“Yes, I did,” Crandal said. “It’s all in the notes. Yes, he owns one. A twelve-gauge Browning BPS Pump. He said he didn’t bring it with him, of course, and as far as he knows, it’s still back in the house. When I told him it wasn’t, he said he had no idea where it was.”

A Browning Pump, Decker thought. Byron’s statement was on the money. And the wadding and spent shells found at the crime scene were consistent with that gauge.

He asked, “What about a thirty-eight?”

“Pappy claims he doesn’t own one,” Crandal said. “Of course, he could be lying.”

Decker said, “Mind if I interview them when they come back up?”

Crandal hesitated a moment, then said, “Go ahead.”

Decker opened his drawer and pulled out a copy of his notes for Crandal. “You can reinterview anyone I talked to, if you want. Just send me your notes.”

Crandal stood, took the notes, stuffed them into his briefcase, and straightened his tie. He said he didn’t see any reason to duplicate Decker’s work at this point. He’d pass.

18

At six-thirty, Decker pulled the unmarked in the driveway and shut the motor. As soon as he opened the door, he heard the steady blows of hammering and rebuked himself for forgetting to call Abel. He jogged over to the barn, and much to his surprise, Rina was standing at the threshold, an empty pitcher and glass in her hands. She was dressed in a long-sleeved blouse, a knee-length skirt, and her hair was covered. Sweat had moistened her brow, cheeks, and neck. Abel was kneeling ten feet away, banging a stud into the new piece of floorboard. He was bare-chested, his shorts cut at the knees, and he wore a tool belt around his waist. To his right was a pile of lumber, to his left were his portable bench saw and several boxes of nails.

“Get inside,” Decker barked to Rina.

“Peter, I—”

“Get inside,” Decker said. Louder this time.

“Will you let me—”

“Goddammit, Rina, stop arguing with me and get inside the fucking house right now!”

Rina glared at him with wet eyes, biting her bottom lip. With a single motion, she turned around and ran inside the back door. Decker noticed he was shaking, then saw Abel staring at him.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Decker said. “I told you to keep away while Rina was in town. And don’t tell me you forgot, because you just saw her here yesterday.”

Abel continued to stare at him. “Little rough on her, don’t you think?”

“You didn’t answer my goddam question!” Decker said.

“I’m fixing your barn floor, Decker! What the hell does it look like I’m doing?”