And I had to admit, the place creeped me out. Though I knew my reaction was irrational, I felt a sense of evil pervading the grounds. Deciding to make inquiries in town, I dropped the bar and headed back to the crash site.

Driving toward the morgue, I pondered the mysterious lodge. Who had built it? Why? What was it about the place that made me so uneasy?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ryan was lying in wait when I arrived at High Ridge House shortly after nine. I didn't see him until he spoke.

'Looks like we've got an explosion.'

I paused, one hand on the screen door handle.

'Not now, Ryan.'

'Jackson's going to make a statement tomorrow.'

I turned in the direction of the porch swing. Ryan had one heel on the banister and was pushing himself slowly back and forth. When he drew on his cigarette, a tiny red glow lighted his face.

'It's certain?'

'As Madonna's lost virginity.'

I hesitated, wanting news of the investigation, but wary of the bearer.

'It's been a sincerely fucked-up day, Brennan. I apologize for any misbehavior.'

Though I'd had little time to dwel on it, the noontime confrontation had led me to a decision. I was ending the circle of disaster that had been my relationship with Ryan.

From now on our interactions would be strictly professional.

'Tel me.'

Ryan patted the swing.

I crossed to him but remained standing.

'Why an explosion?'

'Sit.'

'If this is a come-on, you can—'

'There's cratering and fiber penetration.'

In the half-light of the overhead bulb Ryan's face looked drained of life. He inhaled deeply, then flicked his butt into Ruby's ferns. I watched sparks comet through the dark, imagining the plunge of Air TransSouth 228.

'Do you want to hear this?'

Placing my pack between us, I dropped onto the swing.

'What's cratering?'

'Cratering is caused when a solid or liquid is suddenly converted to a gas.'

'As in a detonation.'

'Yes. An explosion rockets the temperature thousands of degrees and sends out shock waves that create a gas wash effect on metal surfaces. That's how the explosives group experts described it. They showed slides at today's briefing. It looks kind of like an orange peel.'

'They're finding cratering?'

'They've spotted it on fragments. Roled edges, too, which is another indicator.'

He gave the swing a gentle push.

'What's fiber penetration?'

'They're seeing the fibers of some materials driven through other, undamaged materials. Al under high-powered microscopes, of course. They're also finding heat fractures and flash melting at the ends of some fibers.'

Another oscilation, and I tasted the Greek salad I'd wolfed down after leaving the morgue.

'Don't rock the swing.'

'Some of the blow-up photos are amazing.'

I zipped my jacket and tucked my hands into the pockets. Though the days were stil warm, the nights were growing crisp.