Look, he said. I lost my temper and took a swing at your partner. But she was pushing. She was bringing up things from my past that I have tried very hard to put behind me. He sighed heavily and then added: If youll bring her in here, Ill apologize.

Im sure shed appreciate that, Kate said. First, since you seem to be in a bargaining mood, I need you to tell me everything there is to know about the time you spent with Mercy Fuller.

Im not proud of it…but I made myself not speak to her. I had to be in another room. I didnt trust myself with her. I know…I know some of the things Ive been in trouble for in the past are messed up. I knew it then…when she was at my house, waiting for her father to pick her up. I swear to you…I never so much as touched her.

It was the trembling in his jaw and the way he kneaded his hands together that made Kate believe him. Still, he remained tense and nervous. He was hiding something.

Did you interact with Mercy at all when you and your ex-wife were friends with the Fullers? Kate asked.

Nothing beyond waving hello or asking if she wanted a snack or a drink on the few times they came over. She was pretty good friends with my oldest daughter. Whenever our families were together, the two of them would hang out most of the time.

And where is your family living right now?

Somewhere near the North Carolina border. A small towneven smaller than Deton, I thinkin the middle of nowhere.

Kate figured if it came to it, they could get contact information for his ex-wife and children. But she was pretty sure that would not be necessary. She still had one weapon in her arsenal, one more mode of attack that might give them everything they needed.

My partner is currently trying to crack into the old laptop we found in the barn. I find it suspicious that an older model laptopat least seven or eight years oldwas in your barn, partially charged.

Why? Laptops are expensive. Ive had that one for years. It runs slow, but does the job. Why get a new one? I work on a farm. A laptop isnt necessarily a necessity.

Id agree with that, Kate said, trying to disarm him. What do you use it for?

Music. Some YouTube stuff. Old wrestling videos, mainly. I use iTunes sometimes, too. But it lags sometimes. He chuckled nervously here and said: So maybe it is time for me to try to get a new one, huh?

Would you give us the password to get into it, then?

Lee paused for a moment, still wringing his hands as he considered the question. Slowly, he started to shake his head. No. Im not going to do that. Thats an invasion of privacy.