“I think it’s a good idea,” Doug said. “I hope it works.”

Mike frowned. “But I need your help. I was hoping you’d—”

“Sorry. I don’t think I have any help to give.”

“Sure you do—”

“You want my opinion?”

The policeman nodded. “Of course.”

“Don’t wait for him to do something else. Get him now. Charge him with anything, charge him with everything. If nothing sticks, fine. But at least you’ll have kept him off the streets for a while. And maybe by that time, with the hearings and jailing, the Postal Service will have appointed someone else to the job and we can get rid of him for good.”

“That’s your plan?”

Doug leaned forward. “He’s a fake. I called the main post office in Phoenix, and they have no record of him. When you guys called, their computer was mysteriously down and my story couldn’t be corroborated. But he’s not a real mailman. If you can get a postal inspector up here, if you can get the federal authorities to charge him, I think we’ll be safe. The problem is, you’re not going to be able to get through by mail or phone. You’re going to have to go to Phoenix in person.”

“No gas,” Mike reminded him.

“That’s why you throw his ass in jail until you can get someone up here, put him out of commission for a while.”

“I don’t know,” Mike said.

“Well, then, don’t throw him in jail. But at least try to get a representative from the post office up here. He’s not a real mailman, but he recognizes the authority of the Postal Service. Hell, it’s the only authority he does recognize.”

“What makes you think so?”

Gooseflesh cascaded down Doug’s arms as he remembered the mailman dancing on the ridge. “I just know.”

“I still want to stake him out.”

“Then stake him out. Tail him. Follow him wherever he goes. Maybe you’ll be able to catch him that way.”

“But you don’t think so?”

“I don’t think so.”

Mike stood up, picking up the photo album. “I’m on my own on this, you know. The department’s not behind me. The chief would shit if he knew I was even talking to you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. But I do have a few others with me. Tim, of course. And Jack and Jeff. We all know what’s going on.”

“I think you should nab him now.”

Mike walked to the door. “I’ll think about it.” He turned on the porch. “It would mean my job, though.”

“It may mean your life if you don’t. Or mine.”

“Maybe he’ll just go away.”

Doug smiled grimly. “No. That’s what I was hoping, too. But that’s the one thing he won’t do: he won’t go away.”