One day after a bomb destroyed Del Payton’s Fairlane, Ray Presley discovered “proof” that the bomb was made of dynamite. Thirty years later I glance into the same car and find evidence that seems to indicate something quite different. I could be wrong, of course. I know of no reason why Presley should lie about the type of bomb that destroyed Del Payton’s car. And speculation is pointless until I know that he did. But that’s the beauty of physical evidence. I’ll get my answer. All I have to do is get that sheared fragment and sack of shrapnel to Huey Moak, then convince the BATF agent that it’s in his interest to help me. And the surest way to do that is to let him know that a quick analysis could put a great deal of egg on the face of the FBI.

Though I can’t see how, I am strangely certain that I’ve taken one step closer to Leo Marston.

CHAPTER 17

“Daddy, look at the crawdads! They’ve got humongous claws!”

Annie races across the patio and leaps into my arms like a thirty-pound bullet. Though petite for her age, she is wiry and strong, like her mother.

“You’d better not let one get your nose!” I warn her. “It’ll thunder seven times before he turns loose.”

“Your daddy’s lying to you, girl,” Ruby calls from beside the pool. “That’s a snapping turtle he talking ’bout. Crawfish can’t hurt you none.”

“One already pinched my finger!” Annie cries. “It didn’t even hurt.”

Dad is tending a five-gallon boiler near the house, and the roar of burning propane makes my stomach rumble, a Pavlovian response that remains automatic even after twenty years away. A cooler full of live crawfish sits beside the boiling water.

“Sam Jacobs brought these by,” he explains. “He went over to Catahoula Parish to look at a stripper well and brought them back. They’re good-sized. Pretty too.”

“Did you ask him to stay?”

“He said he had to get home, but that you should call him one night and go get a beer.”

“I could use one now.”

“There’s a six-pack of Corona in the fridge. Limes too. Bring me a Heineken while you’re at it.”

“On the way.”