Who would, then? What kind of person wouldnt be afraid to explore those mines?

To leave victims to die there, you mean? Greg said, then fell silent for several moments. Now that I think about it, there was a guy on my crew not too long ago who talked incessantly about exploring those mines, like it was a hobby of his.

What happened to him?

Fired him after he failed a drug test. Between you and me, I was relieved.

Harley leaned forward, listening intently. Whys that?

Greg took a long breath. He was just…bad news. Unpredictable in all the wrong ways. Had a way of accidentally getting others hurt.

Does this fellow have a name? Harley said, holding her breath.

Mike…oh, what was it. Something unusual…

He fell silent. Harley was on the verge of breaking the silence when Greg spoke again.

Mike Medrano! Thats it. We probably have his address on file at the office, assuming he hasnt moved. Shirley refuses to get rid of tax documents from the turn of the century, so Im sure she still has information on an employee who left only three months ago.

Harley nodded, liking this lead more and more. How soon can you get me that address?

He sighed. She suspected he was checking the time.

End of day? he said. Ill take care of it before I lock up.

Thanks, Greg.

Be careful with him, Harley. Hes…no, thats not fair.

What were you going to say?

A pause. Hes a little…funny, okay?

Funny?

An oddball. Youll see when you talk to him. He has a temper, too, so be careful you dont set him off.

That makes two of us, Harley thought.

She thanked Greg and was about to hang up when he spoke again.

Have you thought any more about talking with Dad?

The truth was she hadntnot much, anyway. As insensitive as it sounded, she was much more concerned about solving this case than agonizing over what to do with her fathers dying days.

Ill see him soon. I promise.

Greg sounded relieved. Im glad to hear that. If you need moral support, just let me know. Ill be happy to tag along.

After ending the call, Harley pushed off and leaned back in the swing, stretching her legs as far as they would go. She was going to kick the sun out of the sky. For a few minutes, she was just a kid again.

Then she planted her sneakers into the dirt to stop herself, climbed out of the seat, and walked back to her car.

It was time to figure out just what kind of guy this Mike Medrano was.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Harley watched the ranch-style house through her dusty side-mirror as the western horizon blazed blood-red. As she waited for Medrano to return home, she mentally recalled the details she had dredged up on him from the FBI database.