For what seemed like minutes, Kent, me, and the other sixteen attendees acted like mechanical manikins, revolving half a turn one way, then another, raising an arm here and there. It was like the resonating blast had short-circuited everyone’s brain. The explosion was terrible, but seeing the ascending fireball left us all speechless and saddened. I know it did me. Plus, I was torn whether to remain at Old Mill Park in honor of Kyle or rush to the Hunt House to pay tribute to a disintegrating landmark. Either way, I felt the two subjects were hopelessly entangled.

Finally, Kent clutched my forearm. “You need to go. The firefighters may have some questions, plus you might learn something.”

I shook my head sideways. Kyla and Lillian inched forward, one to my right, one to my left. Both placed a hand on my upper back. “No. Not yet. Let’s continue here. You have a speech we all need to hear.” I realized what I was doing. The guilt I’d always felt from leaving Kyle after the Christmas parade was overwhelming. And now, there was no way I’d leave him again.

Kent looked toward Ted King, who was already halfway to his car. “It doesn’t matter. Kyle is gone and long forgotten by this little town. I was wrong to assume the mayor, the council, and two or three hundred citizens would attend.” Kent was clearly in pain, likely feeling a sense of disrespect for his brother. “Folks,” Kent gazed over the dispersing group. “Thanks so much for coming. I’ll never forget.”

 I was thankful Kyla took charge. “Lee, go see what you can find out. I’ll stay and help Kent roll-up Kyle’s banner and finish up here.” She asked Kent if it would be okay to leave the food for the firefighters and the city workers who’d helped set up several hundred chairs. He agreed.

“Sounds like a plan.” Kent patted me on the back and started toward the stage. I kept watching him, wondering what was going through his brilliant mind. I had a feeling he would make another attempt to talk with Jackie Frasier before he returned to Houston. Kent stepped onto the stage and turned. “I’ll send you a copy of my speech. Call me anytime.”

I gave him a nod, returned to my seat for my notebook, and reluctantly headed to the Hunt House.

***

I crossed E. Mann Avenue and walked to the backside of the parking lot to store my notebook and suit jacket inside the Hyundai. As usual, I engaged in some self-talk. Should I move the rental to Piggly Wiggly’s parking lot? Ultimately, I opted against that since I barely felt the fire’s heat given the Hunt House was a good two hundred feet away.

I reopened the back door and tossed in my tie. “Lee. Wait.” The voice came from the direction of Old Mill Park. It was Lillian. I raised my hand, more to acknowledge I’d heard her than as an invitational wave. She was semi-jogging and carrying two bottles of water. “Can I go with you?”

My first thought was Lillian was doing a good job of smothering me. Why I said, “I guess,” and accepted her gift of water probably came from Mother’s undying influence in my life.

We exited the parking lot and walked Whitman Street to Thomas Avenue where a line of wooden blockades demanded we stop. We joined half-a-dozen other spectators staring toward the glowing structure. I thought of a miniature Titanic waging a lopsided battle against nature.

But for now, the Hunt House remained solid and erect. From where I stood, the massive brick and tile structure seemed unharmed. Except for the wild and raging flames erupting from every window on all three floors. Even if the walls remained after the fire expired, the beauty and comfort of the interior vanished forever. I couldn’t help but think of Rosa and Rob, insurance coverage, and Ray Archer’s victory.

“Do you need to call Rosa?” Lillian must have been thinking the same thing. Omitting Rob’s name meant Kyla had told Lillian about his stroke and his admission to Roanoke General.

I think it was the two ladies to my left who caused my turn toward Lillian. It’s funny. Sometimes I hear worthless chatter too well, and life-changing prescriptions barely at all. “Probably.” I said, realizing how out-of-place Lillian looked. For Kyle’s memorial, she’d chosen an all-black outfit: a below-the-knee skirt with matching jacket over a white mid-cut blouse. Her stockings were skin-toned, and her shoes were black, low-heeled. A strand of white beads hung from her neck. The redbird pinned to her label couldn’t be the one I’d given her Christmas 1971. Or could it?

“Lee. Are you okay?” No doubt she caught me staring but couldn’t have known I’d noticed her lack of makeup except for the pale red lipstick.  She’d never worn much makeup. I quickly cocked my head sideways and upwards, capturing two firefighters walking the yard between the Hunt House and Julia Street Methodist Church. That’s when I saw Dan Brasher coming our way.

I pulled out my iPhone, dialed Rosa, and stepped backwards a few yards towards Old Mill Park. Earlier this morning, I’d spoken with Lyndell. Rob still hadn’t awakened from his surgery. Six rings later, I heard Leah’s voice, “hey Dad.”

“Hey baby. How are you?” My mid-thirties daughter looked so much like Rachel, even though adopted.

“Tired and worried about Papa.” Leah was in the cabin. I could hear the grands in the background, maybe in the kitchen having breakfast. “Dad, before I get sidetracked, Rosa wants you to stay in Boaz and take care of the fire.” It was a peculiar way of putting it.

“So, she already knows?” News travels fast in small towns, even when the recipient is multiple states away. I gazed at Lillian, who was deep in conversation with Pastor Brasher.

“Jane called a few minutes ago, right as Rosa got home and headed to bed.”

“I’m not sure what I can do here.” Leah interrupted me before I could continue.

“Dad, since I’m alone, I can tell you. Lyndell spoke privately with Papa’s doctors. They say he’s in a coma. He might never wake up.”

“Oh my, that’s awful.” Lillian motioned for me to return. A firefighter had joined their conversation for a few seconds before walking away. “Honey, I need to go for now. Call me if there’s any change.” I struggled whether to go to Roanoke or stay put.

“Dad, quick, before you go. Mama Rose said to tell you to hire someone to haul off the rubble once the sight’s released.” Sadly, that sounded more like Rob than Rosa.

“Okay,” I said, confused over my mother-in-law’s instruction. I returned to the blockade and a growing crowd of onlookers.

“Lee, you need to hear this.” Lillian said as I saw three fire hoses arching thick streams of water through the upstairs windows. The flames were undeterred.

“Hey Dan,” I said, reaching out and shaking his hand. He nodded and motioned me to walk with him to the sidewalk leading to Dr. Hunt’s long-abandoned office.

“I wanted you to hear it from me.” Dan held out a hand, like a stop sign, as Lillian approached. “Give us a minute.” He smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

“What’s that?”

“It may be nothing but since the blast my mind’s grown suspicious.” I almost laughed at Dan’s word picture.

“Okay.”

“First, let me ask you something.” He stared into my eyes, waiting for my response. I gave him an affirmative nod. “Have you recently hired anyone to do work at the Hunt House?”

“No.”

“Now, I’m even more suspicious. Yesterday afternoon I saw an older model van parked in the driveway.” Dan pointed at the Hunt House as though I couldn’t follow his story. “Two men got out and walked to the back door. They stayed fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. Then left.”

Dan’s story triggered a dozen questions. I started with, “can you describe the van?”

“It was white, off-white, or might have been dirty. The back panel was solid with a sign in blue lettering: ‘Larry’s Electric & Plumbing.’ Funny, the painting or decal, whatever, looked much newer than the van.”

“Why?”

“It was cleaner, bright white.”

“I’m curious. Where were you when you saw this?” Dan’s story was already believable. He is the pastor of Julie Street Methodist.

“I was in my study.” He turned and pointed to the church. “Corner window, second floor.”

Dan turned back to face me. I again nodded. “What time yesterday afternoon?”

“That’s one thing I didn’t peg, but it had to be between 2:45 and 3:15. On Thursdays, I meet my daughter at the library after school.”

I was about to ask my next question when I heard a loud crash. It sounded like breaking glass. When I looked, I saw tile after tile slip from the front side of the roof and land on the ground and sidewalk. “One other question before you go.” I had noticed Dan, twice, looking at an oversized wristwatch.

“Go ahead, but hurry. I have a lunch appointment.”

“Can you describe the two men?” Sometimes, but rarely, I knew the answer before the witness or student responded. The rare occurrence had normally happened in court, but that was nearly twenty years ago. Although it had happened twice in a Torts class.

“Mutt and Jeff. One was tall and thick, the other was short and thick. Both wore uniforms: light blue short-sleeved shirts, darker navy pants, tan-colored hats and work boots.”

“Short sleeves?”

“Yes.”

“Were they carrying anything?”

“The taller man had an over-sized toolbox. From the way he was toting it, I’d guess it was heavy.”

“Okay, thanks for telling me.” Dan looked at his watch for the third time. “You better go.”

This time, he nodded. And walked away.

***

By 2:30 PM, I’d tired of fire watching. For two reasons. The first was the lengthy delay in holding a promised press briefing. To me, after the firefighters extinguished the flames, the firefighters followed a never-ending loop. Like an episodic story, scene after scene repeating the same thing. Two walked inside the Hunt House, stayed a few minutes, exited, and two more followed the same pattern. Things finally made more sense when a firefighter with a megaphone yelled that Chief Beck was waiting on the State’s Fire Marshall to arrive before a briefing could take place.

The second reason was more troubling. The subtle insults from several gawkers had made me angry. And filled me with an emotion I’d classify as ‘isolated.’ Several times over the past few hours I’d heard remarks such as, “the greedy bastards got what they deserved,” and, “I hope the insurance company cancelled their coverage yesterday.” I’d even heard a Boaz police officer mumble a response to a younger man in shorts and a tee-shirt, something like, “God is good.” The young gawker’s response was probably, “All the time,” although I couldn’t make out the words. Walking back to my car, I’m still wondering whether anyone present knew who I was. It probably wouldn’t matter if they did.

At 4:30 PM, I exited Highway 77 in Attalla and pointed my Hyundai south on I-59. I’d spent the past hour and a half alone at Kyla’s, considering whether to cancel my flight. Although my departure time wasn’t until 7:00, I looked forward to reflecting on the day’s events, and considering what awaited me in Roanoke.

***

I took the Springville exit and bought a chicken sandwich and fries at Hardee’s. I hadn’t eaten since Kyla’s scrambled eggs and toast early this morning. After eating inside, I visited the restroom before continuing to Birmingham’s airport.

I’d just merged into traffic when my iPhone vibrated in the seat beside me. It was Micaden Tanner. I’d been eager to speak with him ever since dropping off the pistol Tuesday afternoon. “Hey Micaden.”

“You got a minute?” The salt and pepper haired man was like a stingy book editor, cutting unnecessary words with abandon.

“Yes. I’m driving to the airport.” I chose context and brevity.

“My best to Rob.” Unsurprisingly, Micaden already knew about my father-in-law’s stroke.

“Thanks.”

“Just came from the press conference.” A tractor-trailer rig pulled beside me, muffling Micaden’s voice. “They found a body.”

“What? Hold on, let me get my ear-buds.” I fumbled with the wires, half expecting a state trooper to zoom in behind me. “Okay, you said you attended Chief Beck’s press conference.”

“Don’t add words. Beck was there but didn’t say ten words. State fire Marshall Kendrick and Boaz Police Chief Gaskin did most of the talking. Did you hear me say they found a body?”

“Damn. Let me guess. The man was tall and thick, or short and thick?” I was projecting from Pastor Brasher’s story.

“Don’t know. They’re awaiting an autopsy.” Micaden said goodbye to Tina in the background. “One thing seems certain. There was a gas leak. However, they’re not sure about the ignition.”

“What set it off?” Dumb question.

With no transition, Micaden added, “Connor says the pistol can’t be the murder weapon.” Before I could respond, Kyla called. I ignored her for now, not knowing when I’d have another chance to talk with Micaden.

“Connor Ford, our investigator?”

“Who else? He’s excellent but said a third grader could have figured it out.”

I was feeling stupid but didn’t know why. “How’s that?”

“Serial number. Smith and Wesson’s web page provides this information all the way back to its founding in 1856.”

“So, what year was it manufactured?”

“Between 2015 and 2019.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. I felt like such a dumbass.”

“It happens to me sometimes, but usually for a more respectable reason. Just kidding.” Micaden was loosening up.

“Since lately, I’m rather slow, let me summarize. The pistol Rachel led me to is irrelevant to Kyle’s murder, and the Hunt House fire is arson.”

“Your latter point seems certain. Not sure I agree with the former. But, at a minimum, it couldn’t have fired the deadly shot.” I heard a phone ringing. “Hold on, I need to get this.” Our call went mute. After a minute, he returned. “You still there?”

“Yep.”

“That was Connor. Be sure you’re sitting down.”

“I am. Remember, I’m driving to Birmingham.”

“It was a metaphor. Listen to what Joe found.”

“Joe?”

“Connor’s employee. Sidekick. He stumbled over a deed in the Marshall County Probate office. Your father-in-law signed over the Hunt House property to Rylan’s of Boaz three days ago.”

My response was predictable. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Rarely. Since this is confidential, you want to know my theory?”

“Absolutely.”

“Ray Archer bought the Hunt House for two reasons. One is to make a quick buck. The other was to destroy evidence.” Micaden went silent. I imagined his rudimentary pencil sketching. This time of fire raging skyward from the Hunt House’s windows.

“That’s clear as mud.” Maybe Micaden wasn’t so bright after all.

“According to Connor, Ray paid your father-in-law half a million and insured it for $750,000. I admit, this next statement is Connor’s hypothesis. Ray thinks Rachel hid the murder weapon at the Hunt House, and since she is dead, that pistol was the last link to the crime he committed half-a-century ago.”

Ten minutes after Micaden ended his call, a car accident in Roebuck forced all southbound traffic to detour onto Highway 11. In less than a mile, it was bumper to bumper. I activated my iPhone. It was 5:40. When Micaden called, I’d slowed my speed, as though that would help me digest all the bad news he’d relayed. Now, with the detour and snail-paced plodding, I worried if I’d make my flight. Thankfully, I only lost ten minutes. At East Lake Park, a state trooper directing traffic signaled approval to rejoin I-59.

My mind returned to Micaden’s call. And Ray Archer. In law school, I’d learned to ask questions, especially, ‘what does this mean?’ Professor Stern loved analogies, so he’d encourage his students to think of their case as a puzzle, and ask, ‘where does this new piece fit?’

Until the Hunt House fire, and Micaden’s call, I’d thought my puzzle was an old one, that I was on a mission to find the missing pieces that would enable a prosecutor to convict Ray Archer. One mistake I’d made was subconsciously believing Ray Archer’s horrible criminal conduct was in the past. Now, I realized I was in a whole new ball game. If Connor Ford’s hypothesis was true, Ray Archer is just as much a criminal now as he was half-a-century ago. But, with one giant difference. Now, his defense counsel couldn’t argue his client was just a kid and should be granted youthful offender status.

As I exited I-59 to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth airport, I felt a stabbing pain in my stomach, one reminiscent of the day I’d read Rachel’s story of Kyle’s murder. Sweat popped out across my forehead. There was one difference. For the first time, I was afraid. If Ray Archer would risk his financial empire and his freedom to destroy the Hunt House and any incriminating evidence it might contain, what in Hell would stop him from killing me, or anyone else who became a threat to his comfortable life?

I chose Car Park 1 since it was the closest and, I assumed, the safest place to park my Hyundai. Before leaving Kyla’s, I’d read it contained 3,497 spots. I finally found an opening on the fifth floor, remembering it was Thanksgiving weekend. This probably meant the check-in process would be as slow as traffic had been on Highway 11.

I parked, grabbed my carry-on, and headed for the elevator bank. When I exited the parking deck, my iPhone vibrated in my jacket pocket. This time, it was Rosa. Our conversation was quick and pointed, not to mention virtually one-sided.

***

For some strange reason, nothing to do with being hungry, I ate at McDonald’s in Roebuck before I left Birmingham. My decision to stay in Alabama seemed wrong. But Rosa had been so adamant, even pleading, almost begging me to remain in Boaz. “Lee, there’s nothing right now you can do here. I promise I’ll tell you soon, but now I need you. Rob needs you to have the Hunt House mess hauled off.”

It was a strange request. I didn’t have the heart to ask her about the sale to Ray Archer, but I now knew I had to act instead of react.

The dreaded moment came Friday morning a few minutes after 6:00. A few days ago, Kyla had demanded I help vaccinate her five Nubians. I had never liked farm work as a kid, especially if it involved cutting, clipping, ringing, or shooting animals, even if the latter required injection by syringe (I had refused to put a 22-caliber bullet between the eyes of a fattened hog).

Kyla put me on notice last night before she’d gone to bed. “Tomorrow. Early. Goat work. I’ll wake you.” She’d sounded like a Marine sergeant, barking military-terse instructions as she’d ascended the stairs. She disappeared before I could interpret her face or convey my reverse thankfulness. I almost followed her upstairs to beg off, reminding her I didn’t need distraction from my Old Mill Park responsibilities, or that I was two days post-accident. Instead, I stayed glued to the couch with her laptop, making last-minute edits to Kyle’s eulogy.

Unlike my all-night restlessness, the ‘goat work’ wasn’t as bad as expected. Sis, the planner, had found a pair of Dad’s coveralls and work boots, and had kept the five Nubians corralled in the barn’s hallway all night. The only one who put up any resistance to the CDT subcutaneous vaccine was Frank, the lone male. I imagined he was just showing out for Nancy, Bess, Georgia, and Nedra. However, it was Kyla’s rope trick that convinced the viral male to take his medicine.

Walking back to the house, Kyla shared the source of her name choices. As a kid, she’d always loved mysteries, including the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. Voila, names for five Nubians, although George became Georgia, and Ned became Nedra.

When we reached the front porch, I stripped off Dad’s coveralls and work boots while Kyla opened the storm door and spouted more orders. “Please put Dad’s things on my tailgate.” At least she’d said ‘please.’ Sergeant Harding went inside to shower and cook breakfast. I was halfway to the Silverado when she reopened the front door and said, “Lillian needs to talk.” I left my iPhone beside Kyla’s laptop at 1:30 this morning. I guess sis had heard it vibrate. She raised her eyebrows and smiled as she waited for me to take the phone.

“Hello.”

“Lee, I’m sorry to keep pestering you, but I think it’s important.” Lillian shared that she’d left a voice mail twenty minutes ago.

“Sorry, I was helping Kyla with the goats. What’s up?” It had barely been half a day since we’d talked and made our agreement. I couldn’t help but question my decision.

“I wanted to tell you about my spyware last night, but you were in a hurry to leave.” I closed my eyes and pondered, acknowledging some things that need to remain private.

“Spyware? Is that what you said?” I stared at my iPhone, checking the time. It was 6:34. I’d told Kent I’d meet him at the north entrance to Old Mill Park at 8:30.

“Do you agree we should be open and honest about our detective work?” The attorney in me wanted to discuss Lillian’s adjective. I walked through the den and was two steps inside the hallway when she asked her next question. “Lee, you there?”

“I’m here. And, confidential.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s just say, we need to discuss before any outside disclosure. To anyone.”

“Except Kyla?”

“Okay, except Kyla.” I conveyed my schedule, hoping that would speed things up.

Lillian shared extra details, but the bottom line was she had hidden two recording devices at the Lodge before she’d vacated the premises. Device B was activated late last night. It was a call by Ray to a man named Buddy. Lillian could hear only Ray’s side of the conversation (since he wasn’t using Speaker), but concluded it was about the job he’d hired Buddy to complete. To Lillian, it was a go for today based on Ray’s repeat of what Buddy had said. ‘Today.’ Ray had responded with, ‘Daytime? That’s risky.’ The recording had ended with Ray confirming the time and place he would meet Buddy later tonight. ‘Mayor’s cabin. Midnight.’

“What makes you think this conversation relates to our investigation?” I admit Lillian might be serendipitous, but the job probably was wholly innocuous.

“If it’s the Buddy I’m thinking about, he is an ex-con.” I could hear geese honking in the background. I suspected Lillian was outside, maybe walking or sitting on the long pier I’d seen when she’d turned on the eve light.

“He works at The Shack. Right?” I had put that much together. He’d also been at McDonald’s yesterday afternoon with a much taller man.

“How do you know that?”

I shared my deduction. Lillian said she’d keep me posted and wished me good luck with my eulogy.

“I’ll be with Kyla, so I’ll see you there.” With this, Lillian ended our call.

***

I parked in a once-familiar place off E. Mann Avenue. During my growing-up years, IGA was Mom’s favorite grocery store. It was smaller than Piggly Wiggly but offered coupons in Thursday’s edition of the Sand Mountain Reporter. This provided “extra value,” according to our household’s chief financial officer.

As part of its Old Mill Park project, the City had purchased the property, razed the old building, and constructed a hundred-car parking lot. I pulled to the far side and wedged my Hyundai between Kent’s rental and an older model Impala, although there were 97 other options.

I grabbed my notebook and walked across E. Mann through a gated entrance denoted as “Support Staff Only.” Other than three guys setting up folding chairs in a semi-circle in front of the stage, the only other person I saw was Jane Fordham working behind a row of tables lined up outside the nearest pavilion. Kent had told me the mayor had arranged for Grumpy’s and The Shack to provide food.

Jane waved twice as I approached. “Hey Lee, want some coffee and a cinnamon roll?” The far-left table had a sheet of letter size paper taped to the thin tablecloth. The sign was troubling; it read, “Light Breakfast.” Besides a large aluminum pan full of rolls, there were also several dozen plastic containers of fruit.

“Thanks, maybe some coffee. Black.”

“It’s self-serve.” Jane said, handing me a small Styrofoam cup. “Rosa said Rob’s still sleeping.”

We talked back and forth about my father-in-law’s stroke and how worried Rosa seemed during her and Jane’s early morning conversation. “I’m flying there late afternoon.” I wanted to ask a dozen questions but now didn’t seem the time.

“Here comes Kent.” Jane said, looking to her right. I had already seen him walking our way from the Park’s east side entrance. “He went to Piggly Wiggly to get more tape.”

Kent was still a good fifty feet away. I summoned my courage, realizing now was as good as any. “Jane, would you be open to talking to me about Rachel when I return from Roanoke?”

Her response was instant. “I guess.” The tall and thin redhead (I’m sure the short-cropped hair is a wig) gave me a quick look with her piercing green eyes. It seemed my request was unsettling, but I didn’t know why.

“Good morning, Lee.” Kent said, handing Jane a plastic shopper bag.

“I’ll finish attaching the food signs. More brunch over there.” She looked at Kent and pointed to two larger boxes on a table underneath the pavilion. “Kyla will be here any minute.”

Kent motioned me to follow him toward the stage. Two city workers were struggling to hang a giant banner. The other one continued arranging chairs. “I have a feeling I’ve been too optimistic.”

“Crowd size?” I asked.

“Yes. Three hundred chairs are probably six or seven times too many.” Kent stopped behind the row furthest from the stage, staring at the unfolding banner.

“I like your idea.” From left to right were blowups of Kyle’s class photos, beginning in first grade. The next to the last one on the right was from tenth grade, a short three and a half months before Kyle disappeared. The last photo was a recent one of Kent, relaying the idea this was what Kyle would look like today. If he had lived.

“Thanks, but it was Jane’s creation.” Kent removed his iPhone and checked the time. “Question. Did you know Ray gave Jane a ride home that night?”

“You mean, after the parade, the night Kyle went missing?”

“Yep.”

“I’ve never heard that.” This struck me as odd, especially since Rachel hadn’t mentioned it in her diaries.

“It was news to me. I’m still not sure why she told me, but she did, right after we arrived this morning.” Kent gave a thumbs-up to the two city workers securing Kyle’s banner.

“What exactly did she say?”

“First, I admit it was me who brought up the subject. Like I’d done during each of our conversations while planning the memorial.” I saw Kyla enter through the support staff entrance. She started walking towards Kent and me and I shushed her away with our long-established tradition of flapping a low-reaching hand. “Jane said the four of them, Ray, Rachel, Kyle, and herself, crammed into Ray’s truck at the warehouse. After a quick stop at the church to leave the PA system, Ray dropped Jane off at her house around nine. The plan was for Ray and Rachel to carry Kyle home, and then for the two of them to ‘hang-out’ a couple of hours before reuniting at the Hunt House for Rachel’s all-girl sleepover party.”

“So, now it seems, there were three people and not two who saw Kyle right before he disappeared: Ray, Rachel, and Jane.” I said, looking toward the pavilion at Kyla reading something on her phone.

“I agree. If Jane’s telling the truth.” The city workers turned their attention to checking out the sound system.

“What would make you think otherwise?” Kent, like me, had worn a suit, but he’d shed his coat.

“Seems to me Ray would have dropped Kyle off first since Jane lived further down King Street. At the intersection of Lee Holcomb Road.” How I recall ordinary things from long ago never ceases to amaze me.

“Uh, I’d forgotten that.” Kent said, inserting what I assumed was a receipt, probably from Piggly Wiggly, into his wallet. I mentally scanned Rachel’s diaries. “But it makes sense.” Rachel had written that she and Ray had gone to a farm his father owned down Cox Gap Road. “That supports your conclusion.” Kent focused on the sound volume and interacted with the city workers.

I shared Ray’s most logical travel route. “To me, the four would have left the warehouse after disassembling the PA system. Dropped it off at First Baptist Church of Christ and wound their way back to Highway 168 West. Ray would have turned left at King Street. The first relevant driveway would be yours. Drop Kyle there, continue to Jane’s place, turning left on Lee Holcomb Road. From there, they’d connect with Pleasant Hill Road and turn right on 205. That’s the most logical route if they’re headed to Cox Gap Road.”

“It’s definitely an excellent theory.”

Kent spent until 10:00 a.m. working with the city workers, refining the sound system and instructing them how to operate the three video cameras he had brought.

I helped Kyla place an order-of-service flyer on each of the three-hundred chairs and made two trips to Piggly Wiggly for bagged ice. The only thing I could think about was four tenth graders squeezed inside Ray’s truck with one of them only minutes from death.

***

At 10:00 a.m. on the nose, Kent walked to the stage and asked everyone to take a seat. Although he didn’t show it, I knew the crowd size devastated him. Kyla, Lillian, and I sat alone in the section to Kent’s left.

“Good morning. I appreciate you coming on this warm and beautiful November day.” Kent introduced himself and thanked Mayor King for allowing the use of the park. He also thanked the city workers for their help.

The mayor stood and scanned the small audience. He smiled at a young woman with thick glasses who’d just arrived. An index card sized plastic tag hung from her neck. Kent had said a reporter was coming. “I’m sorry we’re here under these circumstances, but please know the City of Boaz will never forget Kyle Bennett. I hope his case will soon be resolved.” Really? Not a single city councilman was anywhere in sight.

The mayor placed his hands on the shoulders of Kent and Kyle’s mother, who was sitting one row in front of where he stood. He bent down and whispered something in her ear. Kent had said she would be here with several of her friends from Bridgewood Gardens. I counted six older women, three to Mama’s left, three to her right. I hoped none had a story as horrible as the woman who’d always welcomed me into her home.

“Before I forget, I wanted to apologize for the absence of Mountain Top Trio. You may or may not know this band started half-a-century ago and is still performing.” A train engine’s deafening horn announced its arrival a block away. And Jane’s. Kent allowed the sound waves to dissipate. Now, dressed in all black, Jane sat beside Lillian, who, like Kyla, wore the same dark color. “I suspect if Kyle were here, he’d still be Mountain Top’s manager. The group had an accident last night in New Hope. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, but, as a precaution, Huntsville Hospital admitted them for observation.”

The train rolled through town, headed to Gadsden and on southward to parts unknown. The rocking and rumbling sounds grew weaker. Kent used the interruption to review his notes and maybe create suspense. I didn’t know.

“I feel I should publicly answer the question local entrepreneur Ray Archer asked me last Sunday morning.” Kent paused and gave a shout-out to Grumpy’s and The Shack for providing food and invited everyone to stay and eat after the memorial.

“Ray asked me, ‘why have a memorial service for Kyle fifty years after he was killed?’” If Kent’s quote was accurate, I questioned Ray’s word choice. ‘Killed’? Why not say, ‘after he died,’ or, better still, ‘after he disappeared’? I almost smiled when I acknowledged how difficult it was to conceal a lie.

Kent continued. “Folks, here’s the reason. I fully believe Kyle’s case is about to bust wide open and the guilty party or parties will be brought to justice. The truth is all around us. We just have to keep looking.”

The thick glasses lady wrote frantically to get down Kent’s every word. I hoped the quote would be in tomorrow’s Sand Mountain Reporter. I felt certain Ray Archer wouldn’t like the attention.

“Okay, I’ll sit for now. After my brother’s best friend presents his eulogy, I’ll return. Lee, come on up.”

***

I stood and edged sideways in front of Kyla, Lillian, and Jane. Sis whispered, “break-a-leg,” and tugged my suit pants behind my right knee. Funny. My stomach did its little queasy dance like it always did before I took center-stage in a courtroom or before a classroom of intellectually gifted students.

“Good morning,” I said immediately after reaching the podium. Saying anything quickly always settled my nerves. “I’m Lee Harding, Kyle’s best friend forever.”

Mama Bennett was already crying. “Kyle and I met in the first grade, Mrs. Gillespie’s class. I hated school, but Kyle loved it and took me under his wing.” I pointed to Kent sitting ten feet from me in an otherwise unoccupied row. “By day two, Kent had connected with Micaden Tanner, who has a law office straight across the railroad tracks.” I pointed diagonally to my right.

“By the end of August 1960, I loved school, and I loved Mrs. Gillespie. It seems her and Kyle teamed-up behind my back and conspired to transform my thinking.”

“Story time after lunch each day became the key to my happiness and determination. I can still hear Mrs. Gillespie after she got all twenty-five of us huddled around her: ‘education is like a train, it can take you anywhere you want to go, but you have to choose a destination, and you have to climb on board.’”

“Although I could already read, I wasn’t in league with Kyle and Kent. From day one, they were the best readers in class. I soon learned why. It was Mama Bennett.” I pointed again. She cried more. “Mama worked long and hard all day but had her own story time routine. During my first overnight visit, the four of us took turns after supper reading a short story, things like ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’ by Ernest Hemingway. If you’re surprised by the Hemingway choice, you don’t know Mama. Even though he wrote in simple, unadorned prose, his words were not ‘See Spot Run.’ Mama Bennett, intelligent and loving, challenged her twin boys to learn and grow. She knew what they needed to maneuver a tough world.”

I looked at my time. There was no way I could present all my material, all the stories I recalled. I wanted to share mine and Kyle’s fourth-grade winter-time swimming experience in the creek beside his house. I wanted to share stories that emphasized each of his positive character traits, things like his perceptiveness, his alertness, his analytical ability, and his cautiousness. But there was not enough time, so I chose courageousness instead. Because to me, it took place near the end of Kyle’s life, and contained strong hints about his destination, one not of his choosing.

“The last story I want to share with you is about Kyle’s courage. If it hadn’t been for my sister, you wouldn’t be hearing this.”

“After Kent asked me to talk today, I called Kyla and asked her what she remembered about Kyle. At first, she mentioned general stuff like how he enjoyed fishing in our pond and how he and I loved playing at the creek beside his house. Almost as an afterthought, Kyla had said, ‘I wish you had his essay, the one he wrote for Mrs. Smith’s class.’ I’m sorry to say I’d forgotten all about it.”

“Mrs. Linda Smith, Ms. Linda, as she insisted we call her, was our tenth-grade literature teacher. At the first of the year, she’d assigned a project to be turned in anytime we wanted, but no later than the last day of school before the Christmas holidays. The assignment was to write about a challenge we were facing—and what we planned to do about it.”

“You might ask yourself how my memory got refreshed. That’s a straightforward question: I called Ms. Linda. Finding her was the hard part. She had recently moved from Boaz to Eugene, Oregon, to be closer to her son and was still unpacking. She instantly recalled Kyle and his essay as though it had been only a week.”

“Come to find out, Kyle’s was one of ten Ms. Linda had kept from her thirty-year teaching career. And, in somewhat of a surreal way, before moving to Oregon, she’d read all of them. Now, they were in a box somewhere in a storage unit.”

“Now, to Kyle’s essay. I ask you to keep in mind two of his dominating personality traits, one negative, the other, positive. Kyle was a fanatic, meaning he could be intensely devoted to a cause or idea. As we all know, that can turn negative. On the bright side, he was perceptive. Kyle was intuitively observant and insightful.”

“It was only natural for Kyle to respond to his challenge the way he did. And what was his challenge? He was being bullied. By a fellow student named Brute. Of course, this wasn’t his real name. Nor was Babe, Brute’s girlfriend’s name. More on her in a moment.”

“The bullying started at the beginning of ninth grade when Kyle tried out for the football team. He hadn’t made it as a player but won the team’s water-boy position. Brute was big and mean. Kyle was no match physically. At first, Brute demanded Kyle wash his practice uniform every day through the week and his game uniform over the weekend. Once Brute learned Kyle was smart, he had him do his homework. This went on throughout ninth grade, no matter the sport Brute played or the classes he took.”

“While Brute was bullying, Babe was befriending. Kyle hated Brute, but mesmerized Babe. What infatuated Kyle was the irreconcilability of Babe’s intelligence with her devotion to Brute. Somehow, Kyle learned Brute was two-timing Babe with an Albertville Aggie cheerleader. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, the girl was pregnant with Brute’s baby.”

“Let’s pause a second and make sure we understand the context. Kyle realized he would have to write Brute’s essay. Even though the two were not in the same literature class, they shared the same personal essay assignment. Oh, one thing I forgot to mention, Ms. Linda promised the essays were for her eyes only given their personal nature.”

“Listen carefully to how Kyle used his brain and his courage to outfox Brute. He first created a plan. He would write two essays for Brute, not one. It would be Brute’s choice which one to submit to Ms. Linda. The first essay was generic. It presented Brute’s response to the challenges of earning a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. The second essay was more revealing. It dealt with Brute’s love life and the problems and challenges he faced having two girlfriends, with one being pregnant with Brute’s baby.”

“After Kyle completed the essays, he presented them to Brute. Of course, Brute chose the innocuous essay, and according to Kyle’s essay, promised two things. To stop bullying Kyle, and to come clean with both girlfriends.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, it took great courage for Kyle to confront Brute, but there’s one thing we need to remember. Danger is the seed of courage. Without the first, there’s no need for the second. Ms. Linda told me all of this. I haven’t seen it with my own eyes. To this day, none of us know what happened to Kyle, and we can only speculate whether the writing assignment had anything to do with Kyle’s disappearance.”

“Thanks for listening to my too-long eulogy. I’ll leave you with this. The world would be a much better place if my best friend had lived and were with us today. I miss you, Kyle.”

***

I closed my notebook and exited the stage as Kent approached. We shook hands and clumsily executed what Rachel called a man hug.

I returned to my seat beside Kyla. We exchanged smiles, and affirmative head nods, our lifelong habit showing agreement. Just as Kent was introducing himself, a deafening noise shook the large speakers set at opposite ends of the stage. The sound originated from the north, the direction I was facing, but the huge banner displaying a collage of Kyle’s photos blocked my view. At first, I thought the noise was a monstrous thunderclap, except there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The eighteen-person crowd remained calm and seated, but each person’s quick head movement and lowered eyebrows revealed a united uncertainty. My second guess was a sonic boom, but a billion-dollar jet flying low altitude at 700 miles per hour over Boaz, Alabama seemed a long shot. When I heard a fire siren, I concluded there had been a giant explosion in the industrial park.

Kent’s puzzled looks and bodily movements showed he had conducted a similar analysis. He finally walked off the stage onto the grass to his right and looked to the north. He yelled ‘fire’ a split second before spinning to face me. With head shaking back and forth, he motioned for me to join him.

Almost in unison, the entire crowd stood and moved toward Kent. Most gasped at something they witnessed. I think I heard one person say, “that’s one way to skin a cat.” Kyla, Lillian, and I were the last to arrive. What I saw was both shocking and sickening. The Hunt House was on fire. Boiling orange flames were already engulfing the surrounding treetops.

I’ll never forget what Kent whispered in my ear as he eased beside me. “That’s a message. I just don’t know what it is.”

Kent wound his way to Sparks Avenue. Neither of us said anything until he rolled through the stop sign at Brown Street. “How about going with me to see Jackie Frasier?”

I was still pondering tall man and short man. I must have misunderstood Kent’s question. “You’re joking, right?” There was no way old ‘Jack’ was still alive.

“Not at all. And he still lives across from my childhood stomping grounds.” Kent pulled beside my rental. There were other things I needed to do. One was to call Lyndell. An hour and a half ago, he’d sent a text saying he and Rosa were still waiting to talk to the ER doctor. I was eager to hear how Rob was doing.

“That dump of a single wide?” I also needed to do a hard review of tomorrow’s eulogy to determine where to insert Kent’s two suggestions but seeing a freak-of-nature sort was hard to pass.

“Yep. So, can you come along?” Kent seemed anxious. He was drumming his fingers on the stirring wheel. I wondered if he wanted a witness. I couldn’t imagine why.

“Yeah, I can go. But I need to be back within an hour.”

“That’ll work.” Kent backed onto Sparks, turned left on Highway 205, and drove toward old downtown Boaz.

I tried to visualize the last time I’d seen Jackie Frasier, the high school custodian. I still remembered his shiny Bel Air Chevrolet. “He’d have to be a hundred years old, probably more. I recall he was an old man when we graduated.”

“He’s now a hundred and three. I’ve tried all week to see him but he’s never at home.”

“What does a hermit do at a hundred and three?”

“Chase women, I guess. Or, he’s making excuses, given how many times I’ve dropped by this week and taped a note to his front door.” Kent said as the Thomas Avenue light turned red. Knowing me, I’d have run it.

“Seems like I’ve read the oldest person ever was a hundred and twenty.” The woman’s name slipped into my mind, Jeanette, somebody.

“Don’t forget, Methuselah.” Kent had a comical side. This was the second time we’d laughed in the past hour.

“Are you sure old Jack still lives there? How do you know he’s still alive?” I always had questions.

“The same way I know his age.” Kent tapped his fingers as we sat waiting on the red light beside Weathers Furniture. I figured it was to release energy. Maybe he was frustrated from wasting time, not being productive. I could appreciate that.

Kent had become a reluctant witness. I had to work for every fact. “So, how do you know Jackie’s age?”

“His daughter Jade.”

“Daughter?” I didn’t see that coming. “Jackie Frasier had kids, has kids?”

“She’s disabled, been that way all her life. Here’s what’s weird. I never saw the girl during all the years I lived at 294 King Street. I guess Jackie was too proud to let her out of the trailer.”

Kent shared his visit with Jade while he drove us to his childhood home. Jade Elizabeth Frasier is the daughter of Jack and a woman he worked with at Boaz Spinning Mill in the 1940s. Jade’s mother had abandoned her after birth, probably because of the child’s cerebral palsy and disfigured face. Since 2000, Jade continued her secluded life, not in a dilapidated single wide mobile home on south King Street, but at a government subsidized apartment in Mount Vernon Homes. Like her father, Jade never married.

If it hadn’t been for a sticky note inside the anonymously mailed package, Kent would likely have never learned of Jade Frasier. Handwritten were Jade’s full name and address, and: “witnessed 12/09/69 argument.”

“Question.” I hated to interrupt, but Kent paused while he slowed to cross the rickety Short Creek bridge. He stared to his left at what had once been Boaz City Park when we were in high school. Now, according to the sign, it’s a soccer field.

“Ask.”

“Would you agree the person who mailed you the package had spoken to Jade and knows the details of the argument you mentioned?”

“Woman. The expert said the same woman had written the sticky note and the message across the envelope.”

Kent exited the bridge and, after fifty feet, stopped again. This time, he pointed to Jackie’s trailer, now fully engulfed with rust and raging vines. Although the tiny deck and two steps outside the front door looked new.

Kent turned left into his old driveway after a car approached from the bridge. “Jade has a lot of health issues, but her memory seems perfect. This is what she told me. Kyle had exited the school bus that Tuesday afternoon, December the ninth. After the bus drove away, Jade saw a pickup truck coming straight towards her from our house. The driver stopped at the edge of King Street. It was a young girl, maybe sixteen. She exited the truck and started talking with Kyle. Low and civil at first, then the conversation got heated. Loud. It was about money. The girl demanded Kyle return it. That’s when she mentioned Ray. Then, Kyle asked the girl if she had gone inside his house. I’ll stop here and let you ask questions. I don’t want you to make your lips bleed.”

“It’s a tell. The first thing that came to mind was ‘how did Jade hear the argument?’ It was December cold.”

“Maybe she liked it cold. Maybe it was a warm day.”

“Next question. Did Jade describe the girl Kyle argued with?”

“I quote, ‘tall, dark curly hair, and built like Jane Fonda, and just as loud.’”

“Sounds like Rachel, but not my Rachel. She never raised her voice.” By now, Kent and I were out of his rental, leaning against the trunk lid. During high school, I rarely ever heard her speak.

“People change.” Kent said and started walking across King Street towards Jackie’s trailer.

Once again, Jack was not at home. However, Kent had another adventure in mind: visiting his old home place. He’d insisted we walk.

I’d forgotten how far the house was from King Street. The driveway was dirt potted with holes and lined with leaves and limbs of all sizes. I imagined the engulfing forest awakened by long-silenced conversations.

Like humans, houses age. The Bennett’s was no exception. It was a wood-framed house with a tin roof. The front porch had collapsed from the rotten posts. Many of the clapboard planks along the north wall had curled and twisted like toenails long abandoned.

We entered through an open back door, but our exploring was short-lived. Wind had blown back several pieces of tin and exposed the house’s interior. Rain had free reign for years, eventually rotting everything in its wake. It was all for the best since I really didn’t want to go inside Kent and Kyle’s old bedroom. I did my best to push back memories of my last visit. It was Thursday, December the 11th. I could still smell Mrs. Bennett’s fresh baked cornbread. After she insisted I eat a plate full of the golden bread buttered and soaked in sorghum syrup, Kyle and I had ridden in my car to Young Supply’s warehouse to work on the tenth-grade float.

Kent snapped a dozen photos as we walked around the south side and returned to the road. And he answered my questions. Mrs. Bennett now lived at the Bridgewood Gardens Assisted Living facility in Albertville, where she’d been for twenty years. Kent had insisted his mother leave the decaying structure before a life-crippling accident. He willingly continued to pay for his mother’s monthly care and the annual taxes on the home place. It was another way he could honor the memory of his long-lost brother.

It was after four when Kent dropped me beside my car. My one-hour limit had transformed into two, but I didn’t regret a thing. The time with Kent was sadly refreshing, a vivid reminder of days gone by, and a friend never to return.

***

I drove to Boaz Discount Drugs to buy a thank-you card for Lillian. I’d write a quick note and drop it in the mail. Now, that method seemed an insensitive way to express my gratitude. It might be perfect if I were back in New Haven, but I wasn’t. I was here, a few miles from the only one, among many, who had helped a hurting man. The drugstore included a large gift shop, so I ambled its aisles for ten minutes. I opted for a clip-on book light and a Hallmark card featuring an Emily Dickinson poem on kindness. I paid for my purchases and left.

Instead of driving straight to Lillian’s, I dropped by the Hunt House. I guess it was my second unsuccessful attempt to reach Lyndell that kept the place on my mind. I parked in the carport and checked both exterior doors. Locked. However, the rear one wasn’t the way I’d left it. It was an investigative trick I’d learned in Michael Dugoni’s novel, The Eighth Sister. Place a piece of writing lead from a mechanical pencil across the top hinge. When the door opens, the lead will fall. It’s so small most people would never see it.

I returned to the front, unlocked the door, and walked inside. After a thorough inspection of the entire house, I found nothing that disturbed or alarmed me. I secured the door, castigating myself for having forgotten my mechanical pencil. The front porch seemed a good place to pause and ponder who else had access to the Hunt House. Rosa and Rob came to mind, but neither was a possibility. Unresolved, I gave up and returned to my rental. I shifted the Hyundai into reverse and eased into the turning around spot. Maybe Barbara had an extra key and had returned for something. I eased forward to Thomas Avenue and waited for a red, older model Corvette to pass before heading to Lillian’s.

***

Lyndell called as I passed Wendy’s and merged onto Highway 431 South. “Hey son, how’s Rob?” I hoped by now the hospital had transferred him into a private room and he was resting comfortably.

“Not so good. It was a major stroke, much worse than we first thought. Hold on Dad.” I could hear a cacophony in the background. While I waited, I glanced at the bright green package with a red bow lying on the passenger seat. I second-guessed my decision to have the clip-on light gift-wrapped. “Sorry Dad, the ER’s a madhouse.”

“So, what’s going on right now?”

“He’s in surgery. The doctors are trying to deal with his brain swelling.” I heard a siren in the distance. I assumed Lyndell had walked outside.

“Wow. That’s serious.” I felt a rush of guilt for not being on the way to Roanoke right now. I knew little about strokes, but I knew Rob was 86 years old. That couldn’t be in his favor.

“Here it is, I wrote it down.” Lyndell spelled out, “H e m i c r a n i e c t o m y,” before pronouncing the surgical procedure, “hemicraniectomy. The surgeons remove a portion of Papa Rob’s skull to relieve the pressure.”

“Sounds like he might have a long road to recovery.” I turned left at Cox Gap Road and made my decision. I would deliver my eulogy in the morning and, out of respect for Kyle and Kent, remain until the memorial ended. Then, I would fly to Roanoke. It was the least I could do for my in-laws. And Rachel.

“That’s assuming the best. You know Leah, she’s at the cabin but reading everything she can on strokes. She said there could be permanent brain damage if the swelling isn’t relieved quickly enough. Also, there are several other potential complications, including pneumonia.”

I briefly shared my plan to fly to Roanoke late tomorrow afternoon before Lyndell ended our conversation. Apparently, he had seen Mama Rosa’s worried face staring at him through the glass wall of the Emergency Room.

***

My bravery evaporated when I reached Alexander Road. Instead of turning right, I kept driving east on Cox Gap. As I passed the pond, I glanced to my right and to Lillian’s cabin. The place was dark. She wasn’t at home. Kyla had said the Community Meal was an all-day thing.

That fact changed my mind. I would find a safe spot to turn around and then return to Lillian’s. I would deposit the card and gift on the front porch and leave. That was safe, and it showed the personal sincerity of my gratitude.

I didn’t see Lillian’s SUV when I pulled into her driveway. I exited my rental with a card and gift in hand. Halfway to the front door, the porch light came on and then a stronger one at the corner of the eve. It was like I had been thrust on stage and had forgotten my lines. I should have retreated but didn’t. I continued to the front porch, and without hesitation, rang the doorbell.

It felt like an hour before Lillian responded. My first thought was she had arrived soon after I’d driven past Alexander Road. She’d parked out back or in a garage I hadn’t noticed and walked inside through the back door. Before she could switch on a light, she’d seen a vehicle turn into her driveway. Maybe she was tired and didn’t want to be disturbed, but that didn’t explain why the outside lights were now on. Just as I discarded my first hypothesis, I heard the deadbolt click.

Lillian opened the front door and smiled. I don’t think it was noticeable, but my mind snapped a head-to-toe virtual photograph of the woman I saw. I would inspect it as she opened the storm door. If she did. She retreated for a moment to flip on the inside lights. The pine-paneled walls of the den became visible.

“Hey, come in.” Lillian said, pushing back the door to give me room. I combined my items into my left hand and used my right to assist with the stubborn door. The sweet and flowery scent of lavender was inescapable as I squeezed into a small open foyer. I felt a twinge more at ease. “What brings you out?”

I didn’t instantly respond. She closed the storm door and moved to a lamp beside the couch. She switched it on. “I wanted to thank you for coming to my rescue Tuesday afternoon.” I handed her the card and the green-wrapped gift with a red bow.

“You didn’t have to do this. I’m pretty sure you already said thanks, but you might not have known it.” It took me a second to realize she was referring to my Vicodin encounter. We both laughed and Lillian motioned me to sit.

“I wanted to. It’s the least I could do.” I also wanted to clarify my confusion over Rachel’s diary, but it wasn’t the time.

“Should I open this now?” Lillian sat on a leather couch across from me and reached for the coffee table for the green and red package.

“It’s yours.” I sucked in the personal communication department. I also sometime missed the obvious. This entire scenario was inappropriate on many levels. First, the last thing I needed, or wanted, was a relationship. I had utterly failed at the two most important ones I’d ever had: Kyle and Rachel. Both died because of my inability to recognize warning signs. My presence was wrong for an equally disturbing reason: Lillian is married. As she read her card and delicately opened her present, I did what most men would do, regardless of propriety. I took in the scenery.

I would bet most people at age 66 look radically different from their 16-year-old self. I know I do. But Lillian didn’t, at least in the virtual photograph I was inspecting. Her silky brown hair was still, well, silky, even though she now wore it shoulder length instead of halfway down her waist. My mind’s camera might be low tech, missing a few wrinkles and some loosening of Lillian’s neck muscles, but it had clearly captured her beauty, but not sensually. Even though she was heavier than at 16, the extra pounds had found suitable homes. How bad an effect would an extra fifteen or twenty pounds have on Julia Roberts? None. Come to think of it, Lillian had a lot of Julia’s features: amble and shapely breasts, and luscious lips.

“It’s perfect.” Lillian finally said after folding the green wrapping paper and setting it, along with the red bow, on the coffee table. “I love to read.”

“Kyla mentioned it.” Guilt washed over me, submerging my unintended sexual thoughts, and reminding me I needed to leave. Lillian’s phone chirped once, then a second time. It sounded like birds talking. She looked at me before grabbing her iPhone from the nearest end table.

I stood, realizing Lillian’s distraction was a good time to leave. She looked at me and mouthed the words, “please wait.” I guessed she had received a text and a voice mail at the same time. She read and listened. To avoid eavesdropping, my mind refocused on that easily accessible virtual photo. Finally, she returned her phone to the coffee table. “Lee, can I ask a big favor?”

I didn’t hesitate. “You can but know that I’m not much of a handyman.” Lillian smiled, stood, and walked to me. “The storm door does need adjusting but what I need requires little skill.” She softly poked me in the chest and laughed. “Only kidding.”

“What do you need?” I was feeling awkward, not knowing what to do with my hands. I quickly executed the hands-in-pocket routine.

Lillian’s look was somber. Her blue-green eyes stared into mine. “It’s rather personal. Do you have five minutes to let me explain?”

What was I to say? She motioned me back to my chair. She rejoined the couch. “I’m going to divorce Ray and, to put it bluntly, I need some dirt.”

Lillian summarized her and Ray’s latest prenuptial agreement. She, like a lot of other women in America, could not secure a divorce without negative financial repercussions. What Lillian wanted were two things: money and justice, including an ample dose of revenge for Ray’s many affairs. Fortunately, the prenup was her gateway. It contained a clause whereby each, Ray and Lillian, had promised the other they had fully disclosed their assets, and every other issue that could apply to the prenuptial negotiations. The bottom line for Lillian was that if she could prove Ray had withheld knowledge of his criminal activity, then she was free as a bird, a wealthy bird at that.

After Lillian’s rather long monologue, she still hadn’t told me where I fit in this convoluted story. “I’m confused about how I can help.”

My question triggered an equally long explanation. Unsurprisingly, Kyla had already shared with her best friend the two primary reasons I had come to Alabama. One was to help Rob protect the Hunt House, and the second was to seek justice for Kyle and Rachel. “Here’s what I propose since we’re after the same thing.” Lillian sounded like a lawyer, or one well read and with an excellent memory. “I’m asking you to share with me the fruits of your investigation.” I couldn’t help but think of the U.S. Constitution and ‘the fruit of the poisonous tree,’ one of the most dominate principles in Fourth Amendment search and seizure law.

I again stood and, being the excellent negotiator I am, said: “I will if you do the same.”

“Agreed,” Lillian said, standing and walking two steps toward me. She held out her right hand. We shook, and after standing, repeated my hands-in-pocket routine.

“Well, I need to be going. I’ve still got some homework.”

“Your eulogy?”

“Yes,” I said, retreating two steps. Lillian nodded affirmatively and walked past me to the front door. At 16, she loved the sweet smell of lavender.

After I reached the front porch, we exchanged goodbyes and promises to keep each other up to date on the fruits of our investigations.