Carli was a slim blonde, with a tasteful tat of a porpoise on her neck. There was undoubtedly more ink elsewhere but maybe in keeping with today’s fashion, she was in layers of garments, the outer a long-sleeved. Michael was a good-looking jock, with longish hair, also blond. A blue jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. This particular garment was printed with a tour poster of a band Shaw had never heard of, which was most of them in the history of pop and rock music. Michael seemed pleasant enough, though Shaw recalled it had been his idea to exploit the disabled Frank to try for a discount from Williams.

Carli was behind the counter of a dingy coffee shop on a side street in downtown Hanson Valley. Michael was hanging out between summer-session classes. It wasn’t a coincidence they were here together; from their conversation Shaw could tell they were dating.

He asked for a cup of “South American Import.” Given that the place smelled more of Lysol than rich, roasted beans, he was expecting stale Folgers, but in fact, it turned out to be pretty good brew (though he identified it as Guatemalan, not from the lower hemisphere, as the chalkboard menu promised).

He added some milk and, when she was between customers, said to both of them, “I’m in town helping out Jude Sterling’s parents. I’m looking into the case about a possible appeal. Can I ask you a few questions?”

Shaw was in a sport coat and dress shirt; they probably put him down as a lawyer or legal assistant.

“I guess.” From Michael.

Carli said, “I never liked him, Jude, I mean. His brother was sweet, poor kid. But Jude, always kind of weird.”

“Freaky,” Michael said.

Again, no interest in opinions. “You didn’t actually see him shoot Daryl Williams, right?”

Michael shook his head. “No.”

“Uh-uhn.” Carli was enthusiastically wiping down the cappuccino machine.

Shaw said to Michael, “I understand you came back to the clearing, looking for Travis and Erik.”

“Not in the clearing. I walked past it.”

“But you saw Jude cock the gun and point it at Daryl.”

“Yeah. I thought he was going to shoot him again but he didn’t. Then I found Trav and Erik, and we booked out of there.”

“You don’t know how long it was between the shot and when Jude walked into the clearing.”

With a glance at her boyfriend, Carli said, “Man, after the shot, we just ran.”

“I want to show you some pictures. These are some dealers from Canton and Akron. Did you happen to see any of them around town on January twelfth?”