Sorry.
But not too sorry, the sheriff said.
Not too, Lucas agreed, and grinned at him.
The sheriff showed the faintest hint of a smile, and eased out the door. The older man was the last to leave, and at the threshold, he turned and looked at Sherrill, and then back at Lucas. I once had a woman looked just about like that, he said to Lucas. When I was just about your age.
Oh yeah?
Yeah. He gave Sherrill a long look, and said, She flat wore me out.
Better to wear out than to rust, Sherrill said, from her corner.
Yeah. And he laughed, a nasty laugh for an old codger, and closed the door.
TWENTY-SEVEN
THE SUN WAS ONLY TWO OR THREE FINGERS ABOVE the western horizon, the evening rush already starting, when Lucas and Sherrill dropped past the Dunwoody exit on I-394, zigged a couple of times, and rolled into downtown Minneapolis.
Nowthatwas a road trip, Sherrill said, enthusiastically. Fightin, fuckin, and detectin. So whats next?
Ive got to work tomorrow, Lucas said. Youre working, right?
Yeahbut theres not much going on. I could probably get away to help, if you needed me…
He shook his head: Better not. I told you about the little talk with Rose Marie.
I might have a little talk with Rose Marie myself, she said with a flash of anger. Pisses me off.
Probably wouldnt help.
Itd make me feel better, Sherrill said.
Do what you want, Lucas said. And when you get a minute, send me a memo on the whole sequence up there in Oxford. All the details. Make a copy for yourself. Take both copies over to the government center, have them notarized for date, but dont let anybody read them.
Just in case?
Cant tell whats gonna happen yet.
When you say all the details, you want the part where I said, Oh my God, put it in, put it in?
I dont remember that, Lucas said.
I think you were looking at your watch. Were gonna have to talk about that, by the way.
Lucas shook his head: Christ, Im beginning to understand what that old guy meant.
What old guy?
You know, the old deputy, who once had a woman like you. Flat wore me out, he said.
She looked at him critically: You still got a little good tread on you.
LUCAS KISSED HER GOODBYE OUTSIDE CITY HALL what the helland went down to his office, whistling, picked up the phone and got the brrnk-brrnk-brrnk message signal. The mechanical operator said there were six: all six were from Helen Bell, frantic, accusatory.
Did you do this with Connie? Did you call Child Protection? Why? Why? Please, please call me… and Why arent you calling? Did you do this? Im getting a lawyer, goddamn you…
He punched in her phone number and the phone at the other end was snatched up halfway through the first ring. Hello? Still frantic.
This is Lucas Davenport. What happened with Connie?
A moment of uncertain silence. You didnt have anything to do with Connie?
Mrs. Bell, I havent even thought of Connie since I last saw you. I was out of town all day yesterday and today, I just got back and got your messages.
They came and got her, she wailed.
Child Protection?
Child Protection, Child Welfare, whatever they call it. They say I gave her marijuana and beat her up and I never did any of that, shes my baby, I dont understand, theysaid some teacher called, but I cant find anybody at her school.
Let me make a call, Lucas said. I know a woman over there who might know something.
Please, please get her back.
Lucas talked to her for another minute, then hung up, found Nancy Bunkers name in his address book, and punched her number in. She was just leaving.
Yeah, I know about it. Doesnt look like much. The girl said her mother slapped her once during an argument, open hand, no injury, more like a girl fight. Said shes used some marijuana around school, but that was what the fight was about. Her mother was trying to stop her.
So whatre you doing with her?
Well, shes out at a foster home right now; we usually keep them a couple of nights, just to make sure. Shell be home tomorrow.
Huh.
Whats your interest, Lucas?
Did you ever find the teacher who called in the information?
No, it was anonymous, but you know how it iswe dont take chances if therere reports of physical abuse. Especially drugs and physical abuse. And we want to get the kid off to a safe place, where she feels safe about talking about it… So, whats your interest?
I think you were deliberately set up to mess with the kids mother. Shes a source of mine in this Kresge murder case.
Really? Set up?
I think so. I dont doubt that the kid smokes a little dope, but then so did you.
Bunker laughed. Yeah, the good old days. So what do you want me to do?
How about releasing the kid to her mother? Ill pick her up, take her home.
Damn it; Id have to sit back down and turn the computer back on. ..
Another little tragedy in your life.
You gotta be over here in ten minutes, Bunker said. Im trying to catch a bus.
Taking a little undertime today?
Nine minutes, now.
Be right there.
THE FOSTER HOME WAS IN EDINA, WEST OF MINNEAPOLIS. Lucas picked up the papers for the foster parents, and on the way out, slowed by traffic, he called the medical examiners office and got an investigator on the line. Im looking for a file on an Amelia Lamb. About twenty years old.
Nothing here, Lucas. Are you sure of the name?
Last name Im sure of; the first name, I dont know, there may be an alternative spelling.
After a few more seconds, the investigator said, Lots of Lambs, but nothing like an Amelia.
Can you get into the state death certificates from your computer?
Id have to call, I could get back to you.
Could you do that? This is kind of important. The MEs investigator was back five minutes later. You want Dakota County, and specifically, you want Mercy-South. You want that phone number?
Give it to me. Lucas got the number, the date of Lambs death, and the attending physician, and scribbled it all in his notebook. He called the hospital, spent five minutes working his way through the bureaucracy, and was finally told by an assistant director that he could see the records if he brought a subpoena with him.
Even if the womans dead?
Its our policy, she said.
Its a pain, Lucas said. But Ill get one for you. Whats the name of your director out there?
She gave him the name and he said, Ask him to stick around the house tonight, we dont want to have to have acop run him down. We can probably get the subpoena out there before midnight.
Really? I think he and his wife are going to the chamber orchestra.
Wellhe should be home before we get the subpoena. If we do get it earlier, well just ask the orchestra people to page him during the concert.
Hang on.
Andshewas back in five minutes: The director tells me that I was misinformed. Since Mrs. Lamb is dead, and youre a police officer conducting an official investigation, we can show you the records. She sounded faintly amused.
Gee. Thanks. Thats really nice. Will somebody be in your records department, about seven oclock?
Theres always somebody there. Around the clock.
Tell them Im coming…
CONNIE BELL STARTED CRYING WHEN SHE SAW LUCAS. She had a small bag with her, and the foster mother patted her on the shoulder, and Connie said, Did you do this?
No.
Then who did?
I dont know, Lucas said, leading the way to the car. But it was pretty mean.
My mom is really upset, I thought she was going to fight those people last night, Ive never seen her like that.
Why dont you call her? Lucas said. Theres a phone in the car.