“This was my momma and daddy’s place for fifty years. They ran it as a farm, but we haven’t done any farming here for thirty years. Their house was just down there,” she said, pointing to the left. “Burned down a long time ago. Only thing left is the chimneystack. I oughta just knock it down, but I can’t do it. I mean, it’s really the only thing I have left of them.”

“I can understand that.”

“You can, huh?”

“The past is hard to let go of, particularly when the future is a little uncertain.”

“You’re wasting your talents mucking stalls, Ben. You ought to be a philosophy teacher.”

“I was just heading back to town.”

“I need to pay you. Why don’t you ride with me back to the house? You can get some supper and your money.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t.” Her tone did not seem to invite dissent.

A few minutes later they pulled into the driveway.

“Beautiful house.”

“Came at a damn steep price.”

“Danny told me a little about that.”

“Expect you want to take a shower and change your clothes. Mucking stalls isn’t the cleanest job in the world.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry about your husband.”

“Uh-huh,” she said.

She slammed the truck door behind her and headed up the steps.

Stone slowly got out and trudged after her.

He could have landed in any town in the country. And it had to be Divine, Virginia.

Damn, I can really pick ’em.

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

KNOX COLLARED Annabelle Conroy as she was leaving her hotel. He flashed his creds and asked her to go with him.

“I don’t think so,” she said.

“Excuse me?”

“Those creds could be faked and you could be a rapist. Go call a cop and I’ll go with both of you if he’s satisfied you are who you say you are. But until then, get the hell away from me.”

“How about a cup of coffee in the restaurant over there? If I put my hand up your skirt, you can start screaming and kick me in the balls.”

“Just so you know, I kick really hard.”

“I have no doubt.”

“Will this take long? I’m sort of busy.”

“As long or as short as you want to make it.”

Over two cups of strong coffee Knox explained what he wanted.

“I don’t know where Oliver is,” she said truthfully. “We became friends, and I stayed at his cottage, but now he’s gone and he didn’t tell anybody where he was going.”

“How did you become friends and why were you staying at his cottage?”

“Simple enough. He helped me with a problem I had and after he left I wanted to keep his home going for him in case he came back.”

“So your problem was with Jerry Bagger, now deceased?”