Brad nodded. He didn’t want to talk about it and wished people wouldn’t keep bringing it up. “Where are we on the Jasper Brooks thing?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Still nothing but the weapon and his confession,” Hank said. “But that should be more than enough. His prints are all over that thing, and the M.E. says it’s a match. I don’t think we have to worry.”

Brad wasn’t worried about any future trial. He was worried about finding the truth. And the lack of corroborating evidence did not sit well with him. In the back of his mind was the same fear he had about Leroy Fritz, that both men were patsies, that they had been set up to take the fall for murders they had not committed. The only arrest he was sure they’d gotten right was the Clark kid. That little psycho had definitely killed his parents. There was no doubt in his mind about that.

Thank God the judge in Globe had denied Victor Clark bail, because The First People’s Bank, for some reason, was paying for his defense. Clark had been only a part-time employee, and had been working for the bank for only a week or so. It was a mystery why they would offer to fund his defense.

Of course, why had Worthington tried to shield the boy in the first place?

Brad was still trying to work out a way to charge the banker as an accessory, although both times he’d discussed it with the deputies who’d been on scene, they’d been unable to point to a statement or action that would qualify under statute as unlawful. The bastard had been careful, and he obviously knew his stuff. Any attempt to collar him without cause would be considered harassment. Brad had no doubt that the bank would have high-priced lawyers come after the department full throttle if they didn’t have an airtight case.

He suddenly wondered whether First People’s would be footing the bill for Jasper’s and Leroy Fritz’s defense teams, too.

It didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility.

Carol handed him a stack of printouts. “Foreclosure evictions,” she said softly. “Twelve new ones.”

“Put ’em in the pile,” he told her.

“You’re still not going to enforce them?”

He shook his head.

Carol and Hank exchanged a look.

“What is it now?” Brad asked tiredly.

“Chet Yates is riling up his army. I heard him last night, and he said that you singled out his brother. Carl’s the only one you enforced, and you did it to get rid of him.”

Brad turned to his deputy. “Why do you listen to that shit?”

Hank shrugged his bony shoulders. “Nothing else on.”

“Goddamn it.”

“All I’m saying is, we should keep our eyes open. There’s a mood out there.”

Brad nodded. “Heard.”

Hank and Carol exchanged another look.