The Marsh Madness

I called Van Alst House from the original burner phone. If it got identified, I’d still have the second, unless, of course, I got all confused about which was which.

Vera picked up and snapped hello.

“Is everything all right?”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Are the cops still there?”

“I’ve told you we will be dispensing with your services. The furnace is on its last legs, and you will not be getting our business with the new one.”

I figured as that was almost identical to what she’d said the last time that the police were still there and I had better find a place to hide out. But what would that place be?

I was out of places.

The police would be checking out motels and B and Bs and hotels in the area, such as they were. Anyone of my description checking in would get the sirens screaming down the road in minutes. Lance’s place was probably off-limits too.

What was going on? I had no idea, but I knew I was in big trouble, and apparently everyone I cared about was too.

I put in a call to Sammy, again on the old burner this time, in case. “Any chance you’d have a colleague who could represent my friend Lance? The cops are taking him in for questioning. He might need someone.”

“What for?” Sammy’s not big on small talk. Have I mentioned that?

“Don’t know. Uncle Mick’s got the cops at his door too. And Vera does.”

“Really?”

“It’s something big, and it must have to do with Chadwick Kauffman’s murder. What else could it be?”

“Keep a low profile. I’ll try to find out.”

“I will find somewhere to lie low.”

“Don’t check into a hotel. Don’t go on the highway in case they have roadblocks.”

“Roadblocks?” I may have yelped that. “Really?”

“Don’t take a chance.”

“Where should I—?”

“Don’t tell me.”

“Okay. But back to Lance. Uncle Mick got a Cory Corrigan for my Uncle Kevin and a Laurence Sternberger for Vera. Mick’s surrounded by cops now too, so I can’t rely on him.”

“You’re my client.”

“And Lance is my friend. He’s been my friend for a long time. He’s a good person. Did I mention he’s the reference librarian at the Harrison Falls Public Library? His experience with the police and being questioned is limited.”

“And?”

“And he’s in trouble!”

“And why would that matter?”

I wailed, “Because I care about him. The cops were all over the library and they marched him away. In handcuffs. That’s more than an interview.”

Sammy was silent for a bit longer than I would have expected.

I blurted, “It’s an arrest. Pretty sure of that.”

“Yup.”

“And if Lance has been arrested it is because he was helping me. I don’t know what’s happened, but it’s my fault.”

“Please don’t say that. You’re joking, right? Nothing is your fault. Never, never, never say that anything is your fault. ‘No comment,’ that’s what you say.”

“But I’m talking to you. You’re my lawyer!”

“No ‘buts.’ Maybe this Lance guy is innocent—”

“Not maybe. Is.”

“You are not at fault. Remember that. If he left in handcuffs, then he might be going through a very rough interrogation right now.”

I fought back panic. “You mean they’ll beat him up?”

“Hey, don’t shout. I mean emotionally rough. They’ll break him down.”

“Oh my God.”

“And they’ll make him turn on you.”

“He won’t.”

“Don’t be surprised.”

“This is so awful. But I know Lance isn’t going to turn on me. He’s—”

“All right, all right. But you’d better prepare yourself, because when they get you in there, they’ll try to convince you to turn on him.”

“He wasn’t even at Summerlea. He had nothing to do with it at all.”

Sammy said, “He never knew you were going?”

“What? Yes, he knew. He helped with my research and—”

“So he also knew about the Kauffman guy and the house where they lived?”

I swallowed. “Because I asked him. That’s the only reason.”