He found them chuckling over a picture of Rachel in a Halloween costume and chose not to interrupt their brief moment of levity. Instead, he turned into the study that Danny used as his office. It had a TV in it, and didn’t really look as if much work got done there. Indians and Browns pennants lined the sides of the TV, and the walls were adorned with family photos. There were three empty Budweiser bottles standing on the coffee table. The desk was littered with bills, which Mitch mechanically thumbed through. Some were opened, and some were months old, unopened and disregarded. He sat in Danny’s chair and opened a drawer that was crammed with junk, and noticed the Tony Robbins workbook from the seminar to which he’d sent Danny. He had intended it to help Danny get on top of things like managing his finances, being truthful, taking logical risks, and opening up to his friends, but the program hadn’t been a fit for him. Most of the pages were empty, but under the heading of things he needed to improve, he had written, “Have to increase my earnings at least 20 percent next year in order to provide for Rachel up to her standards.” That was certainly a strange thing to say, and betrayed a hint of resentment toward his wife.

He pictured Danny sitting at the desk, surrounded by bills that were multiplying like the mops and pails in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, deciding that he had had enough, and needed a way out. Mitch wondered if Danny’s financial problems had driven him over the edge. He thumbed through the book, and noticed something written in the notes section: “If they don’t find out you did it, then you didn’t do it.” Mitch closed the book in disgust and went to see if Carolyn and Maryann were ready to leave. He found them talking with Sheriff Dandridge. They all turned and looked at him when he entered, and he had the feeling he had just been the topic of their discussion.

“Mitch,” Carolyn started, “Sheriff Dandridge thinks it would make sense if the family made a statement outside to the press, so they’ll back off a bit, and we think you should deliver it.”

“Well, I’ll do it, but I don’t think they’re going to call off the hounds just because they get a statement. They’re going to want to ask questions.”

Sheriff Dandridge responded, “I’ll stand out there with you, and make it clear that we’re not taking any questions. Just read it, and at least some of them will have something to deliver to their bosses, so maybe some of them will leave. By the way, uniformed officers will be stationed here all night to make sure no one sneaks in.”