Moving on from the truck, she walked to the front door and knocked. She got no response, but the presence of the truck in the driveway told her there was very likely someone home. She knocked again and this time even tried the door. It was locked, but there was a rattle along the inside of the door. She thought this might mean the interior of the lock had been damaged at some point in the past, and if she wanted, she could probably pick it rather easily. If she was more confident that Dillinger could be the killer, she might have gone to such lengths.

As she waited again, she continued to hear the dog barking. It seemed to be closer this time. When she looked down the street, she saw a woman walking a dog. It was a bulldog, trundling along in front of its owner. Rachel knocked again and this time called out as well.

Hello? Mr. Dillinger?

Roughly two minutes had passed since her first knock. Maybe he wasnt home after all. Maybe he owned a second vehicle and was at work. She reached for her phone in her pocket to call in the update and ask if someone could figure out where Dillinger worked. As she came down the porch steps and to the sidewalk, though, the woman walking her dog stopped just shy of Rachels car.

You looking for Seth? the woman asked. She was pretty, and somewhere near middle-aged. She was wearing a pair of very tight joggers and a sporty tank-top and had the look of a woman that walked or ran several times a week.

I am, actually. Do you know him?

Not well, thank goodness. Just enough so that he leers at me every now and then when I pass by. Gotta give him credit, though; he hasnt yelled out anything sexist or repulsive in a few years. Anyway…I can tell you for sure hes not home.

Youre certain? How?

An ambulance came by about an hour and a half ago. She hitched a thumb back behind her and said, I watched it all from my porch. They wheeled him out and put him in the back.

What? Rachel asked. This seemed like a very big event in the case, even if she hadnt quite made up her mind about Dillinger. Youre sure?

Well, yeah! You cant really mistake an ambulance, now can you?

Did you happen to know that he was sick?

Id heard, yeah. My neighbor is a really kind ladyChristian, donates to charities and missions, things like that. Shed been going by to drop things off for him a few times a month. Meals, stuff like that. I think it was something to do with his liver. Not sure. I know he was really bad off a few months back, but my neighbor said he was getting much better lately.

Rachel nodded, now hurrying for the drivers side of her car. Thank you.