Medrano shook his hand, casting drops of blood into the darkness. He smelled of weed, body odor, and some other unsavory things Harley did not care to try to identify.

What do you want? he muttered, looking her up and down.

You have two choices, she said. You can come to the station to answer some questions willingly, or I can arrest you for unlawful evasion.

This was a bluff his decision to run wasnt grounds for arresting him, especially considering she had entered the house without permission but Medrano didnt know that, and from what Harley knew of him so far, she guessed he wasnt the sharpest pencil in the box.

His voice took on a low whine. Aww, come on, I aint done nothing.

Then youll have nothing to hide.

Fine, Ill go, he muttered, bending double as he cradled his bleeding hand.

Suddenly Medranos arm shot out. The knife was a silvery blur that would have buried itself in Harleys stomach if her instincts hadnt protected her. She grabbed his extended arm and twisted it behind his back.

Medrano howled in pain, dropping the knife.

Guess were doing this the hard way, Harley said, marching him toward her vehicle.

* * *

At the station, after Medranos hand had been cleaned and dressed, Harley leaned back in her chair and studied him from across the table, wondering if he had it in him to murder those girls.

Lacking a badge, shed been forced to call Newbury to convince the sergeant at the local police station that she was indeed a federal agent who did indeed need to question a suspect. Hed warned her not to take too many liberties, but when she reminded him that hed asked for her help because she could get results, he stopped questioning her methods.

Now she cocked her head, studying Medrano. Tell me about the mines, she said.

Cant I get another Coke? Medrano said, wincing as he tried to flex his skinned hand.

How about some cocaine? Would that help?

He grinned. It might loosen things up, yeah.

The mines, she repeated firmly. Or I book you for assaulting a federal officer.

He made a sour face. I used to work over at the Chino, so what? You probably know that already. I quit a few months agois that a crime?

You were fired, Harley corrected. And Im not talking about that mine. Im talking about the ones you like to explore in your free time. The ones that are a bit more…off the grid.

Medrano blinked dumbly at her for several seconds. Then his face cleared with recognition.

Oh, he said, those mines. He shrugged. What about em?

She studied his face. Either he was a pathological liar or he had no clue what she was getting at.

What do you do out there? she asked.