Even if the worst is true, what happened here is not your fault. You will feel bad, and you will mourn because something so ugly happened, but you have always acted with a good heart. If this terrible thing is true, do you know what you will do?

I nodded, but didn't answer.

You will man up and ranger on. I will personally fly out on the L-jet, and hold you. Do you hear me?

The L-jet was our personal joke. If Lucy had a private jet, it would be the L-jet.

I said, You're holding me now.

I'm not finished. Have you been drinking?

Yes.

Listen to me.

I miss you.

Shut up and listen. I want you to listen to me.

I'm listening.

Say something funny.

Lucy, c'mon

She raised her voice.

Say something funny!

Something funny.

Not your best effort, but it's a start. Now hang up.

Why?

Just hang up. I'll call right back.

She hung up. I held the phone, wondering what she was doing. A few seconds later it rang. I answered.

Luce?

She shouted.

Answer like you mean it!

She hung up again. I waited again. The phone finally rang, so I answered the way she wanted.

Elvis Cole Detective Agency. We find more for less. Check our prices.

Her voice came back as gentle as a kiss.

That's my World's Greatest.

I love you, Luce.

As a friend.

Sure. Friends.

I love you, too.

We could be friends with benefits.

You never give up.

Part of the benefit package.

I'd better get going. Call me.

Call you what?

She hesitated, and I knew she was smiling. I could feel her smile from two thousand miles away, but then my own smile faded.

I said, Do you think I'm kidding myself?

I think you want to be convinced. One way or the other, you'll have to convince yourself.

I stared at the black canyon below, and the lights showing warm on the ridges.

If Byrd didn't kill them, then someone else did.

I know.

She was silent for a while, then her voice was soft and caring.

You told me the facts were on their side. If you don't like their facts, find your own facts. That's what you do, World's Greatest. No one does it better.

She hung up before I could answer.

I held the phone for a while, then called Pike. His machine picked up with a beep. Pike doesn't have an outgoing message. You just get the beep.

I said, You're a good friend, Joe. Thanks.

PART THREE

PART TWO

UP IN THE CANYON

Chapter 8