“Mason and Lucy went into the barn. Jesse said there were two shots.” He looked up, shouted into the other room. “Get the ambulance over to the Hallburton place. Badger Hollow Road, off Route 112.”

Steve Farr called, “It’s on its way.”

Rhyme pressed his head back into the headrest of the chair. Glanced at Thom, who said nothing.

Who was shooting? Who’d been hit?

Oh, Sachs …

An edge in his voice, Bell said, “Well, find out, Jesse! Is anybody down? What the hell’s going on?”

“Is Amelia all right?” Rhyme shouted.

“We’ll know in a minute,” Bell said.

But it felt more like days.

Finally Bell stiffened again as Jesse Corn or somebody came on the phone. He nodded. “Jesus, he did what?” He listened a moment longer then looked at Rhyme’s alarmed face. “It’s all right. Nobody’s hurt. Mason kicked his way into the barn and saw some overalls hung up on the wall. A rake or shovel or something in front of it. It was real dark. He thought it was Garrett with a gun. He fired a couple times. That’s all.”

“Amelia’s all right?”

“They weren’t even there. It was just the truck they stole that was inside. Garrett and Amelia must’ve been in the house but they probably’ve heard the shots and took off into the woods. They can’t get too far. I know the property—it’s all surrounded by bogs.”

Rhyme said angrily, “I want Mason off the case. That was no mistake—he shot on purpose. I told you he was too hotheaded.”

Bell obviously agreed. Into the phone he said, “Jesse, put Mason on….” There was a short pause. “Mason, what the hell is this all about? … Why’d you fire? … Well, what if it’d been Pete Hallburton standing there? Or his wife or one of his kids? … I don’t care. You head back here right now. That’s an order…. Well, let them search the house. Get in your cruiser and head back…. I’m not telling you again. I—”

“Shit.” Bell hung up. A moment later the phone rang again. “Lucy, what’s going on? …” The sheriff listened, frowning, eyes on the floor. He paced. “Oh, Jesus…. You’re sure?” He nodded then said, “Okay, stay there. I’ll call you back.” He hung up.

“What happened?”

Bell shook his head. “I don’t believe it. We got suckered. She did a number on us, your friend.”

“What?”

Bell said, “Pete Hallburton’s there. He’s home—in his house. Lucy and Jesse just talked to him. His wife works the three-to-eleven shift over at Davett’s company and she forgot her supper so he dropped it off a half hour ago and drove home.”

“He drove home? Were Amelia and Garrett hiding in the trunk?”