dfeltinyears.

Cashchokedbackalaugh."Well,heactuallyisacowboy,"Cashdefendedhim."He'sHarleyFowler,
CyParks'sforemanonhiscattleranch."

"Imaginethat!"sheexclaimed."WhatablowtotheimageofTexasifsometouristwalksinandsees
himdressedlikethat!"SheindicatedHarley'sattirewithoneslenderhand."Theycan'tcallusthe
cowboycapitaloftheworldifwehavepeopleworkingcattleinbaseballcaps!We'llbedisgraced!"

Cashwastryingnottolaugh.Harleylookedasifhemightexplode.

"Betterahorselesscowboythanacontractorwithanattitudelikeyours!"Harleyshotback,with
glitteryeyes."I'mamazedthatanybodyaroundherewouldhireyoutobuildsomethingforthem."

Shegavehimasuperiorlook."Idon'tbuildthings.ButIcouldifIwantedto."

"Shereallydoesn'tbuildthings,"Cashsaid."Harley,thisisAliceMayfieldJones,"heintroduced.
"She'saforensicinvestigatorfortheBexarCountymedicalexaminer'soffice."

"Sheworkswithdeadpeople?"Harleyexclaimed,andmovedbackastep.

"Deadbodies,"Alicereturned,glaringathisobviousdistaste."DBs.AndI'mdamnedgoodatmyjob.
Askhim,"sheadded,noddingtowardCash.

"Shedoeshaveareputation,"Cashadmitted.Hisdarkeyestwinkled."Andanickname.OldJab-'Em-
in-the-LiverAlice."

"You'vebeentalkingtoMarcBrannon,"sheaccused.12THEMAVERICK

"Youdidhelphimsolveacase,backwhenhewasstillaTexasRanger,"hepointedout.

"Nowthey'vegotthisnewguy,transferredupfromHouston,"shesaidonasigh."He'srealhard
going.Nosenseofhumor."Shegavehimawrylook."Kindoflikeyouusedtobe,intheolddays
whenyouworkedoutoftheSanAntoniodistrictattorney'soffice,Grier,"sherecalled."A
professionallonerwithabadattitude."

"Oh,I'vechanged."Hegrinned."Awifeandchildcanturntheworstofusinsideout."

Shesmiled."Nokidding?IfIhavetime,I'dlovetoseethatlittlegirleverybody'stalkingabout.Isshe
asprettyashermama?"

Henodded."Oh,yes.Everybit."

Harleypulledathiscollar."Couldyoustoptalkingaboutchildren,please?"hemuttered."I'llbreak
outinhives."

"Allergictosmallthings,areyou?"Alicechided.

"Allergictothewholesubjectofmarriage,"heem-phasizedwithameaningfulstare.

Hereyebrowsarched."I'msorry,wereyouhopingIwasgoingtoaskyoutomarryme?"shereplied
pleas-antly."You'renotbad-looking,Iguess,butIhaveaveryhighstandardforprospective
bridegrooms.Frankly,"sheaddedwithaquickappraisal,"ifyouwereonsaleinagroomshop,Ican
assureyouthatIwouldn'tpurchaseyou."

Hestaredatherasifhedoubtedhishearing.CashGrierhadtoturnaway.Hisfacewasgoingpurple.

Thehardware-storedooropenedandatall,black-haired,taciturnmancameoutit.Hefrowned.
"Jones?Whatthehellareyoudoingdownhere?TheyaskedforLongfellow!"DIANAPALMER13

Sheglaredback."Longfellowhidinthewomen'srestroomandrefusedtocomeout,"shesaid
haughtily."Sotheysentme.AndwhyareyouinterestedinSheriffCarson'scase?You'reafed."

Kilravenputhisfingertohislipsandlookedaroundhastilytomakesurenobodywaslistening."I'ma
po-liceman,workingonthecityforce,"hesaidcurtly.

Aliceheldupbothhandsdefensively."Sorry!It'ssohardtokeepupwithallthesesecrets!"

KilravenglancedathisbossandbackatAlice."Whatsecrets?"

"Well,there'sthehorselesscowboythere--"shepointedatHarley"--andtheDBoverontheLittle
CarmichaelRiver..."

Kilraven'ssilvereyeswidened."Ontheriver?Ithoughtitwasintown.Nobodytoldme!"

"Ijustdid,"Alicesaid."Butit'sreallyasecret.I'mnotsupposedtotellanybody."

"I'mlocallawenforcement,"Kilraveninsisted."Youcantellme.Whoishe?"

Alicegavehimablandlookandproppedahandonherhip."Ionlylookedathimfortwominutes
beforeIrealizedIneededtogetmoreinvestigativesupplies.He'smaleanddead.He'sgotnoID,he's
naked,andevenhismotherwouldn'trecognizehisface."

"Dentalrecords..."Kilravenbegan.

"Forthose,youneedidentifiableteeth,"Alicerepliedsweetly.

Harleywasturningwhite.

Sheglancedathim."Areyousqueamish?"sheaskedhopefully."Listen,Ionceexaminedthisdead
guywhosegirlfriendcaughthimwithahooker.Aftersheoffedhim,shecutoffhis...Whereareyou
going?"14THEMAVERICK

Harleywasmakingabeelinefortheinteriorofthehardwarestore.

"Bathroom,Iimagine."GriergrinnedatKilraven,whochuckled.

"Heworksaroundcattleandhe'ssqueamish?"Aliceasked,delighted."I'llbethe'salotoffunwhen
theyroundupthecalves!"

"Notnice,"Kilravenchided."Everybody'sgotaweakspot,Jones.Evenyou."

"Ihavenoweakspots,"sheassuredhim.

"Nosociallife,either,"Griermurmured."Iheardyoutriedtoconductapostmortemonaturkeyin
NorthCarolinaduringamurderinvestigationthere."

"Itmetwithfowlplay,"shesaid,straight-faced.

Bothmenchuckled.

"Ihavetogettowork,"shesaid,becomingserious."Thisisastrangecase.Nobodyknowswhothis
guyisorwherehecamefrom,andtherewasaseriousattempttomakehimunidentifiable.Evenwith
DNA,whenIcangetaprofilebackfromstate--anddon'tholdyourbreathonthetimetable--Idon't
knowifwecanidentifyhim.Ifhehasnocriminalrecord,hewon'tbeonfileanywhere."

"Atleastwedon'tgetmanyofthese,"Kilravensaidquietly.

Jonessmiledathim."WhenareyoucomingbackuptoSanAntonio?"sheasked."Yousolvedthe
Pendle-tonkidnappingandhelpedwrapuptheperps."

"Justafewlooseendstotieup,"hesaid.Henoddedatherandhisboss."I'llgetbackonpatrol."

"Brady'swifemadepotatosoupandrealcornbreadforlunch.Don'tmissit."

"Notme,boss."DIANAPALMER15

Alicestaredafterthehandsomeofficer."He'sadish.Butisn'theoverstayinghispurposedownhere?"
sheaskedCash.

Heleaneddown."WinnieSinclairworksforthe911center.Localgossiphasitthathe'ssweetonher.
That'swhyhe'sfindingexcusesnottoleave."

Alicelookedworried."Andhe'sdraggingaroundawholepastthathardlyanybodyknowsabout.He's
pre-tendingitneverhappened."

"Maybehehasto."

Shenodded."Itwasbad.OneoftheworstcasesIeverworked.Poorguy."Shefrowned."Theynever

solvedit,youknow.Theperpisstilloutthere,runningaroundloose.ItmusthavedrivenKilraven
andhisbrother,JonBlackhawk,nuts,wonderingifitwassomebodytheyarrested,somebodywitha
grudge."

"TheirfatherwasanFBIagentinSanAntonio,beforehedrankhimselftodeathafterthemurders.
Blackhawkstillis,"Cashrepliedthoughtfully."Couldhavebeenacaseanyoneofthethreemen
worked,aperpgettingeven."

"Itcould,"sheagreed."Itmusthauntthebrothers.Theguiltwouldbebadenough,buttheywouldn't
wanttoriskithappeningagain,tosomeoneelsetheygotinvolvedwith.Theyavoidwomen.
EspeciallyKilraven."

"Hewouldn'twanttogothroughitagain,"Cashsaid.

"ThisSinclairwoman,howdoesshefeelaboutKilraven?"

Cashgaveherafriendlysmile."Iamnotagossip."

"Bull."

Helaughed."She'scrazyabouthim.Butshe'sveryyoung."

"Agedoesn'tmatter,inthelongrun,"Alicesaidwith16THEMAVERICK

afarawaylookinhereyes."Atleast,sometimes."Sheopenedthedoor."Seeyouaround,Grier."

"You,too,Jones."

Shewalkedintothehardwarestore.ThereatthecounterwasHarley,paleandoutofsorts.Heglared
ather.

Sheheldupbothhands."Iwasn'tevengraphic,"shesaiddefensively."AndGodonlyknowshowyou
managetohelpwithbranding,withthatstomach."

"Iatesomethingthatdidn'tagreewithme,"hesaidicily.

"Inthatcase,youmustnothavealotoffriends...."

Theclerkdoubledoverlaughing.

"Idonoteatpeople!"Harleymuttered.

"Ishouldhopenot,"shereplied."Imean,beingacannibalismuchworsethanbeingagardener."

"Iamnotagardener!"

Alicegavetheclerkasweetsmile."Doyouhavechalkandcoloredstring?"sheasked."Ialsoneed
double-Abatteriesformydigitalcameraandsomeanti-bacterialhandcleaner."

Theclerklookedblank.

Harleygrinned.Heknewthisclerkverywell.Sadly,Alicedidn't."Hey,John,thisisareal,honest-to-
goodnesscrimesceneinvestigator,"hetoldtheyoungman."Sheworksoutofthemedicalexaminer's
officeinSanAntonio!"

Alicefeltherstomachdropasshenotedthebrightfascinationintheclerk'seyes.Theclerk'swhole

facebecameanimated."Youdo,really?Hey,IwatchallthoseCSIshows,"heexclaimed."Iknow
aboutDNAprofiles.Ievenknowhowtotellhowlongabody'sbeendeadjustbyidentifyingthe
insectsonit...!"DIANAPALMER17

"Youhaveagreatday,Ms.Jones,"HarleytoldAlice,overtheclerk'sexuberantmonologue.

Sheglaredathim."Oh,thanksverymuch."

Hetippedhisbibbedcapather."Seeyou,John,"hetoldtheclerk.Harleypickeduphispurchases,
smilingwithpuredelight,andheadedrightoutthefrontdoor.

Theclerkwavedanabsenthandinhisgeneraldirec-tion,nevertakinghiseyesoffAlice."Anyway,
aboutthoseinsects,"hebeganenthusiastically.

Alicefollowedhimaroundthestoreforhersupplies,groaninginwardlyashekepttalking.Shenever
ranoutofpeoplewhocouldtellherhowtodoherjobthesedays,thankstotheproliferationof
televisionshowsonforensics.Shetriedtoexplainthatmostlabswereunderstaffed,under-budgeted,
andthatlabresultsdidn'tcomebackinanhour,evenforadepartmentlikehers,ontheUniversityof
Texascampus,whichhadanationalreputationforexcellence.Butthebugexpertherewasonaroll
andhewasn'tlistening.Sheresignedherselftothelectureandforcedasmile.Wouldn'tdotomake
enemieshere,notwhenshemightbedoingmorebusinesswithhimlater.Shewasgoingtogeteven
withthatsmugcowboythenexttimeshesawhim,though.

Theriverbankwasspittingoutlawenforcementpeople.Alicegroanedasshebenttothepoorbody
andbegantotakemeasurements.She'dalreadyhadanaccommodat-ingyoungofficerfromthe
JacobsvillePoliceDepartmentrunyellowpolicetapeallaroundthecrimescene.Thatdidn'tstop
peoplefromsteppingoverit,however.

"Youstopthat,"Alicemutteredattwomenwearingdeputysheriffuniforms.Theybothstoppedwith
onefootintheairatthetoneofhervoice."Notramping18THEMAVERICK

aroundonmycrimescene!Thatyellowtapeistokeeppeopleout."

"Sorry,"onemurmuredsheepishly,andtheybothwentbackontheirsideoftheline.Alicepushed
awayastrandofsweatyhairwiththebackofalatex-glovedhandandmutteredtoherself.Itwas
almostChristmas,buttheweatherhadgonenutsanditwashot.She'dalreadytakenoffherwool
jacketandreplaceditwithalabcoat,butherslackswerewoolandshewasburningup.Notto
mentionthatthisguyhadbeenlyingontheriverbankforatleastadayandhewasripe.ShehadVicks
Salveunderhernose,butitwasn'thelpingalot.

Forthehundredthtime,shewonderedwhyshe'deverchosensuchamessyprofession.Butitwasvery
satisfyingwhenshecouldhelpcatchamurderer,whichshehadmanytimesovertheyears.Notthatit
substi-tutedforafamily.Butmostmenshemetwererepelledbyherprofession.Sometimesshetried
tokeepittoherself.ButinevitablytherewouldbeamovieoraTVshowthatwouldmentionsome
forensicdetailandAlicewouldholdforthonthemisinformationshenoted.Sometimesitwasrather
graphic,likewiththevengefulcowboyinthehardwarestore.

Thentherewouldbetheforcedsmiles.Theexcuses.Andsoitwent.Usuallythathappenedbeforethe
endofthefirstdate.Oratleastthesecond.

"I'llbetI'mtheonlytwenty-six-year-oldvirgininthewholedamnedstateofTexas,"shemutteredto
herself.

"Excuseme?"oneofthedeputies,awoman,ex-claimedwithwide,shockedeyes.

"That'sright,youjustlookatmeasifIsproutedhornsandatail,"shemurmuredassheworked."I
knowI'mananachronism."DIANAPALMER19

"That'snotwhatImeant,"thedeputysaid,chuck-ling."Listen,therearealotofwomenourageswith
thatattitude.Idon'twantsomeunspeakableconditionthatIcatchfromamanwhopasseshimself
aroundlikeadishofpeanutsatabar.Anddoyouthinkthey'regoingtotellyouthey'vegot
something?"

Alicebeamed."Ilikeyou."

Shechuckled."Thanks.Ithinkofitasbeingsen-sible."Sheloweredhervoice."SeeKilravenover
there?"sheasked,drawingAlice'seyestothearrivalofanotherlocalcop--evenifhereallywasafed
pre-tendingtobeone."Theysayhisbrother,JonBlack-hawk,hasneverhadawomaninhislife.
Andwethinkwe'reprudes!"

Alicechuckled."That'swhatIheard,too.Sensibleman!"

"Very."Thedeputywaspickingupeverypieceofpaper,everycigarettebuttshecouldfindwithlatex
gloveson,baggingthemforAliceforevidence."Whataboutthatoldrag,Jones,thinkIshouldputit
inabag,too?Lookatthislittlerustyspot."

Aliceglancedatit,frowning.Itwasold,buttherewasatraceofsomethingonit,somethingnewer
thantherag."Yes,"shesaid."Ithinkit'sbeenhereforawhile,butthat'snewtraceevidenceonit.
Carefulnottotouchtherusty-lookingspot."

"Blood,isn'tit?"Shenodded.

"You'regood,"Alicesaid.

"IcamedownfromDallasPD,"shesaid."Igottiredofbig-citycrime.Thingsarealittlelesshectic
here.Infact,thisismyfirstDBsinceIjoinedSheriffCarson'sdepartment."

"That'sarealchange,Iknow,"Alicesaid."Iwork20THEMAVERICK

outofSanAntonio.Notthequietestplaceintheworld,especiallyonweekends."

Kilravenhadwalkedrightoverthepolicetapeandcameupnearthebody.

"Whatdoyouthinkyou'redoing?"Aliceexclaimed."Kilraven...!"

"Look,"hesaid,hiskeensilvereyesonthegrassjustunderthedeadman'srighthand,whichwas
clenchedanddepressedintothemud."There'ssomethingwhite."

Alicefollowedhisgaze.Shedidn'tevenseeitatfirst.She'dmovedsothatitwasinshadow.Butwhen
sheshifted,thesunlightcaughtit.Paper.Atinysliverofpaper,justpeepingoutfromunderthedead
man'sthumb.Shereacheddownwithherglovedhandandbrushedawaythegrass.Therewasadeep
indentationinthesoft,mushysoil,nexttohishand;maybeafoot-print."IneedmycamerabeforeI
moveit,"shesaid,holdingoutherhand.Thedeputyretrievedthebigdigitalcamerafromitsbagand
handedittoAlice,whodocumentedthefindandrecordeditonagraphofthecrimescene.Then,
returningthecamera,sheslidapencilgentlyunderthehand,movingituntilshewasabletoseethe
paper.Shereachedintoherkitforapairoftweezersandtuggeditcarefullyfromhisgrasp.

"It'satiny,foldedpieceofpaper,"shesaid,frown-ing."AndthankGodithasn'trained."

"Amen,"Kilravenagreed,peeringatthepaperinherhand.

"Goodeyes,"sheaddedwithagrin.

Hegrinnedback."Lakotablood."Hechuckled."Trackingisinmygenes.Mygreat-great-grandfather
wasatLittleBigHorn."

"Iwon'taskonwhichside,"shesaidinaloudwhisper.DIANAPALMER21

"Noneedtobecoy.HerodewithCrazyHorse'sband."

"Hey,Ireadaboutthat,"thedeputysaid."Custer'sguyswererouted,theysay."

"OneoftheCheyennepeoplesaidlaterthatawhiteofficerwaskilleddownattheriverinthefirst
charge,"hesaid."Hesaidtheofficerwascarrieduptothelaststandbyhismen,andafterthatthe

soldiersseemedtoloseheartanddidn'tfightsohard.TheyfoundCuster'sbrother,Tom,andacouple
ofrankingofficersfromotherunits,includingCuster'sbrother-in-law,withCuster.Itcouldindicate
thatthechainofcommandchangedseveraltimes.Makessense,ifyouthinkaboutit.Iftherewasa
charge,Custerwouldhaveledit.SeveralhistoriansthinkthatCuster'sunitmadeitintotheriver
beforetheCheyennecameflyingintoitafterthem.IfCusterwaskilledearly,he'dhavebeencarried
uptothelaststandridge--anenlistedguy,they'dhaveleftthereintheriver."

"IneverreadthatCustergotkilledearlyinthefight,"thedeputyexclaimed.

"I'veonlyeverseenthetheoryinonebook--awarriorwasinterviewedwhowasontheIndiansideof
thefight,andhesaidhethoughtCusterwaskilledinthefirstcharge,"hemused."TheIndians'sideof
thestorydidn'tgetmuchattentionuntilrecentyears.Theysaidtherewerenosurvivingeyewitnesses.
Bull!Therewereseveraltribesofeyewitnesses.Itwasjustthatnobodythoughttheirstorieswere
worthhearingjustafterthebattle.Notthemassacre,"headdedbeforethedeputycouldspeak.
"Massacresarewhenyoukillunarmedpeople.Custer'smenallhadguns."

Thedeputygrinned."Everthinkofteachinghistory?"

"Teaching'stoodangerousaprofession.That'swhyIjoinedthepoliceforceinstead."Kilraven
chuckled.22THEMAVERICK

"Greatnewsforlawenforcement,"Alicesaid."Youhavegoodeyes."

"You'dhaveseenitforyourself,Jones,eventually,"hereplied."You'rethebest."

"Wow!Didyouhearthat?Takenotes,"Alicetoldthedeputy."ThenexttimeIgetyelledatfornot
doingmyjobright,I'mquotingKilraven."

"Wouldithelp?"heasked.

Shelaughed."They'restillscaredofyouupinSanAntonio,"shesaid."Oneoftheoldpatrolmen,

Jacobs,turnswhitewhentheymentionyourname.Iunder-standthetwoofyouhadalittledustup?"

"Ithrewhimintoafruitdisplayatthelocalsupermar-ket.Messybusiness.Didyouknowthat
blackberriesleavepurplestainsonskin?"headdedconversationally.

"I'maforensicspecialist,"Aliceremindedhim."CanIaskwhyyouthrewhimintoafruitdisplay?"

"Wewereworkingarobberyandhestartedmakingtheseremarksaboutfruitwithoneofthegay
officersstandingrightbesideme.Theofficerinquestioncouldn'tdoanythingwithoutgettingin
trouble."Hegrinned."Amazing,howattitudeschangewithalittlegentleadjustment."

"Hey,Kilraven,whatareyoudoingwalkingaroundonthecrimescene?"CashGriercalledfromthe
sidelines.

"Don'tfussathim,"Alicecalledback."Hejustspottedacrucialpieceofevidence.Youshouldgive
himanaward!"

Therewerecatcallsfromalltheofficerspresent.

"Ishouldgetanaward!"hemutteredashewenttojoinhisboss."Inevertakedaysofforvacations!"

"That'sbecauseyoudon'thaveasociallife,Kilraven,"oneoftheofficersjoked.DIANAPALMER23

Alicestoodup,staringatthelocallawenforcementuniformssurroundingthecrimescenetape.She
recog-nizedatleasttwocarsfromotherjurisdictions.Therewasevenafederalcaroutthere!It
wasn'tunusualinasleepycountylikeJacobsforallofficerswhoweren'tbusytocongregatearound
aneventlikethis.Itwasn'teverydaythatyoufoundamurdervictiminyourarea.Butafederalcar
foralocalmurder?

Asshewatched,GaronGrierandJonBlackhawkoftheSanAntoniodistrictFBIofficeclimbedout
oftheBuCar--theFBI'stermforabureaucar--andwalkedoverthetapetojoinAlice.

"Whathaveyoufound?"Grierasked.

Shepursedherlips,glancingfromtheassistantdirectoroftheregionalFBIoffice,Grier,toSpecial
AgentJonBlackhawk.Whatacontrast!GrierwasblondandBlackhawkhadlong,jet-blackhairtied
inaponytail.Theywerebothtallandwell-builtwithoutbeingflashyaboutit.GaronGrier,likehis
brotherCash,wasmarried.JonBlackhawkwasunattachedandavail-able.Alicewishedshewashis
type.Hewaseverybitasgood-lookingashishalfbrotherKilraven.

"Ifoundsomebitsandpiecesofevidence,withthedeputy'shelp.Yourbrother,"shetoldJon,"found
this."Sheheldupthepieceofpaperinanevidencebag."Don'ttouch,"shecautionedasbothmen
peeredin."I'mnotunfoldingituntilIcangetitintomylab.Iwon'trisklosinganytraceevidenceout
here."

Blackhawkpulledoutapadandstartedtakingnotes."Wherewasit?"heasked.

"Grippedinthedeadman'sfingers,outofsight.Whyareyouhere?"sheasked."Thisisalocal
matter."

Blackhawkwascautious."Notentirely,"hesaid.24THEMAVERICK

Kilravenjoinedthem.HeandBlackhawkexchangeduneasyglances.

"Okay.Something'sgoingonthatIcan'tbetoldabout.It'sokay."Sheheldupahand."I'musedto
beingamushroom.Keptinthedarkandfedwith..."

"Nevermind,"Garontoldher.Hesofteneditwithasmile."We'vehadatip.Nothingsubstantial.Just
some-thingthatinterestsusaboutthiscase."

"Andyoucan'ttellmewhatthetipwas?"

"Wefoundacarintheriver,fartherdown,"Cashsaidquietly."SanAntonioplates."

"Maybehis?"Aliceindicatedthebody.

"Maybe.We'rerunningtheplatesnow,"Cashsaid.

"So,doyouthinkhecamedownhereonhisown,ordidsomebodybringhiminatrunk?"Alice
mused.

Themenchuckled."You'regood,Alice,"Garonmurmured.

"OfcourseIam!"sheagreed."Couldyou,"shecalledtothefemaledeputy,"getmesomeplasterof
Parisoutofmyvan,intheback?Thismaybeafoot-printwherewefoundthepieceofpaper!
Thanks."

Shewentbacktoworkwithavengeancewhiletwosetsofbrotherslookedonwithintentinterest.

Two

AlicefellintoherbedatthelocalJacobsvillemotelafterasatisfyingsoakintheluxuriouswhirlpool
bathtub.Amazing,shethought,tofindsuchahigh-ticketiteminamotelinasmallTexastown.She
wastoldthatfilmcrewsfromHollywoodfrequentlychoseJacobsCountyasalocationandthatthe
ownerofthemotelwantedtokeepthemhappy.ItwascertainlygreatnewsforAlice.

She'dneverbeensotired.Thecrimescene,theyfound,extendedforaquarterofamiledownthe
river.Thevictimhadfoughtforhislife.Therewerescuffmarksandbloodtrailsallovertheplace.
Somuchforhertheorythathe'dtraveledtoJacobsvilleinthetrunkofthecarthey'dfound.

Thequestionwas,whyhadsomebodybroughtamandowntoJacobsvilletokillhim?Itmadeno
sense.26THEMAVERICK

Sheclosedhereyes,tryingtoputherselfintheshoesofthemurderer.Peopleusuallykilledfora
handfulofreasons.Theykilleddeliberatelyoutofjealousy,angerorgreed.Sometimestheykilled
accidentally.Often,itwasanimpulsethatledtoadeath,oraseriesofactsthatpushedapersonover
theedge.Alltoooften,itwasdrugsoralcoholthatrobbedsomeoneofimpulsecon-trol,andthatled
inexorablytomurder.

Fewpeoplewentintoanargumentorafightintend-ingtokillsomeone.Butitwasn'tasifyoucould
takeitbackevensecondsafterahumanlifeexpired.Therewerethousandsofyoungpeopleinprison
whowouldhavegivenanythingtoreliveasingleincidentwherethey'dmadeabadchoice.Families
sufferedforthosechoices,alongwiththeirchildren.Sooften,itwaseasytooverlookthefactthat
evenmurderershadfamilies,oftendecent,law-abidingfamiliesthatagonizedoverwhattheirloved
onehaddoneandpaidthepricealongwiththem.

Alicerolledover,restlessly.Herjobhauntedherfromtimetotime.Alongwiththecoroner,andthe
investigat-ingofficers,shewasthelastvoiceofthedeceased.Shespokeforthem,bygathering
enoughevidencetobringthekillertotrial.Itwasaholygrail.Shetookherdutiesseriously.Butshe
alsohadtolivewiththeresultsofthemurderer'slackofcontrol.Itwasneverpleasanttoseeadead
body.Somewereinfarworseconditionsthanothers.Shecarriedthosememoriesascertainlyasthe
familyofthedeceasedcarriedthem.

Earlyon,she'dlearnedthatshecouldn'tletherselfbecomeemotionallyinvolvedwiththevictims.If
shestartedcrying,she'dneverstop,andshewouldn'tbeeffectiveinherlineofwork.

ShefoundahappymediuminbeingthelifeoftheDIANAPALMER27

partyatcrimescenes.Itdivertedherfromthemiseryofhersurroundingsand,onoccasion,helped
thecrimescenedetectivescopeaswell.Onereporter,arookie,hadgivenherahardtimebecauseof
herattitude.She'dinvitedhimtoherofficeforaclose-uplookattheworldofarealforensic
investigator.

Thereporterhadarrivedexpectingthecorpse,al-waystastefullydisplayed,tobesituatedinthetidy,
high-techsurroundingsthattelevisioncrimeshowshadaccustomedhimtoseeing.

Instead,Alicepulledthesheetfromadrowningvictimwho'dbeeninthewaterthreedays.

Sheneversawthereporteragain.Localcopswhore-countedthestory,alwayswithchoked-back
laughter,toldherthathe'dturnedinhiscamerathesamedayandvoicedanambitiontogointoreal
estate.

Justaswell,shethought.Therealthingwasprettyunpleasant.Televisiondidn'tgiveyouthetrue
picture,becausetherewasnosuchthingassmell-o-vision.Shecouldrecalltimeswhenshe'dgone
throughawholejarofVicksSalvetryingtoworkonadrowningvictimliketheoneshe'dshownthe
criticalmemberoftheFourthEstate.

Sherolledoveragain.Shecouldn'tgethermindtoshutdownlongenoughtoallowforsleep.She
wasreviewingthemeagerfactsshe'duncoveredatthecrimescene,tryingtomakesomesortofsense
outofit.Whywouldsomebodydriveamurdervictimoutofthecitytokillhim?Maybebecausehe
didn'tknowhewasgoingtobecomeamurdervictim.Maybehegotinthecarvoluntarily.

Goodpoint,shethought.Butitdidn'texplainthecrime.Heatofpassionwouldn'tcoverthisone.Itwas
toodeliberate.Theperpmeanttohideevidence.Andhehad.28THEMAVERICK

Shesighed.Shewishedshe'dbecomeadetectiveinsteadofaforensicspecialist.Itmustbemorefun
solvingcrimesthanbeingknee-deepinbodies.Andprospectivedateswouldn'tlookatyoufroma

safedistancewiththatexpressionofutterdistaste,likethatgardenerinthehardwarestorethis
afternoon.

WhathadGriercalledhim,Fowler?HarleyFowler,thatwasit.Notabad-lookingman.Hehada
familiarface.Alicewonderedwhy.Shewassureshe'dneverseenhimbeforetoday.Shewassure
she'dremembersomebodythatdisagreeable.

Maybeheresembledsomebodysheknew.Thatwaspossible.Fowler.Fowler.No.Itdidn'tringany
bells.She'dhavetolethermindbroodonitforacoupleofdays.Sometimesthat'sallittooktosolve
suchpuzzles--backgroundworkingofthesubconscious.Shechuckledtoherself.Background
workings,shethought,willsavemeyet.

Afterhoursofalmost-sleep,shegotup,dressedandwentbacktothecrimescene.Itwasquiet,now,
withoutthepresenceofalmosteveryuniformedofficerinthecounty.Thebodywaslyinginthelocal
funeralhome,waitingfortransporttothemedicalexaminer'sofficeinSanAntonio.Alicehaddriven
herevidenceuptoSanAntonio,tothecrimelab,andturneditovertothetraceevidencepeople,
specificallyLongfellow.

She'dentrustedLongfellowwiththepreciouspieceofpaperwhichmightyielddramaticevidence,
onceunfolded.Therehadclearlybeenwritingonit.Thedeadmanhadgraspedittightinhishand
whilehewasbeingkilled,andhadmanagedtoconcealitfromhiskiller.Itmusthavesomethingonit
thathewasdesper-DIANAPALMER29

atetopreserve.Amazing.Shewantedtoknowwhatitwas.Tomorrow,shepromisedherself,their
besttraceevidencespecialist,Longfellow,wouldhavethatpaperturnedeverywhichwaybutloosein
herlab,andshe'dfindanswersforAlice.ShewasoneofthebestCSIpeopleAlicehadeverworked
with.WhenAlicedroverightbackdowntoJacobsville,sheknewshe'dhaveanswersfromthelab
soon.

Restless,shelookedaroundatthelonelylandscape,bareinwinter.Thelocalpolicewerecanvassing
thesurroundingareaforanyonewho'dseensomethingun-usualinthepastfewdays,orwho'd
noticedanout-of-towncararoundtheriver.

Alicepacedtheriverbank,alonelyfigureinaneatwhitesweatshirtwithbluejeans,staringoutacross
theripplesofthewaterwhilehersneakerstriedtosinkintothedampsand.Itwascoolertoday,inthe

fifties,aboutnormalforaDecemberdayinsouthTexas.

Sometimesshecouldthinkbetterwhenshewasaloneatthecrimescene.Todaywasn'toneofthose
days.Shewasacutelyawareofheraloneness.Itwasworsenow,afterthedeathofherfatheramonth
ago.Hewasherlastlivingrelative.He'dbeenabankerbackinTennessee,whereshe'dtakencourses
inforensics.ThefamilywasfromFloresville,justdowntheroadfromSanAntonio.Butherparents
hadmovedawaytoTennesseewhenshewasinherlastyearofhighschool,andthathadbeena
wrench.Alicehadacrushonaboyinherclass,butthemovekilledanyhopeofarelation-ship.She
reallyhadbeenalatebloomer,preferringtohangoutinthebiologylabratherthanthinkabout
dating.Amoebaunderthemicroscopeweresomuchmoreinteresting.30THEMAVERICK

Alicehadlefthomesoonafterhermother'sdeath,theyearshestartedcollege.Hermotherhadbeena
livewire,ahappyandwell-adjustedwomanwhocoulddoalmostanythingaroundthehouse,
especiallycook.ShedespairedofAlice,heronlychild,whowatchedendlessrerunsoftheoldTV
showQuincy,aboutamedicalexaminer,alongwitharchaicPerryMasonepisodes.Longbeforeit
waspopular,Alicehaddreamedofbeingacrimescenetechnician.

She'dbeenanaceatbiologyinhighschool.Herscienceteachershadencouragedher,delightingin
herbrightenthusiasm.OneofthemhadrecommendedhertoacolleagueattheUniversityofTexas
campusinSanAntonio,who'dsteeredherintoasciencemajorandhelpedherfindlocalscholarships
tosupplementthesmallamountherfathercouldaffordforher.Ithadbeenanuphillclimbtogetthat
degree,andtoaddtoitwithcoursesfromfar-flunguniversitieswhentimeandmoneypermitted;one
beingcoursesinforensicanthro-pologyattheUniversityofTennesseeinKnoxville.Inbetween,
she'dsloggedawaywithothertechsatonecrimesceneafteranother,gainingexperience.

Once,inherhastetofinishgatheringevidence,duetoarareprospectivedate,she'dslippedupand
mis-labeledbloodevidence.Thathadcosttheprosecutionstaffaconviction.Ithadbeenasobering
experienceforAlice,especiallywhenthesuspectwentoutandkilledayoungboybeforebeing
rearrested.Alicefeltrespon-sibleforthatboy'sdeath.Sheneverforgothowhastehadputthenailsin
hiscoffin,andsheneverslippedupagain.Shegainedareputationforbeingpreciseandme-ticulous
inevidence-gathering.Andsheneverwenthomeearlyagain.AlicewasalmostalwaysthelastDIANA
PALMER31

persontoleavethelab,orthecrimescene,attheendoftheday.

Arevved-upenginecaughtherattention.Sheturnedasacarloadofyoungboyspulledupbesideher

whitevanattheriver'sedge.

"Lookiethere,alonelylady!"oneofthemcalled."Ain'tshepurty?"

"Shoreis!Hey,prettything,youlikeyoungermen?Wecanmakeyouhappy!"

"Youbet!"Anotheronelaughed.

"Hey,lady,youfeellikeaparty?!"anotheronecat-called.

Aliceglared."No,Idon'tfeellikeaparty.Takeahike!"Sheturnedbacktohercontemplationofthe
river,hopingthey'dgiveupandleave.

"Aww,thatain'tnowaytotreatprospectiveboy-friends!"oneyelledback."Comeonuphereandlie
down,lady.Wewanttotalktoyou!"

Moreraucouslaughterechoedoutofthecar.

Somuchforpatience.Shewasinnomoodforteen-agersactingout.Shepulledoutthepadandpen
shealwayscarriedinherbackpocketandwalkedupthebankandaroundtothebackoftheircar.She
wrotedownthelicenseplatenumberwithoutbeingobviousaboutit.She'dcallinaharassmentcall
andletlocallawenforcementhelpherout.Butevenasshethoughtaboutit,shehesitated.Therehad
tobeabetterwaytohandlethisbunchofloonieswithoutinvolvingthelaw.Shewasoverreacting.
Theywerejustteenagers,afterall.Inspirationstruckasshereemergedatthedriver'ssideofthecar.

Sheruffledherhairandmovedclosertothetow-headedyoungdriver.Sheleaneddown."Ilikeyour
32THEMAVERICK

tires,"shedrawledwithawidegrin."They'rerealnice.Andwide.Andtheyhavetreads.Iliketreads."

Shewiggledhereyebrowsathim."Youliketreads?"

Hestaredather.Thesillyexpressionwentintoeclipse."Treads?"Hisvoicesoundedsqueaky.Hetried
again."Tire...treads?"

"Yeah.Tiretreads."Shestuckhertongueinandoutandgrinnedagain."Ireeaaallyliketiretreads."

Hewastryingtopretendthathewasn'ttalkingtoalunatic."Uh.Youdo.Really."

Shewasenjoyingherselfnow.Theotherboysseemedevenmoreconfusedthanthedriverdid.They
wereallstaringather.Nobodywaslaughing.

Shefrowned."No,youdon'tliketreads.You'rejusthumoringme.Okay.Ifyoudon'tliketreads,you
mightlikewhatIgotinthetruck,"shesaid,loweringhervoice.Shejerkedherheadtowardthevan.

Heclearedhisthroat."Imightlikewhatyougotinthetruck,"heparroted.

Shenodded,grinning,wideninghereyesuntilthewhitesalmostgleamed.Sheleanedforward."Igot
bodiesinthere!"shesaidinastagewhisperandleveredhereyeswide-open."Realdeadbodies!Want
tosee?"

Thedrivergapedather.Thenheexclaimed,"Dead...bod....Oh,GoodLord,no!"

Hejerkedbackfromher,slammedhisfootdownontheaccelerator,andspunsandlikedustashe
roaredbackoutontotheasphaltandleftarubbertrailbehindhim.

Sheshookherhead."WasitsomethingIsaid?"sheaskedanearbybush.

Sheburstoutlaughing.Shereallydidneedavacation,shetoldherself.DIANAPALMER33

***

HarleyFowlersawthevansittingonthesideoftheroadashemovedahandfulofsteersfromone
pasturetoanother.WiththehelpofBob,CyParks'sveterancattledog,heputthelittlesteersintotheir
newareaandclosedthegatebehindhim.Acarloadofboysroaredupbesidethevanandgotnoisy.
Theywereobviouslyhasslingthecrimescenewoman.Harleyrecognizedhervan.

Hispaleblueeyesnarrowedandbegantoglitter.Hedidn'tlikeagangofboystryingtointimidatea
lonewoman.Hereachedintohissaddlebagandpulledouthisgunbelt,steppingdownoutofthe
saddletostrapiton.HetiedthehorsetoabarofthegateandmotionedBobtostay.Harleystrolled
offtowardthevan.

Hedidn'tthinkhe'dhavetousethepistol,ofcourse.Thethreatofitwouldbemorethanenough.But
ifanyoftheboysdecidedtohaveagoathim,hecouldputthemdownwithhisfists.He'dlearneda
lotfromEbScottandthelocalmercs.Hedidn'tneedaguntoenforcehisauthority.Butifthesightof
itmadethegangofboysalittlemorelikelytoleavewithouttrouble,thatwasallright,too.

HemovedintosightjustatthebackofAlice'svan.Shewasleaningoverthedriver'ssideofthecar.
Hecouldn'thearwhatshesaid,buthecouldcertainlyhearwhattheboyexclaimedasheroaredout
ontothehighwayandtookoff.

Alicewastalkingtoabush.

Harleystaredatherwithconfusion.

Alicesensedthatshewasnolongeralone,andsheturned.Sheblinked."Haveyoubeentherelong?"
sheaskedhesitantly.

"JustlongenoughtoseetheHappyTeenagerGang34THEMAVERICK

takeapowder,"hereplied."Oh,andtohearyouaskingabushaboutwhytheyleft."Hiseyestwinkled.
"Talktobushesalotinyourlineofwork,doyou?"

Shewasstudyinghimcuriously,especiallythelow-slungpistolinitsholster."Youonyourwaytoa
gunfightandjuststoppedbytosayhello?"

"Iwasmovingsteers,"hereplied."Iheardtheteen-agersgivingyouahardtimeandcametoseeif
youneededanyhelp.Obviouslynot."

"Wereyougoingtooffertoshootthemforme?"sheasked.

Hechuckled."Neverhadtoshootanykids,"hesaidwithemphasis.

"You'veshotothersortsofpeople?"

"Oneortwo,"hesaidpleasantly,butthistimehedidn'tsmile.

Shefeltchillsgodownherspine.Ifherlivelihoodmadehimqueasy,thewayhelookedwearingthat
sidearmmadeherfeelthesameway.Hewasn'ttheeasygoingcowboyshe'dmetintowntheday
before.HeremindedheroddlyofCashGrier,forreasonsshecouldn'tputintowords.Therewascold
steelinthisman.Hehadtheself-confidenceofamanwho'dbeentestedunderfire.Itwasunusual,in
amodernman.Unless,sheconsidered,he'dbeeninthemilitary,orsomeparamilitaryunit.

"Idon'tshootwomen,"hesaidwhenshehesitated.

"Goodthing,"sherepliedabsently."Idon'thaveanybandages."

Hemovedcloser.Sheseemedshaken.Hescowled."Youokay?"

Sheshifteduneasily."Iguessso."

"Mindtellingmehowyougotthemtoleavesoquickly?"DIANAPALMER35

"Oh.That.Ijustaskedifthey'dliketoseethedeadbodiesinmyvan."

Heblinked.Hewassurehehadn'theardherright."Youaskedif...?"heprompted.

Shesighed."Iguessitwasalittleoverthetop.IwasgoingtocallHayesCarsonandhavehimcome
outandsaveme,butitseemedabitmuchforalittlecatcalling."

Hedidn'tsmile."Letmetellyousomething.Alittlecatcalling,iftheygetawaywithit,canleadtoa
littleharassment,andiftheygetawaywiththat,itcanleadtoalittleassault,evenifdrugsoralcohol
aren'tinvolved.Boysneedlimits,especiallyatthatage.YoushouldhavecalleditinandletHayes
Carsoncomeouthereandscarethehelloutofthem."

"Well,aren'tyouthevoiceofexperience!"

"Ishouldbe,"hereplied."WhenIwassixteen,anolderboyhassledagirlinourclassrepeatedlyon
campusafterschoolandmadefunofmewhenIobjectedtoit.Afewweekslater,aftershe'dtriedand
failedtogetsomebodytodosomethingabouthim,heassaultedher."

Sheletoutawhistle."Heavystuff."

"Yes,andtheteacherwhothoughtIwasoverreact-ingwhenItoldhimwaslaterdisciplinedforhis
lackofresponse,"headdedcoldly.

"Weliveindifficulttimes,"shesaid.

"Countonit."

Sheglancedinthedirectionthecarhadgone."Istillhavethelicenseplatenumber,"shemurmured.

"GiveittoHayesandtellhimwhathappened,"heencouragedher."Evenifyoudon'tpresscharges,
he'llkeepaneyeonthem.Justincase."

Shestudiedhisface."Youlikedthatgirl."

"Yes.Shewassweetandkind-natured.She..."36THEMAVERICK

Shemovedalittlecloser."She...?"

"Shekilledherself,"hesaidtightly."Shewasveryre-ligious.Shecouldn'tlivewithwhathappened,
especiallyaftershehadtotestifytoitincourtandeveryoneknew."

"Theysealthosefiles..."shebegan.

"Getreal,"heshotback."IthappenedinasmalltownjustoutsideSanAntonio,notmuchbiggerthan
Jacobsville.Iwaslivingtheretemporarilywithaniceoldercoupleandgoingtoschoolwithher
whenithappened.Thepeoplewhosatonthejuryandinthecourtroomwerealllocal.Theyknew
her."

"Oh,"shesaidsoftly."I'msorry."

Henodded.

"Howlongdidtheboyget?"

"Hewasajuvenile,"hesaidheavily."Hewasunder

eighteenwhenithappened.Hestayedindetentionuntilhewastwenty-oneandtheyturnedhimloose."

"Pity."

"Yes."Heshookhimselfasifthememoryhadtakenhimoverandhewantedtobefreeofit."Inever
heardanythingabouthimafterthat.Ihopehedidn'tprosper."

"Washesorry,doyouthink?"

Helaughedcoldly."Sorryhegotcaught,yes."

"I'veseenthatsortincourt,"shereplied,hereyesdarkeningwiththememory."Cockyandself-
centered,contemptuousofeverybodyaroundthem.Especiallypeopleinpower."

"Powercorrupts,"hebegan.

"Andabsolutepowercorruptsabsolutely,"shefin-ishedforhim."LordActon,"shecitedbelatedly.

"Smartgent."Henoddedtowardtheriver."Anynewthoughtsonthecrimescene?"

Sheshookherhead."IliketogotherealoneandDIANAPALMER37

think.SometimesIgetideas.Istillcan'tfigurehowhediedhere,whenhewasfromSanAntonio,
unlesshecamevoluntarilywithsomeoneanddidn'tknowtheyweregoingtokillhimwhenthey
arrived."

"Orhecamedownheretoseesomebody,"hereturned,"andwasambushed."

"Wow,"shesaidsoftly,turningtofacehim."You'regood."

Therewasafaint,ruddycoloronhishighcheek-bones."Thanks."

"No,Imeanit,"shesaidwhenshesawhisexpres-sion."Thatwasn'tsarcasm."

Herelaxedalittle.

"Wegotofftoabadstart,andit'smyfault,"Aliceadmitted."Deadbodiesmakemenervous.I'mokay
onceIgetstarteddocumentingthings.It'sthefirstsightofitthatupsetsme.Youcaughtmeatabad
time,atthehardwarestore.Ididn'tmeantoembarrassyou."

"Nothingembarrassesme,"hesaideasily.

"I'msorry,justthesame."

Herelaxedalittlemore.

Shefrownedasshestudiedhishandsomeface.Hereallywasgood-looking."Youlooksofamiliarto
me,"shesaid."Ican'tunderstandwhy.I'venevermetyoubefore."

"Theysayweallhaveadoppelg

�nger,"hemused."Someonewholooksjustlikeus."

"Maybethat'sit,"sheagreed."SanAntonioisabigcity,forallitssmall-townatmosphere.We'vegota
lotofpeople.YoumustresemblesomeoneI'veseen."

"Probably."

Shelookedagainatthecrimescene."IhopeIcangetenoughevidencetohelpconvictsomebodyof
this.Itwas38THEMAVERICK

areallybrutalmurder.Idon'tliketothinkofpeoplewhocandothingslikethatbeingloosein
society."

Hewaswatchingher,addinguphernicefigureandheroddpersonality.Shewasunique.Helikedher.
Hewasn'tadmittingit,ofcourse.

"Howdidyougetintoforensicwork?"heasked."WasitallthosecrimeshowsonTV?"

"ItwastheQuincyseries,"sheconfessed."IwatchedrerunsofitonTVwhenIwasakid.Itfascinated
me.Ilikedhim,too,butitwastheworkthatcaughtmyat-tention.Hewassuchanadvocateforthe
victims."Hereyesbecamesoftwithreminiscence."IrememberwhenevidenceIcollectedsolveda
crime.Itwasmyfirstrealcase.Theparentsofthevictimcameoverandhuggedmeafterthe
prosecutorpointedmeouttothem.IalwayswenttothesentencingifIcouldgetaway,incasesI
worked.ThatwasthefirsttimeIrealizedhowimportantmyworkwas."Shegrinnedwickedly."The
convictedgavemethefingeronhiswayoutofthecourtroomwithasheriff'sdeputy.Igrinnedathim.
Feltgood.Reallygood."

Helaughed.Itwasanewsound,andshelikedit.

"Doesthatmakemelessspooky?"sheasked,movingastepcloser.

"Yes,itdoes."

"YouthinkI'm,youknow,normal?"

"Nobody'sreallynormal.ButIknowwhatyoumean,"hesaid,andhesmiledather,agenuinesmile.
"Yes,Ithinkyou'reokay."

Shecockedherheadupathimandherblueeyestwinkled."Wouldyoubelievethatextraordinarily
handsomeHollywoodmoviestarsactuallycallmeupfordates?"DIANAPALMER39

"Dothey,really?"hedrawled.

"No,butdoesn'titsoundexciting?"

Helaughedagain.

Shemovedanotherstepcloser."WhatIsaid,aboutnotpurchasingyouifyouwereonsaleinagroom
shop...Ididn'treallymeanit.There'saniceringinthatjewelryshopinJacobsville,"shesaid
dreamily."Aman'sweddingring."Shepeeredupthroughherlashes."Icouldbuyitforyou."

Hepursedhislips."Youcould?"

"Yes.AndInoticedthatthere'saministeratthatMethodistChurch.AreyouMethodist?"

"Notreally."

"NeitheramI.Well,there'sajusticeofthepeaceinthecourthouse.Shemarriespeople."

Hewasjustlisteningnow.Hiseyeswerewide.

"Ifyoulikedthering,andifitfit,wecouldtalktothejusticeofthepeace.Theyalsohavelicenses."

Hepursedhislipsagain."Whoa,"hesaidafteraminute."Ionlymetyouyesterday."

"Iknow."Sheblinked."Whatdoesthathavetodowithgettingmarried?"

"Idon'tknowyou."

"Oh.Okay.I'mtwenty-six.Istillhavemostofmyownteeth."Shedisplayedthem."I'mhealthyand
athletic,IliketoknitbutIcanhunt,too,andIhaveguns.Idon'tlikespinach,butIloveliverand
onions.Oh,andI'mavirgin."Shesmiledbroadly.

Hewasbreathlessbythistime.Hestaredatherintently.

"It'strue,"sheaddedwhenhedidn'tcomment.Shescowled."Well,Idon'tlikediseasesandyoucan't
lookatamanandtellifhehasone."Shehesitated.Frownedworriedly."Youdon'thaveany...?"40
THEMAVERICK

"No,Idon'thaveanydiseases,"hesaidshortly."I'mfastidiousaboutwomen."

"Whatarelief!"shesaidwithahugesigh."Well,thatcoversallthebasics."Herblueeyessmiledupat
himandshebattedherlongblackeyelashes."Sowhendoweseethejusticeofthepeace?"

"Nottoday,"hereplied."I'mwashingBob."

"Bob?"

Hepointedtowardthecattledog,whowasstill

sittingatthepasturegate.Hewhistled.Bobcamerunninguptohim,waggingherlong,silkytailand
hassling.Shelookedasifshewasalwayssmiling.

"Hi,Bob,"Alicesaidsoftly,andbenttoofferahand,whichBobsmelled.ThenAlicestrokedthesilky
head."Niceboy."

"Girl,"hecorrected."Bob'sagirl."

Sheblinkedathim.

"Mr.ParkssaidifJohnnyCashcouldhaveaboy

namedSue,hecouldhaveagirldognamedBob."

"He'sgotapoint,"sheagreed.SheruffledBob'sfuraffectionately."You'reabeaut,Bob,"shetoldthe
dog.

"Shereallyis.Bestcattledoginthebusiness,andshecangetintoplacesinthebrushthatwecan't,on
horse-back,toflushoutstrays."

"Doyoucomefromaranchingfamily?"sheaskedabsentlyasshestrokedthedog.

"ActuallyIdidn'tknowmuchaboutcattlewhenIwenttoworkforMr.Parks.Hehadoneofhismen
trainme."

"Wow.Niceguy."

"Heis.Dangerous,butnice."

Sheliftedherheadattheuseofthewordandfrownedslightly."Dangerous?"

"DoyouknowanythingaboutEbScottandhisoutfit?"DIANAPALMER41

"Themercenary."Shenodded."Weallknowabouthistrainingcampdownhere.Acoupleofour
officersusehisfiringrange.Hemadeitavailabletoeveryoneinlawenforcement.He'sgotfriendsin
ourdepart-ment."

"Well,heandMr.ParksandDr.MicahSteelewerepartofagroupwhousedtomaketheirlivingas
mer-cenaries."

"Iremembernow,"sheexclaimed."Therewasashoot-outwithsomeofthatdruglordLopez'smena
fewyearsago!"

"Yes.Iwasinit."

Sheletoutabreath."Braveman,togoupagainstthosebozos.Theycarryautomaticweapons."

"Inoticed."Thatwassaidwithadrollexpressionworthahundredwords.

Shesearchedhiseyeswithquietrespect."Now,Ireallywanttoseethejusticeofthepeace.I'dbesafe
anywhere."

Helaughed."I'mnotthateasy.Youhaven'tevenbroughtmeflowers,oraskedmeouttoanice
restaurant."

"Oh,dear."

"What?"

"Idon'tgetpaiduntilFriday,andI'mbroke,"shesaidsorrowfully.Shemadeaface."Well,maybe
nextweek?Orwecouldgodutch..."

Hechuckledwithpuredelight."I'mbroke,too."

"So,nextweek?"

"We'lltalkaboutit."

Shegrinned."Okay."

"Bettergetyourvangoing,"hesaid,holdingoutapalm-uphandandlookingup."We'regoingtoget
arainshower.Youcouldbestuckinthatsoftsandwhenitgetswet."42THEMAVERICK

"Icould.Seeyou."

"Seeyou."

Shetookoffrunningforthevan.Lifewaslooking

up,shethoughthappily.

Three

HarleywentbacktotheranchhousewithBobracingbesidehishorse.Hefeltexhilaratedforthefirst
timeinyears.Usuallyhegotemotionallyinvolvedwithgirlswhowerealreadycrazyaboutsome
otherman.Hewasthecomfortingshoulder,thelisteningear.ButAliceJonesseemedtoreallylike
him.

Ofcourse,therewasherprofession.Hefeltcoldwhenhethoughtaboutherhandsworkingondead
tissue.Thatwasabarrierhe'dhavetofindsomewaytogetpast.Maybebyconcentratingonwhata
cutewomanshewas.

CyParkswasoutside,lookingoverabunchofyoungbullsinthecorral.HelookedupwhenHarley
dismounted.

"Whatdoyouthink,Harley?"heasked,noddingtowardseveralverytrimyoungSantaGertrudis
bulls.

"Nice,"hesaid."Thesetheonesyouboughtatthe44THEMAVERICK

auctionwewenttobackinOctober?Gosh,they'vegrown!"

Henodded."Theyare.IbroughtthemintoshowtoJ.D.Langley.He'slookingforsomeyoungbulls
forhisownherd.IthoughtI'dsellhimacoupleofthese.GoodthingIdidn'thavetosendthemback."

Harleychuckled."Goodthing,fortheseller.Ire-memberthelotwesentbacklastyear.Ihadtohelp
youdeliverthem."

"Yes,Iremember,"Cyreplied."HesluggedyouandIsluggedhim."

Harleyresistedaflush.Itmadehimfeelgood,thatMr.Parkslikedhimenoughtodefendhim.He
couldhardlyrecallhisfather.Ithadbeenyearssincethey'dhadanycontactatall.Hefeltalittlefunny

recallinghowhe'dliedtohisbossabouthisfamily,claimingthathismothercouldhelpbrandcattle
andhisfatherwasamechanic.He'dgonetolivewithanoldercoupleheknewafterafightwithhis
realfolks.Itwasasmallranchtheyowned,butonlythewifelivedonit.Harleyhadstayedintown
withthehusbandathismechanic'sshopmostofthetime.Hehadn'tbeeninterestedincattleatthetime.
Now,theywerehislifeandMr.Parkshadtakentheplaceofhisfather,althoughHarleyhadneverput
itintowords.Someday,heguessed,hewasgoingtohavetotellhisbossthetruthabouthimself.But
nottoday.

"Haveanytroublesettlingthesteersintheirnewpasture?"Cyasked.

"Noneatall.Theforensicladywasoutattheriver."

"AliceJones?"

"Yes.Shesaidsometimesshelikestolookaroundcrimescenesalone.Shegetsimpressions."He
smiled.DIANAPALMER45

"Ihelpedherwithanideaabouthowthemurderwascommitted."

Parkslookedathimandsmiled."You'vegotagoodbrain,Harley."

Hegrinned."Thanks."

"Sowhatwasyouridea?"

"Maybethevictimwasheretoseesomebodyandgotambushed."

Parks'sexpressionbecamesolemn."That'saninterest-ingtheory.Ifshedoesn'tshareitwithHayes
Carson,youshould.Theremaybesomebodylocalinvolvedinallthis."

"That'snotacomfortingthought."

"Iknow."HefrownedashenotedthegunandholsterHarleywaswearing."Didwehaveagunfight
andIwasn'tinvited?"

"This?"Harleyfingeredthebuttofthegun."Oh.No!Thereweresomelocalboystryingtoharass
Alice.Istrappeditonforeffectandwenttohelpher,butshe'dalreadysentthemrunning."

"Threatenedtocallthecops,huh?"heaskedpleasantly.

"Sheinvitedthemtohervantolookatbodies,"hesaid,chuckling."Theylefttreadmarksonthe
highway."

Hegrinnedback."Well!Soundslikeshehasahandleontakingcareofherself."

"Yes.Butweallneedalittlebackup,fromtimetotime,"Harleysaid.

CyputahandonHarley'sshoulder."Youweremine,thatnightwehadtheshoot-outwiththedrug
dealers.You'reagoodmanunderfire."

"Thanks,"Harleysaid,flushingalittlewiththepraise."You'llneverknowhowIfelt,whenyousaid
that,afterwegothome."

"MaybeIdo.Seeaboutthatcattletruck,willyou?I46THEMAVERICK

thinkit'smisfiringagain,andyou'rethebestmechanicwe'vegot."

"I'lldoit.Justdon'ttellBuddyyoumeantit,"hepleaded."He'ssupposedtobethemechanic."

"Supposedtobeisright,"Cyhuffed."ButIguessyou'vegotapoint.Trytotellhim,inaniceway,
thatheneedstocheckthesparkplugs."

"Youcouldtellhim,"Harleybegan.

"Notthewayyoucan.IfItellhim,he'llquit."Hegrimaced."Alreadylostonemechanicthatwaythis
year.Can'taffordtoloseanother.Youdoit."

Harleylaughed."Okay.I'llfindaway."

"Youalwaysdo.Don'tknowwhatI'ddowithoutyou,Harley.You'reanassetasaforeman."He
studiedtheyoungermanquietly."Ineveraskedwhereyoucamefrom.Yousaidyouknewcattle,but
youreallydidn't.Youlearnedbywatching,untilIhookedyouupwitholdCalandlethimtutoryou.I
alwaysrespectedtheeffortyouputin,tolearnthecattlebusiness.Butyou'restillasmysteriousasyou
werethedayyouturnedup."

"Sometimesit'sbettertolookahead,andnotbackward,"Harleyreplied.

Parkssmiled."Enoughsaid.Seeyoulater."

"Sure."

Hewalkedofftowardthehousewherehisyoungwife,Lisa,waswaitingwithonepreschool-aged
boyandoneinfantboyinherarms.OfallthepeopleHarleywouldneverhaveexpectedtomarry,Mr.
Parkswasfirstonhislist.Therancherhadbeenreclusive,hardtogetalongwithand,frankly,bad
company.Lisahadchangedhim.Now,itwasimpossibletothinkofhimasanythingexceptafamily
man.Marriagehadmellowedhim.DIANAPALMER47

HarleythoughtaboutwhatParkshadsaid,abouthowmysterioushewas.MaybeMr.Parksthoughthe
wasrunningfromthelaw.Thatwasarealjoke.Harleywasrunningfromhisfamily.He'dhaditupto
hisneckwithmoniedcirclesandimportantpeopleandparentswhothoughtpositionwaseverything.
They'darguedheatedlyonesummerseveralyearsago,whenHarleywassixteen,aboutHarley'splace
inthefamilyandhislackofinterestintheirsociallife.He'dwalkedout.

Hehadafriendwhoseauntanduncleownedasmallranchandhadamechanic'sshopinFloresville.
He'dtakenHarleydownthereandthey'dinvitedhimtomovein.He'dhadhisschoolfilestransferred
tothenearesthighschoolandhe'dstartedhislifeover.Hisparentshadobjected,buttheyhadn'ttried
toforcehimtocomebackhome.HegraduatedandwentintotheArmy.But,justafterhereturnedto
TexasfollowinghisreleasefromtheArmy,hewenttoseehisparentsandsawthatnothinghad
changedatall.Hewasexpectedtodohispartforthefamilybyhelpingwinfriendsandinfluenc-ing
therightpeople.Harleyhadleftthatverynight,paidcashforaveryoldbeat-uppickuptruckand
turnedhimselfintoavagabondcowhandlookingforwork.

He'dgonebytoseetheelderlycouplehe'dlivedwithduringhislastyearofhighschool,butthe
womanhaddied,theranchhadbeensoldandthemechanichadmovedtoDallas.Discouraged,Harley
hadbeendrivingthroughJacobsvillelookingforalikelyplacetohireonwhenhe'dseencowboys
workingcattlebesidetheroad.He'dtalkedtothemandheardthatCyParkswashiring.Therestwas
history.

Heknewthatpeoplewonderedabouthim.Hekepthissilence.Itwasnewandpleasanttobeaccepted
at48THEMAVERICK

facevalue,tohavepeoplelookathimforwhohewasandwhatheknewhowtodoratherthanathis
back-ground.HewashappyinJacobsville.

Hedidwondersometimesifhispeoplemissedhim.Hereadabouttheminthesocietycolumns.There
hadbeenabigpoliticaldustupjustrecentlyandalandslidevictoryforafriendofhisfather's.That
hadcaughthisattention.Butithadn'tpromptedhimtotrytomendfences.Yearshadpassedsincehis
suddenexodusfromSanAntonio,butitwasstilltoosoonforthat.No,helikedbeingjustplain
HarleyFowler,cowboy.Hewasn'triskinghishard-wonplaceinJa-cobsvilleforanything.

AlicewaitedforHayesCarsoninhisoffice,frowningasshelookedaround.Wantedposters.Reams
ofpaper-work.Acomputerthatwasobsolete,pairedwithaprinterthatwasevenmoreobsolete.An
oldIBMSelec-trictypewriter.Abatteredmetalwastebasketthatlookedasifitgotkickedfairlyoften.

ACBunit.Sheshookherhead.Therewasn'tonephotographanywhereintheroom,exceptfora
framedoneofHayes'sfather,Dallas,who'dbeensheriffbeforehim.Nothingpersonal.

Hayeswalkedin,readingasheetofpaper.

"Youreallytravellight,don'tyou?"Alicemused.

Helookedup,surprised."Whydoyousaythat?"

"ThisisthemostimpersonalofficeI'veeverwalkedinto.Wait."Sheheldupahand."Itakethatback.
JonBlackhawk'sofficeisworse.Hedoesn'tevenhaveaphotographinhis."

"MydadwouldhauntmeifIremovedhis."Hechuckled,sittingdownbehindthedesk.

"Heardanythingfromthefeds?"DIANAPALMER49

"Yes.Theygotareportbackonthecar.ItwasreportedmissingbyawomanwhoworksforaSan
Antoniopoli-ticianyesterday.Shehasnoideawhotookit."

"Damn."Shesighedandleanedback."Well,Long-fellow'sworkingonthatpieceofpaperIfoundat
thecrimesceneandwemaygetsomethingfromthecastImadeofthefootprint.Wedidfindfaint
solemark-ings,fromasneaker.FBIlabhasthecast.They'lltrackdownwhichcompanymadethe
shoeandtrytotracewhereitwassold."

"That'sadamnedlongshot."

"Hey,they'vesolvedcrimesfromchipsofpaint."

"Iguessso."

Shewasdeepinthought."Odd,howthatpaperwaspushedintothedirtunderhishand."

"Somebodysteppedonit,"Hayesremindedher.

"No."Hereyesnarrowed."Itwasclenchedinthevictim'shandandhiddenunderit."

Hayesfrowned."Maybethevictimwaskeepingithiddendeliberately?"

Shenodded."Like,maybeheknewhewasgoingtodieandwantedtoleaveacluethatmightbringhis
killertojustice."

Hayeschuckled."Jones,youwatchtoomanycrimedramasonTV."

"Actually,toheartheclerkatthehardwaretellitIdon'twatchenough,"shesighed."Igotaten-minute
lectureonforensicentomologywhilehehuntedupsomesuppliesIneeded."

"Bugforensics?"heasked.

Shenodded."Youcantelltimeofdeathbyinsectactivity.I'veactuallytakencoursesonit.AndI've
solvedatleastonemurderwiththehelpofabug50THEMAVERICK

expert."Shepushedbackastraywispofdarkhair."Butwhat'sreallyinteresting,Carson,isteeth."

Hefrowned."Teeth?"

Shenodded."Dentition.YoucantellsomuchaboutaDBfromitsteeth,especiallyiftherearedental
recordsavailable.Forexample,there'sCarabelli'scusp,whichismostfrequentlyfoundinpeopleof
Europeanancestry.Thenthere'stheUto-Aztecanupperpremolarwithabulgingbuccalcuspwhichis
foundonlyinNativeAmericans.YoucanidentifyAsianancestryinshovel-shapedincisors...Well,
anyway,yourancestry,eventhestoryofyourlife,isinyourteeth.Yourdiet,yourage..."

"Whetheryougotinbarfights,"heinterrupted.

Shelaughed."Missingsometeeth,arewe?"

"Onlyacouple,"hesaideasily."I'vecalmedrightdowninmyoldage."

"YouandKilraven,"sheagreeddubiously.

Helaughed."Notthatyahoo,"hecorrected."Kil-ravenwillnevercalmdown,andyoucanquoteme."

"Hemight,ifhecaneverslayhisdemons."Shefrownedthoughtfullyandnarrowedhereyes."We
havealotoflawenforcementdownherethatworksinSanAntonio."Shewasthinkingoutloud.
"There'sGaronGrier,theassistantSACintheSanAntoniofieldoffice.There'sRickMarquez,who
worksasadetectiveforSanAntonioP.D.Andthenthere'sKilraven."

"Youtryingtosaysomething?"heasked.

Sheshookherhead."I'mlinkingunconnectedfacts.Sometimesithelps.Okay,heregoes.Aguy
comesdownherefromSanAntonioandgetswhacked.He'sdrivingsomebodyelse'sstolencar.He's
messedupsobadlythathisownmothercouldn'tidentifyhim.Who-everkilledhimdidn'twanthim
ID'd."DIANAPALMER51

"Lotsofreasonsforthat,maybe."

"Maybe.Hearmeout.I'mdoingpatternassocia-tions."Shegotup,lockedherhandsbehindherwaist,
andstartedpacing,tossingoutthoughtsastheypre-sentedthemselves."Ofallthoselawenforcement
people,Kilraven'sbeenthemostconspicuousinSanAntoniolately.Hewaswithhisbrother,Jon,
whentheytriedtosolvethekidnappingofGracieMarsh,JasonPendleton'sstepsister..."

"Pendleton'swife,now,"heinterruptedwithagrin.

Shereturnedit."HewasalsoconnectedwiththerescueofRodrigoRamirez,theDEAagent
kidnappingvictimwhosewife,Glory,wasanassistantD.A.inSanAntonio."

Hayesleanedbackinhischair."Thatwasn'tmadepublic,anyofit."

Shenoddedabsently.

"RickMarquezhasbeenprettyvisible,too,"hepointedout.Hefrowned."Wasn'tRicktryingtocon-
vinceKilraventolethimreopenthatmurdercasethatinvolvedhisfamily?"

"Cometothinkofit,yes,"shereplied,stoppinginfrontofthedesk."Kilravenrefused.Hesaidit
wouldonlyresurrectallthepain,andthemediawoulddineoutonit.HeandJonbothrefused.They
figureditwasarandomcrimeandtheperpwaslonggone."

"Butthatwasn'ttheendofit."

"No,"shesaid."Marquezrefusedtoquit.HepromisedtodohisworkontheQTandnotreveala
wordofittoanybodyexceptthedetectivehebroughtintohelphimsortthroughtheoldfiles."She
grimaced."Buttheinvestigationwentnowhere.Lessthanaweekintotheirproject,Marquezandhis
fellowdetectiveweretoldtodroptheinvestigation."52THEMAVERICK

Hayespursedhislips."Nowisn'tthatinteresting?"

"There'smore,"shesaid."MarquezandthedetectivewenttotheD.A.andpromisedtogetenough
evidencetoreopenthecaseiftheywereallowedtocontinue.TheD.A.saidtolethimtalktoafew
people.Theverynextweek,thedetectivewhowasworkingwithMarquezonthecasewassuddenly
pulledoffHomicideandsentbacktotheuniformeddivisionasapatrolsergeant.AndMarquezwas
toldpolitelytokeephisnoseoutofthematterandnottopursueitanyfurther."

Hayeswasfrowningnow."Youknow,itsoundsverymuchasifsomebodyhighupdoesn'twantthat
casereopened.AndIhavetoaskwhy?"

Shenodded."Somebodyisafraidthecasemaybesolved.IfI'mguessingright,somebodywithan
enor-mousamountofpoweringovernment."

"Andwebothknowwhathappenswhenpowerisabused,"Hayessaidwithascowl."Yearsago,whenI
wasstilladeputysheriff,oneofmyfellowdeputies--anewrecruit--decidedonhisowntoinvestigate
rumorsofahouseofprostitutionbeingrunoutofalocalmotel.Likealamb,hewenttothecounty
councilandbroughtitupinanopenmeeting."

Alicegrimaced,becausesheknewfromlongexperi-encewhatmostlikelyhappenedafterthat."Poor
guy!"

"Well,afterhewasfiredandrunoutoftown,"Hayessaid,"IwascalledinandtoldthatIwasnotto
involvemyselfinthatcase,ifIwantedtocontinueasadeputysheriffinthiscounty.I'dmadethe
commentthatnolawofficershouldbefiredfordoinghisjob,yousee."

"Whatdidyoudo?"sheasked,becausesheknewHayes.Hewasn'tthesortofpersontotakeathreat
likethatlyingdown.DIANAPALMER53

"Ranforsheriffandwon,"hesaidsimply.Hegrinned."Turnsouttheheadofthecountycouncilwas
gettingkickbacksfromthepimp.Ifoundout,gottheevidenceandcalledareporterIknewinSan
Antonio."

"Thatreporter?"sheexclaimed."HegotaPulitzerPrizeforthestory!Mygosh,Hayes,theheadof
thecountycouncilwenttoprison!Butitwasformorethancorruption..."

"Heandthepimpalsoranamodestdrugdistribu-tionring,"heinterrupted."He'llbegoingupbefore
theparoleboardinafewmonths.Iplantoattendthehearing."Hesmiled."Idosoenjoytheselittle
informalboardmeetings."

"Ouch."

"Peoplewhogothroughlifemakingtheirmoneypri-marilythroughdishonestdealingsdon'tusually
re-form,"hesaidquietly."It'sabasiccharactertraitthatnoamountofwell-meaningrehabilitation
canreverse."

"Weliveamongsomeveryunsavorypeople."

"Yes.That'swhywehavelawenforcement.Imightadd,thatthelawenforcementonthecountylevel
hereisexceptional."

Shesnarledathim.Hejustgrinned.

"What'syournextmove?"sheasked.

"I'mnotmakingoneuntilIknowwhat'sinthatnote.Shouldn'tyourassistanthavesomethingbynow,
evenifit'sonlythetextofthemessage?"

"Sheshould."Alicepulledouthercellphoneandcalledheroffice."ButI'mprobablywayoffbase
aboutKilraven'sinvolvementinthis.Maybethevictimjusttickedoffthewrongpeopleandpaidfor
it.Maybehehadunpaiddrugbillsorsomething."

"That'salwaysapossibility,"Hayeshadtoagree.54THEMAVERICK

Thephonerangandrang.Finallyitwasanswered."Crimelab,Longfellowspeaking."

"Didyouknowthatyouhavethesurnameofafamouspoet?"Aliceteased.

Theotherwomanwasallbusiness,allthetime,andshedidn'tgetjokes."Yes.I'mafar-removed
distantcousinofthepoet,infact.Youwanttoknowaboutyourscrapofpaper,Isuppose?It'smuch
tooearlyforanyanalysisofthepaperorink..."

"Thewriting,Longfellow,thewriting,"Aliceinterrupted.

"AsIsaid,it'stooearlyintheanalysis.We'dneedasampletocompare,first,andthenwe'dneeda
hand-writingexpert..."

"Butwhatdoesthemessagesay?"Aliceblurtedoutimpatiently.HonesttoGod,theotherwomanwas
soponderouslyslowsometimes!

"Oh,that.Justaminute."Therewasapause,somepaperruffling,acough.Longfellowcamebackon
theline."Itdoesn'tsayanything."

"Youcan'tmakeouttheletters?Isitwaterlogged,orsomething?"

"Itdoesn'thaveletters."

"Thenwhatdoesithave?"Alicesaidwiththelastofherpatiencestrainingattheleash.Shewas
picturingLongfellowonthefloorwithherselfstandingoverthelabtechwithalargestuddedbat...

"Ithasnumbers,Jones,"camethedrollreply."Justafewnumbers.Nothingelse."

"Anaddress?"

"Notlikely."

"Givemethenumbers."

"Onlythelastsixarevisible.TheothersapparentlyDIANAPALMER55

wereobliteratedbytheman'ssweatypalmswhenheclencheditsotightly.Heregoes."

Shereadtheseriesofnumbers.

"Whichoneswereobliterated?"Aliceasked.

"Looksliketheonesatthebeginning.Ifit'satele-phonenumber,theareacodeandthefirstofthe
exchangenumbersismissing.We'llprobablybeabletorecon-structthoseattheFBIlab,butnot
immediately.Sorry."

"No,listen,you'vebeenaworldofhelp.IfIcon-trolledsalaries,you'dgetaraise."

"Why,thankyou,Jones,"cametheastonishedreply."That'sverykindofyoutosay."

"You'reverywelcome.Letmeknowifyoucomeupwithanythingelse."

"OfcourseIwill."

Alicehungup.Shelookedatthenumbersandfrowned.

"Whathaveyougot?"Hayesasked.

"I'mnotsure.Atelephonenumber,perhaps."

Hemovedcloserandpeeredatthepaperwhereshe'dwrittenthosenumbersdown."Couldthatbethe
ex-change?"heasked,notingsomeofthenumbers.

"Idon'tknow.Ifitis,itcouldbeaSanAntonionumber,butwe'dneedtohavetheareacodetodeter-
minethat,andit'smissing."

"Getthatlabbusy."

Shegloweredathim."Likewesleeplate,taketwo-hourcoffeebreaks,andwanderintothecrimelab
aboutnoondaily!"

"Sorry,"hesaid,andgrinned.

Shepursedherfulllipsandgavehimaroguishlook."Hey,youlawenforcementguysliveat
doughnutshopsandloungearoundintheofficereadingsportsmaga-zinesandplayinggamesonthe
computer,right?"56THEMAVERICK

Hegloweredback.

Sheheldoutonehand,palmup."Welcometothestereotypeclub."

"Whenwillshehavesomemoreofthosenum-bers?"

"Yourguessisasgoodasmine.Hasanybodyspokentothewomanwhosecarwasstolentoaskif
someonesheknewmighthavetakenit?Ortopumpherforin-formationandfindoutifshereally
loanedittohim?"sheaddedshrewdly.

"No,nobody'stalkedtoher.Thefedsinchargeoftheinvestigationwantedtowaituntiltheyhad
enoughinformationtocoaxherintogivingthemsomethingtheyneeded,"hesaid.

"Aswespeak,they'reropingJonBlackhawktohisdeskchairandgagginghim,"shepronouncedwith
agrin."Hisfirstreactionwouldbetodragherdowntownandgrillher."

"He'syoungandhotheaded.Atleasttohearhisbrothertellit."

"Kilravenloveshisbrother,"Alicereplied."Buthedoesknowhisfailings."

"Iwouldn'tcallrushinginheadfirstafailing,"Hayespointedout.

"That'swhyyou'vebeenshot,Hayes,"shesaid.

"Anybodycangetshot,"hesaid.

"Yes,butyou'vebeenshottwice,"sheremindedhim."Thewordlocallyisthatyou'dhaveabetter
chanceofbeingnamedkingofsomesmallcountrythanyou'dhavegettingawife.Nobodyaround
hereisrushingtolineupandbecomeawidow."

"I'vecalmeddown,"hemuttereddefensively."Andwho'sbeensayingthat,anyway?"DIANA
PALMER57

"IheardthatMinetteRaynorwas,"sherepliedwithoutquitemeetinghiseyes.

Hisjawtautened."IhavenodesiretomarryMissRaynor,noworever,"hereturnedcoldly."She
helpedkillmybrother."

"Shedidn't,andyouhaveproof,butsuityourself,"shesaidwhenhelookedangryenoughtosay
somethingunforgivable."Now,doyouhaveanyideahowwecantalktothatwomanbefore
somebodyshutsherup?Itlookslikewhoeverkilledthatpoormanontheriverwouldn'thesitateto
givehimcompany.I'dbetmyrep-utationthatheknewsomethingthatcouldbringdownsomeone
powerful,andhewasstoppeddeadfirst.Ifthewomanhasanyinfoatall,she'sontheendangeredlist."

"Goodpoint,"Hayeshadtoadmit."Doyouhaveaplan?"

Sheshookherhead."Iwish."

"Aboutthatnumber,youmightrunitbythe911op-erators,"hesaid."Theydealwithalotof
telephonetraffic.Theymightrecognizeit."

"Nowthat'sconstructivethinking,"shesaidwithagrin."Butthisisn'tmyjurisdiction,youknow."

"Thecrimewascommittedinthecounty.That'smyjurisdiction.I'mgivingyoutheauthorityto
investigate."

"Won'tyourowninvestigatorfeelslighted?"

"Hewouldifhewashere,"hesighed."HetookhisremainingdaysoffandwenttoWyomingfor
Christmas.Hesaidhe'dlosethemifhedidn'tusethembytheendoftheyear.Icouldn'tdisagreeand
wedidn'thavemuchgoingonwhenIlethimgo."Heshookhishead."He'llpunchmewhenhegets
backanddiscoversthatwehadarealDBrighthereandhedidn'tgettoinvestigateit."

"Thewaythingslook,"shesaidslowly,"hemaystill58THEMAVERICK

gettohelp.Idon'tthinkwe'regoingtosolvethisoneinacoupleofdays."

"Hey,IsawamurderlikethisoneononeofthoseCSIshows,"hesaidwithpretendedexcitement.
"Theysenttraceevidenceout,gotresultsintwohoursandhadtheguyarrestedandconvictedand
senttojailjustbeforethelastcommercial!"

Shegavehimasmileandagesturethatwasuniver-salbeforeshepickedupherpurse,andtheslipof
paper,andlefthisoffice.

ShewaseatinglunchatBarbara'sCaf

�intownwhentheobjectofhermostrecentdaydreams

walkedin,tallandhandsomeinrealcowboyduds,completewithashepherd'scoat,polishedblack
bootsandarealblackStetsoncowboyhatwithabrimthatlookedjustliketheonewornbyRichard
BooneinthetelevisionseriesHaveGunWillTravelthatsheusedtowatchvideosof.Itwascocked
overhiseyesandhelookedasmuchlikeadesperadoashedidaworkingcowboy.

HespottedAliceashewaspayingforhismealatthecounterandgrinnedather.Sheturnedovera
cupofcoffeeanditspilledalloverthetable,whichmadehisgrinmuchbigger.

Barbaracamerunningwithatowel."Don'tworry,ithappensallthetime,"shereassuredAlice.She
glancedatHarley,putsomefigurestogetherandchuckled."Ah,romanceisintheair."

"Itisnot,"Alicesaidfirmly."Iofferedtotakehimtoamovie,butI'mbroke,andhewon'tgodutch
treat,"sheaddedinasoftwail.

"Aww,"Barbarasympathized.

"Idon'tgetpaiduntilnextFriday,"Alicesaid,DIANAPALMER59

dabbingatwetspotsonheronce-immaculateoyster-whitewoolslacks."I'llbemilesawaybythen."

"IgetpaidthisFriday,"Harleysaid,straddlingachairoppositeAlicewithahugesteakandfriesona
platter."Areyouhavingasaladforlunch?"heasked,aghastatthesmallbowlatherelbow."You'll
neverbeabletodoanyrealinvestigatingonadietlikethat.Youneedprotein."Heindicatedthejuicy,
raresteakonhisownplate.

Alicegroaned.Hedidn'tunderstand.She'dspentsomanyhoursworkinginherlabthatshecouldn't
reallyeatasteakanymore.ItwasheresyhereinTexas,soshetendedtokeepheropinionstoherself.
Ifshesaidanythinglikethat,therewouldbeariotinBarbara'sCaf

�.

Soshejustsmiled."Fancyseeingyouhere,"sheteased.

Hegrinned."I'llbetitwasn'tasurprise,"hesaidashebegantocarvehissteak.

"Whateverdoyoumean?"sheaskedwithpre-tendedinnocence.

"IwasjusttalkingtoHayesCarsonoutonthestreetandhehappenedtomentionthatyouaskedhim
whereIatelunch,"hereplied.

Shehuffed."Well,that'sthelastpersonalquestionI'lleveraskhim,andyoucantakethattothebank!"

"ShouldImentionthatIaskedhimwhereyouatelunch?"headdedwithatwinkleinhispaleeyes.

Alice'sirritatedexpressionvanished.Shesighed."Didyou,really?"sheasked.

"Idid,really.Butdon'ttakethatasamarriageproposal,"hesaid."Ialmostneverproposetocrime
sceneinvestigatorsoverlunch."

"Crimesceneinvestigators?"acowboyfromoneofthenearbyranchesexclaimed,leaningtoward

them.60THEMAVERICK

"Listen,Iwatchthoseshowsallthetime.Didyouknowthattheycantelltimeofdeathby...!"

"Oh,dear,I'msosorry!"Aliceexclaimedasthecowboygapedather.She'd"accidentally"poureda
glassoficedteaalloverhim."It'sareflex,"shetriedtoexplainasBarbaracamerunning,again."You
see,everytimesomebodytalksabouttheworkIdo,Ijustgetallexcitedandstartthrowingthings!"
Shepickeduphersaladbowl."It'sahelplessreflex,Ijustcan'tstop..."

"Noproblem!"thecowboysaidatonce,scramblingtohisfeet."Ihadtogetbacktoworkanyway!
Don'tthinkathingaboutit!"

Herushedoutthedoor,trailingteaandicechips,leavingbehindhalfacupofcoffeeandacoupleof
bitesofpieandanemptyplate.

Harleywastryingnottolaugh,buthelostitcom-pletely.Barbarawaschucklingasshemotionedto
oneofhergirlstogetabroomandpail.

"I'msorry,"Alicetoldher."Really."

Barbaragaveheranamusedglance."Youdon'tliketotalkshopatthetable,doyou?"

"No.Idon't,"sheconfessed.

"Don'tworry,"Barbarasaidasthebroomandpailandacoupleofpapertowelswerehandedtoher.
"I'llmakesurewordgetsaround.Beforelunchtomorrow,"sheadded,stilllaughing.

Four

Afterthat,nobodytriedtoengageAliceinconversa-tionaboutherjob.Themealwaspleasantand
friendly.AlicelikedHarley.Hehadagoodpersonality,andheactuallyimprovedoncloser
acquaintance,assomanypeopledidn't.Hewasmodestandunassuming,andhedidn'ttryto
monopolizetheconversation.

"How'syourinvestigationcoming?"heaskedwhentheywereonsecondcupsofblackcoffee.

Sheshrugged."Slowly,"shereplied."We'vegotapartialnumber,possiblyatelephonenumber,a
stolencarwhoseownerdidn'tknowitwasstolenandapartialsneakertrackthatwe'rehoping
someonecanidentify."

"IsawaprogramontheFBIlabthatshowedhowtheydothat,"Harleyreplied.Hestopped
immediatelyassoonasherealizedwhathe'dsaid.Hesatwithhisforkpoisedinmidair,eyeing
Alice'srefilledcoffeemug.62THEMAVERICK

Shelaughed."Nottoworry.I'llcontrolmyreflexes.Actuallythelabdoesaverygoodjobrunning
downsneakertreads,"sheadded."Theproblemisthatmosttreadsareprettycommon.Yougetthe
nameofacom-panythatproducesthemandthenstartwearingoutshoeleathergoingtostoresand
askingforinformationaboutpeoplewhoboughtthem."

"Whataboutpeoplewhopaidcashandthere'snorecordoftheirbuyingthem?"

"Ineversaidinvestigationtechniqueswereperfect,"shereturned,smiling."Weusewhatwecanget."

Hefrowned."Thosenumbers,itshouldn'tbethathardtoisolateatelephonenumber,shouldit?You
couldnarrowitdownwithacomputerprogram."

"Yes,buttherearesomanypossiblecombinations,consideringthatwedon'tevenhavethearea
code."Shegroaned."Andwe'llhavetotryeverysingleone."

Hepursedhislips."Thecar,then.Areyousurethepersonwhoowneditdidn'thaveaconnectionto
themurdervictim?"

Sheraisedhereyebrows."Everconsideredacareerinlawenforcement?"

Helaughed."Idid,once.Alongtimeago."Hegrimaced,asifthememorywasn'taparticularly
pleasantone.

"We'recuriousaboutthecar,"shesaid,"buttheydon'twanttospookthecar'sowner.Itturnsoutthat
sheworksforaparticularlyunpleasantmemberofthepoliticalcommunity."

Hiseyebrowslifted."Who?"

Shehesitated.

"Comeon.I'maclam.Askmyboss."DIANAPALMER63

"Okay.It'stheseniorU.S.senatorfromTexaswholivesinSanAntonio,"sheconfessed.

Harleymadeanungracefulmovementandsatbackinhischair.Hestaredtowardthewindowwithout
reallyseeinganything."Youthinkthepoliticianmaybecon-nectedinsomeway?"

"There'snowayofknowingrightnow,"shesighed."Everybodybiginpoliticalcircleshaspeople
whoworkforthem.Anybodycangetinvolvedwithabadpersonandnotknowit."

"Aretheygoingtoquestionthecarowner?"

"I'msuretheywill,eventually.Theyjustwanttopicktherighttimetodoit."

Hetoyedwithhiscoffeecup."So,areyoustayinghereforawhile?"

Shegrimaced."Afewmoredays,justtoseeifIcandevelopanymoreleads.HayesCarsonwantsme
tolookatthecarwhilethelab'sprocessingit,soIguessI'llgouptoSanAntonioforthatandcome
backherewhenI'mdone."

Hejustnodded,seeminglydistracted.

Shestudiedhimwithawhimsicalexpression."So,whenarewegettingmarried?"sheasked.

Hegaveheranamusedlook."Nottoday.Ihavetomovecattle."

"Myscheduleisveryflexible,"sheassuredhim.

Hesmiled."Mineisn't."

"Rats."

"Now,that'sinteresting,Iwasjustthinkingaboutrats.IhavetogetcatfoodwhileI'mintown."

Sheblinked."Catfood.Forrats?"

"Wekeepbarncatstodealwiththeratproblem,"he64THEMAVERICK

explained."Buttherearen'tquiteenoughmiceandratstokeepthecatshealthy,sowesupplement."

"Ilikecats,"shesaidwithasighandasmile."Maybewecouldadoptsomestrayoneswhenweget
married."Shefrowned."Nowthat'sgoingtobeaproblem."

"Catsare?"

"No.Wherearewegoingtolive?"shepersisted."MyjobisinSanAntonioandyoursishere.I
know,"shesaid,brightening."I'llcommute!"

Helaughed.Shemadehimfeellightinside.Hefinishedhiscoffee."Betterworkongettingthebride-
groomfirst,"hepointedout.

"Okay.Whatsortofflowersdoyoulike,andwhenarewegoingonourfirstdate?"

Hepursedhislips.Shewasoutrageouslyforward,butbehindthatbluffpersonality,hesawsomething
deeperandfarmorefragile.Shewasshy.Shewaslikeastorefrontwithpi

�atasandconfettithatsold

elegantsilverware.Shewasdisguisingherrealpersonawithanexaggeratedone.

Heleanedbackinhischair,feelingoddlyarrogantatherinterestinhim.Hiseyesnarrowedandhe
smiled."IwasthinkingwemighttakeinamovieatoneofthosebigmoviecomplexesinSan
Antonio.Fridaynight."

"Ooooooh,"sheexclaimed,bright-eyed."Ilikesciencefiction."

"SodoI,andthere'saremakeofa1950'sfilmplaying.Iwouldn'tmindseeingit."

"NeitherwouldI."

"I'llpickyouupatyourmotelaboutfive.We'llhavedinnerandtakeinthemovieafterward.Thatsuit

you?"

Shewasnoddingfuriously."ShouldIgoaheadandbuytherings?"sheaskedwithaninnocent
expression.DIANAPALMER65

Hechuckled."Itoldyou,I'mtootieduprightnowforweddings."

Shesnappedherfingers."Darn!"

"Butwecanseeamovie."

"Ilikemovies."

"Me,too."

Theypaidfortheirrespectivemealsandwalkedouttogether,drawinginterestfromseveralofthe
caf

�patrons.Harleyhadn'tbeentakinganygirlsaroundwithhimlately,andherewasthiscuteCSI

ladyfromSanAntoniohavinglunchwithhim.Speculationranriot.

"They'llhaveusmarriedbylateafternoon,"heremarked,noddingtowardthewindows,where
curiouseyeswerefollowingtheireverymove.

"I'llgobackinandinvitethemalltothewedding,shallI?"sheaskedatonce.

"Killtheengine,dude,"hedrawledinaperfectimi-tationoftheseaturtleinhisfavoritecartoon
movie.

"Yousototallyrock,Squirt!"shedrawledback.

Helaughed."Sweet.Youlikecartoonmovies,too?"

"Crazyaboutthem,"shereplied."MyfavoriterightnowisWall-E,butitchangesfromseasonto
season.Theyjustgetbetterallthetime."

"IlikedWall-E,too,"heagreed."Poignantstory.Beautifulsoundtrack."

"Mysentiments,exactly.That'snice.Whenwehavekids,we'llenjoytakingthemtothetheatertosee
thenewcartoonmovies."

Hetookoffhishatandstartedfanninghimself."Don'tmentionkidsorI'llfaint!"heexclaimed."I'm
alreadyhavinghotflashes,justconsideringthethoughtofmarriage!"66THEMAVERICK

Sheglaredathim."Womenhavehotflasheswhentheyentermenopause,"shesaid,emphasizingthe
firstword.

Heliftedhiseyebrowsandgrinned."MaybeI'mawomanindisguise,"hewhisperedwickedly.

Shewrinkledhernoseupandgavehimaslow,inter-estedscrutinyfromhiscowboybootstohis
brownhair."It'sareallygooddisguise,"shehadtoagree.Shegrowled,lowinherthroat,andsmiled.
"Tellyouwhat,afterthemovie,wecanundressyouandseehowgoodadisguiseitreallyis."

"Well,Inever!"heexclaimed,gasping."I'mnotthatkindofman,I'llhaveyouknow!Andifyoukeep
talkinglikethat,I'llnevermarryyou.Amanhashisprinciples.You'rejustaftermybody!"

Alicewasburstingattheseamswithlaughter.Harleyfollowedhereyes,turnedaround,andtherewas
Kilraven,inuniform,staringathim.

"Ireadthisbook,"Kilravensaidafteraminute,"aboutaScotwhodisguisedhimselfasawomanfor
threedaysafterhestoleanEnglishpayrolldestinedfortheturncoatScottishLordsofthe
CongregationwhoweregoingtotrytodeposeMary,QueenofScots.Thefamilythatshelteredhim
wasrewardedwithcompen-sationthatwaspaidforcenturies,evenafterhisdeath,theysay.Heknew
howtorepayadebt."Hefrowned."Butthatwasinthesixteenthcentury,andyoudon'tlookathing
likeLordBothwell."

"Ishouldhopenot,"Harleysaid."He'sbeendeadforoverfourhundredyears!"

Alicemovedclosetohimandbumpedhimwithherhip."Don'ttalklikethat.Someofmybestfriends
aredeadpeople."

HarleyandKilravenbothgroaned.DIANAPALMER67

"Itwasajoke,"Aliceburstout,exasperated."Mygoodness,don'tyoupeoplehaveasenseofhumor?"

"Hedoesn't,"Harleysaid,indicatingKilraven.

"Idoso,"Kilravenshotback,glaring."Ihaveagoodsenseofhumor."Hesteppedcloser."Andyou'd
bettersaythatIdo,becauseI'marmed."

"Youhaveagreatsenseofhumor,"Harleyrepliedatonce,andgrinned.

"Whatareyoudoinghere?"Aliceaskedsuddenly."Ithoughtyouweresupposedtobeofftoday."

Kilravenshrugged."Oneofourboyscamedownwithfluandtheyneededsomebodytofillin.Not
muchtodoaroundhereonadayoff,soIvolunteered,"headded.

"There'sTV,"Alicesaid.

Hescoffed."Idon'townaTV,"hesaidhuffily."Ireadbooks."

"Europeanhistory?"Harleyasked,recallingthementionofBothwell.

"Militaryhistory,mostly,buthistoryishistory.Forinstance,"hebegan,"didyouknowthatHannibal
sealedpoisonoussnakesinclayurnsandhadhismenthrowthemontothedecksofenemyshipsasan
offensivemeasure?"

Harleywastryingtokeepastraightface.

Alicedidn'teventry."You'rekidding!"

"Iamnot.Lookitup."

"I'dhavegonerightoverthesideintotheocean!"Aliceexclaimed,shivering.

"Sodidalotoftheenemycombatants."Kilravenchuckled."Seewhatyoulearnwhenyouread,
insteadofstayinggluedtoatelevisionset?"

"Howcanyounothaveatelevisionset?"Harleyex-claimed."Youcan'twatchthenews..."

"Don'tgetmestarted,"Kilravenmuttered."Corpo-68THEMAVERICK

ratenews,exploitingprivateindividualswithpersonalproblemsfortheentertainmentofthemasses!
Lookatthatmurdervictimwhowaskilledbackinthesummer,andthefamilyoftheaccusedisstill
gettingcrucifiednightlyincasetheyhadanythingtodowithit.Youcallthatnews?Icallitbreadand
circuses,justlikethearenainancientRome!"

"Thenhowdoyouknowwhat'sgoingonintheworld?"Alicehadtoknow.

"IhavealaptopcomputerwithInternetaccess,"hesaid."That'swheretherealnewsis."

"Arevolutionary,"Harleysaid.

"Ananarchist,"Alicecorrected.

"Iamanupstandingmemberoflawenforcement,"Kilravenretorted.Heglancedatthebigwatchon
hiswrist."AndI'mgoingtobelategettingbackondutyifIdon'tgetlunchprettysoon."

Harleywaslookingatthewatchandfrowning.Heknewthemodel.Itwasonefrequentlywornby
mercs."Bladeorgarrote?"heaskedKilraven,nod-dingatthewatch.

Kilravenwassurprised,butherecoveredquickly."Blade,"hesaid."Howdidyouknow?"

"MicahSteeleusedtowearonejustlikeit."

Kilravenleaneddown."GuesswhoIboughtitfrom?"heasked.Hegrinned.Withawave,he
saunteredintothecaf

�.

"Whatwereyoutalkingabout?"Aliceaskedcuriously.

"Tradesecret,"Harleyreturned."Ihavetogetgoing.I'llseeyouFriday."

Heturnedawayandthen,justassuddenlyturnedback."Waitaminute."Hepulledasmallpadand

penciloutofhisshirtpocketandjotteddownanumber.HeDIANAPALMER69

toreoffthepaperandhandedittoher."That'smycellphonenumber.Ifanythingcomesup,andyou
can'tmakeitFriday,youcancallme."

"CanIcallyouanyway?"sheasked.

Heblinked."Whatfor?"

"Totalk.Youknow,ifIhaveanydeeplypersonalproblemsthatjustcan'twaituntilFriday?"

Helaughed."Alice,it'sonlytwodaysaway,"hesaid.

"Icouldbetraumatizedbyasnakeorsomething."

Hesighed."Okay.Butonlythen.It'shardtopullacellphoneoutofitsholderwhenyou'reknee-deep
inmudtryingtoextractmiredcattle."

Shebeamed."I'llkeepthatinmind."Shetuckedthenumberinthepocketofherslacks."Ienjoyed
lunch."

"Yeah,"hesaid,smiling."Me,too."

Shewatchedhimwalkawaywithcovetouseyes.Hereallydidhaveasensuousbody,verymasculine.
Shestoodsighingoverhimuntilsherealizedthatseveralpairofeyeswerestillwatchingherfrom
insidethecaf

�.Withaself-consciousgrinintheirdirection,shewentquicklytohervan.

ThepatterninthetennisshoeswassocommonthatAlicehadseriousdoubtsthatthey'deverlocate

theseller,muchlesstheowner.Thecarwasgoingtobeamuchbetterlead.Shewentuptothecrime
labwhiletheywereprocessingit.Therewassometraceevidencethatwaspromising.Shealsohad
SergeantRickMarquez,whoworkedoutofSanAntonioP.D.,getasmuchinformationashecould
aboutthewomanthemurderedmanhadstolenthecarfrom.

ThenextmorninginJacobsville,onhiswaytoworkinSanAntonio,RickstoppedbyAlice'smotel
70THEMAVERICK

roomtogivehertheinformationhe'dmanagedtoobtain."She'sbeenanemployeeofSenatorFowler
forabouttwoyears,"Ricksaid,perchingontheedgeofthedresserinfrontofthebedwhileshe
paced."She'sdeeplyreligious.ShegoestochurchonSun-daysandWednesdays.She'sinvolvedinan
outreachprogramforthehomeless,andshegivesawayagooddealofhersalarytopeopleshe
considersmoreneedy."Heshookhishead."Youreadaboutthesepeople,butyourarelyencounter
theminreallife.Shehasn'tgotablackmarkonherrecordanywhere,unlessyouconsideradetention
inhighschoolforbeinglatethreedaysinarowwhenhermotherwasinthehospital."

"Wow,"Aliceexclaimedsoftly.

"There'smore.Shealmostlostthejobbylecturingthesenatorforhiringillegalworkersand
threateningthemwithdeportationiftheyaskedforhigherwages."

"Whatasweetheart,"Alicemuttered.

"Fromwhatwehear,thesenatoristheverydeviltoworkfor.Theysayhiswifeisalmostashard-
nosed.Shewasastatesupremecourtjudgebeforeshewentintotheimport/exportbusiness.Shemade
millionsatit.Financesagoodpartofthesenator'sreelectioncampaigns."

"Ishehonest?"

"Isanypolitician?"Marquezaskedcynically."HesitsonseveralpowerfulcommitteesinCongress,
andwasonceaccusedoftakingkickbacksfromaMexi-canofficial."

"Forwhat?"

"Hewasaskedtoopposeanyshoringupofbordersecurity.Wordisthatthesenatorandhiscontact
havetheirfingersinsomeillegalpies,mostnotablydrugtraffick-DIANAPALMER71

ing.Butthere'snoproof.Thelastdetectivewhotriedtoinvestigatethesenatorisnowworkingtraffic
detail."

"Avengefulman."

"Very."

"Idon'tsupposethatdetectivewouldtalktome?"shewonderedaloud.

"Shemight,"herepliedsurprisingly."SheandIweretryingtogettheKilravenfamilymurdercase
reopened,ifyourecall,whenpressurewasputonustostop.Sheturnedherattentiontothesenator
andgotkickedoutofthedetectivesquad."Hegrimaced."She'sagoodwoman.Gotaninvalidkidto
lookafterandanex-husbandwho'sapaininthebutt,toputitnicely."

"Weheardaboutthecoldcasebeingclosed.Youthinkthesenatormighthavebeenresponsiblefor
it?"shewonderedaloud.

"Wedon'tknow.Hehasaprot

�g�who'sjustbeenelectedjuniorsenatorfromTexas,andthe

prot

�g�hassomeoddtiestopeoplewhoaren'texactlythecr�meofsociety.Butwedon'tdare

mentionthatinpublic."Hesmiled."Idon'tfancybeingputonamotorcycleatmyageandlaunched
intotrafficduty."

"Yourfriendisn'thavingtodothat,surely?"sheasked.

"No,she'sworkingtwo-carpatrolsonthenightshift,butshe'sasergeant,soshegetsagoodbitof
deskwork."Hestudiedher."What'sthisIhearaboutyoutryingtomarryHarley?"

Shegrinned."It'searlydays.He'sshy,butI'mgoingtodrownhiminflowersandchocolateuntilhe
saysyes."

"Goodluck,"hesaidwithachuckle.

"Iwon'tevenneedit.We'regoingtoamovietogetherFriday."

"Areyou?Whatareyougoingtosee?"72THEMAVERICK

"Theremakeofthatfiftiesmovie.We'regoingtodinnerfirst."

"Youareafastworker,Alice,"hesaidwithrespect.Hecheckedhiswatch."I'vegottogetbacktothe
precinct."

Sheglancedathiswatchcuriously."Youdon'thaveabladeorawireinthatthing,doyou?"

"Notlikely,"heassuredher."ThosewatchescostmorethanImake,andthey'reusedalmostexclu-
sivelybymercs."

"Mercs?"Shefrowned.

"Soldiersoffortune.Theyworkforthehighestbidder,althoughourlocalcrowdhadmorehonor
thanthat."

Mercs.NowsheunderstoodHarley'soddphrasingabout"tradesecrets."

"Wheredidyouseeawatchlikethat?"heasked.

Shelookedinnocent."IheardaboutonefromHarley.Ijustwonderedwhattheywereusedfor."

"Oh.Well,Iguessifyouwereinatightspot,itmightsaveyourlifetohaveoneofthose,"heagreed,
distracted.

"Beforeyougo,canyougivemethenameandaddressofthatdetectiveinSanAntonio?"sheasked.

Hehesitated."Betterletmefunnelthequestionstoher,Alice,"hesaidwithasmile."Shedoesn'twant
anythingtoslipoutaboutherfollow-upsonthatcase.She'sstillworkingit,withoutpermission."

Sheraisedaneyebrow."Soareyou,unlessImissmyguess.DoesKilravenknow?"

Heshookhishead.Thenhehesitated."Well,Idon'tthinkhedoes.HeandJonBlackhawkstilldon't
wantusnosingaround.They'reafraidthemediawillpickupthestoryanditwillbecomethenightly
newsforayearorso."Heshookhishead."Pitiful,howthenetworksdon'tgooutandgetanyreal
newsanymore.TheyjustDIANAPALMER73

createitbyharpingonprivatefamiliesmixedupintragedies,likelivingsoapoperas."

"That'showcorporatemediaworks,"shetoldhim."Ifyouwantrealnews,buyalocalweekly
newspaper."

Helaughed."You'reabsolutelyright.Takecare,Alice."

"You,too.Thanksforthehelp."

"Anytime."Hepausedatthedoorandgrinnedather."IfHarleydoesn'tworkout,youcouldalways
pursueme,"heinvited."I'myounganddashingandIevenhavelonghair."Heindicatedhisponytail.
"IplayedsemiprofessionalsoccerwhenIwasincollege,andIhavealovelysingingvoice."

Shechuckled."I'veheardaboutyoursingingvoice,Marquez.Weren'tyouasked,verypolitely,tostay
outofthechurchchoir?"

"Iwantedtomeetwomen,"hesaid."Thechoirwasfullofunattachedones.ButIcansing,"headded
bel-ligerently."Somepeopledon'tappreciaterealtalent."

Shewasn'ttouchingthatlinewithapole."I'llkeepyouinmind."

"Youdothat."Helaughedasheclosedthedoor.

Aliceturnedbacktohernotes,spreadoutonthedeskinthemotelroom.Therewassomething
naggingatheraboutthepieceofpaperthey'drecoveredfromthemurdervictim.Shewonderedwhy
itbotheredher.

HarleypickedheruppunctuallyatfiveonFridaynightfortheirdate.Hewasn'toverdressed,buthe
hadonslacksandaspotlesssportsshirtwithadarkbluejacket.Hewasn'twearinghiscowboyhat,
either.

"Youlooknice,"shesaid,smiling.

Hiseyeswenttoherneatbluesweaterwithembroideryaroundtheroundednecklineandtheblack
slacksshewas74THEMAVERICK

wearingwithslingbacks.Shedrapedablackcoatwithfurcollaroveronearmandpickedupher
purse.

"Thanks,"hesaid."Youlookprettygoodyourself,Alice."

Shejoinedhimatthedoor."Ooops.Justaminute.Iforgotmycellphone.Iwaschargingit."

Sheunpluggeditandtuckeditintoherpocket.Itrangimmediately.Shegrimaced."Justaminute,
okay?"sheaskedHarley.

Sheansweredthephone.Shelistened.Shegrimaced."Nottonight,"shegroaned."Listen,Ihaveplans.
Ineverdo,butIreallyhaveplanstonight.Can'tClancycoverforme,justthisonce?Please?Pretty
please?I'lldothesameforher.I'llevenworkChristmasEve...okay?Thanks!"Shebeamed."Thanksa
million!"

Shehungup.

"Acase?"heaskedcuriously.

"Yes,butItradedoutwithanotherinvestigator."Sheshookherheadasshejoinedhimagainatthe
door."It'sbeensoslowlatelythatIforgothowhecticmylifeusuallyis."

"YouhavetoworkChristmasEve?"heasked,sur-prised.

"Well,Iusuallyvolunteer,"sheconfessed."Idon'thavemuchofasociallife.Besides,Ithinkparents
shouldbewithchildrenonholidays.Idon'thaveany,butallmycoworkersdo."

Hepausedatthedoorofhispickuptruckandlookeddownather."Ilikekids,"hesaid.

"SodoI,"sherepliedseriously,andwithoutjoking."I'vejustneverhadtheopportunitytobecomea
parent."

"Youdon'thavetobemarriedtohavekids,"hepointedout.DIANAPALMER75

Shegavehimaharshglare."Iamtheproductofgen-erationsofBaptistministers,"shetoldhim.
"Myfatherwastheonlyoneoffivebrotherswhowentintobusinessinstead.Youtryhavingamodern
attitudewithamotherwhotaughtSundaySchoolanduncleswhospenttheirlivescounselingyoung
womenwhoseliveswerede-stroyedbyunexpectedpregnancies."

"Iguessitwouldberough,"hesaid.

Shesmiled."Yougrewupwithparentswhowerefreethinkers,didn'tyou?"sheasked,curious.

Hegrimaced.Heputherintothetruckandgotinbesideherbeforeheanswered."Myfatherisan
agnostic.Hedoesn'tbelieveinanythingexceptthepowerofthealmightydollar.Mymotherisjust
likehim.Theywantedmetoassociatewiththerightpeopleandhelpthemdoit.Istayedwitha
friend'sparentsforawhileandallbutgotadoptedbythem--hewasamechanicandtheyhadasmall
ranch.Ihelpedinthemechanic'sshop.ThenIwentintotheservice,camebackandtriedtowork
thingsoutwithmyrealparents,butitwasn'tpossible.Iranawayfromhome,freshoutoftheArmy
Rangers."

"YouwereoverseasduringtheBosniaconflict,weren'tyou?"sheasked.

Hesnappedhisseatbeltalittleviolently."Iwasadeskclerk,"hesaidwithdisgust."Iwashedoutof
combattraining.Icouldn'tmakethegrade.IendedupbackintheregularArmydoingclericaljobs.I
neverevensawcombat.NotintheArmy,"headded.

"Oh."

"Ilefthome,camedownheretobecomeacowboybarelyknowingacowfromabull.Thefriends
thatIlivedwithhadasmallranch,butImostlystayedintown,workingattheshop.Wewentouttothe
ranchon76THEMAVERICK

weekends,andIwasn'tkeenonlivestockbackthen.Mr.Parkstookmeonanyway.Heknewallalong
thatIhadnoexperience,butheputmetoworkwithanoldveterancowhandnamedCalLucaswho
taughtmeev-erythingIknowaboutcattle."

Shegrinned."Ittookgutstodothat."

Helaughed."Iguessso.Ibluffedalot,althoughIamagoodmechanic.ThenIgotinwiththisSunday
merccrewandwentdowntoAfricawiththemoneweekonaso-calledtrainingmission.Allwedid
wastalktosomeguysinavillageabouttheirproblemswithforeignreliefshipments.Butbeforewe
coulddoanything,weranafoulofgovernmenttroopsandgotsenthome."Hesighed."Ibragged
abouthowmuchI'dlearned,whatagreatmercIwas."HeglancedatherastheydrovetowardSan
Antonio,butshewasn'treactingcritically.Muchthereverse.Herelaxedalittle."Thenoneofthedrug
lordscamestorminguptoMr.Parks'shousewithhismenandIgotadoseofreality--anau-tomatic
inmyface.Mr.Parksjerkedtwocombatknivesoutofhissleevesandthrewthematthetwomenwho
wereholdingme.Putthembothdowninaheartbeat."Heshookhishead,stillbreathlessatthe
memory."Ineversawanythinglikeit,beforeorsince.Ithoughthewasjustarancher.Turnsouthe
wentwithMicahSteeleandEbScottonrealmercmissionsoverseas.Helistenedtomebragand
watchedmestrut,andneversaidaword.I'dneverhaveknown,ifthedrugdealershadn'tattacked.We
gotinafirefightwiththemlater."

"Weheardaboutthat,evenupinSanAntonio,"shesaid.

Henodded."Itgotaround.Mr.ParksandEbScottandMicahSteelegottogethertotakeoutadrug
dis-DIANAPALMER77

tributioncenternearMr.Parks'sproperty.Iswallowedmyprideandaskedtogoalong.Theyletme."
Hesighed."Igrewupinthespaceofanhour.Isawmenshotandkilled,IhadmylifesavedbyMr.
Parksagainintheprocess.Afterward,Ineverbraggedorstruttedagain.Mr.Parkssaidhewasproud
ofme."Heflushedalittle."Ifmyfatherhadbeenlikehim,IguessI'dstillbeathome.He'sarealman,
Mr.Parks.I'veneverknownabetterone."

"Helikesyou,too."

Helaughedself-consciously."Hedoes.He'sofferedmeafewacresoflandandsomecattle,ifI'dlike
tostartmyownherd.I'mthinkingaboutit.Iloveranching.IthinkI'mgettinggoodatit."

"Sowe'dliveonacattleranch."Shepursedherlipsmischievously."IguessIcouldlearntohelpwith
branding.Imean,wewouldn'twantourkidstothinktheirmotherwasasissy,wouldwe?"sheasked,
laughing.

Harleygaveherasidewaysglanceandgrinned.Shereallywasfuntobewith.Hethoughthemight
takeherbytheranchonedaywhileshewasstillinJacobsvilleandintroducehertoMr.Parks.Hewas
sureMr.Parkswouldlikeher.

Five

TherestaurantHarleytookAlicetowasaveryniceone,withuniformedwaitersandchandeliers.

"Oh,Harley,thiswasn'tnecessary,"shesaidquickly,flushing."Ahamburgerwouldhavebeenfine!"

Hesmiled."WeallgotaChristmasbonusfromMr.Parks,"heexplained."Idon'tdrinkorsmokeor
gamble,soIcanaffordafewluxuriesfromtimetotime."

"Youdon'thaveanyvices?Wow.NowIreallythinkweshouldsetthedate."Sheglancedathimunder
herlashes."Idon'tdrink,smokeorgamble,either,"sheaddedhopefully.

Henodded."We'llbeknownasthemostprudishcoupleinJacobsville."

"Kilraven'sprudish,too,"shepointedout.

"Yes,buthewon'tbelivinginJacobsvillemuchDIANAPALMER79

longer.He'sbeenreassigned,we'rehearing.Afterall,he'sreallyafed."

Shestudiedthemenu."I'llbethecouldbeaheart-breakerwithalittlepractice."

"He'sbreakingWinnieSinclair'sheart,anyway,byleaving,"Harleysaid,repeatingthelatestgossip.
"She'sreallygotacaseonhim.Buthethinksshe'stooyoung."

"He'sonlyinhisthirties,"shepointedout.

"Yes,butWinnie'sthesameageasherbrother'snewwife,"hereplied."BooneSinclairthoughtKeely

Welshwastooyoungforhim,too."

"Buthegavein,intheend.Youknow,theBallengerbrothersinJacobsvillebothmarriedyounger
women.They'vebeenhappytogether,alltheseyears."

"Yes,theyhave."

Thewaitercameandtooktheirorders.Alicehadashrimpcocktailandalargesaladwithcoffee.
Harleygaveheracuriouslook.

"Aren'tyouhungry?"heasked.

Shelaughed."ItoldyouinJacobsville,Ilovesalads,"sheconfessed."Imostlyeatthematevery
meal."Sheindicatedherslenderbody."Iguessthat'showIkeeptheweightoff."

"IcaneatasmuchasIlike.Irunitalloff,"hereplied."Workingcattleisnotforthefaintofheartor
theout-of-conditionrancher."

Shegrinned."Ibelieveit."Shesmiledatthewaiterashedepositedcoffeeintheirchinacupsandleft.
"Whydidyouwanttobeacowboy?"sheaskedhim.

"IlovedoldWesternmoviesonsatellite,"hesaidsimply."GaryCooperandJohnWayneand
RandolphScott.Idreamedoflivingonacattleranchandhaving80THEMAVERICK

animalsaround.Idon'tevenmindwashingBobwhenshegetsdirty,orPuppyDog."

"What'sPuppyDog'sname?"sheasked.

"PuppyDog."

Shegavehimanoddlook."Who'sonfirst,what'sonsecond,Idon'tknow'sonthird?"

"Idon'tgiveadamn'sourshortstop?"hefinishedtheoldAbbottandCostellocomedyroutine.He
laughed."No,it'snotlikethat.HisnamereallyisPuppyDog.Wehaveaguyintown,TomWalker.He
hadanoutland-ishdognamedMoosethatsavedhisdaughterfromarattlesnake.Moosesiredalitter
ofpuppies.Mooseisdeadnow,butPuppyDog,whowasoneofhisoff-spring,wenttolivewithLisa
Monroe,beforeshemarriedmyboss.ShecalledhimPuppyDogandfigureditwasasgoodaname
asany.WithagirldognamedBob,mybosscouldhardlydisagree,"headdedonachuckle.

"Isee."

"Doyoulikeanimals?"

"Ilovethem,"shesaid."ButIcan'thaveanimalsintheapartmentbuildingwhereIlive.Ihadcatsand
dogsandevenaparrotwhenIlivedathome."

"Doyouhavefamily?"

Sheshookherhead."Mydadwastheonlyoneleft.Hediedafewmonthsago.Ihaveuncles,butwe're
notclose."

"Didyouloveyourparents?"

Shesmiledwarmly."Verymuch.Mydadwasabanker.Wewentfishingtogetheronweekends.My
motherwasahousewifewhoneverwantedtorunacor-porationorbeaprofessional.Shejust
wantedahousefulofkids,butIwastheonlychildshewasabletohave.Shespoiledmerotten.Dad
triedtocounterbalanceher."SheDIANAPALMER81

sippedcoffee."Imissthemboth.IwishI'dhadbrothersorsisters."Shelookedathim."Doyouhave
siblings?"

"Ihadasister,"hesaidquietly.

"Had?"

Henodded.Hefingeredhiscoffeecup."Shediedwhenshewassevenyearsold."

Shehesitated.Helookedasifthiswasareallybadmemory."How?"

Hesmiledsadly."Myfatherbackedoverheronhiswaydownthedriveway,inahurrytogettoa
meeting."

Shegrimaced."Poorman."

Hecockedhisheadandstudiedher."Whydoyousaythat?"

"Wehadalittlegirlinforautopsy,abouttwoyearsago,"shebegan."Herdadwashysterical.Saidthe
tele-visionfelloveronher."Sheliftedhereyes."Youknow,wedon'tjusttakesomeone'swordfor
howanaccidenthappens,evenifwebelieveit.Werunteststocheckouttheexplanationandmake
sureit'sfeasible.Well,wepushedoveratelevisionofthesamesizeastheoneinthedad'sapartment.
Sureenough,itdidcatastrophicdamagetoadummy."Sheshookherhead."Poormanwentcrazy.I
mean,hereallylostthewilltolive.Hiswifehaddied.Thechildwasallhehadleft.Helockedhimself
inthebathroomwithashotgunonenightandpulledthetriggerwithhistoe."Shemadeaharshsound.
"Notthesortofautopsyyouwanttotrytosleepafter."

Hewasfrowning.

"Sorry,"shesaid,wincing."Itendtotalkshop.Iknowit'ssickening,andhereweareinanicerestau-
rantandall,andIdidpouraglassofteaonaguythisweekfordoingthesamethingtome..."

"Iwasthinkingaboutthefather,"hesaid,smilingto82THEMAVERICK

relievehertension."Iwassixteenwhenithappened.Igrievedforher,ofcourse,butmylifewas
baseballandgirlsandvideogamesandhamburgers.Ineverconsid-eredhowmyfathermighthave
felt.Heseemedtojustgetonwithhislifeafterward.Sodidmymother."

"Lotsofpeoplemayseemtogetovertheirgrief.Theydon't."

Hewasmorethoughtfulthanever."Mymotherhadbeena...lawyer,"hesaidafteraslighthesitation
thatAlicedidn'tnotice."Shewasverycorrectandproper.Aftermysisterdied,shechanged.Cocktail
parties,therightfriends,thebesthouse,thefanciestfurniture...shewentrightoffthedeepend."

"Youdidn'tconnectit?"

Hegrimaced."ThatwaswhenIranawayfromhomeandwenttolivewiththemechanicandhiswife,"
heconfessed."Itwasmysenioryearofhighschool.Igraduatedsoonafter,wentintotheArmyand
servedfortwoyears.WhenIgotout,Iwenthome.ButIonlystayedforacoupleofweeks.My
parentsweretotalstrangers.Ididn'tevenknowthemanymore."

"That'ssad.Doyouhaveanycontactwiththem?"

Heshookhishead."Ijustleft.Theyneverevenlookedforme."

Sheslidherhandimpulsivelyoverhis.Hisfingersturnedandenvelopedhers.Hislightblueeyes
searchedherdarkeronescuriously."Ineverthoughtofcrimesceneinvestigatorsashavingfeelings,"
hesaid."Ithoughtyouhadtobeprettycold-bloodedtodothatsortofthing."

Shesmiled."I'mthelasthopeofthedoomed,"shesaid."Theconscienceofthemurdered.The
flickeringcandleofthesoulofthedeceased.Idomyjobsothatmurderersdon'tflourish,sothat
killersdon'tescapeDIANAPALMER83

justice.Ithinkofmyjobasaholygrail,"shesaidsolemnly."Ihidemyfeelings.ButIstillhavethem.
Ithurtstoseealifeextinguished.Anylife.Butespeciallyachild's."

Hiseyesbegantotwinklewithaffection."Alice,you'reoneofakind."

"Oh,Idohopeso,"shesaidafteraminute."Becauseiftherewasanotheroneofme,Imightlosemy
job.Notmanypeoplewouldgivetwenty-fourhoursadaytothework."Shehesitatedandgrinned.
"Well,notallthetime,obviously.Justoccasionally,Igettakenoutbyhandsome,dashingmen."

Helaughed."Thanks."

"ActuallyImeanit.I'mnotshrewdenoughtoliewell."

Thewaitercameandpouredmorecoffeeandtooktheirordersfordessert.Whentheywereeatingit,
Alicefrownedthoughtfully.

"Itbothersme."

"Whatdoes?"heasked.

"Thecar.Whywouldamanstealacarfromanup-standing,religiouswomanandthengetkilled?"

"Hedidn'tknowhewasgoingtogetkilled."

Sheforkedapieceofcheesecakeandlookedatit."Whatifhehadacriminalrecord?Whatifhegot
involvedwithherandwantedtochange,tostartover?Whatifhehadsomethingonhisconscience
andhewantedtospillthebeans?"Shelookedup."Andsomebodyinvolvedknewitandhadtostop
him?"

"That'salotofif's,"hepointedout.

Shenodded."Yes,itis.Westilldon'tknowwhothecarwasdrivenby,andthewoman'sstorythatit
wasstolenisjustalittlethin."Sheputtheforkdown."Iwanttotalktoher.ButIdon'tknowhowtogo
aboutit.She84THEMAVERICK

worksforadangerouspolitician,I'mtold.Thefedshavebackedoff.Iwon'tdomyselfanyfavorsifI
chargeinandstartinterrogatingthesenator'semployee."

Hestudiedher."LetmeseeifIcanfindaway.Iusedtoknowmywayaroundpoliticalcircles.Maybe
Icanhelp."

Shelaughed."YouknowaU.S.senator?"sheteased.

Hepursedhislips."MaybeIknowsomebodywho'srelatedtoone,"hecorrected.

"Itwouldreallyhelpmealot,ifIcouldgettoherbeforethefedsdo.Ithinkshemighttellmemore
thanshe'dtellano-nonsenseman."

"Givemeuntiltomorrow.I'llthinkofsomething."

Shesmiled."You'readoll."

Hechuckled."Soareyou."

Sheflushed."Thanks."

Theyexchangedalong,soulfulglance,onlyinter-ruptedbythearrivalofthewaitertoaskifthey
wantedanythingelseandpresentthecheck.Alice'sheartwasdoingdouble-timeonthewayoutofthe
restaurant.

Harleywalkedhertothedoorofthemotel."Ihadagoodtime,"hetoldher."ThebestI'vehadin
years."

Shelookedup,smiling."Me,too.Iturnoffmostmen.Thejob,youknow.Idoworkwithpeoplewho
aren'tbreathing."

"Itdoesn'tmatter,"hesaid.

Shefeltthesametensionthatwasvisibleinhistall,muscularbody.Hemovedastepcloser.Shemet
himhalfway.

Hebentanddrewhismouthsoftlyoverhers.Whenshedidn'tobject,hisarmswentaroundherand
pulledherclose.HesmiledasheincreasedthegentlepressureDIANAPALMER85

ofhislipsandfeltherstremblejustalittlebeforetheyrelaxedandansweredthepressure.

Hisbodywasalreadytautwithdesire,butitwastoosoonforaheatedinterlude.Hedidn'twanttorush
her.Shewasthemostfascinatingwomanhe'deverknown.Hehadtogoslow.

Hedrewbackafteraminuteandhishandstightenedonherarms."Supposewetakeinanothermovie
nextweek?"heasked.

Shebrightened."Awholemovie?"

Helaughedsoftly."Atleast."

"I'dlikethat."

"We'lltryanotherrestaurant.Justtosampletheonesthatareavailableuntilwefindoneweapprove
of,"heteased.

"Whatalovelyidea!Wecanwritereviewsandputthemonline,too."

Hepursedhislips."Whatanentertainingthought."

"Nicereviews,"shesaid,divininghismischievousthoughts.

"Spoilsport."

Hewinkedather,andsheblushed.

"Don'tforget,"shesaid."Aboutfindingmeawaytointerviewthatwoman,okay?"

"Okay,"hesaid."Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Shestood,sighing,ashewalkedbacktohistruck.Butwhenhegotinsideandstartedit,hedidn't

driveaway.Sherealizedbelatedlythathewaswaitinguntilshewentinsideandlockedthedoor.She
laughedandwaved.Shelikedthatstreakofprotectivenessinhim.Itmightnotbemodern,butit
certainlymadeherfeelcherished.Shesleptlikeacharm.86THEMAVERICK

***

Thenextmorning,hecalledheronhiscellphonebeforesheleftthemotel."I'vegotusinvitedtoa
cocktailpartytonight,"hetoldher."Afundraiserforthesenator."

"Us?Butwecan'tcontributetothatsortofthing!Canwe?"sheadded.

"Wedon'thaveto.We'rerepresentingacontributorwho'soutofthecountry,"headdedwitha
chuckle."Doyouhaveanicecocktaildress?"

"Ido,butit'sinSanAntonio,inmyapartment."

"Noworries.YoucangoupandgetitandI'llpickyouupthereatsix."

"Fantastic!I'llwearsomethingniceandIwon'tburpthethemesongstoanytelevisionshows,"she
promised.

"Oh,that'sgoodtoknow,"heteased."Gottogetbacktowork.ItoldMr.ParksIhadtogotoSan
Antoniothisafternoon,sohe'sgivingmeahalfdayoff.Ididn'ttellhimwhyIneededthevacation
time,butIthinkhesuspectssomething."

"Don'tmentionthistoanybodyelse,okay?"sheasked."IfJonBlackhawkorKilravenfindout,my
goosewillbecooked."

"Iwon'ttellasoul."

"Seeyoulater.Ioweyouone,Harley."

"Yes,"hedrawledsoftly."Youdo,don'tyou?I'llphoneyoulaterandgetdirectionstoyour
apartment."

"Okay."

Shelaughedandhungup.

Thesenatorlivedinamansion.Itwastwostorieshigh,withcolumns,andithadafrontporchbigger
thanAlice'swholeapartment.Lightsburnedineveryroom,andinthegloomy,rainynight,itlooked
welcomingandbeautiful.DIANAPALMER87

Luxurysedanswereparkedupanddownthedrive-way.Harley'spickuptruckwasn'tinthesame
class,buthedidn'tseemtofeelintimidated.HeparkedonthestreetandhelpedAliceoutofthetruck.
Hewaswearingeveningclothes,withablackbowtieandhighlypolishedblackwingtipshoes.He
lookedelegant.Alicewaswearingasimpleblackcocktaildresswithherbestwintercoat,theoneshe
woretowork,ablackonewithafurcollar.Shecarriedherbestblackeveningbagandshewore
blackpumpsthatshe'dpolished,hopingtocoverthescuffmarks.Onhersalary,althoughitwasa
goodone,shecouldhardlyaffordhautecouture.

Theyweremetatthedoorbyabutlerinuniform.Harleyhandedhimaninvitationandtheman
hesitatedanddidadoubletake,buthedidn'tsayanything.

Oncetheywereinside,AlicelookedworriedlyatHarley.

"It'sokay,"heassuredher,smilingashecradledherhandinhisprotectively."Noproblem."

"Gosh,"shesaid,awestruckasshelookedaroundheratthecompanyshewasin."There'samovie

staroverthere,"shesaidunderherbreath."IrecognizeatleasttwomodelsandaCountry-Western
singingstar,andthere'stheguywhowonthegolftournament...!"

"They'rejustpeople,Alice,"hesaidgently.

Shegapedathim."Justpeople?You'rejoking,right?"Sheturnedtoofastandbumpedintosomebody.
Shelookeduptoapologizeandhereyesalmostpopped."S-sorry,"shestammered.

Amoviestarwithamartialartsbackgroundgrinnedather."Noproblem.It'seasytogetknocked
downinhere.Whatacrowd,huh?"

"Y-yes,"sheagreed,nodding.88THEMAVERICK

Helaughed,smiledatHarley,anddrewhisdate,agorgeousblonde,alongwithhimtowardthebuffet
table.

HarleycurledhisfingersintoAlice's."Rube,"heteasedsoftly."You'restarstruck."

"Iam,Iam,"sheagreedatonce."I'veneverbeeninsuchaplaceinmylife.Idon'thangoutwiththe
upperechelonsofsocietyinmyjob.Youseemverymuchathome,"sheadded,"foramanwho
spendshistimewithhorsesandcattle."

"Notabadanalogy,actually,"hesaidunderhisbreath."Wouldn'tacattleprodcomeinhandyaround
here,though?"

"Harley!"Shelaughed.

"Justkidding."Hewaslookingaroundtheroom.Afteraminute,hespottedsomeone."Let'sgoask
thatwomaniftheyknowyouremployee."

"Okay."

"What'shername?"hewhispered.

Shedugforit."Dolores."

Heslidhisarmaroundhershouldersandledherforward.Shefeltthewarmthofhisjacketedarm
aroundherwithrealpleasure.Shefeltchilledatthisparty,withallthiselegance.Herfatherhadbeen
abanker,andhehadn'tbeenpoor,butthiswasbeyondthedreamsofmostpeople.Crystalchandeliers,
Persiancarpets,originaloilpaintings--wasthataRenoir?!

"Hi,"HarleysaidtooneofthewomenpouringmorepunchintotheWaterfordcrystalbowl."Does
Doloresstillworkhere?"

Thewomanstaredathimforaminute,butwithoutrecognition."Dolores?Yes.She'sinthekitchen,
mak-ingcanap

�s.Youlookfamiliar.DoIknowyou?"

"I'vegotthatkindofface,"hesaideasily,smiling.DIANAPALMER89

"MywifeandIknowDolores,webelongtoherchurch.Ipromisedtheministerwe'dgivehera
messagefromhimifwecametonight,"headded.

"Oneofthatchurchcrowd,"thewomangroaned,rollinghereyes."Honestly,it'sallshetalksabout,
likethere'snothingelseintheworldbutchurch."

"Religiondies,sodoescivilization,"Alicesaidquietly.SherememberedthatfromherWesternCiv-
ilizationcourseincollege.

"Whatever,"thewomanreplied,bored.

"Inthekitchen,huh?Thanks,"Harleytoldthewoman.

"Don'tgetherfired,"camethequickreply."She'sapain,sometimes,butsheworkshardenough
doingdishes.Ifthesenatororhiswifeseeyoukeepingherfromherjob,he'llfireher."

"Wewon'tdothat,"Harleypromised.HislipsmadeathinlineasheledAliceaway.

"Surelythesenatorwouldn'tfireherjustfortalkingtous?"Alicewonderedaloud.

"Itwouldn'tsurpriseme,"Harleysaid."We'llhavetobecircumspect."

Alicefollowedhislead.Shewonderedwhyhewassoirritated.Perhapsthewoman'sremarkoffended
hissenseofjustice.

Thekitchenwascrowded.Itdidn'toccurtoAlicetoaskhowHarleyknewhiswaythere.Womenwere
bentovertables,preparingplatters,sortingfood,makingcanap

�s.Twowomenwereatthehuge

doublesink,washingdishes.

"Don'ttheyhaveadishwasher?"Alicewonderedastheyenteredtheroom.

"Youdon'tputWaterfordcrystalandLenoxchinainadishwasher,"hecommentedeasily.90THE
MAVERICK

Shelookedupathimwithpurefascination.Hedidn'tseemawarethathe'dgivenawayknowledgeno
workingcowboyshouldevenpossess.

"Howdoweknowwhichone'sher?"heaskedAlice.

Alicestaredatthetwowomen.Onewasbarelyoutofherteens,wearinganoseringandspikyhair.
Theotherwasconservativelydressedwithherhairinaneatbun.Shesmiled,noddingtowardthe
olderone.Shehadawhiteapronwrappedaroundher."Theotherwomansaidshewaswashing
dishes,"shewhispered."Andshe'sachurchgoer."

Hegrinned,followingherlead.

Theyeasedaroundthecuriousworkers,smiling.

"Hello,Dolores,"Alicecalledtothewoman.

Theolderwomanturned,herredhandsdrippingwaterandsoap,andstartedatthetwovisitorswith
widebrowneyes."I'msorry,doIknowyou?"sheasked.

"Iguessyou'veneverseenusdressedup,huh?We'refromyourchurch,"hetoldher,lyingthrough
histeeth."Yourministergaveusamessageforyou."

Sheblinked."Myminister...?"

"Couldwetalk,justforaminute?"Aliceaskedurgently.

Thewomanwassuspicious.Hereyesnarrowed.Shehesitated,andAlicethought,we'veblownit.But
justthen,Doloresnodded."Sure.Wecantalkforaminute.Liz,I'mtakingmybreak,now,okay?I'll
onlybetenminutes."

"Okay,"Lizreturned,withonlyaglanceattheele-gantlydressedpeoplewalkingoutwithDolores.
"Don'tbelong.Youknowhowheis,"sheaddedquickly.

Oncetheywereoutside,Doloresgavethemalonglook."Iknoweveryoneinmychurch.Youtwo
don'tgoDIANAPALMER91

there,"Doloressaidwithagleaminhereyes."Whoareyouandwhatdoyouwant?"

Alicestudiedher."Iworkfor...out-of-townlawen-forcement,"sheimprovised."Wefoundyourcar.
Andthemanwhowasdrivingit."

Theolderwomanhesitated."Itoldthepoliceyes-terday,thecarwasstolen,"shebeganweakly.

Alicesteppedclose,sothattheycouldn'tbeover-heard."Hewasbeatentodeath,sobadlythathis
motherwouldn'tknowhim,"shesaidinasteelytone."Yourcarwaspushedintotheriver.Somebody
didn'twanthimtobefound.Nobody,"sheaddedsoftly,"shouldeverhavetodielikethat.Andhis
murderershouldn'tgetawaywithit."

Doloreslookedevensicker.Sheleanedbackagainstthewall.Hereyesclosed."It'smyfault.Hesaid
hewantedtostartover.Hewantedtomarryme.Hesaidhejusthadtodosomethingfirst,toget
somethingoffhisconscience.Heaskedtoborrowthecar,buthesaidifsomethinghappened,ifhe
didn'tcallmebackbythenextmorning,tosayitwasstolensoIwouldn'tgetintrouble.Hesaidhe
knewaboutacrimeandifhetalkedtheymightkillhim."

"Doyouknowwhatcrime?"Aliceaskedher.

Sheshookherhead."Hewouldn'ttellmeanything.Nothing.Hesaiditwastheonlywayhecould
protectme."

"Hisname,"Alicepersisted."Canyouatleasttellmehisname?"

Doloresglancedtowardthedoor,grimacing."Idon'tknowit,"shewhispered."Hesaiditwasan

alias."

"Thentellmethealias.Helpmefindhiskiller."

Shedrewinabreath."Jack.JackBailey,"shesaid."He92THEMAVERICK

saidhe'dbeeninjailonce.Hesaidhewassorry.Igothimgoingtochurch,tryingtoliveadecentlife.
Hewasgoingtostartover..."Hervoicebroke."It'smyfault."

"Youwerehelpinghim,"Alicecorrected."Yougavehimhope."

"He'sdead."

"Yes.Butthereareworsethingsthandying.Howlongdidyouknowhim?"Aliceasked.

"Afewmonths.Wewentouttogether.Hedidn'townacar.Ihadtodrive..."

"Wheredidhelive?"

Doloresglancedatthedooragain."Idon'tknow.Healwaysmetmeatalittlestripmallnearthe
tracks,theWestonStreetMall."

"Isthereanythingyoucantellmethatmighthelpidentifyhim?"Aliceasked.

Sheblinked,deepinthought."Hesaidsomethinghappened,thatitwasanaccident,butpeopledied
becauseofit.Hewassorry.Hesaiditwastimetotellthetruth,nomatterhowdangerousitwasto
him..."

"Dolores!"

Shejumped.Atall,imposingfigurestoodinthelightfromtheopendoor."Getbackinhere!You
aren'tpaidtosocialize."

Harleystiffened,becauseheknewthatvoice.

"Yes,sir!"Dolorescried,rushingbackinside."Sorry.Iwasonmybreak...!"

Sheranpasttheelegantolderman.HeclosedthedoorandcamestormingtowardAliceandHarley,
lookingasifhemeanttostarttrouble.

"Whatdoyoumean,interruptingmyworkerswhenIhaveimportantguests?Whothehellareyou
peopleandhowdidyougetinhere?"hedemanded.DIANAPALMER93

Harleymovedintothelight,hispaleeyesglitteringattheolderman."Ihadaninvitation,"hesaid
softly.

Theoldermanstoppedabruptly.Hecockedhishead,asifthevoicemeantmoretohimthantheface
did."Who...areyou?"heaskedhuskily.

"Justaghost,visitingoldhaunts,"hesaid,andtherewasiceinhistone.

Theoldermanmovedastepcloser.Ashecameintothelight,Alicenoticedthathe,too,hadpale
eyes,andgray-streakedbrownhair.

"H-Harley?"heaskedinahesitanttone.

HarleycaughtAlice'shandinhis.Shenoticedthathisfingerswerelikeice.

"Sorrytohavebotheredyou,Senator,"Harleysaidformally."AliceandIknowapastorwho'sa
mutualfriendofDolores.HeaskedustotellheraboutafamilythatneededaridetochurchSunday.
Pleaseexcuseus."

HedrewAlicearoundtheolderman,whostoodfrozenwatchingthemastheywentbackintothe
kitchen.

HarleypausedbyDoloresandwhisperedsomethinginherearquicklybeforeherejoinedAliceand
theysaunteredtowardthelivingroom.Thesenatormovedtowardthembeforetheyreachedthe
livingroom,staredafterthemwithapainedexpressionandtriedtospeak.

Itwastoolate.HarleywalkedAlicerightoutthefrontdoor.Ontheway,adark-eyed,dark-haired
maninanexpensivesuitscowledastheypassedhim.Harleynoticedthatthesenatorstoppednextto
theothermanandstartedtalkingtohim.

Theymadeitbacktothetruckwithoutbeingchal-lenged,andwithoutawordbeingspoken.94THE
MAVERICK

HarleyputAliceinsidethetruck,gotinandstartedit.

"Heknewyou,"shestammered.

"Apparently."Henoddedather."Fastenyourseatbelt."

"Sure."Shesnappeditinplace,hopingthathemightaddsomething,explainwhathadhappened.He
didn't.

"You'vegotsomethingtogoonnow,atleast,"hesaid.

"Yes,"sheagreed."Ihave.Thanks,Harley.Thanksverymuch."

"Mypleasure."Heglancedather."ItoldDoloreswhatwesaidtothesenator,sothatourstorieswould
match.Itmightsaveherjob."

"Ihopeso,"shesaid."Sheseemedlikeareallyniceperson."

"Yeah."

Hehardlysaidtwowordsthewholerestofthewaytoherapartment.Heparkedinfrontofthe
building.

"YoucomingbackdowntoJacobsville?"heasked.

"Inthemorning,"shesaid."Istillhavesomeinves-tigatingtodothere."

"Lunch,Monday,atBarbara's?"heinvited.

Shesmiled."I'dlikethat."

Hesmiledback."Yeah.Me,too.Sorrywedidn'tgettostay.Thebuffetlookedprettygood."

"Iwasn'treallyhungry,"shelied.

"You'reasweetheart.I'dtakeyououtforalatesupper,butmyheart'snotinit."Hepulledherclose
andbenttokissher.Hismouthwashardandalittlerough."Thanksfornotaskingquestions."

"Noproblem,"shemanaged,becausethekisshadbeensomething,evenifhehadn'tquiterealized
whathewasdoing.DIANAPALMER95

"SeeyouMonday."

Hewentbacktothetruckanddroveaway.Thistime,hedidn'twaitforhertogoinandclosethedoor,
anin-dicationofhowupsethereallywas.

Six

Harleydrovebacktotheranchandcutofftheengineoutsidethebunkhouse.Ithadbeenalmosteight
yearssincehe'dseenthesenator.Hehadn'trealizedwhatashockitwasgoingtobe,tocomeface-to-
facewithhim.Itbroughtbackalltheoldwounds.

"Hey!"

Heglancedattheporchofthemodernbunkhouse.CharlieDaweswasstaringathimfromacrackin
thedoor."Youcominginorsleepingoutthere?"theothercowboycalledwithalaugh.

"Comingin,Iguess,"hereplied.

"Well!"Charlieexclaimedwhenhesawhowtheothermanwasdressed."Ithoughtyousaidyouwere
justgoingoutforadrive."

"ItookAlicetoaparty,butweleftearly.Neitherofuswasinthemood,"hesaid.DIANAPALMER97

"Alice.Thatyourgirl?"

Harleysmiled."Youknow,"hetoldtheotherman,"Ithinksheis."

AlicedrovebackdowntoJacobsvillelateSundayaf-ternoon.She'dcontactedRickMarquezand
askedifhe'ddosomeinvestigatingforherinSanAntonio,tolookforanyrapsheetonamanwho
usedaJackBaileyaliasandtoseeiftheycouldfindamanwho'dbeenstayingatamotelnearthe
WestonStreetMall.Hemighthavebeenseeninthecompanyofadark-hairedwomandrivinga1992
blueFordsedan.Itwasn'tmuchtogoon,buthemightturnupsomething.

Meanwhile,Alicewasgoingtogobacktothecrimesceneandwanderoveritonemoretime,in
hopesthatthearmyofCSIdetectivesmighthavemissedsome-thing,sometinyscrapofinformation
thatwouldhelpbreakthecase.

ShewasdressedinjeansandsneakersandagreensweatshirtwithCSIonit,sweepingthebankofthe
river,whenhercellphonerang.Shemutteredasshepulleditoutandcheckedthenumber.She
frowned.Odd,shedidn'trecognizethatnumberinanyconsciousway,butitstrucksomethinginthe
backofhermind.

"Jones,"shesaid.

"Hi,Jones.It'sKilraven.Iwonderedifyoudugupanythingonthemurdervictimovertheweekend?"

Shesighed,hermindstillonthegroundshewassearch-ing."Onlythathehadanalias,thathewas
tryingtogetsomethingoffhisconscience,thathedidn'townacarandhe'dbeenintroublewiththe
law.Oh,andthathelivedsomewhereneartheWestonStreetMallinSanAntonio."98THE
MAVERICK

"GoodGod!"heexclaimed."Yougotallthatinoneweekend?"

Shelaughedself-consciously."Well,Harleyhelped.Wecrashedasenator'sfundraiserandcornered
anemployeeofhiswho'dbeendatingthe...Oh,damn!"sheexclaimed."Listen,yourbrotherwillfry
meuptoastyandfeedmetosharksifyoutellhimIsaidthat.Thefedsdidn'twantanybodygoingnear
thatwoman!"

"Relax.Jonwaskeentogooutandtalktoherhimself,buthisofficenixedit.Theywerejustafraid
thatsomeheavy-handedlawmanwouldgooverthereandspookher.Yousharewhatyoujusttoldme
withhim,andIguaranteenobodywillsayawordaboutit.Greatwork,Alice."

"Thanks,"shesaid."Thewoman'snameisDolores.She'sanicelady.Shefeelsguiltythathegot
killed.Sheneverevenfussedabouthercarandnowit'stotaled.Shesaidsheloanedhimthecar,buthe
toldhertosayitwasstolenifhedidn'tcallherinaday,incasesomebodywentafterhim.Heknewhe
couldgetkilled."

"Hesaidhewantedtogetsomethingoffhiscon-science,"heremindedher.

"Yes.Hesaidsomethinghappenedthatwasanaccidentbutthatpeoplediedbecauseofit.Doesthat
help?"

"OnlyifIhadESP,"hesighed."Anymoreluckonthatpieceofpaperyoufoundinthevictim'shand?"

"None.Ihopetohearsomethinginafewdaysfromthelab.They'reworkingtheirfingerstothebone.
Whyareholidayssuchagreattimeformurdersandsui-cides?"shewonderedaloud."It'sthe
holidays.You'dthinkitwouldmakepeoplehappy."

"Sadly,aswebothknow,itdoesn't.Itjustempha-DIANAPALMER99

sizeswhatthey'velost,sinceholidaysareprimetimeforfamiliestogettogether."

"Isupposeso."

"WeheardthatyouweregoingoutwithHarleyFowler,"hesaidafteraminute,withlaughterinhis
deepvoice."Isitserious?"

"Notreally,"sherepliedpertly."Imean,Iaskhimtomarrymetwiceaday,butthat'snotwhatyou'd
callserious,isit?"

"Onlyifhesaysyes,"hereturned.

"Hehasn'tyet,butit'sstillearly.I'mverypersistent."

"Well,goodluck."

"Idon'tneedluck.I'munspeakablybeautiful,havegreatlanguageskills,Icanboileggsandwashcars
and...Hello?Hello!"

He'dhunguponher,laughing.Sheclosedtheflipphone."Ididn'twanttotalktoyou,anyway,"she
toldthephone."I'mtryingtoworkhere."

Shewalkedalongtheriverbankagain,hersharpeyesontherocksandweedsthatgrewalongthe
water'sedge.Shewaslettinghermindwander,nottryingtothinkinanyconsciousway.Sometimes,
shegotideasthatway.

Thedeadmanhadapast.Hewasmixedupinsomesortofaccidentinwhichadeathoccurredthat
causedmoredeaths.Hewantedtogetsomethingoffhiscon-science.Sohe'dborrowedacarfrom
hisgirlfriendanddriventoJacobsville.Toseewhom?Thetownwasn'tthatbig,butitwaspretty
largeifyouweretryingtofigureoutwhosomeoneamanwithacriminalpastwastryingtofind.
Whocoulditbe?Someoneinlawen-forcement?OrwashejustdrivingthroughJacobsvilleonhis
waytotalktosomeone?

No,shediscardedthatpossibilityimmediately.He'd100THEMAVERICK

beenkilledhere,sosomeonehadeitherinterceptedhimormethimhere,totalkaboutthepast.

Theproblemwas,shedidn'thaveacluewhothemanwasorwhathe'dbeeninvolvedin.Shehoped
thatRickMarquezcameupwithsomeanswers.

Butsheknewmorethanshe'dknownafewdaysearlier,atleast,andsodidlawenforcement.Shestill
wonderedattheinterestofJonBlackhawkoftheSanAntonioFBIoffice.Whywerethefeds
involved?Weretheyworkingonsomecasesecretlyanddidn'twanttospillthebeanstoany
outsiders?

Maybetheywereworkingasimilarcase,sherea-soned,andweretryingtofindaconnection.They'd
nevertellher,ofcourse,butshewasatrainedprofes-sionalandthiswasn'therfirstmurder
investigation.

Whatifthedeadmanhadconfessed,first,totheministerofDolores'schurch?

Shegaspedoutloud.Itwaslikelightningstriking.Ofcourse!Theministermightknowsomething
thathecouldtellher,unlesshe'dtakenavowofsilence,likeCatholicpriests.Theycouldn'tdivulge
anythinglearnedintheconfessional.Butitwascertainlyworthatry!

ShedugHarley'scellphonenumberoutofherpocketandcalledhim.Thephonerangthreetimes
whileshekickedatadirtclodimpatiently.Maybehewasknee-deepinmiredcattleorsomething...

"Hello?"

"Harley!"sheexclaimed.

"Now,justwhoelsewoulditbe,talkingonHarley'sphone?"cametheamused,drawlingreply.

"You,Ihope,"shesaidatonce."Listen,Ineedtotalktoyou..."

"Youare,"heremindedher.DIANAPALMER101

"No,inperson,rightnow,"sheemphasized."It'saboutaminister..."

"Darlin',wecan'tgetmarriedtoday,"hedrawled."IhavetobrushBobthedog'steeth,"headded
lightly.

"Notthatminister,"sheburstout."Dolores'sminister!"

Hepaused."Why?"

"WhatifthemurderedmanconfessedtohimbeforehedrovedowntoJacobsvilleandgotkilled?"
sheexclaimed.

Harleywhistled."Whatif,indeed?"

"Weneedtogotalktoheragainandaskhisname."

"Oh,nowthatmayprovedifficult.There'snoparty."

Sherealizedthathewasright.Theyhadnoexcusetoshowupatthesenator'shome,whichwas
probablysur-roundedbysecuritydevicesandarmedguards."Damn!"

"YoucanjustcallthehouseandaskforDolores,"hesaidreasonably."Youdon'thavetogiveyour
nameorareason."

Shelaughedsoftly."Yes,Icoulddothat.Idon'tknowwhyIbotheredyou."

"Becauseyouwanttomarryme,"hesaidreasonably."ButI'mbrushingthedog'steethtoday.Sorry."

Sheglaredatthephone."Excuses,excuses,"shemuttered."I'mgrowingolderbytheminute!"

"Whydon'tIbringyouoverheretogoriding?"hewonderedaloud."Youcouldmeetmybossandhis
wifeandtheboys,andmeetPuppyDog."

Shebrightened."Whataniceidea!"

"Ithoughtsomyself.I'llasktheboss.Nextweekend,maybe?I'llbegforanotherhalfdayonSaturday
andtakeyouridingaroundtheranch.We'vegotplentyofsparehorses."Whenshehesitated,he
sighed."Don'ttellme.Youcan'tride."102THEMAVERICK

"Icansoridehorses,"shesaidindignantly."Iridehorsesatamusementparksallthetime.Theygoup
anddownandroundandround,andmusicplays."

"Thatisn'tthesamesortofriding.Well,I'llteachyou,"hesaid."Afterall,ifwegetmarried,you'll
havetoliveonaranch.I'mnotstuffingmyselfintosometinyapartmentinSanAntonio."

"Nowthat'sthesortoftalkIlovetohear,"shesighed.

Helaughed."Wearjeansandboots,"heinstructed."Andthicksocks."

"Noblouseorbra?"sheexclaimedinmockoutrage.

Hewhistled."Well,youdon'thavetowearthemonmyaccount,"hesaidsoftly."Butwewouldn'twant
toshockmyboss,youknow."

Shelaughedatthat."Okay.I'llcomedecentlydressed.Saturdayitis."Shehesitated."Where'sthe
ranch?"

"I'llcomeandgetyou."Hehesitated."You'llstillbeherenextSaturday,won'tyou?"

Shewaswonderinghowtostretchherinvestigationherebyanotherweek.Thensherememberedthat
ChristmaswasThursdayandsherelaxed."IgetChrist-masoff,"shesaid.Thensherememberedthat
she'dpromisedtoworkChristmasEvealready."Well,IgetChristmasDay.I'llaskfortherestofthe
week.I'lltellthemthatthecaseisheatingupandIhavetwoorthreemorepeopletointerview."

"Great!CanIhelp?"

"Yes,youcanfindmetwoorthreemorepeopletointerview,"shesaid."Meanwhile,I'llcallDolores
andaskhertogivemeherminister'sname."Shegrimaced."I'llhavetobesureIdon'tsaythatto
whoeveranswersthephone.Wetoldeverybodyweweregivingheramessagefromherminister!"
DIANAPALMER103

"Goodidea.Letmeknowwhatyoufindout,okay?"

"Youbet.Seeyou."Shehungup.

Shehadtodialinformationtogetthesenator'snumberand,thankGod,itwasn'tunlisted.Shepunched
thenumbersintohercellphoneandwaited.Ayoungwomananswered.

"MayIpleasespeaktoDolores?"Aliceaskedpolitely.

"Dolores?"

"Yes."

Therewasalongpause.Alicegrittedherteeth.Theyweregoingtotellherthatemployeesweren't
allowedpersonalphonecallsduringtheday,shejustknewit.

Butthevoicecamebackonthelinewithalongsigh."I'msosorry,"thewomansaid."Doloresisn't
hereanymore."

Thatwasn'taltogethersurprising,butitwasn'taserioussetback."Canyoutellmehowtogetintouch
withher?I'manoldfriend,"sheadded,improvising.

Thesighwaslonger."Well,youcan't.Imean,she'sdead."

Alicewasstaggered."Dead?!"sheexclaimed.

"Yes.Suicide.Sheshotherselfthroughtheheart,"thewomansaidsadly."Itwassuchashock.The
senator'swifefoundher...Oh,dear,Ican'ttalkanymore,I'msorry."

"Justaminute,justoneminute,canyoutellmewherethefuneralisbeingheld?"sheaskedquickly.

"AttheWestonStreetBaptistChurch,"camethereply,almostinawhisper,"attwotomorrow
afternoon.Ihavetogo.I'mverysorryaboutDolores.Wealllikedher."

Thephonewentdead.

Alicefeltsick.Suicide!Hadshedriventhepoorwomantoit,withherquestions?Orhadshebeende-
pressedbecauseofherboyfriend'smurder?104THEMAVERICK

Strange,thatshe'dshotherselfthroughtheheart.Mostwomenchosesomelessviolentwaytodie.
Mostuseddrugs.Suicidesbygunwereusuallymen.

ShecalledHarleyback.

"Hello?"hesaid.

"Harley,shekilledherself,"sheblurtedout.

"Who?Dolores?She'sdead?"heexclaimed.

"Yes.Shotthroughtheheart,Iwastold.Suicide."

Hepaused."Isn'tthatunusualforawoman?Touseaguntokillherself,Imean?"

"Itis.ButIfoundoutwhereherpastoris,"sheadded."I'mgoingtothefuneraltomorrow.Rightnow,
I'mgoinguptoSanAntoniotomyoffice."

"Why?"heasked.

"Becauseinallviolentdeaths,eventhoseascribedtosuicide,anautopsyisrequired.Iwouldn'tmiss
thisonefortheworld."

"Keepintouch."

"Youbet."

Alicehungupandwentbacktohervan.ShehadahunchthatawomanasreligiousasDolores
wouldn'tkillherself.Mostreligionshadedictsagainstit.Thatdidn'tstoppeoplefromdoingit,of
course,butDoloresdidn'tstrikeAliceasthesuicidalsort.Shewasgoingtoseeiftheautopsy
revealedanything.

Theofficewas,asusualonholidays,overworked.Shefoundoneoftheassistantmedicalexaminers
poringoverreportsinhisoffice.

Helookedupassheentered."Jones!CouldIgetyoutocomebackandworkforusinautopsyagain
ifIbribedyou?It'sgettingharderandhardertofindpeoplewhodon'tmindhangingaroundwiththe
dead."DIANAPALMER105

Shesmiled."Sorry,Murphy,"shesaid."I'mhappierwithinvestigativeworkthesedays.Listen,doyou
haveasuicidebackthere?FirstnameDolores,workedforasenator...?"

"Yep.Ididhermyself,earlierthisevening."Heshookhishead."Shehadsmallhandsandthegunwas
a.45ColtACP,"hereplied."Howsheevercockedthedamnedthing,muchlesskilledherselfwithit,
isgoingtobeoneofthegreatunsolvedmysteriesoflife.Addedtothat,shehadcarpaltunnelinher
righthand.She'dhadsurgeryatleastonce.Weakensthemuscle,youknow.We'dalreadyascertained
thatshewasright-handedbecausetherewasmoremuscleattachmentthere--usualonthedominant
side."

"You'resureitwassuicide?"shepressed.

Heleanedbackinhischair,eyeingherthroughthickcorrectivelenses."Therewasarimburnaround
theentrancewound,"hesaid,referringtotheheatandflareoftheshotinclose-contactwounds."But
theangleofentrywasodd."

Shejumpedonthat."Odd,how?"

"Diagonal,"hereplied.Hepulledouthisdigitalcamera,ranthroughthefilesandpunchedupone.He
handedherthecamera."That'sthewound,anteriorview.Pullupthenextshotandyou'llseewhereit
exited,posterior."

Sheinhaled."Wow!"

"Interesting,isn'tit?Mostpeoplewhoshootthem-selveswithanautomatichandgundoitholdingthe
barreltotheheadorunderthechin.Thiswasangleddownward.AndasIsaidbefore,herhandwas
tooweaktomanagethissortofweapon.There'ssomethingelse."

"What?"sheasked,entranced.106THEMAVERICK

"Thegunwasfoundstillclenchedinherlefthand."

"So?"

"RememberwhatIsaidaboutthecarpeltunnel?Shewasright-handed."

Shecockedherhead."Goingtowriteitupassus-pectedhomicide?"

"You'rejoking,right?Knowwhosheworkedfor?"

Shesighed."Yes.SenatorFowler."

"Wouldyouwriteitupasasuspectedhomicideorwouldyoutrytokeepyourjob?"

Thatwasastickyquestion."Butifshewasmur-dered..."

"The`if'issubjective.I'mnotoneofthoseTVforensicpeople,"heremindedher."I'mtwoyears
fromretirement,andI'mnotriskingmypensiononapos-sibility.ShegoesoutasasuicideuntilIget
absoluteproofthatitwasn't."

Aliceknewwhenthatwouldbe."Couldyouatleastput`probablesuicide,'Murphy?"shepersisted.
"Justforme?"

Hefrowned."Why?Alice,doyouknowsomethingthatIneedtoknow?"

Shedidn'tdarevoicehersuspicions.Shehadnoproof.Shemanagedasmile."Humorme.Itwon't
rattleanycages,andifsomethingcomesupdowntheline,you'llhavecoveredyourbutt.Right?"

Hesearchedhereyesforamomentandthensmiledwarmly."Okay.I'llputprobable.Butifyoudig
upsomething,youtellmefirst,right?"

Shegrinned."Right."

HernextmovewastogototheWestonStreetBaptistChurchandspeaktotheminister,butshehadto
waitDIANAPALMER107

untilthefuneraltodoit.Ifshesawthemanalone,someonemightseeherandhislifecouldbein
danger.Itmightbealready.Shewasn'tsurewhattodo.

ShewenttopoliceheadquartersandfoundDetectiveRickMarquezsittingathisdesk.Theofficewas
almostempty,buttherehewas,knee-deepinfilefolders.

Shetappedonthedoorandwalkedinatthesametime.

"Alice!"Hegottohisfeet."Nicetoseeyou."

"Isit?Why?"sheaskedsuspiciously.

Heglancedatthefilefoldersandwinced."Anyreasontotakeabreakisagoodone.NotthatI'm
sorrytoseeyou,"headded.

"Whatareyoudoing?"sheaskedasshetookaseatinfrontofthedesk.

"Poringovercoldcases,"hesaidheavily."Mylieu-tenantsaidIcoulddoitonmyowntime,aslong
asIdidn'tadvertisewhyIwasdoingit."

"Whyareyoudoingit?"sheaskedcuriously.

"YourmurderdowninJacobsvillenudgedamemoryortwo,"hesaid."Therewasacasesimilartoit,
alsounsolved.Itinvolvedafourteen-year-oldgirlwhowasdrivingacarreportedstolen.Shewas
alsounrecognizable,butseveralofherteethwerestillinplace.Theyidentifiedherbydentalrecords.
Nowit-nesses,noclues."

"Howlongagowasthis?"sheasked.

Heshrugged."Aboutsevenyears,"hesaid."Infact,ithappenedsometimebeforeKilraven'sfamily
waskilled."

"Couldtherebeaconnection?"shewonderedaloud.

"Idon'tknow.Idon'tseehowthedeathofateenagegirltiesintothemurderofacop'sfamily."He
smiled."Maybeit'sjustacoincidence."Heputthefilesaside."Whyareyouuphere?"108THE
MAVERICK

"Icametochecktheresultsofanautopsy,"shesaid."ThewomanwhoworkedforSenatorFowler
suppos-edlykilledherself,butthebulletwasangleddownward,herhandwastooweaktohavepulled
thetriggerandtheweaponwasfoundclutchedinthewronghand."

Heblewouthisbreathinarush."Somesuicide."

"Mythoughts,exactly."

"Talktome,Jones."

"ShewasinvolvedwiththemurdervictiminJacobs-ville,remember?"sheaskedhim."Shewouldn't
tellmehisname,shesworeshedidn'tknowit.Butshegavemethealiasheused--theoneIcalledand
gaveyou--andshesaidhe'dspokentotheministerofherchurch.Hetoldhertherewasanaccident
thatcausedalotofotherpeopletodie.Hehadaguiltyconscienceandhewantedtotellwhathe
knew."

Marquez'sdarkeyespinnedhers."Isn'tthatinter-esting."

"Isn'tit?"

"Yougoingtotalktotheminister?"

"Iwantto,butI'mafraidtobeseendoingit,"shetoldhim."Hislifemaybeindangerifheknows
some-thing.Whateverisgoingon,it'sbig,andithastiestopowerfulpeople."

"Thesenator,maybe?"hewonderedaloud.

"Maybe."

"Whendidyoutalktoher?"

"Therewasafundraiseratthesenator'shouse.HarleyFowlertookme..."Shehadn'tconnectedthe
namesbefore.Nowshedid.Thesenator'snamewasFowler.Harley'snamewasFowler.Thesenator
hadrecognizedHarley,hadapproachedhim,hadtalkedtohiminasofttone...DIANAPALMER109

"HarleyFowler?"Marquezemphasized,makingthesameconnectionshedid."Harley'sfamily?"

"Idon'tknow,"shesaid."Hedidn'tsayanythingtome.Butthesenatoractedreallystrangely.He
seemedtorecognizeHarley.AndwhenHarleytookmetomyapartment,hedidn'twaituntilIgot

insidethedoor.That'snotlikehim.Hewasdistracted."

"Hecomesfromwealthandpower,andhe'sworkingcattleforCyParks,"Marquezmused."Nowisn't
thatacuriousthing?"

"Itis,andifit'strue,youmustn'ttellanybody,"Alicereplied."It'shisbusiness."

"Iagree.I'llkeepittomyself.Whosawyoutalktothewomanatthesenator'shouse?"

"Everybody,butwetoldthemweknewherministerandcametotellhersomethingforhim."

"Ifshewenttochurcheveryweek,wouldn'tthatseemsuspiciousthatyouwereseeinghertogiveher
amessagefromherminister?"

Alicesmiled."Harleytoldthemhe'daskedustogiveheramessageaboutofferingaridetoafellow
wor-shipperonSunday."

"Uh,Alice,hercarwaspulledoutoftheLittleCar-michaelRiverinJacobsville...?"

"Oh,goodgrief,"shegroaned."Well,nobodyknewthatwhenwewereattheparty."

"Yes.Butmaybesomebodyrecognizedyouandfiguredyouwereinvestigatingthemurder,"he
returned.

Shegrimaced."AndIgotherkilled,"shesaidmis-erably.

"No."

"IfIhadn'tgonethereandtalkedtoher...!"shepro-tested.110THEMAVERICK

"Whenyourtime'sup,it'sup,Jones,"herepliedphilosophically."Itwouldn'thavemadeany
difference.Acarcrash,aheartattack,afallfromahighplace...itcouldhavebeenanything.Intentions
arewhatmatter.Youdidn'tgotheretocauseheranytrouble."

Shemanagedawansmile."Thanks,Marquez."

"Butifshewaskilled,"hecontinued,"thatfitsintoyourcasesomehow.Itmeansthatthemurderer
isn'ttakinganychancethatsomebodymighttalk."

"Themurderer...?"

"Yourdeadwomansaidthevictimknewsomethingdamagingaboutseveraldeaths.Whoelsebutthe
mur-dererwouldbesohell-bentoneliminatingevidence?"

"Westilldon'tknowwhothevictimis."

Marquez'ssensuouslipsflattenedasheconsideredthepossibilities."Iftheministerknowsanything,
he'salreadyintrouble.Hemaybeintroubleifhedoesn'tknowanything.Theperpisn'ttakingany
chances."

"Whatcanwedotoprotecthim?"

Marquezpickedupthephone."I'mgoingtoriskmyprofessionalcareerandseeifIcanhelphim."

Alicesatandlistenedwhilehetalked.Fiveminuteslater,hehungupthephone.

"Areyousurethat'stheonlywaytoprotecthim?"sheaskedworriedly.

"It'sthebestoneIcanthinkof,shortofputtinghiminprotectivecustody,"hesaidsolemnly."Ican't
dothatwithoutprobablecause,nottomentionthatourbudgetisintheredandwecan'tafford
protectivecustody."

"Yourbossisn'tgoingtolikeit.AndIexpectJonBlackhawkwillbeoverherewithashotgun
tomorrowmorning,firstthing."

"Morethanlikely."DIANAPALMER111

Shesmiled."You'reaprince!"

Hiseyebrowsarched."Youcouldmarryme,"hesug-gested.

Sheshookherhead."Nochance.Ifyoureallyareaprince,ifIkissedyou,bythewaythelawsof
probabil-ityworkinmylife,you'dturnrightintoafrog."

Hehesitatedandthenburstoutlaughing.

Shegrinned."Thanks,Marquez.IfIcanhelpyou,anytime,Iwill."

"Youcan.CallmybosstomorrowandtellhimthatyouthinkI'msufferingfromahighfeverand
halluci-nationsandI'mnotresponsibleformyownactions."

"I'lldothatverything.Honest."

Thenextmorning,thelocalmediareportedthatthepastorofayoungwomanwho'dcommitted
suicidewasbeingquestionedbypoliceaboutsomeinformationthatmighttiehertoacoldcase.Alice
thoughtitwasastrokeofpuregenius.Onlyatotalfoolwouldriskkillingthepastornowthathewas
inthemediaspotlight.Itwasthebestprotectionhecouldhave.

Marquez'sbosswas,predictably,enraged.ButAlicewenttoseehimand,behindcloseddoors,told
himwhatsheknewaboutthemurderinJacobsville.Hecalmeddownandagreedthatitwasagood
callonhisdetective'spart.

ThenAlicewenttoseeReverendMikeColman,earlyinthemorning,beforethefuneral.

Hewasn'twhatsheexpected.Hewassittinginhisofficewearingsneakers,apairofoldjeansanda
blacksweatshirt.Hehadprematurelythinningdarkhair,woreglasses,andhadasmileaswarmasa
summerday.112THEMAVERICK

HegotupandshookhandswithAliceaftershein-troducedherself.

"IunderstandthatImightbeacandidateforad-mittancetoyourfacility,"hedeadpanned."Detective
Marquezdecidedthatmakingamediapastryoutofmecouldsavemylife."

"Ihopehe'sright,"shesaidsolemnly."Twopeoplehavediedinthepasttwoweekswhohadtiesto
thiscase.We'vegotavictiminJacobsvillethatwecan'tevenidentify."

Hegrimaced."IwassorrytohearaboutDolores.Ineverthoughtshe'dkillherself,andIstilldon't."

"It'ssadthatshedidsomuchtohelpamantorturedbyhispast,andpaidforitwithherlife.Isn'tthere
asaying,thatnogooddeedgoesunpunished?"sheaddedwithwanhumor.

"Itseemsthatwaysometimes,doesn'tit?"heaskedwithasmile."ButGod'swaysaremysterious.We
aren'tmeanttoknowwhythingshappenthewaytheydoatalltimes.SowhatcanIdotohelpyou?"

"DoyouthinkyoucoulddescribethemanDoloressenttotalktoyou?IfIgetapoliceartistoverhere
withhissoftwareandhislaptop,canyoutellhimwhatthemanlookedlike?"

"Oh,IthinkIcandobetterthanthat."

Hepulledapenciloutofhisdeskdrawer,drewathickpadofpapertowardhim,peeledbackthetop
andproceededwithdeftstrokestodrawanunbelievablylifelikepencilportraitofaman.

"That'sincredible!"Aliceexclaimed,fascinatedbytheexpertrendering.

Hechuckledashehandeditovertoher."Thanks.Iwasn'talwaysaminister,"heexplained."Iwason
myDIANAPALMER113

waytoParistofurthermystudiesinartwhenGodtappedmeontheshoulderandtoldmeHeneeded
me."Heshrugged."Youdon'tsaynotoHim,"headdedwithakindsmile.

"Ifthereisn'tsomesortofpastor/confessorbondyou'dbebreaking,couldyoutellmewhatyou
talkedaboutwithhim?"

"There'snoconfidentiality,"hereplied."Buthedidn'treallytellmeanything.HeaskedmeifGod
couldforgiveanysin,andItoldhimyes.Hesaidhe'dbeenabadman,buthewasinlove,andhe
wantedtochange.Hesaidhewasgoingtotalktosomebodywhowasinvolvedinanoldcase,and
he'dtellmeeverythingwhenhegotback."Hegrimaced."Excepthedidn'tgetback,didhe?"

"No,"Aliceagreedsadly."Hedidn't."

Seven

Alicetookthedrawingwithher.ShephonedMar-quez'soffice,planningtostopbytoshowthe
drawingtohim,buthe'dalreadygonehome.Shetuckeditintoherpurseandwenttoherownoffice.
ItwasnowChrist-masEve,andshe'dpromisedtoworktonightasafavortothewomanwho'dsaved
herdatewithHarley.

Shewalkedintothemedicalexaminer'soffice,wavingtothesecurityguardonherwayinside.The
building,locatedontheUniversityofTexascampus,wasalmostdeserted.Onlyaskeletoncrew
workedonholidays.Mostofthestaffhadfamilies.OnlyAliceandoneotheremployeewerestill
single.Butthemedicalexaminer'sofficewasaccessible24/7,sosomeonewasalwaysoncall.

Shewentbyhercolleague'sdeskandgrimacedasshesawthecaseloadsittinginthebasket,waiting
forher.Itwasgoingtobealongnight.DIANAPALMER115

Shesatdownatherowndeskandstartedporingoverthefirstcasefile.Therewerealwaysdeathsto
in-vestigate,evenwhenfoulplaywasn'tinvolved.Ineachone,iftherewasanquestionastohowthe
deceasedhaddeparted,itwasuptohertoworkwiththedetectivestodetermineacauseofdeath.Her
onlyconsolationwasthatthepolicedetectiveswereeverybitasoverloadedasshe,amedical
examinerinvestigator,was.Nobodydidinvestigativeworktogetrich.Butthejobdidhaveother
rewards,sheremindedherself.Solvingacrimeandbringingamurderertojusticewasoneofthe
perks.Andnoamountofmoneywouldmakeupforthepleasureitgavehertoseethatadeathwas
avenged.Legally,ofcourse.

Sheopenedthefirstfileandstartedworkingupthenotesonthecomputerintoadocumenteasilyread
bytheleadpolicedetectiveonthecase,aswellastheassistantdistrictattorneyprosecutingit.She
wadedthroughcrimescenephotographs,measurements,wit-nessstatementsandotherinterviews,
butasshedid,shewasstillwonderingaboutthecoincidenceofHarley'slastnameandthesenator's.
Theoldermanhadrecog-nizedhim,hadcalledhimHarley.Theyobviouslykneweachother,and
therewassomeanimositythere.Butifthesenatorwasarelation,whyhadn'tHarleymen-tionedit
whenheandAlicestoppedbythehouseforthefundraiser?

Maybehehadn'twantedAlicetoknow.Maybehedidn'twantanyonetoknow,especiallyanyoneinJa-
cobsville.Perhapshewantedtomakeitonhisown,withoutthewealthandpowerofhisfamilybehind
him.He'dsaidthathenolongerfeltcomfortablewiththethingshisparentswantedhimtodo.Ifthey
werein116THEMAVERICK

politicsandexpectedhimtohelphostfundraisersandhangoutwiththecreamofhighsociety,he
mighthavefeltuncomfortable.Sherecalledherownparentsandhowmuchshe'dlovedthem,and
howclosethey'dbeen.They'dneveraskedhertodoanythingshedidn'tfeelcomfortablewith.Harley
obviouslyhadn'thadthatsortofhomelife.Shewassadforhim.Butifthingsworkedout,she
promisedherselfthatshe'ddowhatshecouldtomakeupforwhathemissed.Firststepinthatdirec-
tion,shedecided,wasaspecialChristmaspresent.

ShesleptlateonChristmasmorning.Butwhenshewokeup,shegotouthercellphoneandmadea
virtualshoppingtriparoundtown,todiscoverwhichbusi-nesseswereopenonaholiday.Shefound
one,anditcarriedjusttheitemshewanted.ShedrovebythereonherwaydowntoJacobsville.

Goodthingshe'dcalledaheadaboutkeepinghermotelroom,shethoughtwhenshedroveintothe
parkinglot.Theplacewasfull.Obviouslysomelocalshadout-of-townfamilywhodidn'twantto
imposewhentheycamevisitingontheholidays.ShestashedhersuitcaseandcalledHarley'snumber.

"Hello,"cameadisgruntledvoiceovertheline.

"Harley?"sheaskedhesitantly.

Therewasashockedpause."Alice?Isthatyou?"

Shelaughed."Well,yousoundoutofsorts."

"Iam."Therewasasplash."Getoutofthere,youwalkingsteakplatter!"heyelled."Holdthelinea
minute,Alice,Ihavetoputdownthedamn...phone!"

Therewasastringofveryunpleasantlanguage,mostofwhichwasmercifullymuffled.Finally
Harleycamebackontheline.DIANAPALMER117

"Ihatethecattlebusiness,"hesaid.

Shegrimaced.Perhapssheshouldn'thavemadethatshoppingtripafterall."Doyou?"sheasked.
"Why?"

"TruckbrokedowninthemiddleofthepasturewhileIwastossingouthay,"hemuttered."Igotoutof
thetruckandunderthehoodtoseewhatwaswrong.Ileftthedooropen.Boss'swifehadsentmeby
thestoreonthewaytopickupsometurnipgreensforher.Damnedcowstuckherheadintothetruck
andateeverydamnedoneofthem!Sonow,I'mmireduptomykneesinmudandthetruck'ssinking,
andonceIgetthetruckout,I'vegottogoallthewaybacktotownforabunchofturnipsonaccount
ofthestupidcow...Whyareyoulaughing?"

"Ithoughtyouranpurebredbulls,"shesaid.

"Youcan'tgetapurebredbullwithoutapurebredcowtodropit,"hesaidwithexaggeratedpatience.

"Sorry.Iwasn'tthinking.Say,I'mjustacrossthestreetfromamarket.Wantmetogooverandgetyou
somemoreturnipsandbringthemtoyou?"

Therewasanintakeofbreath."You'ddothat?OnChristmasDay?"

"Isortofgotyousomething,"shesaid."Justalittlesomething.Iwantedanexcusetobringittoyou,
anyway."

"Doggoneit,Alice,Ididn'tgetyouanything,"hesaidshamefully.

"Ididn'texpectyouto,"shesaidatonce."ButyoutookmetoanicepartyandIthought...Well,it'sjust
alittlesomething."

"Itookyoutoasocialshootinggalleryanddidn'tevenbuyyousupper,"hesaid,feelingashamed.

"Itwasaniceparty,"shesaid."Doyouwantturnipsornot?"118THEMAVERICK

Helaughed."Ido.ThinkyoucanfindCyParks'sranch?"

"Givemedirections."

Hedid,routingherthequickestway.

"I'llbethereinthirtyminutes,"shesaid."OrI'llcallformoredirections."

"Okay.Thanksamillion,Alice."

"Noproblem."

Shedressedinherworkingclothes,jeansandbootsandacoat,butsheaddedaprettywhitesweater
withapinkpoinsettiaembroideredonit,forChrist-mas.Shedidn'tbotherwithmakeup.Itwouldn't
helpmuchanyway,shedecidedwitharuefulsmile.Sheboughttheturnipsanddrovethefewmilesto
theturnoffthatledtoCyParks'spurebredSantaGertru-disstudranch.

Harleywaswaitingforherlessthanhalfamiledowntheroad,attheforkthatturnedintotheranch
house.Hewascoveredinmud,evenhisonce-browncowboyhat.Hehadasmearofmudonone
cheek,buthelookedverysexy,Alicethought.Shecouldn'tthinkofonemanoutofthirtysheknew
whocouldbecoveredinmudandstilllooksogood.Harleydid.

Hepushedbackhishatashewalkeduptothevan,openingthedoorforher.

Shegrabbedtheturnipsintheirbrownbagandhandedittohim.Shejumpeddownwithasmallbox
inherhand."Here,"shesaid,shovingitathim.

"Waitasec."Heputtheturnipsinhistruckandhandedherafive-dollarbill."Don'targue,"hesaidat
once,whenshetriedto."Ihadmoneytogetthemwith,evenallowingforcowsabotage."Hegrinned.
DIANAPALMER119

Shegrinnedback."Okay."Sheputthebillinherslackspocketandhandedhimthebox.

Hegaveheranoddlook."What'sitfor?"

"Christmas,"shesaid.

Helaughed."BossgivesmeabonuseveryChristmas.Ican'trememberthelasttimeIgotanactual
present."

Sheflushed.

"Don'tgetself-consciousaboutit,"hesaid,whenhenoticedhersuddencolor."IjustfeltbadthatI
didn'tgetyousomething."

"Itoldyou,theparty..."

"Someparty,"hemuttered.Heturnedthesmallboxinhishands,curious.Hepulledthetapethatheld
thesidestogetherandopenedit.Hispaleeyeslitupashepulledthelittlesilverlonghorntietackout
ofthebox."Hey,thisissweet!I'vebeenlookingforoneofthese,butIcouldneverfindonesmall
enoughtobeingoodtaste!"

Sheflushedagain."Youreallylikeit?"

"Ido!I'llwearittothenextCattlemen'sAssocia-tionmeeting,"hepromised."Thanks,Alice."

"MerryChristmas."

"Itis,now,"heagreed.Heslidanarmaroundherwaistandpulledheragainsthim."MerryChristmas,
Alice."Hebentandkissedherwithroughaffection.

Shesighedandmeltedintohim.Thekisswaswarm,andhardandintoxicating.Shewasanormal
adultwomanwithalltheusuallongings,butithadbeenalongtimesinceakisshadmadeherwantto
ripaman'sclothesoffandpushhimdownontheground.

Shelaughed.

Hedrewbackatonce,angry."Whatthehell...!"

"No,it'snot...I'mnotlaughingatyou!Iwaswon-120THEMAVERICK

deringwhatyou'dthinkifIstartedrippingyourclothesoff...!"

He'dgonefromsurprisetoangertoindignation,andnowhedoubledoverlaughing.

"WasitsomethingIsaid?"shewonderedaloud.

Hegrabbedherupinhisarmsandspunheraround,catchingherclosetokissherhungrilyagainand
again.Hewascoveredinmud,andnowshewascoveredinit,too.Shedidn'tcare.

Herarmscaughtaroundhisneck.Sheheldon,lovingthewarmcrushofhismouthinthecoldrain
thatwasjuststartingtofall.Hereyesclosed.Shebreathed,andbreathedhim,cologneandsoapand
coffee...

Afterafewseconds,thekissstoppedbeingfunandbecameserious.Hishardmouthopened.Hisarm
draggedherbreastsagainsthisbroadchest.Henudgedherlipsapartandinvadedhermouthwith
deliberatesensuality.

Henibbledherlowerlipashecarriedhertothepickuptruck.Henudgedtheturnipsintothe
passengerseatwhileheedgedunderthewheel,stillcarryingAlice.Hesettledherinhislapand
kissedherharderwhilehishandsslidunderthewarmsweaterandontoherbareback,workingtheir
wayunderthewispylittlebrashewaswearing.

Hishandswerecoldandshejumpedwhentheyfoundherpertlittlebreasts,andshelaughed
nervously.

"They'llwarmup,"hewhisperedagainsthermouth.

Shewasgoingunderinwavesofpleasure.Ithadbeensuchalongtimesinceshe'dbeenheldand
kissed,andeventhebestshe'dhadwasnothingcomparedtothis.Shemoanedsoftlyashispalms
settledoverherbreastsandbegantocaressthem,eversogently.

Sheheldonfordearlife.Shehopedhewasn'tgoingDIANAPALMER121

tosuggestthattheytrytomanageanintimatesessionontheseat,becausetherereallywasn'tthat
muchroom.Ontheotherhand,shewasn'tprotesting...

Whenhedrewback,shebarelyrealizedit.Shewashanginginspace,soflushedwithdelightthatshe
wasfeelingoblivioustoeverythingelse.

Hewaslookingatherwithopencuriosity,hishandsstillunderhertop,butrestingonherribcage
now,notintimatelyonherbreasts.

Sheblinked,staringupathimhelplessly."Issome-thingwrong?"sheaskedinavoicethatsounded
drowsywithpassion.

"Alice,youhaven'tdonemuchofthis,haveyou?"heaskedveryseriously.

Shebitherlipself-consciously."AmIdoingitwrong?"

"There'snorightorwrongway,"hecorrectedgently."Youdon'tknowhowtogiveitback."

Shejuststaredathim.

"It'snotacomplaint,"hesaidwhenherealizedhewashurtingherfeelings.Hebentandbrushedhis
warmmouthoverhereyelids."Forabrashwoman,you'reamazinglyinnocent.Ithoughtyouwere
kidding,aboutbeingavirgin."

Shewentscarlet."Well,no,Iwasn't."

Helaughedsoftly."Inoticed.Here.Situp."

Shedid,butshepoppedbackupandgrabbedtheturnipsbeforeshesatonthem."Whew,"she
whistled."They'reokay."

Hetookthemfromherandputthemuponthedash.

Shegavehimamockhurtlook."Don'tyouwanttoravishmeonthetruckseat?"sheaskedhopefully.

Heliftedbotheyebrows."Alice,youhussy!"Helaughed.122THEMAVERICK

Shegrimaced."Sorry."

"Iwasteasing!"

"Oh."

Hedrewhercloseandhuggedherwithroughaffec

-tion."Yes,I'dlovetoravishyouontheseat,butnotonChristmasDayinplainviewofthebossand
anycowhandwhowanderedby."

"Aretheylikelytowanderby?"shewonderedoutloud.

Helethergoandnoddedinthedirectionofthehouse.Thereweretwocowboyscomingtheirwayon
horseback.Theyweren'tlookingatthem.Theyseemedtobetalking.

"It'sChristmas,"shesaid.

"Yes,andcattlehavetobeworkedonholidaysas

wellasworkdays,"heremindedher.

"Sorry.Iforgot."

"Ireallylikemytietack,"hesaid."Andthanksamillionforbringingmetheturnips."Hehesitated.
"ButIhavetogetbacktowork.IgaveupmydayoffsothatJohncouldgoandseehiskids,"headded

withasmile.

Shebeamed."IgaveupmyChristmasEveforthesamereason.Butthat'showIgottogototheparty
withyou.Ipromisedtoworkforhimlastnight."

"We'rebothnicepeople,"hesaid,smiling.

Shesighed."Icouldcallaministerrightnow."

"He'sbusy,"hesaidwithagrin."It'sChristmas."

"Oh.Right."

Hegotoutofthetruckandhelpedherdown.

"Thanksformypresent.SorryIdidn'tgetyouone."

"Yes,youdid,"shesaidatonce,andthenlaughedandflushed.

Hebentandkissedhersoftly."Igotanextraonemyself,"hewhispered."Arewestillgoingriding
Saturday?"DIANAPALMER123

"Oh,yes,"shesaid."Atleast,Ithinkso.I'vegottorunuptoSanAntoniointhemorningtotalkto
RickMarquez.Theministerofthemurderedwomanwasabletodrawthemanshesenttohim."

"Really?"heasked,impressed.

"Yes,andsonowwehaveareallead."Shefrownedthoughtfully."Youknow,IwonderifKilraven
mightrecognizetheguy.HeworksoutofSanAntonio.Hemightmakeacopyandshowittohis
brother,too."

"Goodidea."Hedrewinalongbreath."Alice,youbecareful,"headded."Ifthewomanwaskilled
becauseshetalkedtous,theministermightbenext,andthenyou."Hedidn'tadd,buttheybothknew,
thathecouldbeonthefiringline,too.

"Theminister'sokay.Marquezcalledareporterheknewandgothimontheeveningnews."She
chuck-led."They'dbenutstohurthimnow,withallthemediaattention."

"Probablytrue,andgoodcallbyMarquez.Butyou'renotonthenews."

"Pointtaken.I'llwatchmyback.Youwatchyours,too,"sheaddedwithalittleconcern.

"Iworkforaformermercenary,"heremindedherdrolly."Itwouldtakesomebodyreallyoffbalance
tocomegunningforme."

"Okay.Thatmakesmefeelbetter."Shesmiled."ButifthiscaseheatsupinSanAntonio,Imayhaveto
gobacksoonerthanSaturday..."

"So?Ifyoucan'tcomeriding,Icandriveupthereandwecancatchamovieorgoouttoeat."

"Youwould?"sheexclaimed,surprised.

Hegloweredather."We'regoingsteady.Didn'tyounotice?"124THEMAVERICK

"No!Whydidn'tyoutellme?"shedemanded.

"Youdidn'task.GobacktothemotelandmaybewecanhavelunchtomorrowatBarbara's.I'llphone
you."

Shegrinned."Thatwouldbelovely."

"Meanwhile,I'vegotmorecattletofeed,"hesaidonawearysigh."Itwasanicebreak,though."

"Yes,itwas."

Helookedatthesmearsofmudonheronce-pristineshirtandwinced."Sorry,"hesaid.

Shelookeddownatthesmearsandjustlaughed."It'llwash,"shesaidwithashysmile.

Hebeamed.Helovedawomanwhodidn'tmindalittledirt.Heopenedhervandoorandsheclimbed
upintoit."Drivecarefully,"hetoldher.

Shesmiled."Ialwaysdo."

"Seeyou."

"Seeyou."

Shewashalfwaybacktothemotelbeforesherealizedthatshehadn'tmentionedhisconnectionto
SenatorFowler.Ofcourse,thatmightbejustaswell,consideringthatthenewestmurdervictimhad
tiestothesenator,andtheoriginalmurdervictimdid,too,inaroundaboutway.

OnherwaytoseeHayesCarsonatthesheriff'soffice,AlicephonedMarquezathome--well,itwasa
holiday,soshethoughthemightbeathomewithhisfostermother,Barbara.Shefoundoutthat

MarquezhadbeencalledbacktoSanAntonioonacase.Shegrimaced.Shewasnevergoingtogetin
touchwithhim,shesupposed.

ShewalkedintoCarson'soffice.Hewassittingathisdesk.Heliftedbotheyebrows."It'sDecember
twenty-fifth,"hepointedout.

Sheliftedbotheyebrows."Ho,ho,ho?"shesaid.DIANAPALMER125

Hechuckled."SoI'mnottheonlypersonwhoworksholidays.Ihadstartedtowonder."Heindicated
theemptydesksaroundhisofficeinthecountydetentioncenter.

"Myofficelookedthatwaylastnight,too,"shecon-fessed.Shesatdownbyhisdesk."Iquestioneda
womanwhoworkedforSenatorFowleraboutthemanwhodrovehercardownhereandgotkilled
nexttotheriver."

"Findoutmuch?"heasked,suddenlyserious.

"ThatIshouldn'thavebeensoobviousaboutques-tioningher.Shediedofanapparentsuicide,butI
pesteredtheattendingpathologisttoput`probable'before`suicide'onthedeathcertificate.Sheshot
herselfthroughtheheartwiththewronghandandthebulletwasangleddown."Shewaitedfora
reaction.

Heleanedbackinhischair."Wonderswillnevercease."

"Iwenttoseeherminister,whospoketothemanwefounddeadbytheriver.Theministerwasanart
student.Hedrewmethis."Shepulledoutafoldedsheetofpaperfromherpurseandhandedittohim.

"Hallelujah!"heburstout."Alice,you'reawonder!Youshouldbepromoted!"

"No,thanks,Ilikefieldworktoomuch,"shetoldhim,grinning."It'sgood,isn'tit?That'swhatyour
murdervictimlookslike."Hersmilefaded."I'mjustsorryIgotthewomankilledwhowastryingto
helphimrestarthislife."

Helookedupwithpiercingeyes."Youdidn't.Lifehappens.Wedon'tcontrolhowithappens."

"You'regoodformyself-esteem.IwasgoingtoshowthattoRickMarquez,buthe'sbecomerather
elusive."

"SomethinghappenedinSanAntonio.Idon'tknowwhat.Theycalledinalotofoff-dutypeople."126
THEMAVERICK

"WasKilravenoneofthem,ordoyouknow?"sheasked.

"Idon't,butIcanfindout."HecalledthedispatchcenterandgaveKilraven'sbadgenumberandasked
ifKilravenwasonduty.

"Yes,heis.Doyouwantmetoaskhimtoplaceyouatwenty-one?"sheasked,referringtoaphone
call.

"Yes,thanks,Winnie,"hesaid,asmileinhisvoiceasherecognizeddispatcherWinnieSinclair.

"Noproblem.Dispatchoutatthirteenhundredhours."

Hehungup."She'llhavehimcallme,"hetoldAlice."Whatdidtheministertellyouaboutthe
murderedman?"heaskedwhiletheywaited.

"Notmuch.Hesaidtheguytoldhimhe'dbeenabadman,buthewantedtochange,thathewasgoing
tospeaktosomebodyaboutanoldcaseandthathe'dtalktotheministeragainafterhedidit.It'sareal

shame.Apparentlyhe'djustdiscoveredthattherewasmoretolifethandodgingthelaw.Hehada
goodwomanfriend,hewasstartingtogotochurch--nowhe'slyinginthemorgue,unidentifiable."

"Notanymore,"Hayestoldher,wavingthedrawing.

"Yes,buthecouldbeanybody,"shereplied.

"Ifhehasacriminalbackground,he'sgotfinger-printsonfileandamugshot.Ihaveaccesstoface
rec-ognitionsoftware."

"Youdo?How?"sheasked,fascinated.

"Tellyouwhat,"hesaid,leaningforward."I'llgiveyoumysourceifyou'lltellmehowyougothold
ofthatcomputerchipemplacementtechfortaggingbodies."

Shecaughtherbreath."Well!Youdogetaround,don'tyou?That'scutting-edgeandwedon'tadvertise
it."

"Mysourcedoesn'tadvertise,either."DIANAPALMER127

"We'lltrade,"shepromised."Now,tellme..."

Thephonerang.Hayespickeditup.HegaveAliceasardoniclook."Yes,thesheriff'sofficeisopen
onChristmas.Ijustputawaymyreindeerandtookoffmyredsuit...Yes,AliceJonesisherewithan
artist'ssketchofthemurderedman...Hello?Hello?"Hehungupwithasigh."Kilraven,"hesaid,
answeringtheunaskedquestion.

Alicesighed."Igetthatalot,too.Peoplehanginguponme,Imean.I'llbethe'sburningrubber,trying
togethereatlightspeed."

"Iwouldn'tdoubtit."Hechuckled.

Sureenough,justaminuteortwolater,theyheardsquealingtiresturningintotheparkinglotoutside
thewindow.Asquadcarwithflashingbluelightsslammedtoastopjustatthefrontdoorandthe
enginewentdead.Secondslater,Kilravenstormedintotheoffice.

"Let'sseeit,"hesaidwithoutpreamble.

Hayeshandedhimthedrawing.

Kilravenlookedatitforalongtime,frowning.

"Recognizehim?"Aliceasked.

Hegrimaced."No,"hesaidgruffly."Damn!IthoughtitmightbesomebodyIknew."

"Why?"Hayesasked.

"IworkoutofSanAntonioasarule,"hesaid."AndIwasapatrolofficer,andthenadetective,onthe
policeforcethereforsomeyears.IftheguyhadarecordinSanAntonio,Imighthavehaddealings
withhim.ButIdon'trecognizethisguy."

Hayestookthesketchback."IfImakeacopy,couldyoushowittoJonandseeifhelooksfamiliarto
him?"

"Sure."HeglancedatAlice."How'dyougetasketchofthedeadman?Reconstructiveartist?"128
THEMAVERICK

"No.ThatwomanItalkedtoabouthimkilledherself..."

"Likehellshedid,"Kilravenexclaimed."That'stoopat!"

"JustwhatIthought.Italkedtotheforensicpa-thologistwhodidtheautopsy,"sheadded."Hesaidshe
wasright-handed,butshotherselfthroughtheheartwithherlefthand.Goodtrick,too,becauseshe
hadcarpaltunnelsyndrome,plussurgery,andthegunwasabig,heavy.45ColtACP.Hesaidshe'd
havehadhelljustcockingit."

"Helabeleditasuicide?"

Sheshookherhead."He'stryingnottogetcaughtupinpoliticalfallout.Sheworkedforthesenator,
youknow,andhe'snotgoingtowanttobeamediasnackoverapossiblehomicidethathappenedon
hisownproperty."

"Thepathologistdidn'tlabelitasuicide?"hepersisted.

"Igothimtoadd`probable'tothereport."

"Well,that'ssomething,Iguess.Damnedshame,aboutthewoman.Shemighthavebeenabletotellus
more,intime."HesmiledatAlice."I'mgladyouwenttoseeher,anyway.Whatwehaveisthanksto
you."Hefrowned."Buthowdidyougetthesketch?"

"Thewoman'sminister,"shesaidsimply."He'dtalkedtothemanwhowaskilledandbeforehe
becameaminister,hewasanartist.Hedidn'taddmuchtowhatthewomanhadalreadytoldme.He
didsaythattheguyhadaguiltyconscienceandhewasgoingtotalktosomebodyaboutanoldcase."

Kilravenwasfrowningagain."Anoldcase.Whowashegoingtotalkto?Peopleinlawenforcement,
maybe?"

"Verypossibly,"Aliceagreed."I'mnotthroughdigging.ButIneedtoidentifythisman.IthoughtI
DIANAPALMER129

mightgotothemotelwherehewasstayingandstartinterviewingresidents.It'sastart."

"Notforyou,"Kilravensaidsternly."You'veputyourselfinenoughdangeralready.Youleavethisto
meandJon.Wegetpaidforpeopletoshootatus.Youdon't."

"Myhero,"Alicesighed,battinghereyelashesathimandsmiling."IfIwasn'tsokeentomarry
HarleyFowler,IswearI'dbesendingyoucandyandflowers."

"IhatesweetsandI'mallergictoflowers,"hepointedout.

Shewrinkledhernose."Justaswell,then,isn'tit?"

"I'llcopythisforyou,"Hayessaid,movingtothecopymachineinthecorner."We'relowontoner,
though,sodon'texpectanythingasgoodastheoriginaldrawing."

"Whydon'tyougetmoretoner?"Aliceasked.

Hayesglowered."Ihavetohaveapurchaseorderfromthecountycommission,andthey'restill
yellingatmeaboutthelastseveralIaskedfor."

"Whichwasfor...?"Kilravenprompted.

Hayesmadethecopy,examineditandhandedittoKilraven."Acat,andanelectrician,andan
exterminator."

AliceandKilravenstaredathim.

Hemovedself-consciouslybacktohisdeskandsatdown."Iboughtthischeapcat,"heemphasized."It
onlycostfifteenbucksatthepetstore.Itwasn'tpure-bredoranything."

"Whydidyoubuyacat?"Aliceasked.

Hesighed."Doyourememberthemousethatlivedin

TiraHart'shousebeforeshebecameSimonHart'swife?"

"Well,Iheardaboutit,"Kilravenadmitted.

"Oneofmydeputiescaughttwofieldmiceandwasgoingtotakethemhometohiskidsforascience
project.Heputtheminawoodboxandwhenhewent130THEMAVERICK

togetthemout,theyweren'tthere."Hayessighed."Theychewedtheirwayoutofthebox,they
chewedupthebaseboardsandtwoelectricalwires,anddidaboutthreehundreddollarsworthof
damagetocountyproperty.Icalledanelectricianforthat.ThenItriedtrapsandtheywouldn'twork,
soIboughtacat."

"Didthecatgetthemice?"Aliceasked.

Hayesshookhishead."Actually,"hereplied,"themicelayinwaitforthecat,chompeddownonboth
hispawsatthesametime,anddartedbackintotheholeinthewalltheycameoutof.LasttimeIsaw
thecat,hewasheadedoutoftownbywayofthecitypark.Themicearestillhere,though,"headded
philosophically."WhichiswhyIhadtohaveauthorizationtopayforanexterminator.Thechairman
ofourcountycommis-sionfoundoneofthemicesittinginhiscoffeecup."Hesighed."Wouldyou
believe,Igotblamedforthat,too?"

"Well,thatexplainswhythecommissiongotmadatyou,"Alicesaid."Imean,forthecatandthe
electrician."

"No,that'snotwhytheygotmad."

"Itwasn't?"

Helookedsheepish."Itwastheenginefora1996Fordpickuptruck."

Alicestaredathim."Okay,nowI'mconfused."

"Ihadtocallanexterminator.Whilehewaslookingforthemice,theygotunderthehoodofhistruck
anddidsomething--Godknowswhat,butitwascat-astrophic.Whenhestartedthetruck,theengine
caughtfire.Itwasatotalloss."

"Howdoyouknowthemicedidit?"Kilravenwantedtoknow.

"Oneofmydeputies--thesameonewhobroughtthedamnedrodentsinhereinthefirstplace--saw
themDIANAPALMER131

comingdownthewheelwellofthetruckjustbeforetheexterminatorgotinandstartedit."

Alicelaughed.Shegottoherfeet."Hayes,ifIwereyou,I'dfindwhoeverboughtCagHart'sbig
albinopythonandborrowhim."

"IfthesemiceareanythinglikeTira'smouse,fatchanceasnakewilldowhatacatcan't."

Ashespoke,thelightsstarteddimming.Heshookhishead."They'reback,"hesaidwithsad
resignation.

"Betterhideyourfirearms,"KilravenadvisedasheandAlicestartedforthedoor.

"Withmyluck,they'rebettershotsthanIam."Hayeslaughed."I'mgoingtoshowthisdrawingaround
townandseeifanybodyrecognizesthesubject.Ifeitherofyoufindoutanythingelseaboutthe
murderedman,letmeknow."

"Willdo,"Alicepromised.

Eight

AlicefollowedKilravenoutthedoor.Hestoodonthestepsofthedetentioncenter,deepinthought.

"Whydidyouthinkyoumightknowthemurdervictim?"Aliceaskedhim.

"Itoldyou..."

"Youlied."

Helookeddownatherwitharchedeyebrows.

"Oh,I'mpsychic,"shesaideasily."YouknowallthoseshowsaboutpeoplewithESPwhosolve
murders,well,Igetmistakenforthatdishyoneallthetime..."

"You'renotpsychic,Alice,"hesaidimpatiently.

"Nosenseofhumor,"shescoffed."Iwonderhowyoustaysaneonthejob!Okay,okay--"sheheldup
bothhandswhenheglowered"--I'lltalk.Itwasthewayyourushedoverheretolookatthedrawing.
ComeDIANAPALMER133

on,givemeabreak.Nobodygetsinthatsortofhurrywithoutaprettysturdyreason."

Herestedhishandontheholsteredbuttofhispistol.Hiseyesheldthat"thousand-yardstare"thatwas
soremarkedonincombatstories."I'veencouragedaformerSanAntoniodetectivetodosome
diggingintothefilesonmycoldcase,"hesaidquietly."Andyouaren'ttomentionthattoMarquez.
He'sinenoughtrouble.We'renotgoingtotellhim."

Shewouldn'thavedaredmentionthatshealreadyknewaboutthedetectiveworkingonthecase,and
sodidMarquez."Haveyougotalead?"sheasked.

"Ithoughtthiscasemightbeone,"hesaidquietly."AguycomesdownherefromSanAntonio,and
getskilled.It'seerie,butIhadafeelingthathemighthavebeenlookingforme.Stupid,Iknow..."

"Therearedozensofreasonshemighthavedrivendownhere,"shereplied."Andhemighthavebeen
passingthrough.Theperpmighthavefollowedhimandambushedhim."

"You'reright,ofcourse."Hemanagedasmile."IkeephopingI'llgetluckyoneday."Thesmilefaded
intocoldsteel."Iwanttoknowwhoitwas.Iwanttomakehimpayforthepastsevenmiserableyears
ofmylife."

Shecockedherhead,frowning."Nothingwillmakeupforthat,"shesaidquietly."Youcan'ttaketwo
livesoutofsomeone.There'snopunishmentonearththatwilltakeawaythepain,ortheloss.You
knowthat."

"Consciously,Ido,"hesaid.Hedrewinasharpbreath."Iworkedsomebodyelse'sshiftasafavorthat
night.IfIhadn't,I'dhavebeenwiththem..."

"Stopthat!"shesaidinatoneshortenoughtoshockhim."Liveshavebeendestroyedwiththatone,
stupid134THEMAVERICK

word.If!Listentome,Kilraven,youcan'tappropriatethepoweroflifeanddeath.Youcan'tcontrol
theworld.Sometimespeopledieinhorribleways.It'snotright,butit'sjustthewaythingsare.You
havetogoforward.Livinginregretisonlyanotherwaytheperpscoresoffyou."

Hedidn'tseemtotakeoffense.Hewasactuallylis-tening.

"Ihearitfromvictims'familiesallthetime,"shecontinued."Theygrieve,theyhate,theyliveforven-
geance.Theycan'twaitforthecasetogototrialsotheycanwatchtheguiltypersonburn.But,guess
what,juriesdon'tconvict,orperpsmakedeals,orsometimesthecaseevengetsthrownoutofcourt
becauseofabreakinthechainofevidence.Andallthatangerhasnoplacetogo,exceptinsound
bitesforthesix-o'clocknews.Thenthefamiliesgohomeandthehatredgrows,andtheyendupwith

emptylivesfullofnothing.Nothingatall.Hatetakestheplacethathealingshouldoccupy."

Hestareddownatherforalongmoment."IguessI'vebeenthere."

"Foraboutsevenyears,"sheguessed."Areyougoingtodevoteyourlifetoallthathatred?You'll
growoldwithnothingtoshowforthosewastedyearsexceptbittermemories."

"Ifmydaughterhadlived,"hesaidinaharshtone,"she'dbetenyearsoldnextweek."

Shedidn'tknowhowtoanswerhim.Theanguishhefeltwasineveryword.

"Hegotawaywithit,Jones,"hesaidharshly.

"No,hedidn't,"shereplied."Someoneknowswhathappened,andwhodidit.Oneday,atelephone
willringinadetective'soffice,andajiltedgirlfriendorboyfriendwillgiveuptheperpoutofhurtor
revengeorgreed."DIANAPALMER135

Herelaxedalittle."Youreallythinkso?"

"I'veseenithappen.Sohaveyou."

"IguessIhave."

"Trytostoplivinginthepast,"shecounseledgently."It'sawasteofagoodman."

Heliftedaneyebrow,andtheblackmoodseemedtodropaway.Hissilvereyestwinkled."Flirting
withme?"

"Don'tgothere,"shewarned."I'veseentoomanywivessittingupwatchingthelateshow,hoping
theirhusbandswouldcomehome.That'snotgoingtobeme.I'mgoingtomarryacattlerancherand
sleepnights."

Hegrinned."That'snoguaranteeofsleep.Babybullsandcowsalmostalwaysgetborninthewee
hoursofthemorning."

"You'dknow,"sheagreed,smiling."YouandJonhavethathugeblackAngusranchinOklahoma,
don'tyou?"

Henodded."Pityneitherofuswantstositaroundandbabysitcattle.We'retoocareerconscious."

"Whenyougetolder,itmightappeal."

"Itmight,"hesaid,butnotwithanyenthusiasm."WeholdontoitbecauseJon'smotherlikestohave
companythere."Hegrimaced."She'sgotanewprospectforJon."

"Iheard."Alicechuckled."Hehadherarrestedinhisownofficeforsexualharassment.Iunderstand
JocelinePerryisstillmakinghimsufferforit."

"Itreallywassexualharassment,"Kilravencor-rected."Thewomanisacallgirl.Webothtriedtotell
mystepmom,butherbestfriendisthewoman'smother.Shewon'tbelieveus.Momkeepstryingto
gethertotheranch,withtheideathatJonwilllikeherbetterifheseesherinbluejeans."

"Fatchance,"Alicesaid."JonshouldtellJocelinethetruth."136THEMAVERICK

"Hewon'tlowerhisdignitythatfar.Hesaidifshewantstothinkhe'sthatmuchofascoundrel,lether.
Theydon'tgetalong,anyway."

"Nooffense,butmostwomendon'tgetalongwithyourbrother,"shereplied."Hedoesn'treallylike
womenverymuch."

Hesighed."Ifyouhadmystepmotherasamom,youwouldn't,either."Heheldupahand."Shehas
hergoodqualities.Butshehasblindspotsandprejudicesthatwouldchokeamule.Godhelpthe
womanwhoreallyfallsinlovewithJon.She'llhavetogetpastJon'smother,anditwilltakeatank."

Shepursedherlips."IhearJocelinehastheperson-alityofatank."

Hechuckled."Shedoes.ButshehatesJon."Hehesi-tated."Ifyougetanynewleads,you'lltellme,
right?"

"Right."

"Thanksforthelecture,"headdedwithtwinklingeyes."You'renotbad."

"I'mterrific,"shecorrected."Justyouwait.HarleyFowlerwillberushingmetothenearestminister
anydaynow."

"Poorguy."

"Hey,youstopthat.I'macatch,Iam.I'vegotmoviestarsstandinginlinetryingtomarryme...Where
areyougoing?"

"Backtoworkwhilethere'sstilltime,"hecalledoverhisshoulder.

Beforeshecouldaddtoherbragging,hehoppedintohissquadcarandpeeledoutoftheparkinglot.

Alicestaredafterhim."You'dbeluckyifIsetmysightsonyou,"shesaidtonobodyinparticular."It's
yourloss!"shecalledaftertheretreatingsquadcar.DIANAPALMER137

Adeputyshehadn'theardcameupbehindher."Talkingtoyourselfagain,Jones?"hemused.

Shegavehimapainedglance."It'sjustaswellthatIdo.I'mnothavingmuchluckgettingpeopleto
listentome."

"Iknowjusthowthatfeels,"hesaidwithachuckle.

Heprobablydid,shethoughtasshewentbacktohervan.Peopleinlawenforcementwereasmuch
socialworkersaslawenforcers.Theyhadtobediplomatic,keeptheirtempersunderextraordinary
provocation,handouthelpfuladviceandfirmwarnings,sortoutdomesticproblems,handleunruly
suspectsandevendodgebullets.

Aliceknewshewasnotcutoutforthatsortoflife,butsheenjoyedherjob.Atleast,shechuckled,she
didn'thavetododgebullets.

Saturday,shewasstillinJacobsville,waitingforonelastpieceofevidencethatcamefromthesiteof
thecarthatwassubmergedintheriver.Afishermanhadfoundastrangeobjectnearthesiteand
calledpolice.HayesCarsonhaddrivenouthimselftohavealook.Itwasametalthermosjugthatthe
fishermanhadfoundinsomeweeds.Itlookednewandstillhadliquidinit.Couldhavebeenthat
someotherpedestrianlostit,Hayesconfided,butitpaidtokeepyouroptionsopen.Hayeshad
promisedthatAlicecouldhaveit,butshe'dpromisedtogoridingwithHarley.Soshe'dtoldHayes
she'dpickitupathisofficelatethatafternoon.

"AndyouthinkthesheriffhimselfsitsathisdeskwaitingforpeopleonaSaturday?"Hayesqueried
onthephoneinmockhorror.

"Listen,Hayes,Ihaveitongoodauthoritythatyoupracticallysleepattheofficemostnightsandeven
keep138THEMAVERICK

arazorandtoothbrushthere,"shesaidwithdrollhumor."SoI'llseeyouaboutseven."

Hesighed."I'llbehere,workingupanotherbudgetproposal."

"See?"Shehungup.

CyParkswasn'twhatshe'dexpected.Hewastallandlean,withblackhairshowingjustthreadsof
gray,andgreeneyes.Hiswife,Lisa,wasshorterandblondewithlighteyesandglasses.Theyhadtwo
sons,onewhowasatoddlerandtheothernewborn.Lisawasholdingone,Cyhadtheoldest.

"We'veheardalotaboutyou,"CymusedasAlicestoodnexttoHarley.Theywereallwearingjeans
andlong-sleevedshirtsandcoats.Itwasacoldday.

"Mostofitisprobablytrue,"Alicesighed."ButIhavegreatteeth--"shedisplayedthem"--andagood
attitude."

Theylaughed.

"Wehaven'theardbadthings,"Lisaassuredher,adjustingherglassesonherpertnose.

"Yes,wehave."Cychuckled."Notreallybadones.Harleysaysyoukeepproposingtohim,isall."

"Oh,that'strue,"Alicesaid,grinning."I'mwearinghimdown,daybyday.Ijustcan'tgethimtoletme
buyhimaring."

CypursedhislipsandglancedatHarley."Hey,ifyoucangethiminasuit,I'llgivehimaway,"he
promised.

Harleygrinnedathim."I'llremindyouthatyousaidthat,"hetoldhisboss.

Cy'seyesweremorekindthanhumorous."Imeanit."

Harleyflushedalittlewithpleasure."Thanks."

"Doesthatmeanyes?"AliceaskedHarley,wide-eyed.DIANAPALMER139

Hegaveheramockglare."ItmeansI'mthinkingaboutit."

"Darn,"shemuttered.

"How'syourmurderinvestigationcoming?"Cyaskedsuddenly.

"YoumeantheDBontheriver?"sheasked."Slowly.We'vegotevidence.Wejustcan'tpuzzleoutwhat
itmeans."

"Therearesomemessed-uppeopleinvolved,ismyguess,"Cysaid,somber."I'veseenpeople
handledthewayyourvictimwas.Itusuallymeantaverypersonalgrudge."

Alicenodded."We'vefoundthatmostclose-upattacks,whentheyaren'trandom,aredonebypeople
withagrudge.Ineverceasetobeamazedatwhathumanbeingsarecapableof."

"Amen."CyslidanarmaroundLisa."We'dbettergettheseboysbackintoawarmhouse.We'vebeen
throughthemillwithcoldsalready."Hechuckled."Nicetomeetyou,Alice.Ifyoucangethim--"he
pointedatHarley"--tomarryyou,I'vealreadypromisedhimsomelandandaseedherdofmybest
cattle."

"That'sreallyniceofyou,"Alicesaid,andmeantit.

CyglancedatHarleywarmly."I'dkindofliketokeephimcloseby,"hesaidwithasmile."I'dmiss
him."

Harleyseemedtogrowtwofeet."I'mnotgoinganywhere,"hedrawled,buthecouldn'thidethathe
wasflattered.

"Comebackagain,"LisatoldAlice."It'shardtofindtwominutestotalkwithlittleguyslikethese
around--"sheindicatedherbabies"--butwe'llmanage."

"I'dloveto,"Alicetoldher.

TheParksfamilywavedandwentintothehouse.140THEMAVERICK

"They'renice,"AlicesaidtoHarley.

Henodded."Mr.Parkshasbeenmoreofafathertomethanmyowneverwas."

Alicewantedtocomment,toaskaboutthesenator.ButthelookonHarley'sfacestoppedher.Itwas
trau-matic."Ihaven'tbeenonahorseinabouttwoyears,"shetoldhim."Ihadtogooutwiththe
TexasRangerstolookatsomeremainsinthebrushcountry,anditwastheonlywaytogettothe
crimescene."Shegroaned."Sixhoursonhorseback,throughpricklypearcactusandthornybushes!
Mylegswerescratchedeventhroughthickjeansandtheyfeltliketheywereperma-nentlybowed
whenIfinallygotbackhome."

"I'vebeenthere,too."Helaughed."Butwewon'tgosixhours,Ipromise."

Heledherintothebarn,wherehealreadyhadtwohorsessaddled.Herswasapinto,afemale,justthe
rightsize.

"That'sBean,"hesaid."ColbyLane'sdaughterridesherwhenshecomesoverhere."

"Bean?"sheaskedasshemounted.

"She'sapinto,"hesaiddryly.

Shelaughed."Oh!"

HeclimbedintothesaddleofablackArabiangeldingandledoffdownthetrailthatrantothebackof
theproperty.

Itwasanicedaytogoriding,shethought.Ithadrainedthenightbefore,butitwassunnytoday,if
cold.Thereweresmallmudpatchesonthetrail,anddespitethedeadgrassandbaretrees,itfeltgood
tobeout-of-doorsonahorse.

SheclosedhereyesandsmelledthecleanscentofDIANAPALMER141

countryair."Ifyoucouldbottlethisair,"shecom-mented,"youcouldoutsellperfumecompanies."

Hechuckled."Yousurecould.It'sgreat,isn'tit?Peopleincitiesdon'tevenknowwhatthey're
missing."

"Youlivedinacityonce,didn'tyou?"sheaskedinaconversationaltone.

Heturnedhisheadsideways.Paleblueeyesnar-rowedunderthewidebrimofhishatashepondered

thequestion."You'vebeenmakingconnections,Alice."

Sheflushedalittle."No,Ireallyhaven't.I'vejustnoticedsimilarities."

"Innames,"hereplied.

"Yes,"sheconfessed.

Hedrewinabreathanddrewinthereins.Sodidshe.Hesatbesideherquietly,hiseyesrestingonthe
horizon.

"Thesenatorisyourfather,"sheguessed.

Hegrimaced."Yes."

Sheavertedhergazetotheground.Itwasjustfaintlymuddyandthevegetationwasbrown.Thetrees
inthedistancewerebare.Itwasacoldlandscape.Cold,likeHarley'sexpression.

"Myparentswerealwaysinthemiddleofacocktailpartyorameeting.Allmylife.Igrewuphearing
thesoundoficeclinkinginglasses.Wehadpoliticiansandotherrichandfamouspeoplewandering
inandout.Iwasmarchedoutbeforebedtimetoshowevery-bodywhatafamilymanthepolitician
was."Helaughedcoldly."Mymotherwasasuperiorcourtjudge,"headdedsurprisingly."Very
solemnonthebench,verystrictathome.Mysisterdied,andsuddenlyshewasdrinkingmoreheavily
thanmyfatheratthosecocktailparties.Shegaveupherjobonthebenchtobecomeanimporter."He
shookhishead."He142THEMAVERICK

changed,too.Whenhewasyounger,he'dplayballwithme,ortakemetothemovies.Aftermysister
died,everythingwasdevotedtohiscareer,tocam-paigning,evenwhenhewasn'tupforreelection.I
can'ttellyouhowsickIgotofit."

"Icanalmostimagine,"shesaidgently."I'msorry."

Heturnedbacktoher,frowning."Ineverconnectedthosetwofacts.Youknow,mysister'sdeathwith
thechangesinmyparents.Iwasjustakidmyself,notreallyoldenoughtothinkdeeply."Heglanced
backatthehorizon."MaybeIwaswrong."

"Maybeyouwerebothwrong,"shecorrected."Yourfatherseemedverysadwhenhesawyou."

"It'sbeenalmosteightyears,"hereplied."Inallthattime,notonecardorphonecall.It'shardto
squarethatwithanyrealregret."

"Sometimespeopledon'tknowhowtoreachout,"shesaid."I'veseenfamiliesalienatedforyears,all
becausetheydidn'tknowhowtomakethefirstcontact,takethefirststepbacktoarelationshipthat
hadgonewrong."

Hesighed,fingeringthebridle."Iguessthatde-scribesmeprettywell."

"It'spride,isn'tit?"sheasked.

Helaughedfaintly."Isn'titalways?"hewonderedaloud."IfeltthatIwasthewrongedparty.Ididn't
thinkitwasuptometomakethefirstmove.SoIwaited."

"Maybeyourfatherfeltthesameway,"shesuggested.

"Myfatherisn'ttheeasiestmantoapproach,evenonhisgooddays,"hesaid."Hehasatemper."

"Youweren'tsinginghappysongsthedayIcalledyou,whenthecowateyourturnips,"shereplied,
tongue-in-cheek.

Helaughed."IguessI'vegotatemper,too."DIANAPALMER143

"SodoI.Itisn'texactlyabadtrait.Onlyifyoucarryittoextremes."

Helookeddownathisglovedhands."Iguess."

"They'renotyoungpeopleanymore,Harley,"shesaidquietly."Ifyouwaittoomuchlonger,youmay
notgetthechancetopatchthingsup."

Henodded."I'vebeenthinkingaboutthat."

Shehesitated.Shedidn'twanttopushtoohard.Shenudgedherhorseforwardalittle,sothatshewas
evenwithhim."Haveyouthoughtaboutwhatsortofringyou'dlike?"

Hepursedhislipsandglancedoverather."Onetogoonmyfinger,oronetogothroughmynose?"

Shelaughed."Stopthat."

"Justkidding."Helookedup."It'sgettingcloudy.We'dbettergetamoveon,orwemaygetcaughtin
arainshower."

Sheknewthewarningwashiswayofendingtheconversation.Butshe'dgothimthinking.Thatwas
enough,fornow."Suitsme."

Hewalkedherbacktothevan,hishandsinhispockets,histhoughtsfaraway.

"Ienjoyedtoday,"shetoldhim."Thanksfortheridinglesson."

Hestoppedatthedriver'sdoorofthevanandlookeddownather,alittleoddly."Youdon'tpush,do
you?"heaskedsolemnly."It'soneofthethingsIlikebestaboutyou."

"Idon'tlikebeingpushed,myself,"sheconfided.Shesearchedhiseyes."You'reagoodman."

Hedrewhishandoutofhispocketandsmoothedbackherwindblowndarkhair,whereitblewonto
her144THEMAVERICK

cheek.Thesoftleatheroftheglovetickled."You'reagoodwoman,"hereplied."AndIreallymean
that."

Shestartedtospeak.

Hebentandcoveredhermouthwithhisbeforeshecouldsayanything.Hislipsparted,coldand
hungryonhersoft,pliablelips.Sheopenedthemwithasighandreachedaroundhimwithbotharms,
andheldontight.Shelovedkissinghim.Butitwasmorethanaffection.Itwasawhite-hotfireof
passionthatmadeherachefromheadtotoe.Shefeltswollen,hot,burning,ashisarmscontracted.

"Oh,God,"hegroaned,shiveringasheburiedhismouthinherneck."Alice,we'regettingintoo
deep,tooquick."

"Complaints,complaints,"shegrumbledintohiscoat.

Helaugheddespitetheachethatwasalmostdou-blinghimover."It'snotacomplaint.Well,not
exactly."Hedrewinacalmingbreathandslowlylethergo.Hiseyesburneddownintohers."Wecan't
rushthis,"hesaid."It'stoogood.Wehavetogoslow."

Herwide,darkblueeyessearchedhislanguidly.Shewasstillhummingalloverwithpleasure."Go
slow."Shenodded.Hereyesfelltohismouth.

"Areyouhearingme?"

Shenodded.Hergazewasrivetedtothesensuouslinesofhislips."Hearing."

"Woman...!"

Hecaughthercloseagain,ramminghismouthdownontohers.Hebackedherintothedoorofthe
vanandgroundhisbodyagainsthersinafeverofneedthatechoedinherharshmoan.

Foralongtime,theystrainedtogetherinthemistingrain,neithercapableofpullingback.Justwhen
itDIANAPALMER145

seemedthattheonlywaytogowasintothebackofthevan,hemanagedtojerkhismouthbackfrom
hersandstepaway.Hisjawwassotaut,itfeltasifhismouthmightbreak.Hispaleblueeyeswere
blazingwithfrus-tratedneed.

Hermouthwasswollenandred.Sheleanedbackagainstthedoor,strugglingtobreathenormallyas
shestaredupathimwithhelplessadoration.Hewasn'tob-viouslymuscular,butthatclose,shefelt
everytautlineofhisbody.Hewasdelicious,shethought.Likecandy.Hardcandy.

"Youhavetoleave.Now."Hesaiditinaverystrainedtone.

"Leave."Shenoddedagain.

"Leave.Now."

Shenodded."Now."

"Alice,"hegroaned."Honey,therearefourpairsofeyeswatchingusoutthewindowrightnow,and
twopairsofthemaregettingahellofasexeducation!"

"Eyes."Sheblinked."Eyes?"

Sheturned.There,intheliving-roomwindow,werefourfaces.Theadultoneswereobviously
amused.Thelittleoneswerewide-eyedwithcuriosity.

Aliceblushed."Oh,dear."

"Youhavetogo.Rightnow."Hemovedhergentlyasideandopenedthedoor.Hehelpedheruponto
theseat.Hegroaned."I'mnothavingsupperinthebighousetonight,Icanpromiseyouthat,"he
added.

Shebegantorecoverhersensesandhersenseofhumor.Hereyestwinkled."Oh,Isee,"shemused.
"I'vecompromisedyou.Well,don'tyouworry,sweetheart,"shedrawled."I'llsaveyourreputation.
Youcanmarrymetomorrow."146THEMAVERICK

Helaughed."No.I'mtrimminghorses'hooves."

Shegloweredathim."Theyhavefarrierstodothat."

"OurfarrierisonChristmasvacation,"heassuredher.

"Oneday,"shetoldhim,"you'llrunoutofexcuses."

Hesearchedhereyesandsmiledsoftly."OfcourseIwill."Hesteppedback."Butnottoday.I'llphone
you."Heclosedthedoor.

Shestartedtheengineandpowereddownthewindow."Thanksfortheride."

Hewasstillsmiling."Thanksfortheadvice.I'lltakeit."

"MerryChristmas."

Hecockedhishead."Christmasisover."

"NewYear'siscoming."

"Thatremindsme,wehaveaNewYear'scelebrationhere,"hesaid."Icanbringyoutoit."

"I'llbebackinSanAntoniothen,"shesaidmiserably.

"I'lldriveyoudownhereandthendriveyouhome."

"No.I'llstayinthemotel,"shesaid."Idon'twantyouontheroadsaftermidnight.Therearedrunk
drivers."

Hisheartlifted.Hiseyeswarmed."Youreallyareahoney."

Shesmiled."Holdthatthought.Seeyou."

Hewinkedatherandchuckledwhensheblushedagain."Seeyou,prettygirl."

Shefumbledthevanintogearanddroveoffjerkily.Ithadbeenalandmarkday.

Nine

Alicewasbackinherofficethefollowingweek.She'dturnedthethermosfromtheriverin
JacobsvilleovertoLongfellowfirstthinginthemorning.Shewaswaitingforresults,goingovera
casefile,whenthedooropenedandatall,distinguished-lookinggentlemaninanexpen-sivedark
bluesuitwalkedin,unannounced.Hehadblackhairwithsilveratthetemples,andlightblueeyes.She
recognizedhimatonce.

"SenatorFowler,"shesaidquietly.

"Ms.Jones,"hereplied.Hestoodoverthedeskwithhishandsinhispockets."Iwonderifyoucould
sparemeafewminutes?"

"Ofcourse."Sheindicatedthechairinfrontofherdesk.

Hetookhishandsoutofhispocketsandsatdown,148THEMAVERICK

crossingonelonglegovertheother."Ibelieveyouknowmyson."

Shesmiled."Yes.IknowHarley."

"I...MywifeandIhaven'tseenhimformanyyears,"hebegan."Wemadeterriblemistakes.Now,it
seemsthatwe'llneverbeabletofindourwaybacktohim.He'sgrownintoafine-lookingyoung
man.He...hasajob?"

Shenodded."Averygoodone.Andfriends."

"I'mglad.I'mveryglad."Hehesitated."Wedidn'tknowhowtocopewithhim.Hewassuchacocky
young-ster,sosurethathehadalltheanswers."Helookeddownathisshoes."Weshouldhavebeen
kinder."

"Youlostyourdaughter,"Alicesaidverygently.

Heliftedhiseyesandtheyshimmeredwithpainandgrief."Ikilled...mydaughter,"hegritted."Backed
overherwithmycarrushingtogettoacampaignrally."Heclosedhiseyes."Afterward,Iwentmad."

"Sodidyourwife,Ithink,"Alicesaidquietly.

Henodded.Hebrushedathiseyesandavertedthem."Shewasasuperiorcourtjudge.Shestarted
drinkingandquitthebench.Shesaidshecouldn'tsitinjudgmentonotherpeoplewhenherown
mistakesweresoterrible.Shewasonthephonewhenithappened.She'djusttoldourdaughter,
Cecily,tostopinterruptingherandgoaway.Youknow,thesortofoffhandremarkparentsmake.It
doesn'tmeantheydon'tlovethechild.Anyway,Cecilysneakedoutthedoorandwentbehindthecar,
un-beknownsttome,apparentlytogetatoyshe'dtossedunderit.Ijumpedinwithoutlookingtosee
iftherewasanybodybehindme.Iwaslategettingtoameeting...Anyway,mywifeneverknewCecily
wasoutsideuntilIstartedscreaming,whenIknewwhatI'ddone."HeDIANAPALMER149

leanedforward."Weblamedeachother.Wehadfights.Harleygrieved.Heblamedme,mostofall.
Butheseemedtojustgetrightonwithhislifeafterward."

"Idon'tthinkanyofyoudidthat,"Alicereplied."Idon'tthinkyoudealtwithit."

Helookedup.Hisblueeyesweredamp."Howdoyouknowsomuch?"

"Idealwithdeatheveryday,"shesaidsimply."I'veseenfamiliestornapartbytragedies.Veryfew
peopleadmitthattheyneedhelp,orgetcounseling.Itishorribletoloseachild.It'straumatictolose
onethewayyoudid.Youshouldhavebeenintherapy,allofyou."

"Iwasn'tthesortofpersonwhocouldhaveadmittedthat,"hesaidsimply."Iwasmoreconcernedwith
myimage.Itwasanelectionyear,yousee.Ithrewmyselfintothecampaignandthoughtthatwould
accomplishthesamething.Sodidmywife."Heshookhishead."Shedecidedtostartabusiness,to
keepbusy."Hemanagedasmile."Nowweneverseeeachother.AfterHarleyleft,weblamedeach

otherforthat,too."

Shestudiedtheoldermancuriously."You'reapoli-tician.Youmusthaveaccesstoinvestigators.You
couldhavefoundHarleyanytimeyouwantedto."

Hehesitated.Thenhenodded."Butthatworksbothways,Ms.Jones.Hecouldhavefoundus,too.We
didn'tmovearound."

"Harleysaidyouwantedhimtobepartofasocialsetthathedidn'tlike."

"DoyouthinkIlikeit?"heaskedsuddenlyandgaveabitterlaugh."Ilovemyjob.Ihavepower.Ican
doalotofgood,andIdo.Butsocializingispartofthatjob.Idomorebusinessatcocktailparties
thanI'veeverdoneinmyofficeinWashington.Imakecontacts,Iget150THEMAVERICK

networksgoing,Iresearch.Ineverstop."Hesighed."ItriedtoexplainthattoHarley,buthethoughtI
meantthatIwantedtousehimtoreelincampaignworkers."Helaughed."It'sfunnynow.Hewasso
green,sonaive.Hethoughtheknewalltherewastoknowaboutpoliticsandlife."Helookedup."I
hopehe'slearnedthatnothingisblackorwhite."

"He'slearnedalot,"shereplied."Buthe'sbeenrunningawayfromhispastforyears."

"Toomanyyears.Ican'tapproachhimdirectly.He'dtakeoff."Heclaspedhishandstogether."Iwas
hopingyoumightfinditinyourhearttopavethewayforme.Justalittle.Ionlywanttotalktohim."

Shenarrowedhereyes."Thiswouldn'thaveany-thingtodowiththewomanwetalkedtoatyour
fund-raisingparty...?"

HestaredatherwithpiercingblueeyesjustashadelighterthanHarley's."You'reveryquick."

"Ididn'tstartthisjobyesterday,"shereplied,andsmiledfaintly.

Hedrewinalongbreath."IgaveDoloresahardtime.Shewasdeeplyreligious,butshegotonmy
nerves.Amanwho'sforsakenreligiondoesn'tlikesermons,"headded,laughingbitterly."Butshe
wasagoodperson.Mywifehadaheartattackearlierthisyear.Ihiredanursetositwithher,when
shegothomefromthehospital.Unknowntome,thenursedruggedmywifeandleftthehouseto
partywithherboyfriend.DoloresmadesureIfoundout.Thenshesatwithmywife.Theyfoundalot
totalkabout.Aftermywifegotbackonherfeet,shebegantochangeforthebetter.Ithinkitwas
Dolores'sinfluence."Hehunghishead."IwasharshtoDoloresthenightofthefundraiser.That's
DIANAPALMER151

hauntedme,too.Ihaveayoungprot

�g�,ournewestsenator.He'sgotabrotherwhomakesme

veryner-vous..."Heliftedhiseyes."Sorry.Ikeepgettingoffthetrack.Idowantyoutohelpme
reconnectwithmyson,ifyoucan.Butthat'snotwhyI'mhere."

"Thenwhyareyouhere,Senator?"sheasked.

Helookedherintheeye."Doloresdidn'tcommitsuicide."

Herheartjumped,butshekeptastraightface.Shelinkedherhandsinfrontofheronthedeskand
leanedforward."Whydoyouthinkthat?"

"Becauseonce,whenIwasdespondent,Imadeajokeaboutrunningmycarintoatree.Shewas
eloquentonthesubjectofsuicide.Shethoughtitwasthegreatestsinofall.Shesaidthatitwasan
insulttoGodanditcausedsomuchgriefforpeoplewholovedyou."Helookedup."I'mnotan
investigator,butIknowshewasright-handed.Shewasshotintherightsideofherbody."Heshook
hishead."Shewasn'tthesortofpersontodothat.Shehatedguns.I'msuresheneverownedone.It
doesn'tfeelright."

"Icouldn'tforcetheassistantmedicalexaminertowriteitupasahomicide.He'snearretirement,and
itwasyouremployeewhodied.He'safraidofyou,ofyourinfluence.Heknowsthatyoustoppedthe
investi-gationontheKilravencasestone-cold."

"Ididn't,"hesaidunexpectedly,andhismouthtight-ened."WillSandersisthenewjuniorsenator
fromTexas,"hecontinued."He'saniceguy,buthisbrotherisasmall-timehoodlumwithsomenasty
contacts,whomixeswithdangerouspeople.He'sinvolvedinillegalenterprises.Willcan'tstophim,
buthedoestrytoprotecthim.ObviouslyhethinksHankknowssome-152THEMAVERICK

thingabouttheKilravencase,andhedoesn'twantitdiscovered."

Alice'sblueeyesbegantoglitter."Murderisanastybusiness,"shepointedout."Wouldyouliketo
knowwhatwasdonetoKilraven'swifeandthree-year-olddaughter?"sheadded."Hesawitupclose,
byaccident.ButIhaveautopsyphotosthatI'venevershownanyone,ifyou'dliketoseewhat
happenedtothem."

Thesenatorpaled."Iwouldnot,"hereplied.Hestaredintospace."I'mwillingforKilraventolook
intothecase.RickMarquez'scolleaguewassenttoworkintrafficcontrol.I'msorryforthat.Will
persuadedmetogetheroffthecase.She'sabulldogwhenitcomestohomicideinvestigation,andshe
stopsatnothingtosolveacrime."Helookedup."Will'sratherforcefulinhisway.Ilethimleadme
sometimes.ButIdon'twanteitherofusbeingshownasobstructingamurderinves-tigation,even
onethat'ssevenyearsold.He'sprobablyafraidthathisbrother,Hank,mayhaveknowledgeofthe
perpetratorandWill'stryingtoshieldhim.He'sdonethatallhislife.Buthehasnoideawhatthe
mediawoulddotohimifitevercameoutthathe'dhinderedthediscoveryofamurderer,especially
inacaseashorrificasthis."

"I'veseenwhathappenswhenpeopleconcealevidence.It'snotpretty,"Alicesaid."Howcanyouhelp
Kilraven?"

"Foronething,IcansmooththewayforMarquez'scolleague.I'llgohaveatalkwiththepolice
commis-sionerwhenIleavehere.He'llgetherreassignedtoHomicide.Here."Hescribbleda
numberonapieceofpaperandhandedittoher."That'smyprivatecellnumber.Ikeeptwophoneson
me,butonlyafewpeopleDIANAPALMER153

haveaccesstothisnumber.TellKilraventocallme.Ordoyouhavehisnumber?"

"Sure."Shepulledoutherowncellphone,pushedafewbuttonsandwrotedownKilraven'scell
phonenumberonascrapofpaper.Odd,howfamiliarthatnumberlookedonpaper.Shehandeditto
thesenator."There."

"Thanks.Uh,ifyoulike,"headdedwithasmileashestoodup,"youcouldsharemyprivatenumber
withHarley.Hecancallmeanytime.EvenifI'mstandingatapodiummakingaspeechsomewhere.I
won'tmindbeinginterrupted."

Shestoodup,too,smiling."I'mgoingdownthereWednesdayfortheNewYear'sEvecelebrationin
town,asithappens,withHarley.I'llpassitalong.Thanks,SenatorFowler."

Heshookhandswithher."IfIcanpavethewayforyouintheinvestigationintoDolores'sdeath,I'll
begladto,"headded.

"I'llkeepyouinmind.Kilravenwillbegratefulforyourhelp,I'msure."

Hesmiled,wavedandleft.

Alicesatdown.Somethingwasn'tright.ShepulleduphernotesontheJacobsvillemurder
investigationandscrolleddowntotheseriesofnumbersthatLongfellowhadtranscribedfromthe
pieceofpaperinthevictim'shand.Gasping,shepulledupKilraven'scellphonenumberonherown
cellphoneandcomparedthem.Thedigitsthatweredecipherablewereamatchforev-erything
excepttheareacode,whichwasmissing.Itwasn'tconclusive,butitwasprettycertainthatthemurder
victimhadcometocontactKilraven.Whichbeggedthequestion,didthevictimknowsomething
abouttheoldmurdercase?154THEMAVERICK

HerfirstinstinctwastopickupthephoneandcallKilraven.Buthersecondwascaution.Withoutthe
missingnumbers,itcouldbeacoincidence.BettertoletthesenatorcallKilravenandgethimsome
help--Marquez'sdetectivefriend--andgofromthere.Mean-while,AlicewouldpressLongfellow
aboutthefaded,wetportionofthepaperwherethefirstfewnumberswere,sofar,unreadable.The
FBIlabhadthetech-nologyenablingthemtopullupthefaintesttracesofink.Theymightworka
miraclefortheinvestigation.

Thethermoscontainedatinyresidueofcoffeelacedwithanarcoticdrug,LongfellowtoldAlice."If
it'sconnectedtoyourcase,"theassistantinvestigatortoldAlice,"itcouldexplainalot.Itwouldmake
thevictimlessabletodefendhimselffromanattacker."

"Fingerprints?"

Longfellowshookherhead."Itwasclean.Wiped,apparently,andjusttossedaway.It'sasif,"she
added,frowning,"thekillerwassoconfidentthatheleftthethermosdeliberately,toshowhis
superiority."

Alicesmiledfaintly."Iloveitwhenperpsdothat,"shesaid."Whenwecatchthem,andgettheminto
court,thatcockinessusuallytakesanosedive.It'sakicktoseeit."

"Indeed,"Longfellowadded."I'llkeepdigging,though,"sheassuredAlice.

"Youdothat.We'llneedeveryscrapofevidencewehavetopinthismurderonsomebody.Thekiller's
good.Verygood."Shefrowned."He'sprobablydonethisbeforeandnevergotcaught."

"Thatmightexplainhisefficiency,"theotherwomanagreed."Buthemissedthatscrapofpaperinthe
victim'shand."DIANAPALMER155

"Everycriminalslipsupeventually.Let'shopethisishisswansong."

"Oh,yes."

AlicedrovedowntoJacobsvilleinherpersonalcar,alittleHondawithterrificgasmileage,and
checkedinatthemotel.She'dreservedaroom,tomakesureshegotone,becauseout-of-townpeople
camefortheNewYear'sEvecelebration.Onceshewascheckedin,shephonedHarley.

"Iwasgoingtocomeupandgetyou,"heprotested.

"Idon'twantyouontheroadsatnight,either,Harley,"sherepliedsoftly.

Hesighed."WhatamIgoingtodowithyou,Alice?"

"Ihaveseveralsuggestions,"shebeganbrightly.

Helaughed."Youcantellmetonight.Barbara'sCaf

�isstayingopenforthefestivities.SupposeI

comeandgetyouaboutsix,andwe'llhavesupper.Thenwe'llgototheCattlemen'sAssociation
buildingwheretheparty'sbeingheld."

"Thatsoundsgreat."

"It'sformal,"headdedhesitantly.

"Noworries.Ibroughtmyskimpylittleblack

cocktaildressandmysassyboa."

Hechuckled."Notaliveone,Ihope."

"Nope."

"I'llseeyoulater,then,"hesaidinalow,sexytone.

"I'lllookforwardtoit."

Hehungup.Sodidshe.Thenshecheckedherwatch.Itwasgoingtobealongafternoon.

Harleycaughthisbreathwhensheopenedthedoor.Shewasdressedinalittleblacksilkdresswith
spaghetti156THEMAVERICK

strapsandabrief,low-cutbodicethatmadethemostofherpertbreasts.Thedressclungtoherhips
andfelltoherkneesinsilkyprofusion.Sheworedarkhoseandblackslingbackpumps.She'dused
enoughmakeuptogiveheranodd,foreignappearance.Herlips,plumpedwithglossyredstay-on
lipstick,weretempting.Sheworeaknittedblackboawithbluefeatherywispsandcarriedasmall
blackeveningbagwithalongstrap.

"WillIdo?"Aliceaskedinnocently.

Harleycouldn'tevenspeak.Henudgedherbackintotheroom,closedandlockedthedoor,tookoff
hishatandhisjacketandpushedhergentlyontothebed.

"Sorry,"hemurmuredashismouthtookherslikeawhirlwind.

Shemoanedasheslidontoher,teasingherlegsapartsothathecouldeaseupherskirtandtouchthe
softfleshtherewithalean,exploringhand.

Hismouthbecamedemanding.Hishandsmovedupanddownheryieldingbody,discoveringsoft
curvesandsofterfleshbeneath.Withhismouthstillinsistentonherpartinglips,hebrushedawaythe
spaghettistrapsandbaredhertothewaist.Heliftedhisheadtolookathertaut,mauve-tippedbreasts.
"Beautiful,"hewhispered,andhismouthdivertedtothehardness,covereditdel-icately,andwitha
subtlesuctionthatarchedheroffthebedinastabofpleasuresodeepthatitseemedtomakeherswell
allover.

Sheforcedhisheadcloser,writhingunderhimasthehungerbuiltandbuiltinthesecretsilenceofthe
room.Allshewantedwasforhimnevertostop.Shewhis-peredit,moaning,coaxing,astheflames
grewhigherandhigher,andhishandsreachedunderher,searchingforawaistband...DIANA
PALMER157

HercellphoneblaredoutthethemefromtheoriginalIndianaJonesmovie.Theybothjumpedatthe
sound.Harley,hismindreturningtonormal,quicklydrewhishandsoutfromunderAlice'sskirtwith
agrimace,androlledaway.Helaystrugglingtogethisbreathwhilesheeasedoffthebedand
retrievedherpursefromthefloor,whereshe'ddroppedit.

"Jones,"shemanagedinahoarsetone.

"Alice?"HayesCarsonasked,becauseshedidn'tsoundlikeherself.

"Yes,"shesaid,forcingherselftobreathenor-mally."Hayes?"

"Yes.Iwantedtoknowifyoufoundoutanythingaboutthatthermos."Hehesitated."DidIcallatabad
time?"

Shemanagedalaugh."Wecoulddebatethat,"shesaid."Actuallythethermoswasclean.No
fingerprints,buttheliquidinithadtracesofanarcoticlacedinit,"shereplied."ButLongfellow'sstill
looking.We'vegotthenoteattheFBIlab.Hopefullythey'llbeabletogetthemissingnumbersforus.
Butthey'vegotabacklogandit'stheholidays.Notmuchhopeforanythingthisweek."

"Iwasafraidofthat."

"Well,weliveinhope,"shesaid,andglancedatHarley,whowasnowsittingupandlookingpained.

"Wedo.Comingtothecelebrationtonight?"

"Suream.Youcoming?"

"Inevermissit.Uh,isHarleybringingyou?"

Shelaughed."Heis.We'llseeyouthere."

"Surething."Hehungup.

SheglancedatHarleywithawickedsmile."Well,wecanthinkofHayesasportablebirthcontrol
tonight,can'twe?"158THEMAVERICK

Heburstoutlaughingdespitehisdiscomfort.Hemanagedtogettohisfeet,stillstrugglingtobreathe
normally."Icanthinkofafewotherpertinentadjec-tivesthatwouldfithim."

"Unprintableones,I'llbet."Shewentuptohimandputherhandsonhisbroadchest.Shereachedup
tokisshimsoftly."Itwasgoodtiming.Icouldn'thavestopped."

"Yeah.Me,neither,"heconfessed,flushingalittle."It'sbeenalongdryspell."Hebentandbrushedhis
mouthoverhers."Butwe'veproventhatwe'rephysi-callycompatible,"hemused.

"Definitely."Shepursedherlips."Sohowaboutwegetmarriedtomorrowmorning?"

Hechuckled."Can't.I'mbrushingbullsforaregionalshow."

"Brushingbulls?"shewonderedaloud.

"Purebredherdsires.Theyhavetobebrushedandcombedanddolledup.Themoreribbonswewin,
thehigherwecanchargefortheir,uh,well,forstraws."

Ofsemen,hemeant,buthewastoonicetosayitbluntly."Iknowwhatstrawsare,Harley."She
grinned."Igettheidea."

"Sonottomorrow."

"Iliveinhope,"shereturned.Shewenttothemirrorinthebathroomtorepairhermakeup,whichwas
royallysmeared."Bettercheckyourface,too,"shecalled."Thisnever-smearlipstickhasdishonest
pub-licity.Itdoessmear."

Hewalkedupbehindher.Hisshirtwasundone.Sheremembereddoingthat,herhandsburiedinthe
thickhairthatcoveredhischest,tuggingitwhilehekissedher.Sheflushedatthememory.DIANA
PALMER159

Hecheckedhisface,decideditwouldpass,andloweredhiseyestoAlice'sflushedcheeksinthe
mirror.Heputhishandsonhershouldersandtightenedthem."Wecan'tgetmarriedtomorrow.ButI
thought,maybenextweek.Friday,maybe,"hesaidsoftly."Icantakeafewdaysoff.Wecoulddrive
downtoGalveston.Tothebeach.Eveninwinter,it'sbeautifulthere."

She'dturnedandwasstaringupathimwide-eyed."Youmeanthat?Itisn'tyou'rejustsayingitsoI'll
stopharassingyou?"

Hebentandkissedherforeheadwithbreathlessten-derness."Idon'tknowhowithappened,exactly,"
hesaidinahusky,softtone."ButI'minlovewithyou."

Sheslidherarmsaroundhisneck."I'minlovewithyou,too,Harley,"shesaidinawonderingtone,
search-inghiseyes.

Heliftedheruptohimandkissedherinanewway,adifferentway.Withreverence,andrespect,and
achingtenderness.

"I'llmarryyouwheneveryoulike,"shesaidagainsthismouth.

Hekissedherharder.Thepassionreturned,rivetingthemtogether,lockingtheminaheatofdesire
thatwasevermoreformidabletoresist.

Hedrewback,grindinghisteethinfrustration,andmovedherawayfromhim."Wehavetostopthis,"
hesaid."Atleastuntilafterthewedding.I'mreallyold-fashionedaboutthesethings."

"Tellmeaboutit,"shesaidhuskily."IcomefromawholefamilyofBaptistministers.NeedIsay
more?"

Hemanagedasmile."No.Iknowwhatyoumean."Hedrewasteadyingbreathandlookedinthe
mirror.Hegrimaced."Okay,nowIbelievethatpublicitywas160THEMAVERICK

aloadofbull,"hetoldher."I'msmeared,too,andit'snotmycolor."

"Itdefinitelyisn't,"sheagreed.Shewetawashclothandproceededtocleanupbothofthem.Then,
whilehegothissuitcoatbackon,andhishaircombed,shefinishedherownmakeup.Bythetimeshe
wasdone,hewaswaitingforheratthedoor.Hesmiledassheap-proachedhim.

"Youlooksharp,"hesaidgently.

Shewhirledtheboaaroundherneckandsmiledfromeartoear."Youlookdevastating,"shereplied.

Hestuckoutanarm.Shelinkedherhandintoit.Heopenedthedoorandfollowedherout.

Therewasaband.Theyplayedregionalfavorites,andHarleydancedwithAlice.Practicallythe
wholetownhadgatheredinthebuildingthathousedthelocalCattlemen'sAssociation,tocelebratethe
comingofthenewyear.Apairofsteerhorns,theideaofCalhounBallenger,theirnewstatesenator,
waitedtofallwhenmidnightcame.

HayesCarsonwaswearinghisuniform,andAliceteasedhimaboutit.

"Hey,I'monduty,"herepliedwithagrin."AndI'monlyherebetweencalls."

"I'mnotarguing.It'sabigturnout.Isitalwayslikethis?"

"Always,"Hayesreplied.Hestartedtoaddtothatwhenacallcameoverhisradio.Hepressedthe
buttononhisportableandtoldthedispatcherhewasenroutetothecall."SeewhatImean?"headded
withasigh."Havefun."

"Wewill,"Harleyreplied,slidinganarmaroundher.

Hayeswavedashewentoutthedoor.

"Ishesweetonyou?"Harleyaskedwithjustahintofjealousyinhistone.DIANAPALMER161

Shepressedclosetohim."EverybodybutHayesknowsthathe'ssweetonMinetteRaynor,buthe's
nevergoingtoadmitit.He'sspentyearsblamingherforhisyoungerbrother'sdrug-relateddeath.
Shewasn'tre-sponsible,andheevenknowswhowasbecausetherewasaconfession."

"That'ssad,"Harleyreplied.

"Itis."Shelookedupathimandsmiled."Butit'snotourproblem.Yousaidwe'dgetmarriednext
Friday.I'llhavetoaskfortimeoff."

Hepursedhislips."SowillI.Doyouwanttogetmarriedinchurch?"

Shehesitated."Couldwe?"

"Yes.I'llmakethearrangements.Whatsortofflowersdoyouwant,foryourbouquet?"

"Yellowandwhiteroses,"shesaidatonce."But,Harley,Idon'thaveaweddinggown.Youdon'twant
abigreception?"

"Notverybig,no,butyoushouldhaveaweddinggown,"herepliedsolemnly."Ifwehaveadaughter,
shecouldhaveitforherownweddingoneday.Oritcouldbeanheirloom,atleast,tohanddown."

"Adaughter.Children..."Shecaughtherbreath."Ihadn'tthoughtabout...Oh,yes,Iwantchildren!I
wantthemsomuch!"

Hisbodycorded."SodoI."

"I'llbuyaweddinggown,firstthingwhenIgethome,"shesaid."I'llneedamaidofhonor.You'll
needabestman,"sheaddedquickly.

"I'llaskMr.Parks,"hesaid.

Shesmiled."Idon'treallyhavemanywomenfriends.DoyousupposeMrs.Parkswouldbemy
matronofhonor?"162THEMAVERICK

"Ithinkshe'dbehonored,"Harleyreplied."I'llaskthem."

"Wow,"shesaidsoftly."It'sallhappeningsofast."Shefrowned."Nottoofast,isit?"sheworried
aloud.

"Nottoofast,"heassuredher."We'rethesamesortofpeople,Alice.We'llfittogetherlikeapuzzle.I
promiseyouwewill.I'lltakecareofyouallmylife."

"I'lltakecareofyou,"sherepliedsolemnly."Iwanttokeepmyjob."

Hesmiled."Ofcourseyoudo.Youcancommute,can'tyou?"

Shesmiled."Ofcourse.IhaveaHonda."

"I'veseenit.Nicelittlecar.I'vegotatruck,sowecanhaulstuff.Mr.Parksisgivingmesomelandand
somecattlefromhispurebredherd.There'sanoldhouseontheland.It'snotthebestplacetosetup
house-keeping,butMr.ParkssaidtheminuteIproposed,tolethimknowandhe'dgetaconstruction
crewouttheretoremodelit."Hehesitated."ItoldhimSaturdaythatIwasgoingtoproposetoyou."

Herlipsparted."Saturday?"

Henodded."That'swhenIknewIcouldn'tlivewithoutyou,Alice."

Shepressedcloseintohisarms,notcaringwhatanybodythought."Ifeltthatway,too.LikeI've
alwaysknownyou."

Hekissedherforeheadandheldhertight."Yes.Sowehaveaplacetolive.Thebosswillhaveitin
greatshapewhenwegetbackfromourhoneymoon."Heliftedhishead."Willyoumindlivingona
ranch?"

"Areyoukidding?Iwanttokeepchickensandlearntocanandmakemyownbutter."

Helaughed."Really?"DIANAPALMER163

"Really!Ihatelivinginthecity.Ican'tevenkeepacatinmyapartment,muchlessgrowthingsthere."
Shebeamed."I'llloveit!"

Hegrinnedback."I'llbringyouoneofmychickencatalogs.Ilikethefancyones,butyoucanget

regularhensaswell."

"Chickencatalogs?Youlikechickens?"

"Bosskeepsthem,"hesaid."IusedtogathereggsforMrs.Parks,yearsago.Ilikehens.Ihadmy
mindonasmallranchandIthoughtchickenswouldgonicelywithcattle."

Shesighed."We'regoingtobeveryhappy,Ithink."

"Ithinkso,too."

TheParksesshowedup,alongwiththeSteelesandtheScotts.HarleyandAliceannouncedtheirplans,
andtheParksesagreedwithdelightfulspeedtotakepartinthewedding.Otherlocalcitizensgathered
aroundtocongratulatethem.

Midnightcamealltoosoon.Thesteerhornsloweredtotheloudcountbythecrowd,outunderthe
brightTexasstarstocelebratethenewyear.Thehornsmadeittotheground,thebandstruckup
"AuldLangSyne"andeverybodykissedandcriedandthrewconfetti.

"HappyNewYear,Alice,"Harleywhisperedashebenttokissher.

"HappyNewYear."Shethrewherarmsaroundhimandkissedhimback.

Heleftherathermotelwithrealreluctance."Iwon'tcomein,"hesaidatonce,grinningwickedly.
"We'vealreadydiscoveredthatIhavenowillpower."

"NeitherdoI,"shesighed."Iguesswe'revery164THEMAVERICK

strange.Mostpeoplewhogetmarriedhavebeenlivingtogetherforyears.We'retheoddcouple,
waitinguntilaftertheceremony."

Hebecameserious."Itallgoesbacktothoseoldideals,tothenobilityofthehumanspirit,"hesaid
softly."Traditionisimportant.AndIlovetheideaofchastity.I'monlysorrythatIdidn'twaitforyou,
Alice.But,then,Ididn'tknowyouweregoingtocomealong.I'ddecidedthatI'dneverfindsomeoneI
wantedtospendmylifewith."Hesmiled."Whatasurpriseyouwere."

Shewentcloseandhuggedhim."You'rethenicestmanI'veeverknown.NoqualmsaboutwhatIdo
foraliving?"sheadded.

Heshrugged."It'sajob.Iworkwithcattleandgetsunkuptomykneesincowmanure.It'snotso
differ-entfromwhatyoudo.Webothgetcoveredupindis-gustingsubstancestodoourjobs."

"Ineverthoughtofitlikethat."

Hehuggedherclose."We'llgetalongfine.Andwe'llwait,evenifhalftheworldthinkswe'renuts."

"Speakingformyself,I'vealwaysbeengoofy."

"SohaveI."

"Besides,"shesaid,pullingback,"Iwasneveronetogowiththecrowd.You'llcallme?"

"Everyday,"hesaidhuskily."AweekfromFriday."

Shesmiledwarmly."AweekfromFriday.HappyNewYear."

Hekissedher."HappyNewYear."

Hegotbackintohiscar.Hedidn'tdriveawayuntilshewassafelyinsideherroom.

Ten

Alicehadforgotten,intheexcitement,totellHarleyaboutthesenator'smessage.Butthefollowing
day,whenhecalled,hedidn'thavetimetotalk.SoshewaiteduntilFriday,whenhephonedandwasin
achattymood.

"Ihaveamessageforyou,"shesaidhesitantly."Fromyourfather."

"Myfather?"hesaidafteraminute,andhewassolemn.

"Hesaidthathe'dmadesomedreadfulmistakes.Hewantstheopportunitytoapologizeforthem.Your
sister'sdeathcausedproblemsforbothyourparentsthattheyneverfaced."

"Yes,andIneverrealizedit.Whendidyoutalktohim?"

"HecametoseemeMonday,atmyoffice.Ilikehim,"sheaddedquietly."Ithinkhewassincere,about
166THEMAVERICK

wantingtoreconnectwithyou.Hegavemehisprivatecellphonenumber."Shehesitated."Doyou
wantit?"

Hehesitated,too,butonlyforamoment."Yes."

Shecalledoutthenumberstohim.

"I'mnotsayingI'llcallhim,"hesaidafteraminute."ButI'llthinkaboutit."

"That'smyguy,"shereplied,andfeltwarmalloveratthethought.She'dhadsomeworries,though.
"Harley?"

"Hmm?"

"Youknowthatwe'veonlyknowneachotherforafewweeks..."shebegan.

"Andyou'reafraidwe'rerushingintomarriage?"

Sheshrugged."Aren'twe?"

Helaughedsoftly."Alice,wecanwaitforseveralmonthsorseveralyears,butintheend,we'llget
married.Wehavesomuchincommonthatnosanegamblerwouldbetagainstus.Butifyouwantto
wait,honey,we'llwait."Heclearedhisthroat."It'sjustthatmywillpowermaynotbeuptoit.Just
don'texpecttogetmarriedinawhitegown,okay?"

Sherememberedtheirclosecallsandlaughed."Okay,I'mconvinced.We'llgetmarriedaweekfrom
Friday."

"Wearaveil,willyou,"headdedseriously."It'sold-fashioned,butit'ssobeautiful."

"Saynomore.I'llshopveils-are-usthisveryday."

"There'ssuchaplace?"heasked.

"I'llletyouknow."

"Deal.I'llcallyoutonight."

Shefeltaflushofwarmth."Okay."

"Bye,darlin',"hedrawled,andhungup.

Aliceheldthephoneclose,sighing,untilLongfel-lowwalkedbyandgaveherastrangelook.

AliceremovedthephonefromherchestandputitDIANAPALMER167

carefullyonthedesk."Magnetism,Longfellow,"shesaidfacetiously."Yousee,aburstofmagnetism
caughtmycellphoneandrivetedittomychest.Ihaveonlyjustmanagedtoextricateit."Shewaited
hopefullyforthereply.

Longfellowpursedherlips."Youjuststicktothatstory,butIhavereasontoknowthatyouhavere-
centlybecomeengaged.SoI'llbetyourboyfriendjusthungup."

"WhotoldyouIwasengaged?"Alicedemanded.

Longfellowstartedcountingthemoffonherfingers."RickMarquez,JonBlackhawk,Kilraven,
HayesCarson..."

"HowdoyouknowKilraven?"Alicewantedtoknow.

"Hekeepsbuggingmeaboutthattelephonenum-ber,"shesighed."AsiftheFBIlabdoesn'thaveany
otherevidencetoprocess.Givemeabreak!"Sherolledhereyes.

"Iftheycallyou,getintouchwithmebeforeyoutellKilravenanything,okay?"sheasked."Iwantto
makesurehe'snotrunningoffintodeadendsonmyaccount."

"I'lldothat,"Longfellowpromised.ShestaredatAlice."Ifyouwanttoshopforaweddinggown,I
knowjusttheplace.AndI'llbeyourfashionconsultant."

Alicelookeddubious.

"Waitasec,"Longfellowsaid."Ihavephotosofmyownwedding,threeyearsago."Shepulledthem
uponherphoneandshowedthemtoAlice."That'smygown."

Alicecaughtherbreath."Whereintheworlddidyoufindsuchagown?"

"Atalittleboutiquedowntown,wouldyoubelieveit?Theydohandembroidery--althoughinyour
case,itwillprobablyhavetobemachined--andtheyhaveaprettygoodselectionforasmallshop."
168THEMAVERICK

"Canwegoafterwork?"Aliceaskedenthusiastically.

Longfellowlaughed."Youbet."

"Thanks."

"Notaproblem."

Alicepickedoutadreamofagown,whitesatinwithdelicatepastelsilkembroideryonthehemin
yellowandpinkandblue.Therewasalongillusionveilthatmatchedit,withjusttheends
embroidereddelicatelyinsilkinthesamepastelcolors.Itwasn'teventhatexpensive.

"Whyaren'tyouonthenews?"Aliceaskedtheowner,apetitelittlebrunette."I'veneverseensuch
beautifulweddinggowns!"

"Wedon'tappealtoeverybody,"camethereply."Butforthefew,we'rehere."

"I'llspreadthewordaround,"Alicepromised.

"Ialreadyhave."Longfellowchuckled.

Outsidetheshop,withherpurchasesafelyplacedinthebackseatofhercar,Aliceimpulsivelyhugged
Long-fellow."Thankssomuch."

"Itwasmypleasure,"Longfellowreplied."Wherewillyoulive?"

"He'sgotasmallranch,"shesaidproudly."We'regoingtoraisepurebredSantaGertrudiscattle.But
untilwemakeourfirstmillionatit,he'sgoingtogoonworkingasaranchforeman,andI'llkeepmy
jobhere.I'llcommute."

"Youalwayswantedtoliveinthecountry,"Long-fellowrecalled.

Alicesmiled."Yes.Andwiththerightman.Ihavedef-initelyfoundhim."Shesighed."Iknowit
soundslikearushedthing.We'veknowneachotherjustashorttime..."

"MysistermetherhusbandandgotmarriedinfiveDIANAPALMER169

days,"Longfellowsaidsmugly."Theyjustcelebratedtheirthirty-seventhweddinganniversary."

"Thirty-sevenyears?"Aliceexclaimed.

"Well,helikedStarTrek,shesaid,"Longfellowex-plained."Shesaidthattoldhereverythingshe
neededtoknowabouthim--thathewasintelligent,tolerant,in-quisitive,optimisticaboutthefuture,
unprejudicedandalittlequirky."Sheshruggedandlaughed."Notbadforaquickcharacterreading,
wasit?"

"Notatall.Goodforher!"

"Youdothesame,"Longfellowlectured."Idon'twanttoseeyouindivorcecourtamonthafteryou
sayyourvows."

"Ibelievewecansafelysaythatwon'thappen,"Alicereplied,andshefeltandsoundedconfident.She
frowned."IwonderifhelikesStarTrek,"shewonderedaloud.

Infact,sheaskedhimwhenhecalledthatnight."Ido,"hereplied."Alltheseries,allthemovies,and
es-peciallythenewone,aboutKirk,SpockandMcCoyascadets."Hepaused."Howaboutyou?"

"Iloveit,too."Shelaughed,andthenexplainedwhyshe'daskedthequestion.

Hewasseriousthen."That'salongtime,"hesaidofLongfellow'ssister'smarriage."We'llgivehera
runforhermoney,won'twe,Alice?"

Shesmiled."Yes,wewill."

Therewasalongpause."You'rewonderingifIcalledthatnumberyougaveme,"Harleysaid.

Shelaughedinsurprise."Youreadminds!That'sgreat!Ifweeverhaveanargument,you'llknowwhy
Iwasmadandjustwhattodoaboutit!"

"Ionlyreadmindsoccasionally,"hetoldher,"so170THEMAVERICK

let'snothavearguments.ButIdidcallmyfather.Wehadalongtalk.Ithinkwemaygettogetherone
day,withmymother,andtrytoironthingsout."

"That'swonderful,"shesaidsoftly.

"Itwon'tbeeasytogetoverthepast,butatleastwe're

allwillingtotry.Ididmentiontheweddingtohim."

"And?"

"Hesaidthatifheshowedup,we'dbeamedialunch.Ihavetoagree,"headded."Idon'twantthat.
Neitherdoyou.Butwe'reinvitedtotheirhouseforapotluckdinnerthedaywegetbackfromour
honeymoon."

"I'denjoythat."

"Me,too."

"Iboughtaweddinggown.Withaveil.It'sbeautiful."

"Onyou,anygownwouldbe.You'redelicious,Alice."

Shelaughedsoftly."That'sjusttherightthingtosay."

"Imeanit,too."

"Iknow."

"Gameforamovietomorrownight?"heasked.

"There'saChristmas-themedonewecouldgosee."

"Thatwouldbefun.Yes."

"I'llpickyouupatsixandwe'llhavesupperfirst."

"That'sadate."

"Uh,andnostoppingbyyourapartmentafter.Igohome."

"Yes,Harley.Yougohome."

Therewasabriefpauseandtheybothburstoutlaughing.

Hedidgohome,butonlyafteraheatedsessiononhersofathatendedwithhimactuallypullingaway
andrunningforthedoor.Hewavedasheslammeditbehindhim,leavingadisheveledAlicelaughing
herheadoff.DIANAPALMER171

***

Itwasrainingontheirweddingday.AlicecarriedanumbrellaoverhergownandLisaParksheldup
thetrainastheyrushedintothechurchjustaheadofathun-derbolt.CyParkswaswaitingatthealtar

withHarley,wholookeddevastatinginatuxedo,aconventionalblackonewithawhiteshirtandblack
bowtie.Harleycouldn'ttakehiseyesoffAlice.

Lisawenttoherseat.Thefullchurchquieted.AlicesmiledastheWeddingMarchstruckuponthe
organandsheadjustedhertrainbeforeshepickeduptheprettybouquethe'dorderedforher.The
fingertipveiljusthidthewetnessinhereyesasshewishedwithallherheartthatherparentshadbeen
heretoseehermarry.

Shewalkedslowlydowntheaisle,awareoffriendly,curiouseyesadmiringherdress.LeoHartand
hiswife,Janie,weresittingontheaisle.Alicedidn'tknow,butJaniehaddatedHarleywhileshewas
tryingtogetoverLeo.Ithadn'tbeenserious.Infact,Harleyhaddatedseverallocalwomen,including
onewho'dcasthimofflikeawetshoeandhurthispride.IthadseemedtomanypeopleasifHarley
wouldalwaysbethestand-inforsomeotherman.Butherehewaswithareallypretty,professional
woman,andshehadareputationasakeeninvestigator.ManypeopleinJacobsvillewatchedthecrime
sceneinvestigationshows.Theygrinnedastheyconsideredhowniceitwasgoingtobe,having
some-bodylocalwhocouldanswerallthosequestionstheywantedtoaskabouthomicide
investigation.

Alicepausedatthealtar,lookedupatHarleyandfeltamomentofpanic.Theyhardlykneweach
other.Theywerealmoststrangers.Thiswasinsane...!

Justthen,asifheknewwhatshewasfeeling,172THEMAVERICK

Harley'sbighandreachedoverandlinkeditselfunob-trusivelyintohercoldfingersandpressed
them,verygently.Shelookedintohiseyes.Hewassmiling,withloveandprideandconfidence.All
atonce,sherelaxedandsmiledback.

Theministerclearedhisthroat.

"Sorry,"Alicemouthed,andturnedherattentiontohiminsteadofHarley.

Theminister,whohadadaughterjustAlice'sage,grinnedatherandbegantheservice.

Itwasbrief,butpoignant.Attheendofit,Harleyliftedtheexquisiteveilandkissedhisbride.Alice
foughtbacktearsasshereturnedthetenderkiss.

Theyranoutofthechurchamidashowerofconfettiandwellwishes.

"Goodthingyouaren'thavingareception,"CashGrierremarkedastheywaitedforthelimousineCy
Parkshadorderedtotakethemtotheairport,oneofseveralweddingpresents.

"Areception?"Aliceasked,curious."Why?"

"Ourlocaldistrictattorney,BlakeKemp,hadone,"Cashexplained."Heandhiswifewenthome
insteadtodressfortheirhoneymoon.Whiletheyweregone,therewasanaltercation.Oneofmy
officerswaswearingthepunch,anothersalvagedjustthetoplayeroftheweddingcakeandmostof
theguestswenttojail."Hegrinned."Jacobsvilleweddingsareinteresting."

Theybothlaughed,andagreedthatitwasprobablyagoodthingafterall.

CyParkspausedwithLisawhenthelimodroveupandthedrivercamearoundtoopenthereardoor.

CyshookhandswithHarley."Yourhousewillbereadywhenyougetback,"hetoldHarley."Youdid
good."DIANAPALMER173

Harleybeamed."You'llneverknowhowmuchitmeanttome,thatyouandLisastoodupwithus.
Thanks."

Cywassomber."You'reagoodman,Harley.Ihopemysonswillbelikeyou."

Harleyhadtobitedownhard."Thanks,"hemanaged.

"Gohaveanicehoneymoon,"Cytoldthecouple.Hegrinned."Iwon'tlettheHartboysnearyour
house,either."

"TheHartboys?"Aliceparroted.

LeoHartleanedoverhershoulder."Wehavearep-utationformakingweddingsinteresting,"hetold
her,andgrinned.

"Notsomuchthesedays."Janiegrinnedfrombesidehim.

Atall,silver-eyedmaninapoliceuniformwalkedupbesidethem.Kilraven.Grinning."I'mgiving
thelimoapoliceescorttotheairport,"hetoldthem.

"That'sveryniceofyou,"Alicetoldhim.

Hesighed."Mightaswell,sincethere'snoreception.Weddingsaregettingreallysomberaround
here."

"Whydon'tyougetmarriedandhaveareception?"CashGriersuggested.

Kilravengavehimalook."AndhavewomenthrowingthemselvesovercliffsbecauseIwentoutof
circulation?Inyourdreams,Grier!"

Everybodylaughed.

CorpusChristiwasabeautifullittlecityontheGulfofMexico.Ithadasugar-sandbeachandseagulls
andamyriadoflocalshopswithallsortsofsouvenirsandprettythingstobuy.HarleyandAlice
nevernoticed.

They'dmanagedtogetcheckedinandtheylookedoutthewindowatthebeach.Thentheylookedat
eachother.174THEMAVERICK

Clothesfell.Buttonspopped.Intimategarmentswenteverywhere.Alicethrewbackthecoversand
divedinjustafewsecondsaheadofherbrand-newhusband.Inatangleofarmsandlegs,they
devouredeachotherinasurgingcrescendoofpassionthatlastedforwhatseemedhours.

"Whatareyouwaitingfor?"Alicegroaned."Comebackhere!"

"Iwasonly...tryingtomakeiteasier..."hebegan.

"Easier,thedevil!"Shearchedup,grimacing,becauseitreallydidhurt.Butonlyforafewseconds.
Shestiff-ened,butthenthefeverburnedrightbackupagain,andshedraggedhimdownwithakiss
thatknockedeverysingleworryrightoutofhismind.

"Oh,wow,"shemanagedwhentheroomstoppedspinningaroundthem.Shewaslyinghalfunder
Har-ley,coveredinsweateveninthecoolroom,shiveringwithdelight."Nowthatwasafirsttimeto
writeabout!"sheenthused.

Helaughed."Iwastryingnottohurtyou,"hepointedout.

Shepushedhimoverandrolledontohim."AndIap-preciateeverysingleeffort,butitwasn't
necessary,"shemurmuredasshekissedhim."Iwasstarvingforyou!"

"Inoticed."

Sheliftedupandgavehimawickedlook.

"Iwasstarvingforyou,too,"hereplieddiplomati-cally,andchuckled."Youwereincredible."

"Sowereyou."Shesighedandlaidhercheekonhisbroad,hairychest."Nowonderpeopledon'twait
forweddingnightsanymore."

"Someofthemdo."

"Itisn'tnight,yet,"sheremindedhim.

Helaughedsoftly."Iguessnot."DIANAPALMER175

Shekissedhischest."Shouldwegodowntotherestauranttoeat?"

"Mr.Parksgaveusaone-weekhoneymoonwithroomservice.Idonotthinkweshouldinsulttheman
bynotusingit,"hereplied.

"Oh,Idoagree.IwouldhatetoinsultMr.Parks.Besides,"shemurmured,shifting,"Ijustthoughtof
somethingwecandotopassthetimeuntilsupper!"

"Youdid?"Herolledherover,radiant."Showme!"

Shedid.

Theyarrivedhomebleary-eyedfromlackofsleepandwithonlyafewphotosandsouvenirsof
wherethey'dbeen.Inactuality,they'dhardlyseenanythingexcepttheceilingoftheirhotelroom.

Theranchhousewasonelevel.Itwasold,butwell-kept,andithadnewstepsandporchrails,anda
porchswing.Italsohadanewcoatofwhitepaint.

"It'sjustbeautiful,"Aliceenthused."Harley,itlookslikethehouseIlivedinwhenIwasalittlegirl,
growingupinFloresville!"

"YougrewupinFloresville?"heaskedasheunlockedthedoorandopenedit.

Shelookedupathim."Wedon'tknowalotabouteachother,dowe?Itwillgiveussomethingtotalk
aboutwhenwecalmdownjustalittle."

Hegrinnedandsweptherupinhisarms,tocarryherintothehouse."Don'tholdyourbreathwaiting
forthattohappen,"headvised.

Shesmiledandkissedhim.

Heputherdowninthelivingroom.Shesighed."Oh,my,"shesaidsoftly.

Therewereroseseverywhere,vasesfullofthem,in176THEMAVERICK

everycolor.Therewerecolorfulafghansandtwosweaters(hisandhers),abig-screencolor
televisionset,aDVDplayer,anXbox360gamingsystemandseveralgames,andabasketoffruit.On
thedining-roomtable,therewerecontainersofbreadsandapropped-upnotepointingtothe
refrigerator.Itwasfullofcookedfood.Therewasevenacakefordessert.

"Goodgrief,"Harleywhistled.Hepickedupthenoteandreadit."Congratulationsandbestwishes
fromtheScotts,theParkses,theSteeles,alltheHarts,andthePendletons."Hegapedather."The
Pendletons!JasonPendletonisamultimillionaire!IthoughthewasgoingtodeckmeinSan
Antonio..."Hehesitatedtotellhisnewwifethathe'dtriedtodateJason'sstepsisterGracie,whowas
nowMrs.Pendleton.Hechuckled."Well,Iguessheforgaveme.Hismotherhasacraftshopandshe
knits.I'llbetshemadetheafghansforus."

Alicefingeredthedelicatestitches."I'llbestillwritingthank-younoteswhenourkidsareingrammar
school,"sheremarked."Harley,youhavesomanyfriends.Ineverrealized."Sheturnedandsmiledat
him."We'regoingtobesohappyhere."

Hebeamed.HeopenedhisarmsandAliceranintothem,tobeheldcloseandhugged.

"Areyouhungry?"heasked.

Shepeeredupathimandlaughed."Wedidn'tgetbreakfast."

"Andwhosefaultwasthat,Mrs.Fowler?"heteased.

"IsaidIwashungry,itjustwasn'tforfood.Well,notthen.Icouldeat,"sheadded,peeringpasthimat
thecakeonthetable.

"SocouldI,andInoticedfriedchickeninthefridge.It'smyfavorite."DIANAPALMER177

"Mine,too,"sheagreed."Idon'tcookmuchontheweekdaysbecauseI'moncallsooften."She
lookedupathimworriedly.

"Icancook,Alice,"heassuredher,smiling."AndIwill,whenIneedto."

"You'rejustthebesthusband,"shesighed.

"Gladyouthinkso."Hechuckled."Let'sfindsomeplates."

Theywatchedtelevisionwhiletheynibbledonallsortsofdeliciousthings.Itwasatreatthattheyboth
likedthesamesortofshows.Buttheydidn'twatchitforlong.Thetripbackhadbeentiring,andin

manyways,ithadbeenalongweek.Theysleptsoundly.

Thenextday,Alicehadtodriveuptoherofficetocheckonwhatprogresshadbeenmadeintothe
murderinvestigationwhileHarleygotbacktoworkontheranch.Hehadthingstodo,aswell,notto
mentiongettinghisownpresentofpurebredcattlefedandwateredandsettledbeforehewentoverto
Mr.Parks'shousetodohisjob.

Longfellowwelcomedheratthedoorwithahug."Didyouhaveanicetrip?"

"Lovely,"Aliceassuredher."Butit'sgoodtogethome.Wehadfoodandpresentswaitingforuslike
youwouldn'tbelieve.Mr.ParkshadHarley'shousereno-vatedandheactuallygavehimasmallherd
ofpurebredcattleforaweddinggift--nottomentionthehoney-moontrip.Whataboss!"

Longfellowsmiled."Surprising,isn'tit,howgenerousheis.Consideringthelineofworkheusedto
bein,it'samiraclehesurvivedtogetmarriedandhaveafamily."

"Yes,Iknowwhatyoumean,"Alicereplied."AnywordyetonthatscrapofpaperwesenttotheFBI
lab?"178THEMAVERICK

Sheshookherhead."Theholidays,youknow,andwe'renotatthetopofthelineforquickresults."
Shepursedherlips."Didn'tyouoncebribepeopletogetfasterservice?"sheteased.

Alicelaughed."Idid,butIdon'tthinkmynewhusbandwouldappreciateitifIdidthatsortofthing
now."

"Probablynot."

"AnythingonthewomanwhodiedatSenatorFowler'shouse?"Aliceadded.

Longfellowfrowned."Actually,thesenatorstoppedbyandleftyouanote.IthinkIputitinyour
middledeskdrawer.Hesaidyouweregoingtobeaterrificdaughter-in-law...Oops,I'mnot
supposedtoknowthat,amI?"

Alice'seyeswidened.Shehadn'tconsideredthatshewasnowthedaughter-in-lawofthesenior
senatorfromTexas.Shesatdown,hard."Well,mygoodness,"shesaidbreathlessly."Ihadn'tthought
aboutthat."

"You'llhavecloutinhighplaces,ifyoueverneedit,"theotherwomansaidwickedly."Youcan
threatenpeoplewithhim!"

Alicelaughed."Youidiot."

"I'dthreatenpeoplewithhim,"camethereply.She

frowned."EspeciallyJonBlackhawk,"sheadded.

"What'sJondonetoyou?"

"HecalledmeathomeatmidnighttoaskifwehadlabresultsbackonthatthermosthatSheriffHayes
gaveyou."

"Nowwhywouldhewanttoknowaboutthat?"

Longfellow'seyessparkled."TheinvestigatorwhowasworkingwithMarquezontheKilravencase
re-calledseeingonelikeit."

"Where?When?"

"Atthehomeofherex-husband,actually,"shesaid."Rememberthatspiraldesignonthecup?Itwas
ratherDIANAPALMER179

odd,Ithoughtatthetime,likesomebodyhadpainteditwithacrylics."

"Canwefindoutwhoherex-husbandis?"Aliceaskedexcitedly.

"Idid.Hediedafewweeksago.Thewomanhewaslivingwithcouldn'ttellheranythingabouthis
friendsorvisitors,oraboutthethermos.Theinvestigatortoldmethatthewomanwassostrungout
oncokethatshehardlyknewwhereshewas."

"Pity,"Alicerepliedsadly.

"Yes,andapparentlytheex-husbandhadadrugproblemofhisown.Poorwoman,"sheaddedsoftly.
"Sheworkedherwayuptosergeantinthehomicidedivision,andlostherpromotionwhenshe
helpedMarquezreopentheKilravencoldcasefiles."

Alicewasonlyhalflisteningnow.Sherecalledthenotethesenatorhadleft,pulleditout,openedit
andreadit.He'dtalkedtothepolicecommissioner,hewrote,whohadpromisedthereinstatementof
thein-vestigatorontheKilravencase.He'dalsospokentohiscolleague,thejuniorsenator,and
informedhimthattheywerenotgoingtotrytohinderanymurderinves-tigations,regardlessofhow
oldtheywere.He'dtalkedtothecoroneraswell,andtheautopsyonthesenator'skitchenworkerhad
beenreclassifiedasahomicide.Hehopedthiswouldhelp.HeremindedherthatsheandHarley
shouldcallandletthemknowwhentheywerecomingtosupper.Theyhadaweddinggifttopresent.

Alicewhistledsoftly."He'sbeenbusy."ShetoldLongfellowtheresultsofthesenator'sintercession.
"Whataniceman."

"Luckyyou,toberelatedtohim."Theotherwomanchuckled."See,Itoldyouthat...Waitasec."180
THEMAVERICK

Herphonewasringing.Shepickeditup,raisedhereyebrowsatAliceandpulledapenandpaper
towardher."That'sveryniceofyou!Wedidn'texpecttohearbacksosoon.Yes,I'mready.Yes."She
waswriting.Shenodded."I'vegotit.Yes.Yes,thatwillbefine.Thankyou!"Shehungup."TheFBI
lab!"sheexclaimed."They'vedecipheredtherestofthenumbersonthatslipofpaperyoufoundin
thevictim'shandinJacobsville!"

"Really?Letmesee!"

Alicepickeduptheslipofpaperandreadthenumberswithasinkingfeelinginherstomach.Now
therewasnodoubt,noneatall,whothevictimhadcometoJacobsvilletosee.Thenumberwasfor
Kilraven'scellphone.

Eleven

KilravenwaitedforAliceinthesquadroomattheJa-cobsvillePoliceDepartment.Alicehaddriven
downinthemiddleoftheday.Shedidn'twanthimtohavetowaitforthenews,butshedidn'twantto
tellhimoverthephone,either.

Hestoodupwhenshewalkedinandclosedthedoorbehindher."Well?"heasked.

"Thenumberonthatslipofpaperinthedeadman'shand,"shesaid."Itwasyourcellphonenumber."

Heletoutabreath.Hiseyesweresadandbitter."Heknewsomethingaboutthemurder.Hecameto
tellme.Somebodykneworsuspected,andtheykilledhim."

"ThentheyfiguredthatDolores,whoworkedforSenatorFowler,mighthaveheardsomethingfrom
theman,andtheykilledher,too.Thisisanastybusiness."

"Very,"Kilravenreplied."Butthiscaseisgoingto182THEMAVERICK

breaktheolderone,"headded."I'msureofit.Thanks,Alice,"headdedquietly."Ioweyouone."

"I'llrememberthat,"shesaid,smiling."Keepmeintheloop,willyou?Oh,there'sanotherthing,I
almostforgot.ThatthermosthatSheriffHayesfound,theonewipedcleanofprints?Your
investigatorinSanAntonioactuallyrecognizedit!Itbelongedtoherex-husband!"

"Oh,boy,"hesaidheavily."That'sgoingtocausesomepainlocally."

"Itis?Why?"

"Herex-husbandistheuncleofWinnieSinclair."

"DoesWinnieknow?"Aliceasked,stunned.

"No.Andyoucan'ttellher."Hiseyeshadanodd,painedlook."I'llhavetodoit,somehow."

"Washethesortofpersonwho'dgetmixedupinmurder?"

"Idon'tknow.Buthe'sdeadnow.Whateverheknewdiedwithhim.Thanksagain,Alice.Iwillkeep
youintheloop,"hepromised.

Shenoddedandheleftherstandingthere.Shefelthispain.Herownlifewassoblessed,shethought.
Kilraven'swasastudyinanguish.Maybehecouldsolvethecaseatlast,though.Andmaybelittle
WinnieSinclairwouldhaveahappierfuturethansheexpected.Cer-tainly,Kilravenseemed
concernedaboutherfeelings.

AliceandHarleywenttosupperwiththesenatorandhiswife.Theywerehesitantatfirst,withHarley,
butastheeveningworeon,theytalked.Oldwoundswerereopened,butalsolanced.Bythetimethe
youngerFowlersleft,therewasad

�tente.

"ItwentbetterthanIexpecteditto,"Harleysaid."Isupposeallthreeofushadunrealistic
expectations."DIANAPALMER183

Shesmiled."Theywereproudofyouwhentheyheardwhatyou'ddonewithyourlife.Youcouldtell."

Hesmiled."Igrewup.IwassuchacockybratwhenIwenttoworkforCyParks."Hechuckled."ButI
grewupfast.Ilearnedalot.I'mstilllearning."Heglancedatherashedrove."Nicepresentsthey
gaveus,too.Alittleunexpected."

"Yes.Atelescope."Sheglancedthroughthebackwindowofthepickupatit,initsthickcardboard
box,lyinginthebedofthetruck."Aneight-inchSchmidt-Cassegrain,atthat,"shemused.

Hestooduponthebrakes."Youknowwhatitis?"heburstout.

"Oh,yes,Itookacourseinastronomy.Ihavevolumesinmyofficeon..."Shestopped.Thesenator
hadbeeninheroffice.Shelaughed."Mygoodness,he'sobservant!"

"Mypresentisn'tbad,either."

They'dgivenHarleyanewsaddle,averyornateonethathecouldusewhileridinginparades.
"Somebodymusthavetoldthemwhatyouweredoingforalivingwhilewewereonour
honeymoon,"sheguessed.

"Myfatherisadigger."Helaughed."I'msureheaskedaround."

"Wehavetospendtimewiththem,"shetoldhim."Familyisimportant.Especially,whenyoudon't
haveanyleft."

"Youhaveuncles,"heremindedher.

"Yes,buttheyalllivefarawayandwewereneverclose.I'dlikeverymuchtohavechildren.And
they'llneedagrannyandgranddaddy,won'tthey?"

Hereachedacrosstheseatandlinkedherhandintohis."Yes."Hesqueezedherfingers."We'regoing
tobehappy,Alice."184THEMAVERICK

Sheleanedherheadbackandstaredathimwithutterdelight."We'regoingtobeveryhappy,Harley,"
shereplied.Sheclosedhereyeswithasigh,andsmiled."Veryhappy."

*****

�ISBN:978-1-4268-4457-7

THEMAVERICK

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�2009byDianaPalmerAllrightsreserved.Exceptforuseinanyreview,the

reproductionorutilizationofthisworkinwholeorinpartinanyformbyanyelectronic,mechanical
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