TWO HOURS, SIX galleries, and no significant information later, they stood in front of the Chase Goddard Antique and Curio Gallery. The sun was out in full force, the temperatures in the high thirties, which meant melting snow and ice off the eaves and rooftops. Dripping water created puddles on the sidewalks. The gallery was on a side street off the main drag of Newbury, in a turn-of-the-twentieth-century house that featured plaster molding, a big picture window, and a green-and-white-striped awning over the doorway. On the left side was a bakery with a few inside tables for coffee and a snack, and on the right was a linens store specializing in lace and embroidery.

Since it was only two-thirty, they had time before the interview. They elected to sit in the bakery rather than the car, which was beginning to smell a little dank and rank. The bakery was cute and warm and the aroma was heavenly. After ordering, they sat down and waited for their cappuccinos and snacks, neither of them speaking until the coffee came.

Decker sipped. “Man, that’s good.”

“Yeah, it is.” McAdams was still paging through the book, trying to figure out as many words as he could. “This is going to take a while.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t do this right now.”

The kid looked up. “No one’s here. Besides, you told me to bring it with me.”

“Well, maybe it’s best that you put it away just in case someone has been tailing us.”

McAdams closed the notebook. “Very funny.”

“Maybe not.”

“What?” The kid dropped his voice. “What are you talking about?”

“Hyundai Accent silver van, maybe two years old. I noticed it when we left the police station in Summer Village. No front plates. About five minutes ago, I saw something very similar across Newbury Street right before we made the turn toward Goddard Gallery. I think the person spotted me looking at the car because he or she took off and unfortunately I was too far away to read the back plates.”

McAdams was quiet. “Is it the same vehicle? I mean there must be hundreds of silver Hyundai Accents.”

“I wouldn’t say hundreds.”

“Are you doing that on purpose or do you like to see me sweat?”

“I’m sure it was a coincidence. But two people are dead so I thought I’d mention it, in case we see the van again.”

“Right.” McAdams sipped coffee. “Your eyes. They’re never in one place for long unless you’re trying to spook someone. Do they teach you that at detective school?”

“My suspicious nature is all my own doing. It has served me well.”

“I know I’ve asked you this before but should I be worried?”

“Honestly, I don’t know, Tyler. You said you’re in it for the long run, but if you wanted to walk, I wouldn’t blame you.”