“They’re hoping this afternoon or tomorrow. Baer is in CODIS, so it’ll be either a yes or a no. I am really impressed that you insisted we look for something on the roadway. Like how did you know?”

“Been doing this for a long time. Detectives do a lot of legwork and a lot of it is monotonous … not to mention dirty.”

“I know. I’ve been through enough trash cans in my days here, old man.” McAdams smiled. “Hey, I’m going to get some coffee from across the street. Want anything?”

“No, I’m fine. By the way, you’re invited for dinner.”

“Great.” McAdams picked up his wallet. “Even if the second blood type belongs to Brock Baer, is that enough to convict him of anything other than being with Pauline when she was injured?”

“I don’t know,” Decker said. “But you have to ask who else if not Baer.”

“All Baer would have to say is that they were both hurt by an anonymous third person. And the blood in Elsie’s house got there because Baer brought her over while she was bleeding.”

“Already thinking like a lawyer,” Decker said. “Okay. Then why would someone bury her? Why not just call the police?”

“Baer had a record. He didn’t trust the police.”

“Why bury her so far away?” Decker asked.

“He had been jailed for domestic violence. He didn’t want the finger pointed at him. Or …” McAdams paused. “Baer could say that he stabbed her, realized what he’d done, and was hoping Elsie could save her. That would knock down the first-degree murder charge. If I were him, I’d go with the anonymous person, although juries don’t like things like that.”

“You’ve found your calling in law.” Decker smiled. “Too bad it’s for the other side.”

“I’m not pleading his case, boss, I’m just saying if I were to plead his case …”

Decker thought a moment. “If Baer brought Pauline back to Elsie’s house, and she was already dead, that would explain why there was no spatter in the kitchen.”

“But it wouldn’t explain why Baer would bring the body to Elsie’s house and then bury her far away. Why not just leave her where he killed her?”

Decker’s brain was filled with jumbled ideas. “What if Baer forced Elsie to help him bury the body? I’m beginning to think that Elsie was complicit in some kind of way. It would explain why she didn’t go to the police.”

McAdams said, “If Elsie was complicit, why would she choose a spot so close to the diner to leave her car and bury Pauline? She had to know that once Bertram was reported missing, we’d be looking there.”