The Simple Truth

Working hard or hardly working?

He immediately relaxed and looked up into Juanitas face. The edges of her mouth were crinkled into the begi

She sat down on his lap. She was wearing a long white robe, bare feet showing. Come on, now, a big, strong fella like yourself? And arent you being a bit presumptuous about those angel wings?

He slid an arm around her waist, which, after three children, wasnt as small as on their wedding night, but then neither was his. They hadgrowntogether, he often liked to say. Balance was essential in life. One fatty and one ski

Buford, why dont you tell me whats bothering you so we can talk about it and then you can come to bed? Its getting pretty late. Tomorrows always another day.

Chandler smiled at her remark. Hey, what happened to my poker face? As I look a culprit in the eye and wear him down without ever revealing what Im really thinking.

You stink at poker. So talk to me, baby.

She rubbed at his kinked-up neck and he reciprocated by massaging her long feet.

You remember that young man I was telling you about? John Fiske? His brother was a clerk at the Supreme Court?

I remember. And now another clerk dead too.

Right. Well, I was over at his brothers apartment tonight, going through it for evidence collection. McKe

The one you said was wound up like a grenade ready to blow? Couldnt figure him out?

Hes the one.

Mmm-hmm.

Well, we found a life insurance policy that pays John Fiske half a million dollars upon his brothers death.

So, they were family, werent they? You have life insurance, dont you? I get rich if you die, right? She lightly smacked the top of his head. You better have, anyway. Promising me all this nice stuff my whole life and never delivering. I better be rich when your sorry butt kicks off.

They both laughed and exchanged lingering hugs.

Fiske never told me about the insurance policy. I mean, come on, thats a classic motive for murder.

Well, maybe he doesnt know about the policy.

Maybe, Chandler conceded. Anyway, McKe

So John Fiske was at his brothers apartment?

Yep. Claims some guy hit him there and took off. Maybe stole some stuff from the apartment, something that tied in to the murder.

Well, if John Fiske was at his brothers apartment and made up the story about this intruder person, and he knew about the life insurance policy, why didnt he search his brothers apartment for the policy? Why leave it for you to find and get suspicious?

Chandler stared at her, wide-eyed.

Buford, are you okay?

Damn, sweetie, I thought I was the detective in the family. Now, how the hell did I miss that one?

Because youre overworked and underappreciated, thats why. She got up and extended her hand to his. But if you come upstairs right now, I will show you some extra-special appreciation. Leave your sensitive side down here, though, baby, and just bring your other parts upstairs. She looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes that he knew did not indicate sleepiness. Chandler quickly rose, took her hand and together they walked up the stairs. ["C47"]CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

As the Jeep raced down the road, Tremaine scrutinized the passengers of each car they passed.

The damn luck, Rayfield moaned. We couldnt have missed them by more than a few minutes.

Tremaine ignored him, focusing instead on the car in front of them. The dome light of the car came on as they passed, revealing the driver and passenger. The passenger was unfolding a map. As Tremaine stared at the cars interior he hit the brakes, ripped the Jeep to the left and went across the median. The vehicle bumped and jostled in the grassy ditch before the tires found asphalt again and they were heading back toward Riders office. Rayfield grabbed Tremaines shoulder. What the hell are you doing?

They suckered us. The guy and the gal. Their story was bullshit.

How do you know that?

The light in the bathroom.

The light? What about it?

It wasnt on. The bitch was in there in the dark. It hit me when I saw the dome light go on in the car back there. There was no light coming from under the bathroom door when she was in there. When she opened the door she didnt hit the light switch because the bathroom was already dark. She wasnt using the can. She was standing in the bathroom in the pitch-dark. And guess why?

Rayfields face went pale. Because Harms and his brother were in there too. While he looked at the road ahead he had another thought. The guy said his name was John Michaels. Could it have been John Fiske?

And the girl was Sara Evans. Thats what Im thinking. You better call and let the others know.

Rayfield picked up the cell phone. Well never catch up to Harms now.

Yes, we will.

How the hell can we?

Tremaine drew on thirty years of Army training, studying what the other side would do in a particular scenario. Fiske said he saw them get in a car. Opposite of a car is a truck. He said it was an old car. Opposite of that is anewtruck. He said they were going north, so we go south. Its only been five minutes. Well catch them.

I hope to God youre right. If they were at Riders office He broke off and looked anxiously out the window. Tremaine looked over at him. Then that means the Harms brothers aint ru