The commotion was coming from the larger barn. As they approached it, Kate noticed the faint wailing of an 80s country song, something by Randy Travis, coming from the barn. The doors were open, revealing a huge open space. On one side, there were a few chicken coops, all vacant. On the other side was various farming equipment lined up almost methodically: a tractor, bailing wire, a stack of old two-by-fours, shelves of seeds and fertilizer, and sacks full of hay and grain.

Two men were standing by the two-by-fours, making another stack with several other boards strewn at their feet. Before entering the barn, Kate knocked as loudly as she could on the massive open door. Both men turned to look at them. Neither of them were wearing shirts. One of the men looked to be about twenty or so, his chest and stomach chiseled and his shoulders bulky. The other man was middle-aged, his hair starting to go gray.

Can I help you? the older man asked.

Is one of you gentlemen Edgar Lee?

Thats me, the older man said. Whos asking?

Showing her ID, Kate stepped inside, DeMarco behind her. Were Agents Wise and DeMarco with the FBI. We were hoping to ask you a few questions.

The baffled look on his face was nearly comical. He swiped sweat from his brow with a bandana and collected his shirt from a nearby post. Can I ask what about?

Of course. But perhaps not in front of present company, she said, nodding toward the younger man.

Lee slipped his shirt on and walked over to the agents. FBI? he asked. Seriously? I think there might be some kind of mistake. He then lowered his voice and said: Is it about the same things from three years ago?

Not exactly, Kate said. They were outside of the barn now, walking together through the yard in the direction of the house. I assume that being from Deton, you heard about what happened to the Fullers.

I did. God, that was terrible. From what I hear, the theory is that Mercy killed them and then left town.

Were not here to discuss theories, DeMarco said. Were trying to find out exactly what happened and we discovered that Mercy served as a babysitter for you when the divorce started to go nasty.

Well, hell…you two just go right for the heart, huh?

A girl is missing and her parents are dead, Kate said. So yes…please forgive us if we dont waste any time getting to the point.

So are you here to ask about the working relationship when she was babysitting? Or are you here to remind me that I made some very stupid mistakes three years ago?

A bit of both, Kate said. Id first like to know how the hell you were able to get the Fullers to allow their daughter to babysit for you with the questionable pornography charges on your record.