“No shit? Man, did you know? Wilson and Dru are criminals. Did you know that?”

Jared came out to the edge of their pool and waved when he saw Pike.

“Hey, dude, there you are! I see you!”

Pike said, “Has anyone been next door?”

“At Steve’s place?”

“Yes.”

“Dude, look at it. The place looks like a cop convention.”

“Not now. Before the police.”

“Right, yeah, the cops asked that, too. No, uh-uh, I didn’t see anyone.”

“Not just today. What about yesterday and last night?”

“Nada, man.”

“Did you hear anything?”

“No, dude. And you know me—all eyes all the time. No evil shall escape my sight.”

“Get something to write with. I’m going to give you my number.”

“Sure, dude. Hang on.”

Jared jogged into his house, and reappeared a few moments later.

“Okey-doke, we are ready to copy, Houston.”

Pike recited his cell.

“If you see anyone next door after the police leave, I want you to call me. Will you do that?”

“Sure, dude. We’re supposed to call the cops, too.”

“That’s fine. Call them, but call me, too.”

“You got it, bro. No problemo.”

“And Jared—do you have alarms on your house?”

“Yeah.”

“Lock up tonight. Don’t leave any windows or doors open. Lock it and arm up.”

“Dude, you are freakin’ me out. Wilson’s cool with me. We joke around.”

Pike wasn’t thinking about Rainey.

“Lock up, Jared. If you see someone or hear something, call 911, then me. Tell your mother. Give her my number.”

The excitement left Jared’s voice.

“Yes, sir. I’ll tell her.”

Pike closed his phone.

Jared stared at him for a moment, then waved again and walked slowly back into his house.

Pike studied the near bridges and surrounding houses. If Rainey showed up because he wanted to enter the house, he would leave, but return later when the police were gone. Pike had nothing else, so he settled in to wait.

Forty minutes later, Pike’s attention was drawn when two men stepped from the crowd at the head of the pedestrian bridge. Special Agents Straw and Kenny showed their badges to the officer blocking the bridge, who immediately let them pass. They disappeared when they reached the end of the bridge, but Kenny reappeared a few minutes later in Rainey’s backyard. Pike wondered why he was here with Straw instead of checking the video.

Kenny walked to the fence, then turned toward the house. A few seconds later, Straw joined him. They spoke for a moment, then Straw went to the kayak hanging on the dock. He rocked it absently back and forth, then spoke to Kenny, who only shook his head in answer. They stared at the house as if trying to solve an unsolvable puzzle, and neither appeared ready to leave.

Pike wondered if Kenny had finished checking the video or if Straw had simply lied.