He had left the keys in the car for Billy, who had turned on the radio. His mood seemed to have improved during their absence, and he was no longer silently sullen when they got into the car.

“Why did we come here?” he asked.

“Because,” Tritia told him.

“It’s about the mailman, isn’t it?”

Doug looked at his son in the rearview mirror as he started the engine. “Yes,” he admitted.

“Are they going to get him?”

Doug nodded. “I hope so.”

Billy sat back in his seat. “Probably not, though.”

Doug did not respond. He waited for a moment until he saw Tim Hibbard and two other officers emerge from the building. Tim waved to him, motioned for him to follow, and Doug put the Bronco into reverse, pulling out of the parking space. He got behind the patrol car and followed it out of the lot, onto the street, and to the post office.

“Stay here,” Doug said as he got out of the car. Tim was already waiting for him near the building’s entrance.

Tritia unbuckled her seatbelt. “No way. I’m coming with you.”

“Me too,” Billy said.

“You definitely stay here,” Doug told his son.

“Yes,” Tritia agreed.

“Then why couldn’t I just stay home and watch TV?”

Because I was afraid to leave you alone, Doug thought, but he only shook his head, saying nothing. He left the keys in the ignition, turned the radio to Billy’s favorite station, and closed the car door. He and Tritia walked over to where Tim stood waiting.

The officer grinned as they approached. “The chief would croak if he knew you were here with me,” he said. “He doesn’t like you at all, you know.”

Doug pretended to be surprised. “Moi?”

Tim laughed.

Doug looked toward the door to the post office. The afternoon sun reflected off the glass so he could not see clearly inside, but there appeared to be no patrons in the office. He turned toward Tim. “Where’s Mike?” he asked.

“The truth? He was taken off this case because the chief thought he was getting too close to it.”

“Too close to me, you mean.”

“Well, yeah.”

Doug frowned. “ ‘This case?’ You mean the mailman?”

Tim smiled again. “Unofficially.”

“Well at least something’s being done. I was getting really worried about you guys.”

“Don’t stop worrying yet. The chief still thinks it’s a load of crap, and we still haven’t been able to substantiate anything.”

“Until now,” Tritia said.

“We’ll see.” Tim looked from Tritia to Doug. “You two ready to go in?”

Doug nodded. “Let’s do it.”