Leah said, “I’ve got to open up a little with you. I’m in Buffalo trying to find Viktor because he committed some murders while participating in an escape from the federal penitentiary in Weldonville, Colorado, a couple of years ago. Nearly all the escaped inmates are in custody or dead. He isn’t. I’ve been trying to find local people who might have seen him.”

Stella said, “Interesting. I’ll ask around and try to find out what I can.”

“I appreciate that, and I thank you. But I don’t want you to return to police work. If you had happened to know something current—an address for him, a place where he hangs out, I would have run with it. But I don’t mean to get you involved in my investigation. I don’t know about the rest of the family, but Viktor is a violent psycho who has committed several murders. If you recall anything else about him later, great. Call me. But please don’t draw any attention to yourself.”

“I was a cop a long time, and this is not only my hometown, it’s my home district. People here know me, and they like me. I can tell you that you’re more likely to make a mistake here than I am. People here are not nasty to strangers, but they won’t tell you anything about a local boy, especially if he’s a rotten local boy.”

“I can’t ask you to take a risk.”

Stella sipped her tea. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I may come up with zip. There’s nothing safer than not finding the bad guy. I’m just saying I’ll ask some people. If anything useful turns up, I’ll call again. If it doesn’t, I won’t.”

“Thank you,” Leah said.

“I read about that prison break, but I had no idea that Viktor Panko was in it. I didn’t even know he was in prison at the time. Do you mind if I ask you a prying question?”

“You’re entitled. Ask away.”

“What’s left of your hometown after two years?”