“You want me to tell him to set up an appointment and come back?” Eleanor started to stand.

“No.” He waved her back down. “I’ll talk to him.”

She dropped her volume again. “Do you think this has anything to do with the tip that came in about him having information on Mavis and Fred?”

“That would be my guess. I talked to him yesterday afternoon, but he didn’t have much to say. Maybe he’s had a change of heart.”

“You think he really knows something about them?”

“Why else would he be here?”

She shook her head. “You can’t trust anyone these days.”

“I didn’t say he was guilty of anything. But I’m hoping he can offer us a lead. As it stands, we’re at a dead end—even though Dr. Reilly thinks we have another suspicious death.”

“Another one?” The woman’s eyes rounded.

“Lorraine Meyers. That’s where I was early this morning. Do you happen to know her?”

“Not well, but our paths have crossed. What happened?”

“TBD. However, the circumstances are similar to those surrounding the deaths of Fred and Mavis.”

“Will there be an autopsy?”

“Not yet. Dr. Reilly is pushing for it, but Russ isn’t convinced. Whatever Mullins has to say may help us decide. Could you answer my phone while I talk to him?”

“Sure thing.”

Nate continued down the hall. Mullins’s head was tipped back against the wall, his eyes closed, face pale and gaunt. The man looked as if he’d aged ten years in the past twenty-four hours.

He stopped in front of his unexpected visitor. “Mr. Mullins?”

The man’s eyelids flew open, and he stumbled to his feet. Tottered.

Nate grabbed his arm. Dark smudges hung under his lower lashes, and a spiderweb of red lines crisscrossed the white around his irises.

Either he’d been drinking, or he was exhausted and seriously stressed.

“Are you all right?” Nate kept a firm grip on him.

“Yes.” He cleared the raspiness from his throat. Inhaled. “Actually, that’s a lie. Just like my life’s been for almost four years. If you have a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you.”

“Come into my office. Could I get you a cup of coffee?”

“I’d appreciate that. An infusion of caffeine may help.”

“Have a seat at the table. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Nate wasted no time filling a disposable cup with coffee in the break room. After gathering up a stir stick and packets of creamer and sugar, he rejoined Mullins and passed over the java.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” While his visitor doctored up his coffee, Nate detoured to his desk for a pen and notebook, then took the chair at a right angle to the man. “I assume your visit is in reference to our conversation yesterday.”

“Yes. I was on the verge of coming to see you anyway, but your talk gave me the push I needed.” He took a sip of coffee, holding the cup with both hands as the liquid sloshed close to the rim. “Some of what I’m going to tell you is fact. Some is speculation. I don’t know how to prove the speculative part, but if you believe me, you may have the resources to find the truth.” He swallowed. “Why don’t I give you the basics first? After I finish, I can answer your questions.”