“Did they appear to have had one too many?” McAdams asked.

“I don’t remember perfectly, but I’d say they were on the edge,” Jim said. “Whatever happened doesn’t surprise me. Nothing surprises me anymore. I’m just glad that when trouble came, it wasn’t here.”

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, Decker, McAdams, and Quay stood in front of a brick building with a wooden sign, the name TOBACCO’S ROAD burned black into the planks.

Quay said, “The place is bigger than the Mule. At this hour, things start to get busy. Don’t know how much we’ll get out of the bartender.”

A glance at his watch. It was half past six. Decker said, “Let’s go.”

As Quay predicted, there was a lively crowd. The atmosphere inside was dim and smoky. The bar was packed with patrons sitting elbow to elbow, drinking and eating and laughing. A big-screen TV was mounted on the wall with multiple images of baseball games. Scattered tables and chairs were positioned around three pool tables, all of them occupied.

They threaded their way up to the bartender. She had short blue hair to match her blue eyes and a body inked with tats. Gauges sat in her ears and a ring in her nose. She noticed Quay first. “Hey, Sarge. What can I get you?”

“Beer is fine.” He looked up at the chalkboard. “And an order of baby backs.”

“Got it.” She turned her eyes to Decker and McAdams, who said, “Baby backs sound good for me.”

“They go fast. And to drink?”

“Give him a beer also,” Decker said. “I’ll take a Diet Coke.”

“Been there.” Meaning she thought he was an ex-alcoholic. “Anything to eat?”

“I’ll take a giant pretzel.”

“Hot mustard?”

“Live dangerously,” he said.

She smiled as she poured two beers from the tap. Then she handed Decker his Diet Coke, picked up two empty beer glasses from prior patrons, and wiped the counter. “I’ll put this in to the kitchen.”

“Hey, Maddy,” someone shouted.

“Be right with you.” She put in the order and was off serving others. Five minutes later, she handed them their food. “Refills?”

Decker nodded. “Thanks.”

She looked at Quay, who nodded, and at McAdams, who said he was still nursing the first.

Quay picked up a rib. “Maddy, these two are detectives. When you get a moment, they’d like to ask you a couple of questions.”

Maddy took away his dirty glass and gave him a fresh mug. “About what?”

Out came the picture of Brock Baer. Decker said, “Ever see this man before?”

She turned the snapshot so she could see it better. “Looks familiar. What did he do?”

“We’re not sure,” Decker said. “How about this woman?”

“That’s Pauline.” Maddy paused. “Oh yeah. Now I remember.” Her eyes rolled. “They were here together.” Another eye roll.

Quay looked perplexed. “Did you tell me this before?”